Re: [Paddlewise] Run for the border

At 08:36 PM 6/1/00 -0400, Michael Daly wrote:
>
>At one time Ontario sales tax was refundable; I thought it still was (it was
>considered good for tourism).  Wendy says it ain't so I'd suggest it's
>worth double checking.

I got the impression from a couple people that it was, but no one that I
can recall came out and said it and I was really more concerned with
another issue at the time. We'll know for sure soon.

>> Another thing I discovered this morning is fees for conversion between US
>> and Canadian funds -- one local bank charges 20%!!! (Needless to say, I did
>> not avail myself of their services . . .)  A credit card company I just got
>> checking with charges 1%. That's do-able, I guess . . . beats twenty
percent.
>
>If you don't want to use the credit card, exchange your money in Canada.

We've switched credit cards around a bit recently, looking for a lower
rate. A credit card we haven't used for a while has a 0% fee. Guess which
one I'm taking?

>I'll never understand the difference between US and Canadian banks on
currency
>exchange.  Here we can get US credit cards, US bank accounts, exchange money
>in just about any big city bank within driving range of the US border.  We
cash
>US cheques (checks?) with ease.  In the US, you get hassles on exchange,
usurious
>(word?) exchange rates, long waits and hassles on cashing Canadian cheques
etc.

It sounds like an easy rip-off to me. The 20% bank would have gotten me if
I hadn't been paying attention.  The bank manager explained that the
exchange rates are better closer to the border; we're 100 miles from it.
But still, darn it, you're right. Nationocentricism, or something like
that, I guess. 

Well, unless something untoward happens, I'm off for the border at
oh-dark-thirty Saturday. Wish me luck. I don't know if I'm coming back with
a kayak, but I should have my ducks pretty well in a row if I do.

-- Wes

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