Don't shoot, I'm a book dealer

March 23, 2009 3:51 PM

What can I expect from a US border guard if I go into the USA from Canada carrying packages of things I've sold on ebay to mail in the USA?

I've been selling things on ebay for many years. I've mailed hundreds and maybe thousands of packages from Canada to the USA. However Canada Post has become so ridiculously overpriced that I'm looking into a new method to save money. I live in Kingston and can drive over the border to Wellesley Island in New York in less than half an hour, mail things at the post office there, and save huge amounts of money. However, something tells me that the border patrol may have a problem with this, even though I can apparently mail things to the USA with no problem. What's the difference between mailing something and taking it over the border in a car? Will the border patrol make me pay duty on these things? Will they require me to have some sort of proof of sale? I'm particularly looking for answers that can be positively backed up with an official source of some sort, ideally the US Border Patrol, or Customs, or whatever. I have three packages of used books that were sold for very little money (US$50, $18, and $10). Is there a minimum limit below which they don't care about it? I could just not tell them about them, or tell them I'm giving them away, or sending them to friends, but I know from experience that you DON'T want to start playing those games with US Customs. If they sense one thing that's a bit funny it gets very weird very fast. So I'd rather be totally honest about what I'm doing, but don't want to pay duty or taxes.
Sorry for being so long winded. Thanks!

posted by crazylegs to law & government (7 comments total)

Chances are, they won't ask you what you'll be doing in New York. If they do, be honest--these people have been trained very well to spot liars. I don't think you should worry about taxes: there's an initial duty free exemption for visitors, and it's certainly more than $78, the total of your three packages. If it makes you feel better, bring any paperwork you might have for the sales.

Off topic, but are your savings really greater than four or more hours of your time once you deduct the cost of gas? How much does they come out to, on an hourly basis?
posted by halogen at 4:04 PM on March 23

Oh, sorry, I misread "half an hour" as "hour and a half". I have a thesis due tomorrow, so naturally, I've been drinking.
posted by halogen at 4:06 PM on March 23 [2 favorites has favorites]

This happens on the west coast: Point Roberts, WA has become a big pickup and drop-off centre for people in the B.C. Lower Mainland. Now, that's a different kind of border, because Pt Roberts is a weird historical anomaly, but the people who use it just say "be honest". Chances are, you'll just allow them to make jokes about Canada Post.
posted by holgate at 4:35 PM on March 23

I go to Pt Roberts WA sometimes for exactly the purpose that holgate describes. I tell the American border guards exactly what I am doing. They charge me a flat fee of about $10 per item.

Don't bother lying or concealing. If they nab you, you're so screwed.
posted by randomstriker at 5:22 PM on March 23

I do it all the time (Ontario to Minnesota). Border guards charge a $5 (total, not per item) highway tax for commercial crossings. It used to be "of you're only doing it once a month, no biggie," but that has since changed. Check and see if there is a similar fee for New York.
posted by liquado at 6:28 PM on March 23

I have a small design company and on a recent weekend trip to NY I brought a US customer's wedding invite order with me to ship there instead of from the UK, saving about $80 in postage... I declared them on the customs form and the guards at JFK were more bemused than anything, I think they had bigger fish to catch. May be different overground though..
posted by hibbersk at 10:56 AM on March 24

There are a number of full-time sellers on the eBay Canada sellers' forum who do this. You may want to ask there.
posted by winston at 3:22 AM on March 26