This company is located in Niagara Falls, NY. When having packages shipped from the US, you provide this company’s address as the delivery address. Once the package arrives, the company will call you. Then you pick up your package in Buffalo and come back to Canada. The company charges $5.95 per package. If the package exceeds a certain size/weight, there is an additional daily charge for each day they have to hold.
I have never used the service. One of my close friends ordered wheels+tires from Florida and used this service. Once the wheels arrived, he drove down to Buffalo, picked up, and installed the wheels. He sold his old steelies to the installation shop in Buffalo.
I intend on using this service but I’d like more clarification.
Firstly, if I were to pick up the wheels from Buffalo and bring them back over the border, would Customs’ question me? Should I declare it at the border and take a chance that they might charge me Duty?
I figured I would say something like “they’re my wheels, I was in a car show/competition…and I don’t like driving long distances on my pretty wheels.” I am unable to toss my wheels that I will be driving on.
Just lie, it’s the easiest way. The whole point of using this ‘service’ is to not have to pay ridiculous shipping and customs fee’s. So why put yourself through it anyways?
Obviously, I’ve considered lying…I’m wondering if there are any pitfalls for me to watch out for if I go this route. Have you done it yourself with larger items such as wheels?
I intend on doing what my friend did…however, he was able to toss his old steelies. I will be driving on wheels that I can’t toss.
You dont toss your old wheels instead mount the wheels with greater value then have a receipt made up for the 7spokes you ‘bought’ (that you rode in on) and value it for 200.00, pay the 30 dollar brokerage if they make you and you will be on your way.
Don’t try to lie. If you get caught, your name will be in the system and everytime you cross the border and come back, they will search your car, etc
They will also find a value to charge you for your new wheels. Even if you paid, $400 for thos wheels, you might end up paying customs for $800 worth of wheels because you tried to lie.
There are quite a few people here selling or giving away tear drops… search them out and drive over on them… then when your there, find a scrap yard to drop them off at once you’ve changed them.
Are the wheels you’re buying brand new? They might notice if they are new, but probably not if it’s snowing.
However, they will usually ask you why you’re going to the states, and how long you’ve been there. If you come back with nothing, they will get suspicious, and if you tell them stuff like “Oh just visiting some family”, they will start asking questions like their name, where they live, etc.
Either tell the truth, or learn to be a really good liar.
“Going to the casino” always works well for shopping trips. It’s actually useful for a lot of situations…since you go with nothing, and come back with nothing.
There is no way (unless you turn red and piss yourself) you will get caught if you are driving over with used wheels, new wheels is a different scenario. Its like people who wear their new shoes and throw the old ones in the trunk. “No officer I wore these over, I swear.”
On the other hand, I bought some TE37s about 2 years ago, drove across in my talon, met a guy at a gas station, stuffed the wheels in my trunk and had a receipt made up for 800US for the wheels. Went to the border, the officer tells me to pull inside, I do, go inside provide the receipt, pay 85.00 duty and then proceed. They didnt even look at the wheels.
SO being upfront may cost you a couple extra bucks but its NOT that much money in the grand scheme of things.
