Remember when crossing the border for American deals was the weekend hobby of choice for savvy Brampton shoppers? Those days are officially OVER, friends… like, not even close anymore.
With new US tariffs turning “bargain hunting” into “budget bleeding,” local shopping isn’t just patriotic—it’s financially genius!
The Great Border Shopping Myth: Busted by Tariffs
Let’s be honest: we’ve all done the mental gymnastics to justify a cross-border shopping trip.
“Sure, I’ll spend $60 on gas, but I’ll save $80 on these designer jeans!” (Riiiiight…)
“The exchange rate isn’t that bad if you squint and hold your breath!” (Spoiler alert: it is.)
But the new US tariffs have changed the math dramatically. As of March 4, 2025, the U.S. has imposed a hefty 25% tariff on nearly all goods imported from Canada (with energy products getting a slightly better 10% rate). But what goes around comes around… and those designer outlets in Buffalo? Not the bargain basement they once were.
The Real Cost Breakdown: Border Crossing vs. Brampton Shopping
Let’s crunch some numbers that will make your wallet breathe a sigh of relief:
Cross-Border Shopping Trip (Buffalo)
- Gas for round trip (320 km at current GTA price of 136.9¢/L): $35
- Peace Bridge toll: $8.50 CAD
- Lunch: $20
- Parking: Free at Fashion Outlets (but time spent finding a spot: priceless)
- Border wait time: Currently low, but can vary wildly during peak shopping seasons
- New tariff markup on goods: 25% on most items
- Exchange rate: Another bite from your budget
- Total before purchases: $63.50+ (not counting your valuable time)
Local Brampton Shopping Trip
- Seven Eleven Taxi round trip to Bramalea City Centre: $10-$20 (depending on your starting location)
- No border wait times: 0 minutes of life wasted
- No foreign transaction fees: 0%
- No surprise duties at border: 0%
- Supporting local economy: Every dollar spent locally generates a multiplier effect
- Total before purchases: $10-$20
That’s a difference of at least $78 before you even buy anything! And with the new tariffs, those “deals” across the border have essentially evaporated faster than your patience in a customs line… which, let’s face it, wasn’t exactly abundant to begin with.
“But What About Selection?” (The Last Defense of Border Shoppers)
We hear you. The allure of American shopping used to be the selection. But have you actually visited Brampton’s retail scene lately?
Square One, Bramalea City Centre (currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation of its South Food Court!), and Downtown Brampton shops have all upped their game dramatically. The secret? Canadian retailers saw these tariffs coming and stocked up accordingly.
Local shops are reporting up to 40% increases in foot traffic since the tariffs hit. And honestly… can you blame people? Same brands, better prices, zero border headache.
Transportation Economics: The Hidden Shopping Expense
Here’s where it gets interesting (or depressing, if you’re still border-shopping). The average Brampton resident now spends:
- 15+ hours monthly in shopping-related transportation
- $200+ monthly on transportation costs to shopping destinations
- Significantly higher stress levels when driving to crowded shopping centers
We’ve been hearing from customers all month long about their border shopping “revelations.” One calculated they’d spent 22 hours of life last year JUST SITTING in border traffic… 22 hours! That’s almost an entire day of your life. Gone. Now they’re booking taxis to Bramalea, browsing stress-free, getting help with bags, and—wait for it—actually saving money.
The Smart Shopper’s Strategy: Local Transportation + Local Shopping
The winning formula in today’s economic climate?
- Shop local (avoid tariffs, exchange rates, and border waits)
- Skip the parking nightmare (especially with summer construction season)
- Use local transportation (turn shopping into relaxation, not a driving test)
- Support your community (every dollar spent locally generates $7 in economic benefit)
Let’s talk about the psychological cost of cross-border shopping… because wow, has it always been underestimated. Factor in the stress, the time, those new wallet-draining tariffs—and suddenly local shopping with efficient transportation isn’t just nice… it’s the only rational choice a sane person would make!
Your Tariff-Beating Shopping Hack
Ready to embrace the smarter way to shop? Download the Seven Eleven Taxi app and use code BOOK10 for 10% off your next shopping trip ride.
Whether it’s Bramalea City Centre, Downtown Brampton, or any local shopping destination, we’ll get you there with:
- No parking stress
- No gas expenses
- No border nightmares
- Just pure, efficient shopping joy
Because in a world of increasing tariffs, the smartest purchase might be the ride that gets you to the local deals.
Download our app now and keep those shopping dollars where they belong—in your wallet and your community.
Your move, tariffs. Brampton shoppers are staying put, saving big, and shopping smarter.