Hi
We make the trip to the USA for shipping purposes 2 to 3 and sometimes more, a week. We live in NIAGARA FALLS so its about a half hour round trip. Because we make the trip so often we don't normally have more than $400 total in packages at any one time.
As to the comment "they know full well about the commercial requirements" in the above post, I don't agree at all. When we cross at the Lewiston bridge, which is a commercial trucking bridge, the agents know the requirements. When we cross at the Rainbow Bridge, they don't have a clue. So, by default we cross at the Rainbow to save time and hassle.
In the past 6 months we have had to "go in" twice, and only one of those times were we asked to pay the $5 commercial fee. We always bring along a manifest with our items and values listed but no one has ever actually looked at it. Once in a while they will ask if you have a manifest, we answer yes and that is that.
I guess it all depends on which staff you are dealing with.
