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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_home.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Run for the border
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2000 20:36:46 -0400
Wes Boyd wrote:

> At 06:22 AM 6/1/00 -0700, malisle wrote:
>
> >
> >You'd better check to see if it's all the sales tax that can be refunded
> or just
> >the GST, i.e., the federal tax.  I believe it's this 7% federal portion
> that is
> >refundable, but I could be wrong.
>

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.

>
> 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.

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.

I've always thought it odd that the Canadian companies (at least one that I know
of) would have such a big difference between what they charge here versus the
US.  I would have though some near-border US vendor would cry foul and bring
in the NAFTA police.  I can't see someone in, say, Detroit, beating the price of the
same kayak in Windsor and being able to stay in business.

Mike

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From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Run for the border
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2000 18:42:43
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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