ninfru

Hi,
I would like to buy winter tires for my MB GLK250. I live in Montreal and here in Canada we have very limited and overpriced selection ($350 per tire).
And I was thinking to buy it from Tire Rack ($209USD per tire). And since I will be very close (vacationing for few days on Cape Cod, Massachusetts) to one of their warehouses located in Windsor Connecticut I can pass by on a way back and pick them up myself.
Sounds like a good plan, but…
I thought I can choose “Customer Pick-Up” option, but if I enter Shipping address same as my billing address (Montreal, Quebec), then such option is not available.
If I enter Tire Rack Warehouse address, then I am allowed to pick them up. See attached screenshot. “Customer Pick-Up” option becomes available.
Of course I will pay taxes upon entering Canada (on exceeding $800CAD), but I will save dramatically on delivery (around $160to deliver to Canada) and on a tire price itself (around $100 each).
Question: is it safe to buy in such a way? By entering Billing address as my home address and Shipping address as a Tire Rack warehouse in Connecticut and eventually choosing “Customer Pick-Up”?
I wonder if anybody did that.
Thanks a lot for any suggestions.

shotgun_banjo

Should be fine. I bought my winter setup and my billing address is in Canada then shipped to a depot near the US border for me to pickup.

volkvin

Dunlops, ew Nokians for winter, rape fest...

grane

We got the 17" Pirelli Ice and Snows on TUV-rated rims for my wife's '13 GLK. We picked them up balanced and ready to go. It was effortless. These tires are the bomb - as good as Blizacks in snow and ice and much better handling on cold or wet winter roads.

You save a lot going to the 17" and the ride is much better.

BTW my wife is from Canada.

super7pilot

How would a border agent know you went to America to buy a set of tires? Unless you told them.

shotgun_banjo

They know. I had first hand experience on this. I drove a 1992 honda accord years ago across the border just to buy tires. After 8 hours I went back with some groceries and when the officer took my passport and ask what I was declaring and just said "few groceries" then he look at my tires and said "are you declaring those new tires?" I was speechless and just said "yes" but he looked at me and said next time tell the truth or you will be fined and might get into more trouble. So I ended up paying taxes and duty for the tires which still cheaper if I bought them locally. Also a friend of mine also got into trouble not declaring the set of tires he bought at Bellingham.

rshew

I bought winter tires and rims for my 2011 GLK for TireRack. I had them shipped to US postal carrier depot. I drove down USA to pick up and drove back to Canada with no problems. Just remember to declare the tires at customs to avoid any hassles.

Much cheaper to buy in USA than buying in Canada.

ninfru

Hi,
For all Canadians.
This can be very lucrative simply because of the huge price difference.
I did it. I bought tires from TireRack.com and here is how much they cost me and details on how I did that.
I paid $209 per tire x 4 = $836 plus sales tax Connecticut $53 (around 6.3%).
In Montreal, Canada I quoted Gordons tires (http://www.pneusgordons.ca/en/)
Very same Dunlop Winter 3D was $359 per tire. + Provincial/Federal taxes + Environment fee ($3 per tire) - $25 rebate (valid until end of September) = $393CAD per tire.
Therefore, I saved: $393 – ($222 * 1.12CAD exchange rate) = $144CAD per tire!

Please note that I was in Cape Code for 3 days’ vacation and I was allowed to bring $800 as a personal tax exemption. So I passed by TireRack warehouse and pick them up.
And I didn’t pay any taxes for extra $140 or so (as my total bill was higher than $800) as custom officer wave me through.
But if would pay the duties, then it will cost me no more than $50.
Quite happy.
Those are made in Germany and marked as "MO" Mercedes Originals if I am not mistaken.

Also, please note that right now Tire Rack has a $50 off special on many tires.


PS: forgot to mention, when ordering “Customer pick-up” option will not be available if you enter Canadian address, so I entered TireRack warehouse address and within next step chose “Customer pick-up”.

fcch

...


I can't speak for the Dunlops, but I use the Nokians (studded) and find them to be the best winter tire I've used in quite some time.

ninfru

Well, of course studded tires will have better traction. Unfortunately in the city we are allowed to have only studdless ones.

fcch

"Unfortunately in the city we are allowed to have only studdless ones."


Yipes! ... I knew that many of the parking garages didn't allowed studded tires, .... Doesn't seem to be a problem for me over here in Trois-Rivieres.