I only went across once and it was for my centaur . Since it looked really bad and i had the old MPU with , i had the cash box , all rusted , next to the pin with the old MUP in it . The seller made me a receipt of $200.00 as is . The custom officer asked me if it came from ebay . Good thing it wasn ' t , 'cause i would ' ve been screwed , i think .
Still , he didn ' t like it and pulled me over and got me checked . So , don ' t take any chances if you don ' t want to get in trouble with these guys . You never know , maybe his RICE KRISPIES didn ' t go CRIC CRAC CROC the morning when you ' ll go by ...
own; super straight harlem globetrotters fathom centaur farfalla
Still , he didn ' t like it and pulled me over and got me checked . So , don ' t take any chances if you don ' t want to get in trouble with these guys . You never know , maybe his RICE KRISPIES didn ' t go CRIC CRAC CROC the morning when you ' ll go by ...
CRIC CRAC CROC? Is that French for SNAP, CRACKLE, and POP?
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Even this gets dicey now though, I know from my musical instrument buying/trading/selling history that a lot of times in these cases they are requesting serial numbers, and may stop and spot check you on the way back to make sure it matches.
US Customs doesn't take serial numbers (for the most part).
I've moved several (I've lost count - at least 10) machines over the border in both directions over the last few years. Each time I take a machine into the US, I stop at Canada customs and get a green card. The Canadian agent will take down the machine's title and serial number on the card and send me on my merry way. This card proves to Canada customs *on the way back into Canada* that the machine originated in Canada and is not taxable. And Canada Customs doesn't care if you ever bring the machine back into Canada. The only purpose of a green card is to make it easier for you to get out of paying tax on that particular machine if you take it into the States and then bring it back over the border. People often get green cards for their golf clubs or their cameras or whatever to avoid a hassle from the border guard when re-entering Canada.
However, the green card *can* also show US Customs that you intend to have the machine in the US for only a brief period of time. Why else would you have a green card? Since Canadians can't import goods into the US without filling out a ton of import paperwork and paying the necessary taxes (and duties for items not made in North America), when you want to take a machine into the US, the only easy option is to simply say it's going to the US temporarily (for a show or for repair or something like that). The green card backs up your claim. Once you're in the US, drop off your game wherever it's going and pitch that green card in the garbage. You won't need it anymore.
The green card, however, is a Canadian government document and the US border guard can choose to believe you or insist that you fill out a US "temporary importation" form. You'll have to go into the Customs office and talk to an agent. This is where US customs has the option of taking down details about your machine (Serial number, title, date of manufacture, etc.). If the item being brought into the US isn't proven to have been removed from the US within 6 months (or some other pre-determined time period), you'll have to answer to the US government. But, again, this only applies if you are made to fill out the temporary importation form and this form is generally reserved for new/big/expensive/bulk things. At least, that's what US Customs told me the last time I spoke to them on the phone and asked about this very subject.
I have *never* been asked to fill out the temporary importation form, nor have I ever received anything more than a happy wave when I show my green card to US Customs. American border guards are much, much more preoccupied with preventing drugs and terrorists from entering their country and have many more important things to worry about than you bringing a pinball machine over the border to be sold. If you have a truck full of stuff and you're claiming that they're all show pieces or samples, you might have a problem. If you have one lowly pinball machine, you have little to worry about.
If you buy a machine in the US, get a receipt for whatever amount you feel comfortable claiming and be prepared to pay tax on that amount. If your receipt isn't believable, Canada customs may start doing some digging to determine a value. You don't want this, because they'll make sure it takes a loooong time and they'll find that one stupid loser on ebay who's selling machines for 4x what they're worth and that's what they'll try to make you pay tax on. Meanwhile, you'll be sitting there at the border waiting and waiting and waiting. And they'll probably treat you like a terrorist, too (right Enzo?). Just make sure that whatever receipt you have can be backed up by the seller. Get him to write his name/address/phone number on it so they can contact him to verify if they want to. When in doubt, be honest.
Meanwhile, you'll be sitting there at the border waiting and waiting and waiting. And they'll probably treat you like a terrorist, too (right Enzo?).
My only comment is be honest, not worth the aggravation and FUTURE aggravation, trying to save a few dollars. Every time you go through the border and swipe your passport your record appears. The agents are linked to computers and can easily check the value of pins. They know that pins have become collector items and they are being imported into Canada. You are naive if you think otherwise.
If you think you are smarter than the customs agents and will not get caught, sooner or later it will happen and that is when I will repeat: BE HONEST.
It has been scientifically proven that light is faster than sound. That is why some people seem brilliant........until they open their mouth!
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