Originally Posted by
PhotoJim
Sane people will declare the real number, no matter what it is.
I tally it all up and make a sheet showing the breakdown, and hand it to the officer with my passport (if I'm not using NEXUS anyway). I'm sure I'll get an exception one day, but so far they've always believed it. I have the stack of receipts in my hand, visible.
As often as not, even if I'm significantly over my exemption, I'm let through without paying, unless I'm way over my alcohol exemption.
I also prepare a detailed list, split out by family member when on vacation, and converted to Canadian dollars at a reasonable exchange rate.
Whether new or used, expensive or cheap, everything must be declared.