Any idea on what the dollar/euro limits are for bring stuff back into Spain.

Wife and I are in the mist of a 2.5 week vacation spending all those wonderfully strong Euros Canada is cheap but nothing compared to the States!! Took a day trip to Buffalo from Toronto and came back with a trunk load of stuff. No wonder Americans feel heart pain when they first shop here.

Anyways due to the sheer number of Europeans shopping in America the custom authorities are starting to crack down on those who bring stuff in without declaring it.

Any idea what the limits are. Wife thought 175 euros each.

Thanks

BTW when the Wife flew back from the states in the Spring she was stopped at customs and asked about the large box (new and expensive bike friday folding bike) she was bringing in. Since she spoke English they assumed she was American and let her through.

Actual question was "where are you coming from" not "where do you live" not that she was going to correct them

Here's a simple example of why everyone is shopping in the US

Skechers shoes: approx 75€ a pair here. She got 8 pairs of shoes (including 2 free kids) for under $200 That alone pretty much paid for the flights over!

This goes without saying, Rob, and although the dollar is creeping up just a little, the € is still much, much stronger and gives people in the Euro zone more buying power, and besides, clothing is much, much cheaper in the US, especially jeans. I wouldn't even look at a pair of Levi's here in Madrid.

Besides, why would I do that when I can go to Alcampo and get a pair of jeans for 11€ that fits my needs and doesn't break the bank? I, personally, don't need name brand in my life when it comes to clothes. Give me something basic and without someone's name written across my shirt or ass and I am happy.

Shawn

hey Rob.

i agree with shawn, especially on the brands thing. you can get nice clothing at a decent price here in spain if you know where to shop and are not a name brand addict. try alcampo, carrefour, c&a, etc...

as for the topic of this thread, i am not sure but when i went back to the u.s.a. with my fam. this past xmas, we brought back a lot more than 175 euros each worth of stuff.

i think common sense should prevail. you can bring back a camcorder worth $1,000 for yourself for personal use but not 5 of them new in their boxes as if you are stopped and they find them, it is pretty obvious that your intent is to sell them.

likewise with clothing although it is simple to mask clothes as "used", just take off the tags. we brough back a lot of baby clothes for our son lync and a lot were from thrift shops but a lot new as well. we simply took the tags odd the new stuff and mixed it in with the second-hand.

saludos,
jer...

It seems to be more of a problem is you fly into T4 than the other terminals. The wife was stopped at t4 but T1 the luggage is brought straight from the plane, so no time to scan it.

There was also a show on Germany TV a while back about how German customs is paying alot more attention to what people are bring back.

Speaking of clothing the biggest issue you'll face if your an average American or Canadian is size, the Spanish are really really small, bought the only place I shop is C&A. Carrefour carries XXL but I wouldn't be caught dead wearing there stuff outside of home.

Rob,

I shop at C&A also and I love their clothing. Very basic and not a lot of words and designs acroos the chest or ass. As I get older, I am looking for clothing that I can wear for years, without it looking old or dated. C&A fits me needs in that department.

Shawn

I bought some T shirts from carrefour a while back for, I think, 7 euros, recently I saw a bunch of C&A tee's on for 4,50 needless to say I bought the store out of all the XXLs.

Interesting Running shoes tend to cost the same the world over after exchange. You might save a bit but I've stopped buying them here.

WAY TO GO, ROB!

I was in Alcampo today (PÍO XII) to get some things there and picked up a pair of jeans for 4,99€ and will be going back for more. They had a variety of sizes and my 34s look great on me.

Shawn

Hope they're nice and tight on you shawn, you know how I lurve mens bums

funny, so does shawn

saludos,
jer...

Well, it's been a while since I've touched one, but hey, everything in due time, hehe.

I am going back for more of those jeans at Alcampo. Not letting a deal like that go and for such a good price.

I love Alcampos so much I wish I could marry it.

Shawn

quote:

Originally posted by Redwood:
They had a variety of sizes and my 34s look great on me.

Shawn

my lord it's been a long long time since I fit into 34's after holidays it's going to be some serious dieting time, too many family dos with pie and ice cream

Sorry if this puts a damper on anyone's parade, but I am just wondering if Alcampo, Carrefour, etc, are as evil as Walmart..

Candice.

please explain what you mean by "evil" (why you think walmart is evil) since i personally would kill for a walmart and walmart prices here in madrid.

saludos,
jer...

There are several reasons why Candice thinks this way.

1. Whenever a Wal-Mart comes into town, mom and pop shops close down. They simply cannot compete with Wal-Mart.

2. Wal-Mart has been known and taken to court for their practice of making their employees less than full-time by giveing them 39.5 hours a week. They are not available for benefits.

3. Wal-Mart was recently taken to court because they passed women over for management positions.

I look at it this way, no matter where you shop, some company has done something that goes against ethics. For example, those who LOVE IKEA, would be shocked to find out that they were caught using child labor.

So, Candice, please do some research before you say just Wal-Mart is evil and see where you do shopping if it's any better. Target, for example, has done the same to their employees, as far as not making them full-time. Hey, there's a reason why those prices are so low.

We all have to shop somewhere and as long as ALcampo has jeans for 5,99€, I'm there. At the end of the day, child labor, sweat shops and unethical business practices will continue, whether we shop there or not.

Shawn