See my thread under 7.00-16 tires wanted.
I have set up an account with shiptotheborder.com and it is called a Kinek account. You will be given a specific user ID number to use for packages as well as your choice of border points. There are a number of bonded secure businesses on the US side that are part of a network which provides this service-no minimum fees, no PO Box number etc. You will pay a fee for each parcel delivered to the US address and they will hold for 30 days. The fees seem quite reasonable, dependant on which drop location you use, some are open weekends, and some have dock services for pallets.
Your address will apear something like this;
Joe Blow
12345678
Storage Central
Buffalo, NY
12345
You can change ship to addresses anytime, your user ID stays the same. You can use for Paypal orders, ebay, private purchases, Amazon etc etc
Many US dealers will simply not ship items cross border OR to a P.O Box neither. This gives them a confirmed, real US address to send items to. They do have limits as to what can be received and certainly do not condone certain illegal items as they reserve right to inspect suspicious packages.
Bob, as far as saving dollars on tires, at the moment I am looking into this and there is a small, not huge saving over Canadian dealers. Depends on what your time is worth etc.
eg. 7.00-16 STA NDCC at Willys Acres are $169 each plus HST (5 tires = $845 plus $109.85HST, $954.85)
They are $134US from various US dealers, plus shipping, plus HST, plus gas to drive cross border to pick them up at the border.( 5 tires= $670 plus 87.10HST, 757.10) plus a tank of fuel, lunch etc and whatever junk the signifigant other decides she wants if you take her with you. Lets say maybe $100 difference...
Tire prices have taken a huge hike in the last year.
