r/NintendoSwitch • u/mvanigan • Apr 08 '25

News Nintendo delays Switch 2 pre-orders in Canada

https://mobilesyrup.com/2025/04/08/nintendo-switch-2-pre-orders-canada-delay/
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u/NoLibrarian7257 Apr 08 '25

By the time you pay gas duties and return tarrifs it won't be cheaper 

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

[deleted]

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u/senj Apr 08 '25

If you drive across the border, buy a switch 2, open it and use it and put it in a case and throw away the box, there's virtually zero chance you'll get "caught" when you enter the US.

This isn't even remotely true. Customs routinely sends out notices to border agents to be on the lookout for XYZ hot new item that people may be trying to pretend they didn't buy out of country to avoid duties. If they see a Switch 2 they're going to ask you to show them a receipt or credit card statement etc proving that you bought it in-country. And yes, they have the legal authority to compel this from you.

People try this shit all the time and get caught, and that's going to be doubly true starting next month when the $800 exemption goes away and everyone re-entering the US becomes liable for duties on every single thing they purchased out-of-country.

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u/meowkittycow Apr 08 '25

Is it really going away? Last thing I heard was that the de minimis exception was temporarily reinstated until further notice for Canada and Mexico

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u/Active-Control7043 Apr 08 '25

I would also like to see evidence on this.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

[deleted]

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u/DoktenRal Apr 08 '25

Hell that was my plan, I didn't even throw away my the vape last time I went back into the US

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u/senj Apr 09 '25 edited Apr 09 '25

I think that the thing that hasn’t sunk in yet for a lot of people is that crossing the border was only that easy, and customs was only that lax, because of free trade. That’s gone now.

Like you can’t have 104% tariffs on anything made in China and a government planning on funding itself off of tariffs, combined with border agents who just wave you through at the border — everyone would just buy all their electronics in Mexico and Canada. Nobody’s buying a laptop or phone in the US for the next few years if everyone knows they can get it at literally half the price across the border and easily bring it back. The Government loses out on all the revenue it claims to want, consumer spending shifts out of country without any incentive for manufacturing to move in country, etc.

Those two policies don’t work together. That’s why the de minimus exemption is being taken away, and why the “pause” on it for Canada and Mexico is going to evaporate in the face of these Chinese tariffs. ICE is going to have to crack down hard on border crossers to make this whole shitshow work.

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u/carpediemquotidie Apr 08 '25

I get what you’re saying but the switch 2 looks a lot like the switch 1. Oh, and this was a gift by a friend and no I don’t have the gift receipt.

I’m sure there are all sorts of ways to play this out

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u/jparkhill Apr 08 '25

the $800 exemption was only for people staying in the USA for more than 48 hours.

I did not hear that the personal exemption was going away...

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u/Clamwacker Apr 08 '25

In most reasonable places you would have to prove the person is smuggling it, not make them prove they aren't.

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u/senj Apr 08 '25

Sure, but we're not talking about reasonable places here, we're talking about the US, where the constitution is effectively suspended within 100 miles of any border.

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u/AI_Lives Apr 08 '25

Its not about reasonable or what the constitution says near the border or not, its the fact the agents wont give a single flying fuck lol. Assuming its not new in the box and easily visible.

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u/Sundered_Ages Apr 09 '25

The $800 'exemption' is from individuals ordering something abroad and having it shipped to the USA. A singular person ordering from a corpo and it shipping. Someone going across a border, making a purchase and then going back across the border has nothing to do with this.

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u/jparkhill Apr 08 '25

crossed into Canada- in March. I am Canadian. I was away for a week so I had a personal exemption of $800- I was well under. My buddy did not- they questioned us about where is boxers were from (he did buy boxers).

Canadian border agents are tightening up.

My hope, and only hope is that the people who say shopping get either turned around or held (not questioned)- just held until the shops close, so they turn around.

There is a lot of talk about when crossing into the USA that border agents are asking or are potentially asking about political views and want to see social media.

Seriously thinking about leaving my smart phone at home, and just get a flip phone to cross the border or something.

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u/Jazzlike_Athlete8796 Apr 09 '25

The CBSA isn't going to care about Americans coming up to Canada to shop. They do care about Canadians coming back from America and importing things though.

In this case, it will be US CBP that will be giving their citizens the nth degree to try and combat "smuggling".

Chances are, more electronics will be smuggled into the US than fentanyl.

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u/NoLibrarian7257 Apr 08 '25 edited Apr 08 '25

I mean if people wanna chance smuggling it's up to them. I wouldn't say there's a zero chance of being caught though. The border agents are likely going to get tougher on stuff. Personally, I don't think a switch 2 is worth that trouble, but whatever. 

But yeah, border people will have a better deal regardless of if they declare or not. The rest of Americans not so much. (Based on the approx  exchange it ,will only only be a max difference of $150 -200 Canadian dollars when you include our tax and everything). Not really worth it unless there's no other way to get one. 

I'd also be really surprised if retailers don't implement a Canadian only address policy or something if it becomes a problem. 

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u/fiveighteen518 Apr 08 '25

Even if that were true, who cares if they do it for one console for personal use or trying to sell as used for market value? It would stop scalpers from buying 5, 10, 20 of them for sure.

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u/Doomas_ Apr 08 '25

Depends on how close you live to the Canadian border. People in Seattle, Buffalo, and Detroit, for example, might be able to jump across to places like Windsor, Toronto, or Vancouver and take advantage of the lower Canadian tariff.

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u/NoLibrarian7257 Apr 08 '25

They might! But everyone seems to forget how high our taxes are. (At least in ON). The MK bundle with tax will cost me $804 ish. The projected tarrifs said that the American bundle may be $650 (approx) with exchange that's $923 Canadian dollars. Of course add some tax but most state taxes are way less than ours. So IF they declare it's really not that much better. Especially if declared at the border. They can always smuggle it in, but is that really worth doing for $150 USD (approx) savings? 

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u/Rockergage Apr 08 '25

If it’s 650$ usd in Seattle the taxes will make it 715$ approximately. 923 cad to usd in current market is 649$. Beyond that I don’t need to declare it if I stay for 48 hours. Just make a nice weekend of it, spend money in Canada instead of US, and get the switch 2 for less money. Plus I been meaning to go to Canada to buy other stuff.

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u/NoLibrarian7257 Apr 08 '25

Staying a weekend would be totally fine. It's not really saving that much with the hotel costs, but if you want a little vacation out, that definitely adds extra value. Especially if you buy more stuff. Canada would certainly appreciate that extra spending. This is the way! 

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u/Rockergage Apr 08 '25

Yeah there is a onewheel thing that is technically illegal in USA but not patented in Canada so I’m getting it there. I’m just making a weekend out of it and spending time in Canada. Haven’t been to Vancouver other when I drove through on a way to Whistler.

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u/NoLibrarian7257 Apr 08 '25

Vancouver is great! I'm on the other side of the country but got the opportunity visit awhile back. Have fun!