Monday, February 27, 2006
Ketchupart
What happens at work when you're bored, it's after lunch... and there's ketchup, salt & pepper lying around? This.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
mmmm... Auto Show...
So, tomorrow Silvermane and I are going to the Auto Show!! :) I've actually booked the day off work to go... last year, my boss snuck me out of work for about 4 hours or so and we went down together which was super-cool... and a secret, so don't tell anyone!
This year, I can yet again go down and drool over what I can't afford, and scrunch my face up at ugly concept cars and other useless vehicles.
And somehow between today and tomorrow... I'd like to figure out a way to get there without having to wear a bulky winter coat the whole time I'm there... maybe during the day the free parking won't be so busy?
This year, I can yet again go down and drool over what I can't afford, and scrunch my face up at ugly concept cars and other useless vehicles.
And somehow between today and tomorrow... I'd like to figure out a way to get there without having to wear a bulky winter coat the whole time I'm there... maybe during the day the free parking won't be so busy?
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Firkin' backwards.
I received a response from a general manager in regards to my taxation woes at The Falcon & Firkin... and it's kind of weird.
She was very polite and to the point, which I do appreciate. And she also apologized for the inconvenience. However, she indicated that she went "straight to the sources" on the matter... and didn't explain what those sources were.
Then, she explained that the coupon booklet indicated that "discounts exclude tax, tip and/or alcohol". I'm looking at the book. It doesn't say that anywhere in the book, nor on the coupon itself. In addition to that, she explained the situation as follows:
"The rules of discounts, and this may seem silly, are that if there is a coupon where it works in the way of "buy one, get one free" the tax for the free meal will still be charged to the customer. If were a coupon where you were to receive for example: 50 % off or $10.00 off, then the taxes would be adjusted accordingly."
Aside from the slightly broken english... are you insane? Am I to understand that if a store offers you a $10-off coupon, that they won't charge tax on the $10 portion of your product before discount? Last time I checked, that $10 acted as a cash discount applied to your total after taxes (read: treated like cash). Not only that, but a percentage discount is taxed after the discount is applied, and a cash discount is taxed before the discount is applied - so why compare these two types of discounts together in the same thought?
I thought I was confused, so I checked again. Lo and behold, I'm not insane. A "buy one, get one free" offer is NOT taxed on the value of both products.
So, I've replied, explaining how the coupon booklet has no information whatsoever about excluding tax, and asking her to clarify my understanding of the sales tax. It's possible that she's simply mistaken, which is perfectly human. Further to this, I think I'm calling the Retail Sales Tax Branch in Oshawa, because one of two things is happening. Either
1) They're charging too much tax, and giving too much to the government, or
2) They're charging too much tax, yet remitting the proper amount of tax to the government.
In the second scenario, someone's pockets are getting large.
Of course, she was very cordial with her closing:
" I would like to thank you for your imput, and again like to apologize for the inconvience. I hope to see you in the future."
Even with all that imput, i still feel pretty inconvience'd.
She was very polite and to the point, which I do appreciate. And she also apologized for the inconvenience. However, she indicated that she went "straight to the sources" on the matter... and didn't explain what those sources were.
Then, she explained that the coupon booklet indicated that "discounts exclude tax, tip and/or alcohol". I'm looking at the book. It doesn't say that anywhere in the book, nor on the coupon itself. In addition to that, she explained the situation as follows:
"The rules of discounts, and this may seem silly, are that if there is a coupon where it works in the way of "buy one, get one free" the tax for the free meal will still be charged to the customer. If were a coupon where you were to receive for example: 50 % off or $10.00 off, then the taxes would be adjusted accordingly."
Aside from the slightly broken english... are you insane? Am I to understand that if a store offers you a $10-off coupon, that they won't charge tax on the $10 portion of your product before discount? Last time I checked, that $10 acted as a cash discount applied to your total after taxes (read: treated like cash). Not only that, but a percentage discount is taxed after the discount is applied, and a cash discount is taxed before the discount is applied - so why compare these two types of discounts together in the same thought?
I thought I was confused, so I checked again. Lo and behold, I'm not insane. A "buy one, get one free" offer is NOT taxed on the value of both products.
So, I've replied, explaining how the coupon booklet has no information whatsoever about excluding tax, and asking her to clarify my understanding of the sales tax. It's possible that she's simply mistaken, which is perfectly human. Further to this, I think I'm calling the Retail Sales Tax Branch in Oshawa, because one of two things is happening. Either
1) They're charging too much tax, and giving too much to the government, or
2) They're charging too much tax, yet remitting the proper amount of tax to the government.
In the second scenario, someone's pockets are getting large.
Of course, she was very cordial with her closing:
" I would like to thank you for your imput, and again like to apologize for the inconvience. I hope to see you in the future."
Even with all that imput, i still feel pretty inconvience'd.
Canal Road Tragedy
It's a horrible tragedy that Cassandra Read and her son died on this road this past Saturday, and I can only imagine what this family and other families that have suffered similar losses in the past are going through.
But silvermane made one hell of a point the other day. The Mayor of Bradford West Gwillimbury indicated that they've been trying to move the canal for the past 25 years at a cost of around $18,000,000. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to get government approval or funding.
Did we hear that correctly? They want to move the ENTIRE CANAL? Is it just me, or is that an absolutely assinine idea? Why would you move the canal? Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to say, widen the road? This would bring moving vehicles a safer distance from the road.
Also mentioned was that it would be next to impossible to install a guard rail. "The bank is very unstable," he said. "We've tried putting guardrails in, and they just sort of tip over and find their way into the canal eventually." If the road were widened, wouldn't the ground that is currently beneath the road be strong enough to sustain a concrete base to hold a barrier?
The only problem I can see with this plan would be the loss of property frontage for some of the residential homes in this area. Some of these homes are very close to the road already. If this makes widening the road impossible, maybe commuters should consider an alternate route?
But silvermane made one hell of a point the other day. The Mayor of Bradford West Gwillimbury indicated that they've been trying to move the canal for the past 25 years at a cost of around $18,000,000. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to get government approval or funding.
Did we hear that correctly? They want to move the ENTIRE CANAL? Is it just me, or is that an absolutely assinine idea? Why would you move the canal? Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to say, widen the road? This would bring moving vehicles a safer distance from the road.
Also mentioned was that it would be next to impossible to install a guard rail. "The bank is very unstable," he said. "We've tried putting guardrails in, and they just sort of tip over and find their way into the canal eventually." If the road were widened, wouldn't the ground that is currently beneath the road be strong enough to sustain a concrete base to hold a barrier?
The only problem I can see with this plan would be the loss of property frontage for some of the residential homes in this area. Some of these homes are very close to the road already. If this makes widening the road impossible, maybe commuters should consider an alternate route?
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Dollars and sense
So, the other day (ok, Friday night) silvermane and I went out to dinner at The Falcon & Firkin here in Richmond Hill (10300 Yonge St, for all of those at home keeping score). Dinner was ok, not spectacular, not crappy either... but then the bill came.
SUB-TOTAL: $21.94
GST: $ 2.23
Food Tax: $ 2.55
TOTAL: $26.72
My lightning-quick math impulses told me something was wrong. After 10 or 15 minutes, we realized that each tax was much higher than it should be. The GST was at about 10%, and the "Food Tax" (isn't this called PST?) was almost 12%. We asked the waitress about it... and she took the bill back.
Upon her return, she indicated that the tax is charged on the total BEFORE discounts. Yes, we had a coupon for a free meal (maximum $11 value), so it knocked $9.95 off the tab. When you work the math out this way, it makes sense.
But wait... This is actually ILLEGAL. This is not a manufacturer's coupon. Tax CANNOT be charged on the amount before discounts. Sure, it only amounts to $1.49 extra out of my pocket, but it makes me wonder if I want to continue doing business at a location that's willing to take my money, and tell me that they're right about it. And they're doing this for EVERY coupon that they honour?
I threw them an email, but I suspect it won't go anywhere. I might get a response from a shark-suited lawyer that tells me my interpretation of the law itself is incorrect too. But just for fun, I gave them a link to this posting in the email.
And more fun: Yesterday, in the drive-thrOUGH at Tim Hortons, we ordered $2.60 worth of coffee. We gave the guy at the window a $1 gift certificate, and he said, "ok, that's $1.60". We then handed him a $5 bill, and he said, "uh, you can't do that." We asked why. His reasoning? "Because they say you can't do that."
Now, I'd understand if we were OVER-paying with gift certificates... this happens often. BUT when I go to Tim Horton's and order a coffee, give them a $2 gift certificate, they give me change back. They treat it like money. But for some reason, when the amount is HIGHER, they won't let you do it. The guy wanted $1.60 in EXACT change to go with the $1 gift certificate.
Looking back, we should have said, "sorry, thanks anyway!" and drove off. It's their product and our patronage they're losing anyway.
SUB-TOTAL: $21.94
GST: $ 2.23
Food Tax: $ 2.55
TOTAL: $26.72
My lightning-quick math impulses told me something was wrong. After 10 or 15 minutes, we realized that each tax was much higher than it should be. The GST was at about 10%, and the "Food Tax" (isn't this called PST?) was almost 12%. We asked the waitress about it... and she took the bill back.
Upon her return, she indicated that the tax is charged on the total BEFORE discounts. Yes, we had a coupon for a free meal (maximum $11 value), so it knocked $9.95 off the tab. When you work the math out this way, it makes sense.
But wait... This is actually ILLEGAL. This is not a manufacturer's coupon. Tax CANNOT be charged on the amount before discounts. Sure, it only amounts to $1.49 extra out of my pocket, but it makes me wonder if I want to continue doing business at a location that's willing to take my money, and tell me that they're right about it. And they're doing this for EVERY coupon that they honour?
I threw them an email, but I suspect it won't go anywhere. I might get a response from a shark-suited lawyer that tells me my interpretation of the law itself is incorrect too. But just for fun, I gave them a link to this posting in the email.
And more fun: Yesterday, in the drive-thrOUGH at Tim Hortons, we ordered $2.60 worth of coffee. We gave the guy at the window a $1 gift certificate, and he said, "ok, that's $1.60". We then handed him a $5 bill, and he said, "uh, you can't do that." We asked why. His reasoning? "Because they say you can't do that."
Now, I'd understand if we were OVER-paying with gift certificates... this happens often. BUT when I go to Tim Horton's and order a coffee, give them a $2 gift certificate, they give me change back. They treat it like money. But for some reason, when the amount is HIGHER, they won't let you do it. The guy wanted $1.60 in EXACT change to go with the $1 gift certificate.
Looking back, we should have said, "sorry, thanks anyway!" and drove off. It's their product and our patronage they're losing anyway.