Hi,
This is just a head up for anyone who uses the UPS store in Ogdenbsurg and was thinking of heading down to collect Christmas gifts this week......I went on Thursday and waited 6 hours to collect my parcels...after looking in their warehouse for an hour, I was one of many who gave up and left without all of my parcels. If it wasn't for the fact that I was waiting for my children's main Christmas gifts, which I'd ordered from Toys R Us.com for 1/2 the Canadian price I'd have left. I heard that all last week it was the same and they are overwhelmed with parcels this year and expecting this to continue until Christmas.
Additionally, we got stopped at border control and had to pay tax on everything we brought in, they checked all receipts and were also searching cars. I understand that this is normal procedure but my friend told me that especially over the Black Friday weekend they weren't concerned unless you had a single item costing more than $1,000. it seems on Thursday they were checking everyone.

Melanie

I had wondered about this issue. There is no doubt that stuff is cheaper in the US. I did some comparison shopping yesterday on two Home depot websites. My local one and the one closest to Ogdensburg. Quite a difference in price but that doesn't get round the issue of one's tax-free allowance. The customs people are hardly going to not notice large unopened boxes in the back of a car.

I'm quite happy to be put straight on what the advantage may be. I just can't figure it out

We bought all the drywall and related materials for our renovation in the US. We were never once asked to pay the duty on anything we brought across the border but, even it we had been, drywall at the time was $19 here, $8 there.

We found that, after paying for hotel and petrol and all, we saved a little money and we had numerous weekends in Buffalo and Detroit out of it; win, win, win!

How long ago are you talking?

I've never seen drywall anywhere close to $19 but it could also be the region you live in!

Nationally @ $19 and upwards. http://www.homedepot.ca/catalog/drywall/168380

I hate UPS

Started work on it last Christmas, finished in July.

Stuff made in the US is, I believe, exempt from duty under NAFTA. Drywall would certainly be of NAFTA origin.

I'm sure FL will be along to put us straight at some point.

You're doing better than us. We started our bathroom reno in the summer of 2011 and we're still at it. She's got bored with the tiling, so things have ground to a halt.

This time last year we had no roof, we were lying in the living room and looking at the stars. By the end of July we had a roof and a new floor, drywalled, attic insulated, tiled, hardwood installed, internal doors and trim installed, all painted. You wouldn't do that in the UK, oh no, there'd be summat to watch on telly.

If you go through the page and sort 'price low to high' the cheapest you can get nationally is $7.29.

There is also a sheetrock brand for $11.62.

Once you hit the $19 price range you are getting into the firecode drywall product just wandering if we are comparing apples to apples because $8 for a firecode sheet of drywall is a really good price if that's what was bought in the states?.

Those numbers were the average of the cost of 100 ordinary sheets, eight firecode sheets and some number, 20 maybe, of mould resistant sheets. I suspect you've neglected to include the tax, 13% in ON, 5% in NYS, can't remember what we paid in MI. I'm also comparing standing in front of it (or phoning in the case of the Italian guys in Caledon) so I'm using the actual cost not the, advertised on the internet, might not actually have it, cost.

In short, building supplies, drywall, tape, glop and fixtures, sink, bathtub, tabs, cabinets, all vastly cheaper in the US. We hauled the lot.

Obviously the size of the job and your access to a truck + distance to the states play a huge role in any decision, for me it's a 3-4 hour drive to the nearest home depot/mynards in the states if I was going for drywall alone it would not be worth it but if i'm already there with the ability to transport it you would see savings not enough for myself personally to justify a trip on it's own though.

100*7.29 = 729
8*19 = 152
20*11.62 = 232.40

1113.40+133.608(tax) = 1247.008/128 = $9.75 per sheet.

Quick calculation on what you bought (if you bought it in MB).

It is inconceivable that I would buy building supplies in Manitoba.

Indeed it is but I know the tax rate of MB (which is why I used it).

I have family that live on a border town they pretty much get everything from the states which works for them as it's on their doorstep but when I live 3-4 hours to the nearest city less and less things are worth the savings you may get is the point I would make.

Take that drywall example I just did if you payed $8's even a sheet I would save $1.75x128=$224 which is a nice saving but when you factor in an 8 hour 'there and back' drive + duty because I would be over my $50 daily limit (or whatever it is these days) for me I would buy the drywall here and focus on other things I could save on.

Again not a critic of you, It just shocked me to read initially because I picture what it would entail if I did that.