Tom Says: “It isn’t all It’s cracked up to be…”
This past weekend was among other things, my wife Diana’s birthday.
So, we planned a trip to Portland Maine for a little cross border shopping. With dollar signs in our eyes and how much money we would save with the good ol’ Canadian dollar slightly above par.
So, lets see — There was a tank-and-a-half of gas, and even at American prices, that amounts to about sixty bucks. There was a Saturday and Sunday night at the Maine Mall in Portland which ran about $120 a night. Then, there were all those meals which amounted to about $150.
So, when you add it all up, it cost us a little more than $330 before my wife bought her first pair of boxer shorts for my son.
I remember Freeport when we went there with our kids years ago, but this past weekend — it was a cold zoo.
Did she save any money at The Gap? Abercrombie and Fitch? Ralph Lauren? L.L. Bean? …or any of the other retailers she visited? I don’t have any idea… And how about the stores we went into in the Maine Mall? Far too many to mention in this short space.
Time at the border was not a problem. Saturday morning, 6:30 AM, we were the third car seeking entry into the United States. Sunday afternoon, at 2:30 PM, surprisingly — we were the eighth car in line waiting for re-entry into Canada. And, as for the Canadian Customs Agent on staff, she couldn’t have been nicer.
The entire re-entry process took at least 30 seconds.
Oh, and by the way, did I mention the best deal of the trip?
At the Duty Free Store in Calais, Maine — they had a special sale… Two forty-ounce bottles of Crown Royal for $35 Canadian. They had other specials which were equally as good. However, they interested me not.
Five hours on the road getting there, plus the wear and tear on your car I think has cured Tom and Diana Young of having to cross the border once again for cross border shopping for awhile. We were able to acquire some things not available in the Canadian market place — but from here on in — I’m sure whatever we need we can find in Canada.
All-in-all, was it worth it? Both of us agree, the answer is no.
I’m Tom Young.