| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/21/2008 11:32:11 AM | Hello all,....
I just returned from a solo trip to Grand forks. I went down there primarily to place a order for some windows, from menards,... and spend ALOT of time checking out everything the store has....
** If anyone is thinking about windows... let me tell you that they are having a sale till june 1st and on ordering 4 windows... price to price - apples to apples... I'm saving over to $ 400.00 dollars..well worth the trip ! gas about $1.06 a ltr at pembina N.D
I discovered the night life in G.F too... dwntwn, 3rd street, muddy rivers and others. Can you say free pour ??? a dble paralyzer only $ 4.00 ??? ( more like a triple or quad.. the no ice messed them up ! lol ) one positive aspect !
But I have a word of warning, ( i've not crossed the border in over 15 years...) .
You HAVE TO BE IN THE STATES FOR **** 48 HOURS **** exactly !!! ( or more ) !!!!
I was 3-1/2 hours short ( apparently ) and the CBSA were a bunch of pricks !!
Here i was on a leisurely trip , no deadlines.. not a care in the world... I had an accounting of all my receipts, my hotel receipt for 2 nites, everything... I stopped at duty free in pembina ND to purchase some stuff ( like the cigars and cigarette tubes for friends [official word> say it's for your own personal use otherwise... )
I was Mr responsible traveler totally forth coming and everything...
They revoked my exemption ! ( If only 24 hours a $ 50 exemption is granted [ no smokes or booze] and if over the $50. in allowable goods then exemption is revoked !!!! )
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1 hour" in the office" with the supervisor , they calculated my "options" then drive back to pembina N.D> (to return duty free items purchased )then another hour "in the office" again ( same prick who was in the both was now on the desk ) and he tried to dble my duties X2 then requesting the superviser again... waiting another 1/2 hr while this original prick made me "stew"...
Then finally, the girl who originally calculated my duties returned with the supervisor and he "removed" the additional fees ..... till i realized they still charged me duties on one item i returned to duty free..
So be warned, I'd not want another friendly Manitobian to endure such a hassle for a few hours short of the OFFICIAL 48 hours...
Oh and i know what your going to say, NO they wouldn't let you back in the states to wait out the 3 1/2 hours cuase I officially entered CDA.. if i went back the clock would start all over again.... NOW is that stupid or what !!!!
No wonder tourism is taking a nosedive... who would want to come here when power tripping youths ( ) are "manning" our border and common sense gets thrown out the window... 
For any info on any of this feel free to comment or PM me.... | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/21/2008 5:22:39 PM | Ya know what started it ? The young border kid working the booth !
he kept asking me when I entered into the states.... I told him sometime after the hockey game.. ( i watched the russians win in ot .. ) and I casually packed my stuff and left.
I dunno,.... 2, 3, 4 ??? I wasn't paying attention... ( which i told him over and over and over ) but he kept pressing!
I even , get this! Spent an hour waiting and talking with the cdn border people when i was going into the states just to make sure i knew wtf was going on... so no I didn't know the exact time and was honest with the punk!
I told him I had to go into the office anyways and was expecting to pay duty on some stuff ... then on another round of questioning inside the chick asked me again I told her the same thing i didn't know and she pressed me too ! Then said I shouldn't have lied to the guy in the booth ? WTF I didn't know what time ??? and he said I told him a solid answer...!! ( flucking liar )
Then she said I was being deceptive !!! WTF....???
My advice is lie, keep track of your entrance time some how... as proof !
FYi : uppitty I knew the rubber glove thing would draw you out ! ... lol didn't happen.. which is by far the only bright spot to this encounter ! | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/21/2008 5:40:12 PM | ..I haven't been across the border in a long time, but what I always did was stop in Pembina buy some gas and get the receipt because it shows the time of purchase.
..I then used that time to figure when it was safe to come back across.
..I know what you mean about our border crossing guys (and women), they think their GOD and are some what arrogant | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/21/2008 6:43:46 PM | Some more words of advice...
When driving across into the US and the cutoms guy asks
"Are there any firearms in the vehicle?"
"... ? I'm not sure." Is a really really really bad answer.
( I was in a friend's truck with him & his wife, and he'd been hunting the previous weekend with some friends. When they asked, he really wasn't sure, so he didn't want to say no and have them find some should they search the vehicle. )
Probably didn't help that when he ordered us out of the vehicle my buddy was wearing a pair of army combat pants..... | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/21/2008 7:31:52 PM | I travel to the States all the time and I have never had any problems and yes I have (do) lie at the border coming back.
This friday I am going down in the morning to have a new tire installed on my bike and then ride back. When they ask if I bought anything the answer will be no, if they ask did you do any repairs to your vechile again the answer will be no. There is no way for them to tell. If they ask why I went down, I just went for a ride for the day. | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/21/2008 11:19:04 PM |
... keep track of your entrance time some how... as proof !
That's why I go to the store as soon as I cross and buy a pack of candies or gum.
I think they tag license plates when entering with the time of entry too.
They were giving you a hard time because that is their job. They will sometimes purposefully change their story or lie about what other officers have said to see your reaction and observe if you start changing your story. You gave them an opening to start bugging you, and they will continue bugging you to see if you're *really* anxious about something. | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/22/2008 8:31:59 AM | Rarely had a problem, but, in the case of the less than 48 hours, they are mandated to question and investigate under the guidelines. Was a cpl. hours short myself and got the 3rd degree and a full explanation as to why from the guard.
Taking it to a politician?.......a long, arduous process, sure to end in " what did I waste all that time for ?" | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/25/2008 12:59:53 PM | Actually "justice" it wasn't even close to a rubber glove ! lol But thks for the warm and fuzzy thoughts... a stick ? ..... "OUCH" ! lol
I actually demanded to speak to whomever is in command . but it was usless . Said authority was simple "parrotting" what the guards said previously... almost word for word !
What has happened to " common sense",.... they're desparate for officers and hire just about anyone... ( most of the ppl working the border were under 30 ? .. kids, immature and power tripping )....
Now that's the impression they are making on our neighbours and more so on their fellow cdns returning... all a**holes...
It's a slippery slope when "good" people are having the book throw at them for being a few hours short.... BLACK & WHITE ? BUllsh*t !
Perhaps I should complain about them "smoking" on crown land ? or how they should all be "setting an example" for our younger folk by being forced to quit all together ! | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/25/2008 1:42:54 PM | | Why customs officials would be the perfect ones to check your prostate...and see if all the belongings on your inside rear pocket that are in place..and in plastic bags.. DEA thanks you for taking care of them lol ... Anyhting with a latex glove has me rolling in laughter at that time ..seriously since 2001 m anything above the 49th parallel has been turned into criminal ..Im at odds with a president who wishes to seek blame on other nations to distract what is truly happening in thier own nation .. I can see the security elements but when you are crossing.. being open as you can and still being treated like a criminal cause you are from a contry outside the united states is where i draw the line .. I hope we can return the favor for tourists coming in here ..just to make a point ... i dont blame the guards..their hiring and orders given from other people who seem to be an overwhelmingly paranoid state right now... | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/25/2008 2:41:18 PM | I have been to Grand Forks this winter and the past winter. I made sure i was there 48hs this winter as the winter before i was not feeling good and headed home a bit earlier than the 48hrs. At the border they gave me a hard time and kept asking when i hand entered the states. i was a few hrs early and they eventually let me through but said next time make sure it was 48hrs.
they do take a picture of your vehicle and licence plate so they know the exact time you cross. its all on a computer so it doesnt matter what crossing you use. | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/25/2008 3:16:33 PM |
Perhaps I should complain about them "smoking" on crown land ? or how they should all be "setting an example" for our younger folk by being forced to quit all together ! ............pot calling kettle..................you have kids and smoke too?........and when they enforce the rules you question them?..................not a fan of authourity by any means, but i do know not to f,,,, w/ those guys....totally agree they go overboard............ | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/27/2008 6:12:24 PM | Once asked booth guy if he couldn't just look on his computer for when i crossed. He said No which i don't believe
WOW talk about a bull sh**ter, the minute u cross into the usa side plate is photographed and sent electronically right over to the Can. side, so when you come back into Can, they can quickly cross reference how long you have been gone. Your guy had the answere in front of him...
I cross lots and love to see their reaction/facial expression when your bang on within 2-3 minutes of the total time your gone........it makes crossing easier as they appreciate honesty plus have all your receipts listed neatly and organized in an enevlope when you hand them your ID or when they ask you what did you purchase. | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/28/2008 11:33:51 AM | Lesson has definitely been learned.... EXACTLY ( if not more than ) 48 HOURS !
My complain or rant was the insensitivity and immaturity of some of the "agents"!
Some of these,barely into their 20's , agents are power tripping!
Local management , while i thought would have a little more compassion and wisdom to know the difference between accidentally crossing a little too early and someone smuggling that extra carton of smokes ! ( A high crime in canada ???? lol )
But throw common sense and logic out the window... most of these types simply act and react to simple triggers !
But to speak to the new poster above... getting into the states ( while a cause for anxiety even though I was "clean" and not packing any firearms or such ) was a much easier then coming back!
It's the cdn agents, the 1st impression many will have of canada is what worries me ! They love to give their own kind "the gears" especially if you appear not afeared ! lol | |
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| Grand Forks, menards, border crossing.... bars... rubber glove ???wtf ! lol
Posted: 5/30/2008 7:52:19 AM | | It's funny what will set off the border guards sometimes. I've discovered a few things throughout the years. On the day I'm crossing the border I trim my beard and don't look scruffy at all. Don't wear sunglasses;look the guard in the eye. For God's sake don't be wishy-washy;be sure of what you're saying. It may sound evasive to a customs official if you're not sure about your answers. I have been searched on the way home for what may seem silly.like having two people in the vehicle and only claiming 1 bottle of booze(my brother doesn't drink)or not spending your full exemption. | |
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hadn't thought of that.
