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Declaring Ring. Did I do the right thing?

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ringshopper905

Rough_Rock
Joined
Nov 16, 2009
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Hi All,

So I recently was in the USA and purchased an engagement ring for my GF. In my budget I calculated the cost of declaring the ring when I flew back across the border into Canada. the PST & GST came to just over $600, since I paid at the airport I am kind of regretting declaring it and throwing away this money to the gov''t.

The job I am in requires me to travel quite frequently into the states and I am sure that I would of had no problem getting it back in, I also have nexus and can-pass to speed through customs.

Now I am trying to justify what I did was worth it. I know the alternative (in the rare event i got caught) would be to lose my Canada & USA trusted traveler status, perhaps have the ring confiscated and maybe a criminal record.

On the flip side I am thinking I could of made up some story if I were caught about bringing it into the USA for resizing or some bs.

Anyhow, I was hoping to get peoples opinions on this as right now I am in limbo of whether I did the right thing or not.

Thanks in advance
 
You did the *right* thing, your pangs sound more the kind of regret about maybe you could have gotten away with doing the wrong thing and saving money. No doubt about it you did the *right* thing though.
 
You followed the law. You did the right thing. I''m not really certain how that is a question? You''re essentially asking us if smuggling the ring in would have been a better choice, and I doubt anybody on here would tell you that you should have done that.
 
Thank you for the responses. Yes I guess it is a silly question, at this point I''m just trying to justify my decision.

Much thanks, I feel better now :)
 

Doing the right thing rarely feels as good as getting away with doing the wrong thing.

 
You did the right thing even if it might be hard to stomach paying $600.
 
By declaring your purchase to the Canada Border Services Agency, you can be grateful for 2 things:

1. No "luxury tax" was applied to your purchase. It would have been in the past.

2. You didn''t have to undergo a full body cavity search by the C.B.S.A., should they have discovered that you did NOT declare the ring (btw, they usually find officers with really meaty fingers to conduct the exams). I''d say that alone is well worth the $600 bones
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Date: 11/16/2009 2:41:42 PM
Author: princesss
You're essentially asking us if smuggling the ring in would have been a better choice, and I doubt anybody on here would tell you that you should have done that.
Yes, because then WE would be encouraging a criminal act. You did what you felt was right in your situation and that is what matters. I won't post what I would have done.
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Date: 11/16/2009 3:32:56 PM
Author: Vancity
2. You didn''t have to undergo a full body cavity search by the C.B.S.A., should they have discovered that you did NOT declare the ring (btw, they usually find officers with really meaty fingers to conduct the exams). I''d say that alone is well worth the $600 bones
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Oh what nonsense. Have you ever crossed into Canada from the US? They''re very respectful.
 
Date: 11/16/2009 4:53:37 PM
Author: MC

Date: 11/16/2009 3:32:56 PM
Author: Vancity
2. You didn''t have to undergo a full body cavity search by the C.B.S.A., should they have discovered that you did NOT declare the ring (btw, they usually find officers with really meaty fingers to conduct the exams). I''d say that alone is well worth the $600 bones
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Oh what nonsense. Have you ever crossed into Canada from the US? They''re very respectful.
I will pass along your kind comments to my associates.

They will be very happy to hear you feel that way
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Date: 11/16/2009 3:09:03 PM
Author: Steel

Doing the right thing rarely feels as good as getting away with doing the wrong thing.

Ditto. But good for you!
 
Date: 11/16/2009 5:05:16 PM
Author: Vancity

Date: 11/16/2009 4:53:37 PM
Author: MC

Oh what nonsense. Have you ever crossed into Canada from the US? They''re very respectful.
I will pass along your kind comments to my associates.

They will be very happy to hear you feel that way
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Please do that! We always enjoy going across into CA much more than returning to the states!
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You did the right thing.
 
Date: 11/16/2009 4:53:37 PM
Author: MC
Date: 11/16/2009 3:32:56 PM

Author: Vancity

2. You didn''t have to undergo a full body cavity search by the C.B.S.A., should they have discovered that you did NOT declare the ring (btw, they usually find officers with really meaty fingers to conduct the exams). I''d say that alone is well worth the $600 bones
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Oh what nonsense. Have you ever crossed into Canada from the US? They''re very respectful.

They are very respectful from my experience also. But I am now guessing that would change once you''re on their list of known smugglers.
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I doubt traveling would be the same again.
 
You know, slightly skewing the topic - how do they know you just bought it? I mean, I was thinking about this... say I take my ring to China with me - it''s done and paid for two years ago, but what if when I''m coming back they say hey where did you get that? If it was in a box wrapped in a receipt in your pocket... I can imagine there''d be doubt, but if you put it on her finger - how would they ever know?

I don''t ask this to try to get away with something, more if you already own it how would it look any different?
 
As a fellow Canadian who travels to the US frequently, I totally know how you feel and I relate to the temptation. However, you know how awesome it is to travel with Nexus...I would never, EVER, want to risk losing it. That card in itself is worth at least $600, to me at least.
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So yah, you did the wise thing.
 
Date: 11/16/2009 6:02:46 PM
Author: Cehrabehra
You know, slightly skewing the topic - how do they know you just bought it? I mean, I was thinking about this... say I take my ring to China with me - it''s done and paid for two years ago, but what if when I''m coming back they say hey where did you get that? If it was in a box wrapped in a receipt in your pocket... I can imagine there''d be doubt, but if you put it on her finger - how would they ever know?


I don''t ask this to try to get away with something, more if you already own it how would it look any different?
i guess they could audit your credit card statements, trace the serial number of the diamond.
 
Definitely did the right thing, no question.

Not that that makes you feel less like you were robbed, really, $600 is tough to swallow.


My FI and I were driving to campus. His bumper scraped the next car's tire hood as he pulled in to park - and it just had to be a mercedes. He left a note w/ contact info, which is already more than most people would do. Guy calls him later that day, tells him that they're going to have to remove the fender and replace the part, since it would be somehow be more expensive to buff/paint match, and has a quote for over $1000. For a single scratch that was literally 3 inches long, in which you could easily see the white base layer.

Telling him that he "did the right thing" really didn't do anything but piss him off for the next couple of weeks.


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You did the right thing. Why go through life looking over your shoulder?

For what it''s worth, my ring was made by Whiteflash in Houston TX. I had it shipped across the border through Customs. Declared everything.

Am glad I did: when I brought it to my Insurance agent for it to be covered, I gave him a copy of the invoice. He then asked for the customs paperwork. I don''t know if this is standard procedure or not. But I was glad to be able to provide ALL of the documentation needed. Plus, if I ever need to ship it back to WF, I can without trying to hide it going back through the border.

LS
 
My husband and I had to do the same thing when we bought a ton of antique art glass we shipped home when we were in Europe. We paid the proper import duties, and it was a painful chunk. And it sucks to feel like there is not a chance they'd ever know if you hadn't declared it- sure, it's the right thing to do, but it doesn't make it any more fun to do. We didn't have it with us, so there wasn't a chance the customs folks would have known. But, nevertheless, you have to suck it up and just do the right thing. Customs authorities give me the heebie jeebies and I'd never cross them voluntarily. It's like insurance fraud; yeah, tons of people abuse it, but that doesn't make it OK to do that. It just makes it more expensive for everyone. I think one of the biggest tests of one's moral compass is when you're the only one who would know if you were up to no good, and that you'd get away with whatever-it-is scott free. FWIW, most people flunk that test so you should feel rather proud you did the right thing.

Also I've found the Canadian border folks to be the absolute nicest and most pleasant ever- the US side, on the other hand, is a bit less friendly. We tend to gof or weekend trips to Vancouver frequently since it's nearby and we both like the city. The one time my husband & I got searched they actually repacked our bags perfectly! SHOCKING. I had a relative who'd gotten on their "list" (the one you don't ever want to be on) and they literally took his car apart panel by panel every time he crossed the border. The car never stopped rattling after that. So no, you don't EVER want to be on the list of folks they keep an eye on! (And yes, he earned his way onto that list- it was definitely not arbitrary harassment.)
 
You did the right thing. I''m proud of you.

Maybe you''ll make it back in GST credits!

(Now that tax-free savings accounts are available in Canada you could easily make $600+ untaxed investment income if you choose to save using a mutual fund with a decent interest rate.)
 
The ring you bought is one that will be worn every day for your lifetime and your partners....you don't want any bad mojo on that ring. If the ring had cost $600 more...you may still have bought it. Just consider it the price of the ring.

Also, the government does a lot of nice things for us - esp. in Canada where you even get health care!!

The universe will reward your integrity!!!
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I''m in the minority here..
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I would not have claimed it.
And then I would feel REALLY GUILTY and think I''m getting (or about to get) karma all of the time.
Then I would say, "If I get away with it just this once, I swear I''ll never do it again!"
And it would eat me up for months, and I would have wished I just declared the damn thing.



You did the right thing :)
 
Date: 11/16/2009 8:02:26 PM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
I think one of the biggest tests of one''s moral compass is when you''re the only one who would know if you were up to no good, and that you''d get away with whatever-it-is scott free.

Ditto this.

It really isn''t about what you can get away with. The moral choices we make in life define who we are. Right or wrong, paying tax is the law. I do not cheat the government, and I will not do business with those who do.

Sometimes the right thing is not the easiest, cheapest thing. But I believe without a doubt that it''s worth it in the long run. When you think about it, $600 is a price worth paying to keep your integrity
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I returned an $18,000 insurance check after I found my lost ring. The insurance company would never have known if I had kept the money, but I would have. I am not a criminal, and neither are you. The value of a clear conscience is priceless.
 
Thanks for everyone''s responses, it''s good to know there are alot of other honest people out there.
much thanks
 
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