lilly

Hi,
Wanted to take advantage of the good knock off handbags while in Bangkok but am concerned that there might be issues crossing the borders back home into Canada?
Aren't these things considered illegal? Has anyone else had difficulty? I know if I can limit myself to one I can carry it back ? but what if two or three steal my heart?
Perhaps someone can share American experiences if there are no other (knock off buying) Canadians haunting this site.

Thanks in advance
Lilly

sandi

If you're into knock-offs, all I can tell you is that we saw knock-offs in Myanmar (Burma), but not in Thailand - not BKK, not Chiang Mai, not around the Golden Triangle - that's not to say they aren't/can't be found somewhere. What we did notice was that there wasn't a large selection from which to choose and the prices were the same if not more then the knock-offs that can be found in the States - Chinatown in NYC and many street corners around Manhattan (and I'm sure in other cities, as well). We weren't even tempted to bring these back as gifts.

As to clearing Customs, I can only tell you what my experience has been returning to the States - have never been asked to open bags regardless what I claimed on my re-entry forms, and no matter from where I was returning - have never been questioned.

However, from your question I can't tell whether you're returning straight to Canada from Thailand or thru some other country - the States? In the end you have to do only what you are comfortable with.

BillT

Plenty of knockoffs available all around BKK. Try MBK - look for the vendors in the aisleways- they are there you can't miss them. Also the markets have some. As long as you are not bringing in a large quantity I don't think it will be a problem for you. my wife has been doing this on every trip to Asia.

Walter_Walltotti

I think most customs officers will suspect that a plane from Thailand will have about 350 aboard most of which will have some fake purchases on them.

I would not have thought you would have a problem unless it appears you are bringing them into to resell

emtravel

I brought two bags from HKG and both were in the suitcase but we were not asked to open it.

randig

Wejust returned from Bangkok and Hong Kong and are Canadian. My friends had knock bags confiscated during the summer returning from New York at the Toronto airport. Yes they are considered a copyright infringement. And who wants to declare them and pay more duty than the cost of the item. That in mind I was very concerned about my purchases. I bought a knock off purse in the mall area by the Stadium skytrain station. It was a YSL bag and I bought it too quickly. Take a good look at what your buying because not all knock offs are good.Besides that purchase I was not so successful shopping in Bangkok but Hong Kong and the border town of Shenzen was another matter.
That was the shopping mecca for me. And I did buy four more purses and much more. We also bought our kids dvd's of movies that are still in the theatres. They were $1.00Cdn each!
I left home with only one purse, because of the buying I was planning and only two purses purchased were designer names.
I sweated through customs only for them to wave us on. Drats, I could have bought so much more!
We live in Toronto and I can't shop any more! I'm comparing prices. I bought serveral pasmina shawls with fur trim that were around $20.00. You can get the same thing at Holt's for around $300.00
I brought lots of gifts home such as silk scarves and shawls and woven peasant purses (for teenage daugthers/nieces) these were cheap. If you are looking for knock off purses ask again on the site in a different format, there are lots of Bangkok experts someone should be able to tell you where to shop.
Have fun,

kirby

Hi randig - where in Hong Kong did you shop? It sounds like you bought more there than in BKK. We are travelling to BKK and Hong Kong next week, but are doing Hong Kong second, so I want to save some shopping room if it is better there.

RoyalJelly

Buy your knockoff bags, put them away in your luggage. When you come to canada customs at the airport, try to dress very casual and tell them that you're returning from HK (don't mention thailand unless they ask). Don't bother creating a list of things you purchased, since I did that in the past and got searched or questioned some more because of it. Play it cool and hope they wave you on like they did for us. Just be prepared to have your bag(s) confiscated if you do happen to get searched and don't want to pay the crazy duties on the cost of the real thing. Good luck!