So, the whole "have you ever bought footwear online" experience worked out well. But it could have been slightly better. Here's why...
The day after I placed the order, I had an email from the company because the billing address on my credit card didn't match the shipping address.
No, that's true. It doesn't. My billing address is still in Ontario. The shipping address is here in Saskatchewan. I ask what difference that makes.
He explains that because they ship from Winnipeg and I'm in Saskatchewan, they would normally only have to charge me the Canadian Federal GST (Goods and Services Tax) of 5%. The Provincial Saskatchewan tax of another 5% wouldn't be applicable.
Yes, I knew that...so what's the problem?
Well, because my billing address is in Ontario, they have no choice but to charge me based on the Ontario tax rate. And Ontario has a combined rate called the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) which is 13%.
(Each province has a different tax rate http://www.retailcouncil.org/quickfacts/taxrates)
So all of a sudden my $129.88 deal wasn't sounding as much like a deal. Instead of paying $6.50 in taxes, I now had to pay $16.88 in taxes.
My new hiking boots!
Anyhow, I told them to go ahead with the order. Not happy about that extra $10 though.
Not that we buy a whole lot of "stuff" online, but this is just another reason to become Saskatchewan residents. And now, with a multi season job offer from our employer it looks like it's the right time to actually change our residency officially from Ontario to Saskatchewan.
We'll become Saskatchewanderers!
We'll go through all the paperwork next month before we leave. New drivers licences for us. The little blue car will need a safety inspection to get a Saskatchewan licence plate and that will cost a bit, but we'll end up saving because Saskatchewan insurance is quite a bit cheaper than Ontario.
Speaking of buying online, here's our Amazon.com deal of the day...
Almost 1,400 people give it five stars!
Congratulations! You are working your way towards BC, the "Left" Coast! My old friend Tommy Douglas will be happy to see you are in his old Province. ;) ;)
ReplyDeleteWe like it here. A province that actually seems to be moving forward instead of backward...
DeleteYou might want to call about your healthcare card right away, I think they can switch it over the phone (at least they did when I moved to BC) so that that is current and up to date before you leave again. Saskatchewan is booming, I am sure you will have that camp job (or another in the same Province) as long as you want as good employees are very hard to find.
ReplyDeleteIt's all done online now, we just need to get a letter done up by our employer and then we can apply for benefits.
DeleteIf you become Saskatchewanderers, you'll also be entitled to proudly say "Regina" with a straight face!
ReplyDeleteYup, funny name for a city, huh...?
DeleteNot to offend anyone, but we had fun with that when we drove through the province. :) A couple limericks were created that week.
DeleteAnd if you want to be socially accepted, you will have to part of the "Rider Nation".
ReplyDeleteDo not ever wear blue & gold!!!
Of course. It's green and white all the way for us now!
Delete"Harmonizing tax"? I love it. What a great way to make the medicine go down!
ReplyDeleteThey really try to make it sound good, don't they?!
DeleteThat was some tax wallop to your wallet! Hope all the tax money is spent wisely (like that really is going to happen, eh?).
ReplyDeleteYep, that is quite the hit and we don't mind paying when we know that it IS spent wisely, but that doesn't happen too often!
DeleteBoy Saskatchewanders is a mouthful. But I don't blame you for changing addresses. We did the same thing for the same reasons. But how do you get your mail now and how will you in the future??
ReplyDeleteOur mail is being delivered to a UPS box in Ottawa at the moment and our son picks it up every once in a while. Now we will have it will be delivered to a Post Office box now in the little town of Cabri which is about 15-20 minutes away and it will be a little cheaper too! Most of the mail we get is junk and generally anything of importance we get via email.
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