Geez, my body has been put through the wringer this week. As if I wasn’t still sore from my Wednesday basketball game, I just spent my entire Saturday shopping from store to store in Erie, PA. Shopping is a great workout!
I usually go on these bus tour shopping trips once a year, or so. But now that the Canadian dollar has reached parity with it’s U.S. counterpart, I may start doing cross-border shopping a lot more often.
As for the bus trip, I went with an organizer named Sandy. Very knowledgeable woman–knows where to shop and most importantly border regulations. She’s been doing bus tours for years. Round trip cost each person $45CAN. We left Toronto 6:30ish, and reached PA a little after 10am. Luckily the bus wasn’t as packed as it usually is. It was about 1/2 full so everyone got their own double-seat to crash on.
Probably the best bargain I scored was purchasing a hardcover Tupac Shakur Legacy book at Borders Books. This amazing scrapbook, complete with photos, stories and removable reproductions of handwritten song lyrics, poetry and other personal papers has a list price of $59.95CAN ($45.00US). What did I pay for it? $4-freakin-99!!! :D I’m telling you, I cannot believe that I got this book for that price. I was at the cash paying for my cookbooks (not that I need them, because I’m such a great cook ;) ) and then I turned around and saw the bargain section of books on a piled display. There was the Tupac book with a red discount sticker on it for $4.99. I should’ve picked up the other 2 copies that were left (I gave this copy to my friend when I got back to Toronto as a belated birthday gift because Borders didn’t have a different book in stock). My friend who I was shopping with in Erie picked up Inside Hollywood: The Greatest Celebrity Photos from US Weekly for $4.99 from Borders as well.
Big Lots has some great deals on snack foods. I got a lot of stuff that I can add to my lunch bag when I head to work every day, as well as some spice grinders and Revlon makeup brushes ($1.50!).
At the Burlington Coat Factory in Millcreek Mall, I got this super-cute Deréon bag for $25. I wish I had more time (and money) to spend in Millcreek mall, because I saw a lot of other things that I wanted to purchase as well. Plus the Victoria’s Secret store was so tempting! I was going to purchase a sterling silver sterling cubic zirconia necklace with a cruxifix pendant, but the stupid lady in the line in front of me just had to question and double check each of her perchases with the cashier, ponder about whether to get the item or not, and then ask if she got her discount. She was taking too damn long, so I had to put the necklace back and rush to catch the bus before we headed to our next stop.
Marshalls (Like Winners in Canada) has some good stuff as well. My friend picked up a super-nice Baby Phat bag for $59. I was tempted to pick up a trendy Kathy Van Zeeland bag, but I stopped myself (that’s will-power for you!). Got some sexy gold dress sandals and knock-around flats from Payless for $14 and $9 respectively. I’m glad I did, because Payless’ prices in the U.S. is much cheaper than here in Canada–plus they actually have more of a selection of shoes in my big-foot size. Also got some hair products for my happily nappy hair at Rose Beauty and Fashion (although I wish I had gotten a flat iron).
I was disappointed this time around because we didn’t get to stop at the Wal-Mart Super Center: the last time we went to Erie, I picked up this big bucket of chicken–wings, popcorn chicken, buffalo strips–for $8! But I settled for a sandwich from Subway since my belly was rumbling by the end of my hectic day. Next time I plan on going I’ll make sure to suggest some notable stops (e.g. more mall time).
Time management is everything on these types of trips. The bus has to be back at the Canadian border at a certain time, so your shopping stops and hours are divvied up throughout the day. The tour guide will tell you how much time you have at a certain store, outlet complex or mall and then tell you to make sure that you’re back at the pick-up spot at a certain time. Of course you have some of those careless people who hold everyone up by not heading the rules and coming back late… one of these days luck won’t be on their side when they have to catch a cab to meet back up with the rest of the group after the bus leaves them!
After leaving Erie around 5:30, we got back to Toronto at 8:30pm. The borders were smooth sailing both ways. There were no line ups at customs, probably since it wasn’t a long-weekend.
All-in-all a very good trip. I spent about $200, and for all the stuff I brought home, it was well worth it (thank goodness getting back through customs was problem-free!). The next time I visit the States will most likely be for Black Friday aka a shop-a-holic’s dream–the day after Thanksgiving. But I think I’ll rent a car and drive down with my friends, so we can have more time at the stores we’d like to visit.
hey we did some cross border shopping on friday too! we hit the fashion outlet store in niagara and the walden galleria mall. It was good but we had been to those places before. It sounds like you really know some good spots though! we should plan a girls trip to the states sometime soon!
I haven’t been shopping in Niagara/Buffalo in years! A girls trip to the U.S. sounds great! :D
Hi there
these shopping trips sound great, been to buffalo a few times, would love to go to erie PA, do you the buss tour company name? i dont wasnt to drive. i would probaby do a multy day tour 2 days 1 night or so, any names?? thanks
Hey Dina,
Erie is a great place to shop… no tax on clothing! I’m tempted to go there again soon since the Canadian dollar is so high, and I’m in need of some winter clothes. I always go with Sandy’s Bus Tours: http://sandysbustours.ca . Visit her website to get more detailed contact info and give her a call regarding her next schedule of trips. I think her multi-day tours are mainly to NYC, but I think they’ve driven to Grove City PA before and stayed overnight. Good luck shopping! :)
hey! where does this bus tour leave from…Ontario…Torornto…Mississauga…Brampton?
Hey Cheryl… Sandy’s bus makes 3 stops every Saturday to pick up passengers that have reserved seats: Scarborough Town Centre, Dufferin & Lawrence, and Square One Shopping Centre.
What mall does the bus take you to in Erie?
Hey Sharon,
It depends on what requests are made by the travellers prior to the trip. Each time I went though we visited Millcreek Mall (always a stop… lots of stores inside and surrounding).
Hi there, my friend and I are looking for a bus tour to Pennsylvania for next Friday (30th) or Saturday. We would like to stay over night but I am having a very hard time finding anything online. How does one book a bus tour to PA? I’ve tried google and nothing comes up…are their specific bus companies that offer these trips? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Hey Carley,
Sorry for the late reply! I hope you found a bus shopping trip to the states. There’s usually a long listing of bus shopping tour operators in Share Newspaper (you’ll find this at most West Indian grocery or hair stores). There’s also Safeway Tours and Tai Pan tours which offer overnight bus shopping trips. I usually book with Sandy’s Bus Tours (info in my original posting). Good luck!
Hi:
I am thinking of renting a vehicle & drive down to Buffalo to do some shopping. WE drove to Amherst Boulevard Mall and Marshalls Plaza in Buffalo did some shopping but I do not beleive we hit the right spots.:( Also can anyone tell me where the good shopping areas in Niagara are. Thanks for your help.
I do not want to drive too far as Amherst to shop this time. So any information on shopping areas where I can get some good deals, would be greatly appreciated. Merci
Hey Shannie,
When you’re heading to Buffalo a must-stop is at Walden Galleria Shopping Centre. The mall and the area surrounding it has a lot of great shops (esp. Burlington Coat Factory). If you’re sticking with Niagara, try the Fashion Outlets on Military Road. When I drove to Downtown Buffalo last week it took me less than 1 hour 45 minutes to reach from the GTA.
What bus tours go to the Walden Galleria? I want to go on a day trip from Hamilton or Toronto on the weeked of May10 08. Let me know!
Hey Terri, I posted the link for Sandy’s Bus Tours above. I know for sure she stops at Walden whenever she goes to Buffalo. I’m pretty sure that most of the other bus tours stop there as well since it’s a huge mall. There’s always a long listing of bus tours that depart from Toronto in issues of Share Newspaper (usually available in West Indian shops and hair supply stores). If anything try to get in contact with Sandy via her website above and just ask when her next stop to Buffalo is.
Hi Monique, thanks for dropping by borderdeals.ca. Your review of the bus tour and shopping trip is very accurate, honest, and informative.
If anyone wants to see a complete list of bus companies that have shopping tours to various US shopping destinations you can also check the following post:
http://borderdeals.ca/2008/05/19/getting-on-the-right-route/
Monique, let us know if you go on any other shopping trips. I’m tempted to try a Chicago trip. Its a very scenic city and the shopping is supposed to be very good.(like New York City).
just returned yesterday from my first ever shopping trip to buffalo with Sandy. Had a fun day and met some cool people. border crossing was a breeze. hey cheryl, sorry i couldnt go to Erie Pa with you…. we talked inside macdonalds . How was your trip ???
Wow.. though you blogged about your trip 2 yrs ago, this has helped me tremendously in my search for a bus trip!
It’s funny that I stumbled across your ad a week before I was looking to travel to buffalo or Erie via car.
Thinking I may do the bus trip instead.
Definitely would love to grab some products for my hapily napily hair too :)
Thanks so much for the info!
Does anyone have the names of bus companies going from Toronto to Erie for Black Friday?
Thanks for the 411 on Sandy’s bus tours…I will be sure to give her a call!!! Peace!
Hi there,
Planning a road trip to Erie to do some shopping however, google will not tell me where all the wonderful shopping is! Can you please let me know where the hot spots are so the weekend will be worth our while.
Thanks,
Stephanie
Hello i am wondering if anyone used a bus company called Heatherington & Associates before, the located in Thornhill Ontario, and what is the feedback. I used Parkingson Tours few times they are okay, one of the good thing the pick up and drop off at few subway stations.
Thank-you so much for writing this blog … my sister and I giggled the whole way through reading it … you sound like us! Thanks for the tips !!!
Hi Dina,
I tried to link to sandysbustours.ca but the web page didn’t come up. There was a message saying that I needed to sign in or log in but no options to do so. Do you have any phone information on Sandy that I might be able to contact her that way?
Thanks
Denise, the hosting company put up a message that the site will be operative by 9pm… so try checking back in a few hours. Next time I see it up I’ll be sure to post the phone contact info for Sandy’s Bus Tours here.
I have thinking about going on a shopping trip for a long time and after reading your comments I am undecided wether to go to Bufflo or Pennsylvania? Which one is better/Cheaper?
hey ladies I was wondering on going to buffalo for black friday shopping this would be my first time thinking of takeing a bus tour this way i can relaxe on the drive there and back and not have to deal with all the traffic. but was wondering what the wait is like at US customs crossing over with all the bus’s going over and every one haveing to get off the bus to go through customs does that take a long time or do they just come on the bus and check passports? would it be faster for me to just drive my self ??
I had a decent time a few years back. But i recently set up another trip and this time she was very unreliable. I planned to go and went through hell to change shifts at work and like the person above me, she called me and canceled due to the bus not being filled. Very disappointed because it was my wife’s birthday and i was planing on taking her shopping in grove city, Pennsylvania. I haven’t been able to find any other bus trips that go to Grove city Pennsylvania, if any one knows any please inform me. thanks
I went on a bus trip with Sandy’s for the first and to be honest it was a blast, this lady really knows what she’s doing and i spend like $156 and my suitcase was pack. It was hassle free going and coming through the border and it was Memorial weekend, I would deff go back on the next holiday trip. IT WAS FUN.
ps: I’m ffrom toronto and would like to go with someone on my next visit to the state, which is Erie Penn…:)
Hey ladies
I was just wondering on these Sandy tours are there any men on the buses or is it just women?
Thanks