should i buy a laptop in the US while on my roadtrip?

Swerve · 08-18-2007, 03:33 PM

going on a 12 day roadtrip down to california and back. thinking of buying a basic laptop (<$800) at best buy while in oregon (no tax) and bringing it back. do you think the border will have issue with this and if they ask me to pay tax how much will they charge do you think?

according to this, http://www.traveldocs.com/ca/customs.htm, i should be good up to $750 CAD...

kerisabe · 08-18-2007, 03:38 PM

I dun think they would know if it's a new laptop. Just throw away all the boxes, and save the receipt in your wallet. The only think you should worry about is the warranty/extended warranty, it'd be hard for u if something goes wrong with the comp once uve reached canada. Its still cheaper to get it in the states tho.

Swerve · 08-18-2007, 04:00 PM

^^thx. i guess i'll just open it up while at the store and make sure it works. if anythings outta whack i'll know pretty quick. if somethings wrong, then bestbuy in washington should still be able to address an issue of a laptop bought in oregon, hopefully i'm not that unlucky.

Darkness95m3 · 08-20-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swerve

^^thx. i guess i'll just open it up while at the store and make sure it works. if anythings outta whack i'll know pretty quick. if somethings wrong, then bestbuy in washington should still be able to address an issue of a laptop bought in oregon, hopefully i'm not that unlucky.

If you have a problem with the laptop you will have to ship it back to the USA for warranty, this is where all of the fun starts, especially when you threw the box away.

CC can request for you to turn on the notebook, I know they done this to me a few times. When they turn it on they will know everything. Not only that they can do a SN# search it will tell them which Best Buy had the unit and when it was sold.

My suggestion is don't play games at the border.

e30bim · 08-20-2007, 10:26 AM

It's a f'ing laptop. Don't declare it. It won't break and if it does Fedex the thing back for God's sake. Canadian Customs doesn't give a shit about anything except, Firearms, Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs. Just declare a couple hundred bucks worth of shit and buy yourself your two cases of beer you're allowed duty free (declare it) they will know you're not hiding anything. Just relax and stop being such a pussy!

**Mystikal** · 08-20-2007, 11:45 AM

Just throwing this in: My father used to cross the border monthly when he was in IT, and more than once they made him power up his laptop and looked through it.

Jay

stiffy · 08-20-2007, 05:23 PM

I travel across the border 15 times a year for business and 3-4 times for pleasure. My laptops are supplied by my US-based employer. They buy them and I bring them back with me in my briefcase. In years of doing this, never once has anyone said anything. My suggestion is to take an old briefcase or knapsack so it looks like it's been used and put it in there.

As for warranties, mine's a Dell, so others could be different, but Dell Canada honours the warranty up here no probs.

Go for it, don't sweat it.

Swerve · 08-31-2007, 06:09 PM

bought an HP at bestbuy in Portland and brought it back with no issues. i'm allowed up to $750 worth of stuff anyways which is what it's worth.

e30bim: i'm not a pussy, just don't want to pay duty/tax thus defeating the point of buying it down south.

btw, 0% tax in Oregon, and good outlet shopping.