The Canadian Custom rules are strange but the most interest is the brokerage fee. The Brokerage fee is a random number pulled out of the air. A friend who owns a business order well over 100 times from the US to Canada the exact same item from the exact same place - the brokerage fee ranged from zero dollars to well over $200. Some courier are more consistent in the fees but sometimes you are just out of luck.
Duty rates can vary from 0% (duty free) to 20%, depending on the type of goods. So much for any free trade agreement.
As for Brokerage Fees it is the courier company that is charging you for providing customs service: being your agent when "clearing" your parcel across the border. This fee can run $40 or $50 dollars (or more), even when purchasing a $20 item.
There are a few ways to avoid expensive brokerage fees. Purolator Shipping typically includes all applicable taxes, duties, and brokerage fees, and they show you the final price that you will pay. Another method is choosing United States Postal Service (USPS) as a shipping option; Canada Post will only charge a $5 (or $8 if express) brokerage fee (payable when you pay any applicable taxes incurred). Other good options are FedEx Priority or UPS Expedited. These shipping options have brokerage fees included. Avoid UPS/FedEx Standard or Ground. Standard (also known as Ground) shipping plus brokerage fees will cost more than the Priority or Expedited options.
Some times you pay a bit more for a better shipping option buy you save more than that in the Brokerage Fees. A co-worker just bought a $5000 scanner and paid the cheapest possible shipping charges and was shocked when the Courier Company wanted $2800 in in Brokerage Fees, Taxes, Duty, Cross-Border Tax (what ever that is).
It sometimes hard, if not impossible, for the typical Canadian consumer to buy from the US and know the final cost at the time of purchase. It helps to read and know the Canadian Border Services Website (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2008/01-99/tblmod-1-eng.html). Even then if you are stuck with a courier service that demands money they have the power and you have no product and existing financial investment.
Those that can... Do. Those that can't... litigate.
I guess since MS can not be innovate enough to attract customers then they are only left with one course of action... litigate. This is the mental attitude of a small spoiled child - if I can not have it then no one shall. Guess how that works out. With this type of litigation attitude they will will fade into oblivion and be forgot.
Survey only tell you what you want to hear.
It is very hard to write a Survey that is completely objectionable (non biased).
Case in point our upper management approved a survey to rate their own performance for the purpose of their own bonus. No matter how you answer the survey question you put upper management in sparkling light (and not of the type of golden showers they rain down on you). For example: Does making your clients happy make you happy?
If you really want to know the real answers you need to find a very good third party to masterfully construct the survey questions. Sadly many survey writers lack the required skills.
Just because you want to know X does not necessarily mean you can directly ask X. The skill is exact wording and associated questions that can tell you exact about X.
A bad survey is like a account saying.... "and what do you want those numbers to add up to?"
If it takes a court, a judge and team of lawyers to determine if something is copyright infringement how on earth can any single person (not to mention an automated algorithm) determine if something is legit?
And here I was going to name my kid/pet "Tolkien" or "Tolkien of middle Earth" in hopes they would be famous one day. What are my other kids; Gandalf, Baggins, and Sauron going to do now?
I enjoy playing Catan. A great board game for kids and adults as it there is some skill but that can ultimately be undone by luck. Every computer version I have played has cheated strongly in favor of the computer (satirically improbable events occurring all the time the computers favor).
It is best played with real people and the real non-computer game.
Settles of Catan is one of the first board games I will introduce my kids to. It has luck, a bit of strategy and most importantly I can enjoy playing it too. Then it to introduce Talisman.
Thanks for the info. I have always wonder why there is such poor computer versions of this board game. I do think a third party could do a much better job.
If you want government funding you cater to the politicians not what is best for the people
NASCAR most likely lobbies and when the politicians come to an event they get special treatment.
Sesame Street is often to confusing to most politicians, the words are big and the concepts are difficult to understand - Especially that silly sharing concept. The Math makes no sense at all as all politicians know that 1 + 1 = 3 for sufficiently large values of 1.
It is obvious if you want government funding you cater to the politicians not what is best for the people.
After the Sony CD root issues I have stopped supporting Sony and I no longer believe in their policies related to customers. I am currently in the process of replacing my old 57 Inch Sony TV with any other brand (Sony was not even considered).
From their actions against PS3 customers it is clear their are not to be a trusted brand anymore.
We are not "playing god" but just doing God's will. After all if God did not want us doing it then a sign would appear or some divine action would occur to stop us.... maybe the Muslim extremists are working under the divine guidance of the one true God.
Just like those nay says that claim if God wanted us to fly we would have been given wings. Well we where given wings through out minds and the power of invention. Like our three eyed fish friend, blinky, how do we know it was all not part of some divine plan.
It all those nasty operating systems that facility the piracy. Better stop those too.
Hell even hardware manufactures are in on piracy facility game too. Stop them.
Your eyes allow you to see pirated stuff better poke them out for good measure. And your ears so you can not hear with out paying the RIAA for certified hearing aid.
I think a far better solution would be to cut the internet off to the all MPAA/RIAA offices, staffs, homes and lawyers.
It is all well and nice to try to protect your investments but trying to hold everyone else accountable for you bad business models and expectations of profit is just unrealistic.
Can I Patent the idea of setting up shop within the Native American Nation to provide services/goods that ignore US patents?
That way no business or persons outside the Native American Nation can use this loop hole with out first paying me a fee.
All Can think is this is good. Good in that it show the value of the internet and FREE SPEECH. You might be luckily and get some over reactive congress person to claim the internet is right in a democratic country. Much like freedom of the press, but in this case the press has evolved to be the internet.
If the US can get the internet declared as a right then it makes it impossible to have three strikes you are kicked of the internet policy.
Where will they send the Infringement Suit to? Think of all the lost revenue TOP GUN will lose now that they broad cast the final explosion scene? I guesstimate about 42 tillion dollars.
The assumption is that the contractors/homeowners should have left the place reasonable safe at all times.
For example if a person breaks a windows to break into your home and cuts themselves on the broken glass then it is there fault. Now if you put broken glass on the floor and in the flower beds outside your windows and they get hurt it is your fault - your place was not safe. Yep gotta keep your place safe in case someone breaks in.
I am sure Jim Alesi will argue that the site was not safe.
Further proof USPTO is just a registry service. They do not have the resource or skills to validate the patents so accept them all and then shift the cost to dispute them to the courts and challengers to cover the cost of actually validating them.
They just need to add in little caveat that requires the patent must be provable (repeatable and/or implementable) and in use (or schedule to be in use) only by the proposed patent holder.
Lesson Learned: You can lie to investors, trick them into buying shares in something they don't understand or that's really much riskier, etc. AS LONG AS YOU DO IT SECRETLY!
This whole Goldman Sachs/Facebook and $50 Billion valuation just seems off. The whole security and back door deals to get investors has the characteristics of a potential scam in the works. The sooner the SEC steps in the better.
On the post: Zappos Gives Up On Canada Due To Customs Problems
Typically it is the courier that is at fault
Duty rates can vary from 0% (duty free) to 20%, depending on the type of goods. So much for any free trade agreement.
As for Brokerage Fees it is the courier company that is charging you for providing customs service: being your agent when "clearing" your parcel across the border. This fee can run $40 or $50 dollars (or more), even when purchasing a $20 item.
There are a few ways to avoid expensive brokerage fees. Purolator Shipping typically includes all applicable taxes, duties, and brokerage fees, and they show you the final price that you will pay. Another method is choosing United States Postal Service (USPS) as a shipping option; Canada Post will only charge a $5 (or $8 if express) brokerage fee (payable when you pay any applicable taxes incurred). Other good options are FedEx Priority or UPS Expedited. These shipping options have brokerage fees included. Avoid UPS/FedEx Standard or Ground. Standard (also known as Ground) shipping plus brokerage fees will cost more than the Priority or Expedited options.
Some times you pay a bit more for a better shipping option buy you save more than that in the Brokerage Fees. A co-worker just bought a $5000 scanner and paid the cheapest possible shipping charges and was shocked when the Courier Company wanted $2800 in in Brokerage Fees, Taxes, Duty, Cross-Border Tax (what ever that is).
It sometimes hard, if not impossible, for the typical Canadian consumer to buy from the US and know the final cost at the time of purchase. It helps to read and know the Canadian Border Services Website (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2008/01-99/tblmod-1-eng.html). Even then if you are stuck with a courier service that demands money they have the power and you have no product and existing financial investment.
On the post: Microsoft Continues Its Backdoor Legal Fight Against Android: Sues Barnes & Noble Over Nook
Those that can... Do. Those that can't... litigate.
On the post: How To Create A Survey That Makes A Problem Seem Bigger Than It Is: 'Do You Know Anyone...'
Survey
It is very hard to write a Survey that is completely objectionable (non biased).
Case in point our upper management approved a survey to rate their own performance for the purpose of their own bonus. No matter how you answer the survey question you put upper management in sparkling light (and not of the type of golden showers they rain down on you). For example: Does making your clients happy make you happy?
If you really want to know the real answers you need to find a very good third party to masterfully construct the survey questions. Sadly many survey writers lack the required skills.
Just because you want to know X does not necessarily mean you can directly ask X. The skill is exact wording and associated questions that can tell you exact about X.
A bad survey is like a account saying.... "and what do you want those numbers to add up to?"
On the post: Google Found Guilty Of Copyright Infringement In France For Not Magically Blocking Infringing Movie
On the post: Tolkien Estate Says Just Mentioning Tolkien Infringes; Tolkien Censorwear Appears In Response
Tolkien
On the post: Once Again, As The MPAA Whines About 'Piracy,' It Had Record Results At The Box Office
On the post: Is Copying The Idea For A Magazine Cover Infringement?
It all depends.
IF am_I_going_to_lose_out_on_some_potential_money THEN YES
ELSIF is_it_going_to_cost_me_money THEN NO
ELSE someone_else_s_finical_woes
END IF;
On the post: How Lawyers For Settlers Of Catan Abuse IP Law To Take Down Perfectly Legal Competitors
Great board game but poor computer implmentations
It is best played with real people and the real non-computer game.
Settles of Catan is one of the first board games I will introduce my kids to. It has luck, a bit of strategy and most importantly I can enjoy playing it too. Then it to introduce Talisman.
Thanks for the info. I have always wonder why there is such poor computer versions of this board game. I do think a third party could do a much better job.
On the post: Can Someone Explain How Sponsoring NASCAR Is A Good Use Of Taxpayer Funds, If Funding Sesame Street Is Not?
If you want government funding you cater to the politicians not what is best for the people
Sesame Street is often to confusing to most politicians, the words are big and the concepts are difficult to understand - Especially that silly sharing concept. The Math makes no sense at all as all politicians know that 1 + 1 = 3 for sufficiently large values of 1.
It is obvious if you want government funding you cater to the politicians not what is best for the people.
On the post: Sony Continues To Attack PS3 Jailbreakers: Threatens To Cut Them Off From PlayStation Network
Stop buying Sony products
From their actions against PS3 customers it is clear their are not to be a trusted brand anymore.
On the post: DailyDirt: Playing With Biological Fire?
Flaming Mo!
Just like those nay says that claim if God wanted us to fly we would have been given wings. Well we where given wings through out minds and the power of invention. Like our three eyed fish friend, blinky, how do we know it was all not part of some divine plan.
On the post: MPAA Threatens To Have Google Disconnected From The Internet Over File Sharing?
Better get MS, Apple, unix, etc off too
Hell even hardware manufactures are in on piracy facility game too. Stop them.
Your eyes allow you to see pirated stuff better poke them out for good measure. And your ears so you can not hear with out paying the RIAA for certified hearing aid.
I think a far better solution would be to cut the internet off to the all MPAA/RIAA offices, staffs, homes and lawyers.
It is all well and nice to try to protect your investments but trying to hold everyone else accountable for you bad business models and expectations of profit is just unrealistic.
On the post: Native American Nation Shielded From Patent Infringement Claims
That way no business or persons outside the Native American Nation can use this loop hole with out first paying me a fee.
On the post: The PS3 Hack Injunction Shows The Problems Of Judges Who Don't Understand Technology
On the post: The Impact Of Egypt Cutting Itself Off From The Internet
If the US can get the internet declared as a right then it makes it impossible to have three strikes you are kicked of the internet policy.
On the post: Chinese TV Station Tried Passing Off Top Gun Footage As Training Exercises
On the post: Cures For Paralysis, Diabetes And Blindness Hindered By Patents
All thanks to the lawyers and the short sighted unabashed greed of individuals.
On the post: Politician Trespasses Into House Under Construction, Breaks Leg... Sues Owners
For example if a person breaks a windows to break into your home and cuts themselves on the broken glass then it is there fault. Now if you put broken glass on the floor and in the flower beds outside your windows and they get hurt it is your fault - your place was not safe. Yep gotta keep your place safe in case someone breaks in.
I am sure Jim Alesi will argue that the site was not safe.
On the post: Letting Famous People Interact Online? Patented! Twitter Sued
Further proof USPTO is just a registry
They just need to add in little caveat that requires the patent must be provable (repeatable and/or implementable) and in use (or schedule to be in use) only by the proposed patent holder.
On the post: Goldman Sachs Says Facebook Offer Barred From US Investors, Blames NYT's For Making Plans Public
DO IT SECRETLY
This whole Goldman Sachs/Facebook and $50 Billion valuation just seems off. The whole security and back door deals to get investors has the characteristics of a potential scam in the works. The sooner the SEC steps in the better.
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