Another Vancity Roller...

[Space Moose]

Yep, $95 in duties and 14% tax totalling around $90 for the kilt, sporran, and kilt-pin. FedEx got their cut too.

I'm going to see if I can find some way of reducing it, but I'm not hopeful. Anytime I think about taxes and duties though I think of the good that half of that money does in Canada (the other half of the taxes being squandered by the government). It makes me feel a little better. Just a little though.

Craig

[Colin]

Yep, $95 in duties and 14% tax totalling around $90 for the kilt, sporran, and kilt-pin. FedEx got their cut too.

I'm going to see if I can find some way of reducing it, but I'm not hopeful. Anytime I think about taxes and duties though I think of the good that half of that money does in Canada (the other half of the taxes being squandered by the government). It makes me feel a little better. Just a little though.

Craig

That's suprising to me. I would have thought that you would have only had to pay the duty and not the tax as well. After all, isn't duty in lew of taxes when buying products from out of the country? Interesting, I will have to look into that.

By the way, the kilt and all looks great, but try some lovat green hose. They may work well with the tartan and give you another option. I think they are around $25 at Tartantown and House of Maclaren. I like the charcoal though, I will add some of those to my next order (matches the jacket).

[flyv65]

By the way, the kilt and all looks great, but try some lovat green hose.

Indeed; lovat green, cream, and lovat blue (with a matching lovat blue polo shirt) work quite well. Let me add smartwool socks and hiking boots w/ that tartan and a t shirt make for comfy hiking, too.

Bryan...I love this tartan myself...

[Hamish]

That's suprising to me. I would have thought that you would have only had to pay the duty and not the tax as well. After all, isn't duty in lew of taxes when buying products from out of the country? Interesting, I will have to look into that.
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Colin, here in the United Kingdom we are expected to pay Taxes and Duties when importing goods from North America, and anywhere else outside the European Union. Additionally, the Post Office make a Handling Charge for collecting the aforementioned Taxes and Duties as do the various Courier companies (DHL, etc). So, you're not alone!!

[Space Moose]

Yes, theoretically duties are a penalty you are forced to pay so that you shop in-country, whereas taxes are one of the two inevitabilities in life that the Federal and Provincial government takes off of any of your spending.

Speaking of hose, do Tartantown or House of Maclaren have larger sized hose? I've got big thick 17" calves and the top of the Large (largest they had) hose from scottishkilts.net just barely fits over them. Even on the smaller part above the calf where the tops fit, you can see through the hose just a bit of the white garter that the flashes are attached to.

Craig

[Hamish]

Craig,

A very belated welcome from the better side of the pond to you, your girlfriend and your great-looking new kilt! It is also good to have someone else here with a nicely warped sense of humour.

I am envious of your move to Downtown Vancouver. During my visit in and around the city for 'The Gathering' back in August, I remember thinking that if I had to live in a city and that city was in North America, I would choose one of those apartment blocks with fabulous harbour views on Georgia Street - but, perhaps that's more West End than Downtown?!! It is unlikely to happen though; I'm perfectly happy, snug in the English countryside. However, on the other hand, .................................

[Macman]

The import duties are separate from the taxes. They charge varying rates of import duties (tariffs) depending on the nature of the item, country of origin, etc. Then, they charge GST and PST on the whole amount (I believe including duty). It all adds up.

[Space Moose]

Thanks Hamish. The places you're tallking about are quite nice with a terrific view, though a bit rich for me.. The downtown area (encompasing Yaletown, the West End, etc) really isn't that large, so all the neighbourhoods are pretty close. Jude is living (until Wednesday) right in the middle of the West End, and we regularly walk to all points downtown. And our new place is only about 10 blocks from the areas you looked at near the sea wall by Stanley Park.

One of the unique things about Vancouver is that the downtown core is vastly residential. The skyline is packed with residential towers, and the entire West End area is filled with medium and low rise apartment buildings. Theres a few blocks of commercial towers, but even these have large residential buildings intermixed. It makes for a surprising number of neighbourhood areas.

Housing prices have skyrocketed, and you'll see a forrest of construction cranes building new towers. Fortunately for us renters, there are a bunch of poor people that are buying at the height of the market at prices they really can't afford, hoping to rent them out. There's a glut of rental vacancies right now, and we've got a very nice price on a dee-luxe apartment in the sky. In a few years the prices will be a fair bit lower, and we'll have saved up enough (assuming not that much more on kilts, which is not the best assumption) to look at buying.

I do love Vancouver though, there's a reason that it's consistently rated one of the top 5 cities in the world to live. With the the islands, mountains, and the islands, practically anything you'd ever want is within reach out here. Well, assuming you don't want warm sunny days in the Fall or Winter!

I saw some pics of you with Raphael, but did you make it out to Victoria while you were here? The ferry ride is amazing, and the city is quite lovely.

Craig

[NancyMan]

Hi Space Moose- from another kilted Vancouver-ite.

Glad to have you aboard! (Have ye ever been to sea, Craig? Heh, heh, heh .) Don't get me started on Canadian duty. Most shipments I have received from the U.S. that were UNDER $60 came through duty, tax and handling fee free. Well most of them. Those above $60 sometimes had PST and GST as well as the flat handling fee added. I recently received a Prince Charlie coat and vest from England that her majesty's representative in Canada added $40 to, all included. After I tried it on, I really couldn't complain as it fit like a glove and looked absolutely fabulous on me. Likely you'll see it at the next kilt night at Doolin's. I too will be late as I will come straight there from the opera. (And I don't want any of you gobs laughing cause I'm over dressed. I'll just have been to the OPERA you plebian lot!)

See you soon lad
Vincent

[Riverkilt]

Welcome aboard Craig,

Great to see your enthusiasm. Glad you chose a Macdonald tartan, cousin's are good.

Secret to the cat hair for me is to buy one of those cheapo garmet bags at WalMart. I like the kind that's plastic on one side and some sort of breathable micro something on the other.

Ron