Weird Question from a US Border Guard today.

[surplusdealdude]

When I got to the border at Lewiston today, the guard asked me where I got my material from.

I told her that was a trade secret and she replied, "No, I really want to know."

Now, I understand that they're entitled to ask the Country of Origin, but that's not the same as asking what my source is.

I wound up giving her a generic, non-specific answer and she let it go at that.

Anybody else ever run into this?

[dipmicro]

They may have asked once or twice. Not sure if they are authorized to do that, not sure if they are even aware of what they are authorized to do and what not.

Do you know that during Informal Entry the officer has to complete the paperwork? Well, whenever there is a slightest problem, they act like we have broken dozen of laws, for example when I forgot something on the manifest, but declared it verbally, the hell broke loose and I was on the watch list for 1/2 year just because I did not have it on the manifest they are supposed to prepare based on my verbal declaration.

Sometimes I drive with my family and after we drop shipments we stay over shopping or for dinner. Once the guard commented "You have a beautiful wife". Are they allowed to make remarks like that? I don't need to hear this from ugly border guard I don't want to socialize with and who sends me to X-ray half the time. However, it was not practical to make any reaction.

I have had my share of border guards stepping over their authority, being rude and unprofessional on both sides of the border, and I do not mean flattering comments like the one above. Some of them could easily get fired given proper media attention. Once I considered recording all my conversations especially with CBSA border guards on my cell, but then you just get over it and go your way. Some of them are simply j*rks but I do not want to waste time letting them know.

[dipmicro]

Btw. where do you have it from ? 😉

[surplusdealdude]

Trade secret.:-p

[dipmicro]

You know I was just kidding, did not really want to know, right ? :8

[surplusdealdude]

Yep.

It's still a trade secret.:-p

[jakeeangel]

I've had them ask that before. They want to know if you're buying legit product from legit sources or is it knock off crap from illegal or questionable sources.

How they can determine that if you rhyme off names of companies though is beyond me. Although, I suppose if you say you bought your Nike shoes off the guy at the corner of X and Y streets for cash then maybe....LOL

It's just yet another test to keep you on your toes and know that you are a business. It's a surprise question. If you're legit you think ok I got A from company ABC, B from XYZ etc and you start telling them some of your sources it's feasible enough to be legit. If you have no answer for them, then they have to question you, your product and perhaps your 'business' legitimacy.

Unlike their Canadian counterparts, the US Customs and Border Protection folks are allowed to block entry of counterfeit and illegal goods. Hence the questions.

Did you cross while Obama was in town? I waited until he left just in case there were any issues when trying to cross.

I loved it. He went to the place I rave about for wings - Duffs. Ya baby!! He blabbed about them a few times during his speach on small business and while I am thrilled for the business and publicicity they're gonna get, we're probably not going to get in there again for a while. LOL

[surplusdealdude]

Well, I went to Lewiston, not Buffalo.

Not sure if POTUS was around or not - didn't see a lot of extra security, so I doubt it.

Your explanation makes sense - I didn't consider that angle.

I'm still not comfortable revealing my sources, of course. I'll have to think on that a bit more. Still, the answer I gave got me through, so I suspect that it's good enough for them. Maybe I'll just give the manufacturer's name the next time - they're in Ohio.

That ought to mix them up enough.]:)

[femmefan1946]

That sounds right-- I believe the idea is to ascertain that you are not importing goods from a country that does not have a Free Trade Agreement (like oh, Paraguay?) and therefore is dutiable or which is embargoed, like Cuba or Iran or Myamar, and cannot be imported.

[jakeeangel]

I crossed at Lewiston too. They actually closed Rainbow from 8am till noon. Supposedly for an exercise. Suuuuuure they did. 😉

He landed around 12:30 and left around 3:45 - 4pmish.

I don't think you'll have a problem even if you do give them your sources. They're not likely to go buy the stuff. I truly believe that it's just to make sure you and the goods are legit. When they sent me back to check out the stuff, the only package they opened was a computer game. She saw it was legit, sealed, etc and stopped right there.

[surplusdealdude]

Yeah - I don't like revealing my sources to anybody. Like the saying goes, "To keep a secret, tell no one."

I know for sure that one of the Canadian guards is thinking about getting back into ebay and I've had a lot of questions about my products from the guards on the American side.

I think I'll just give them the manufacturer's name if they ask - that's pretty generic.

[gifts_of_elegance]

I have been asked that several times and I have no problem with that. I have also been asked "Are you making money doing this?" Not once,, but several times.

[surplusdealdude]

Yeah, the Canadian guard wanted to know how I was doing, too.

He then proceeded to tell me how he used to import hockey jerseys and sell them for $30 each.

I've heard that story TWICE now.:O

[jakeeangel]

Nice. 'Import' them and sell them for $30. Would those happen to be the knock offs from China? How else can he buy them cheap enough to be able to resell them for only $30?

There's a guy that works with my hubby that happily sells fake NHL jerseys and pocketing the money. There's a lot of people that do that, sadly. He keeps trying to get us to sell them and my hubby keeps telling him to take a hike.

I really, really hope that the CBSA guys didn't mean knock off jerseys but at that price.....which saddens me even more because of their position. 😞

[surplusdealdude]

Well, the guard claims that they were bought under licence and it was a few years ago.

You'll understand that I'm not going to get into a fight with him about it.....