Does anyone in the US get groceries in Canada and visa versa?

Question

If so, how do you pay? Sorry, I didn’t know which category to put this in.

Answer 1

Kind of an interesting question- along with the other one about American cities that border Canada and I guess I'll briefly answer that as well as I can for you here too. From personal experience, some cities that border Canada are Niagra Falls/Buffalo, New York; Sault Saint Marie, Michigan (in the Upper Peninsula); Detroit, Michigan (probably the largest city on the Canadian border); and my hometown of Port Huron, Michigan (about an hour north of Detroit). You'll have to do your own research on other cities in other states that border Canada or hope someone gives you a better answer; probably quite a few smaller cities and towns do across Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, etc. Now, to tackle the question you are asking here. I guess I'll start by saying Canadians and Americans cross the border both in my hometown and down in Detroit all the time to go shopping. There are many specialty stores found in one country that cannot be found in the other; usually these are clothing or general merchandise type stores though and not grocery stores. Generally, it doesn't seem to make sense to go across the border to grocery shop. First, you have to wait in long lines (at least any of the border crossings I've been to) to enter both countries (any refrigerated stuff could thaw/melt/etc.); then, you have to pay fees to enter both countries (like @$3 each way) that then potentially cut down on part of any savings; next, you have restrictions on produce, etc. that can be brought into either country. Despite this, I have met Canadians who do come over to shop at both local Meijer's in the area despite the drawbacks I have mentioned because, generally, most things are less expensive on the American side and I don't know of any Americans that go to Canada for large-scale grocery shopping (maybe if they are over there they may pick up an item or two not found here in Michigan). If you are unfamilar with Meijer's, it is a "mega" store (general merchandise/grocery retailer) that sells basically everything; even gas (which serves as an incentive for Canadians to come over because their fuel prices are so much more expensive). Another thing to look at is the "duty-free" shopping principle that exists between Canada and the US. Basically, it allows Americans who have been shopping in Canada or Canadians who have been shopping in the US to get any sales tax refunded to them but I'm not exactly how it is figured out; sort of like you have to be visiting either country for a certain amount of time (and prove it) to be rewarded with a certain percentage of tax-free purchases. Every border crossing I can think of off-hand also has a duty-free shop that carries American goods for Canadians and Canadian goods for Americans; however, these are small stores with limited offerings of foodstuffs, alcohol, perfumes, etc. How people pay for things they buy in the other country is also kind of interesting. Cash, check, travelers cheque, credit cards are all used on both sides of the border from their "foreign" neighbors. Sometimes, you may go to a bank or currency exchange to get Canadian money if you are going shopping in Canada or American money if you are coming into the US; generally if you use foreign currency at a store in either country it is accepted but the exchange rate offered by the store will not be nearly as good as the bank though due to the effort the store needs to go to then exchange it for you and due to the fluctuations of the value between the American and Canadian dollar. Some American businesses however want Canadian business so badly that they offer "Canadian money at par" specials; generally, the Canadian dollar is worth about 75 cents to our American dollar. Generally, credit cards are the way to go where accepted because you get the best exchange rate offered during the last billing cycle (at least that is what I believe happens based on purchases made while traveling abroad) and you don't have the effort of exchanging and carrying foreign cash.

Answer 2

Canadians probably dislike Americans much more than some Americans who love to dislike Canada despite Canada doing a LOT to benefit the USA.

Answer 3

Yeah. I pay with cash or debit card.

Answer 4

NO IF I DID THAT I WOULD BE SPANDING VERY MUCH MONEY CUZ I LIVE IN FLORIDA