Topic: US Customs Agent: Are they REALLY this Clueless about Canada??

[rrocket]

Today, I went to the US like I often do.  My set of new Michelin X-Ice Xi2 had come in.  Ordered on Friday, arrived today..AWESOME!!

Here's my conversation with the US Customs agent:

Agent: Where are you going?

Me: To pick up some tires I ordered.

Agent: Can't you buy them in Canada?

Me: Yes. But one of our provinces, Quebec, has a mandatory winter tire law, so some sizes are often in short supply because of the great demand in Quebec.

Agent: Wow!  I didn't know you needed winter tires to drive in Windsor.

Me: No..I don't. It's mandatory in Quebec only.

Agent: (Blank Stare..Like I'm from Mars).

Me: Windsor is NOT in Quebec..it's in Ontario.  Difference province.

Agent: Oh.

Me: (Blank Stare...Like they're from Mars.

Agent: Have a nice day.


I could not believe it.  Don't you think that the agent who is working on the border of Canada, specifically Ontario, would know at least a LITTLE bit about the border they are policing??

Guess not.

[initial_D]

He can spell Ontario and knows Windsor, a smartie already.

[The Mighty Duck]

Agent: Can't you buy them in Canada?

Me: Yes. But one of our provinces, Quebec, has a mandatory winter tire law, so some sizes are often in short supply because of the great demand in Quebec.

You confused him with all those bigs words.  Like "mandatory" and "supply"...  and "the".

[Triple Bob]

Agent: Can't you buy them in Canada?

Me: Yes. But one of our provinces, Quebec, has a mandatory winter tire law, so some sizes are often in short supply because of the great demand in Quebec.

You confused him with all those bigs words.  Like "mandatory" and "supply"...  and "the".

 

 

[rrocket]

It was a woman actually.  But that didn't have anything to do with it.  I could see the conversation going the same way with a male custom agent...

[safristi]

how can it be MAN datory ta have wimmen in Windsor......aren't they all from Quebec.......

[dr_spock]

I don't think they really care about what's going on in Canada.  Their job is to protect the border and keep undesirables out.  It might have been easier if you said you got a better deal buying it in the U.S.A.   

[rrocket]

Yea..but don't you think knowing at least about the PROVINCE (not even the country) that borders you and that you are "guarding" is important....even a little?

[wing]

I'm sure you watch the Detroit ABC news ... no?

Well it's 3 hours long, from like 5-8 or 4-7 or something.

They talk about Detroit and Washington and lots of other things and the UAW, but NEVER not once do they mention Canada .

Watch the CTV news or CBC news they sure mention the USA a lot.... yeah you get the picture. 

[barrie1]

So what else is new?  Thats a normal part of life around our area as well.

[Brig]

Agent: Wow!  I didn't know you needed winter tires to drive in Windsor.

Me: No..I don't. It's mandatory in Quebec only.

Agent: (Blank Stare..Like I'm from Mars).

I think this may have been the point of confusion.  He doesn't see the need for winter tires in Windsor, and you countered that it's mandatory in Quebec only.  Since you're not living in Quebec, and since he's not a driving enthusiast, he wasn't understanding your need for winter tires.  That's how I read it, anyway.

As an aside, there is a city of Windsor in Quebec.  But that's moot in this discussion.

[tpl]

I bet the Roman customs people did not give a damn about the supplies and prices  of spearheads in the lands of the Huns and Goths either.

[Triple Bob]

What's a greek urn?

A little bit less than a Roman!

 

[tenpenny]

Maybe, like many English Canadians, she just doesn't care about Quebec?

[dr_spock]

What's a greek urn?

A little bit less than a Roman!

 

Groan... How did our immigration border folks let you into our country with that one?  Can we deport you now?