上周末写了个旧体验后,好象反响不俗, 不少"血友"表示有兴趣. 当然这PROJECT光靠从网上组织可以说同纸上谈兵没什么区别, 想统一一下过去的时间这么个基本问题都没人答复,有点DISCOURAGING,虽说离US THANKSGIVING还早.

ANYWAY, 做些基本的调查就当是了解本地市场了. 现在我先将这周的PRELIMINARY SEARCH 总结以下:

联系了三家CHARTER BUS SERVICE 公司: TOUR EAST, AYR, COACH CANADA;

先说TOUR EAST: 东亚旅游大家都知道吧. 结果发现该公司无论成本和价格都不是最高的,但却最让人感到不爽. 该公司对外的NY 购物三天游(住两晚,去五处不同地方,也包括半天WOODBURY)是C$119/PERSON(四人一房). 结果我同他们拿来的QUOTE是两天CHARTER BUS,仅住一晚HOTEL也是每人平均$119+TAX. 我明确报说不用导游,只租BUS,只住一晚,他们是答非所问,说是一定要配个导游为的是帮我们CHECK IN HOTEL. 而对我少一整天的服务而价格不变的质问是模糊其词,企图改变话题. 给人一种摆明宰你一道的感觉.我丢下一句,我这儿$4000的BUDGET大把人想挣后把电话挂了. 这周正好有集体诉讼北美车行的,我都想诉讼TOUR EAST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMERS.

继续来报料: 今天又有一个TENDER INVITE回复了: Olympiclimo. 态度不好不坏,不过好象还算比较有想挣钱的诚意, 拿到了以下的QUOTATION: $3300 + GST + Tolls(if any) + Accommodations + Gratuity. 这里的Accommodations指的是BUS DRIVER的12 HR BREAK HOTEL, 由我们乘客来订并付钱,算是个LUXURY HOTEL吧,U$100; + 6% GST $200; + 往返U$100 TOLLS + $200 TIPS 给DRIVER. TOTAL $3900 搞定. 而这BUS可以最多坐下55人,所以我们有45-55人,每人的费用就是$71 - $85, ALL INCLUSIVE. 我个人觉得算是比较合理. 假设用
TOUR EAST的四人一间LOWEST ADVERTISED PRICE为BENCHMARK: $119+ 10% TAX + $24 TIPS = $155, OLYMPICLIMO DEAL可以最多低于TOUR EAST 55%. 当然, TOUR EAST两晚HOTEL,并去三个不同的MALLS, ADD MORE VALUES.

现在需要大家就想不想在星期六晚SHOPPING 后, 在HOTEL里过一夜来投个票. 如果过一夜,我们有可能MEET 48HRS 而获得更多DUTY-FREE LIMIT,但BUS+HOTEL费用就上到$100左右;不过夜HOTEL,我们能在星期天中午抵达,避过周末返加高峰,但在边境就要对付海关检查了. 当然,那时算是冬天,大家能尽量往身上套的就套吧,能省不少税.

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Many popular goods duty-free across the border
September 30, 2007 - 16:28

By: Jennifer Ditchburn, THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA - Golf bags, microwave ovens, plastic toys, cellphones, video games.
Guess what? You don't have to pay duty on any of these items when you return from a shopping trip to the United States, or anywhere abroad for that matter.

Even if you go for only a few hours, or you blow your personal exemption of $50 for a 24-hour trip or $400 for 48-hours or more, you're only required to pay Canadian taxes on many common items.

Few Canadians are well briefed on the extensive list of items that are considered "free" under the Customs Tariff Act, and it's no surprise. Even officials at the Canadian Border Services Agency can't easily rhyme off a list of top duty-free items without first doing some research.

It's all based on complex international tariff agreements, as well as specific free-trade deals between Canada and others. Tariffs on goods from some developing countries are also low or non-existent.

When a shopper drives back to Canada and declares his or her loot at customs, agents must go through hundreds of pages of minutely detailed descriptions of what percentage duty is owed on a particular item.

For example, downhill skis and boots are considered duty-free, as long as they're made in a country that is considered a "most favoured nation," which includes most of the world. China, Japan, and other key manufacturing centres are among them. Curiously, cross-country skis are slapped with a 7.5 per cent tax - that is, unless they're made in the United States, Mexico or other free-trade partner countries.

That's when it pays to pay attention to the label.

Products that are made in the United States, Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica - countries we have a free-trade agreement with - are generally duty-free. That means the silver jewelry from Taxco, or those New Balance runners made in American factories, can be purchased without fear of a big bill at the border or airport.

David McCaffery, CEO of Ottawa-based wedding dress manufacturers Justina McCaffery Haute Couture, says the business has been taking advantage of duty-free for years. There is no duty on silk.

"One of the best things about the silks is that they come in from different parts of the world. We're able to take the product and make the dresses and . . . there's absolutely no duty because it's 100 per cent silk that we're using," said McCaffery, married to dress designer Justina.

But even though the McCafferys spend much time shuttling between top U.S. cities and the nation's capital, they had no idea about how many personal items they could bring back without duty.

Officials suggest shoppers keen to save money do a little research before they leave home.

"If they know the item they're specially looking to purchase, and they want to know what duty they'll face, they should call the line," says Chris Williams, of the Canadian Border Services Agency.

That line is the Border Information Service - 1-800-461-9999. The more patient shopper can take a gander at the Customs Tariff descriptions, on the Canadian Border Services Website. (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/tariff2007/01-99/tblmod-1-e.html)

Shopping expert Sandra Phillips, author of Smart S hopping Montreal, says hopping across the border will become a Canadian way of life again with the dollar at par. Phillips is currently researching the shopping opportunities at every exit along the I-87 interstate highway that takes travellers from Quebec all the way into New York City.

"There are many, many brands, house brands, store brands, that they're going to look for and they're going to go back to those wonderful coupon deals and grocery specials that we used to love."

A list of just a few of the items that can be brought across the Canada-U.S. border without paying duty. (Canadian taxes always apply):

-Almost anything made in the United States or Mexico

-Toys, including puzzles, trains, dolls, action figures

-Video games

-Cellphones

-Antiques

-Most kinds of original art

-Downhill skis and boots

-Toasters

-Breadmakers

-Electric irons

-Artificial Christmas trees

-Billiard tables

-Chess sets

-Office furniture

-SLR and instant cameras

-Unset diamonds, pearls and precious stones

-Golf bags made mostly of synthetics.

-Books

-Glassware (including crystal)

(Source: Canadian Border Services Agency)更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

昨天在PRICELINE上打出15 ROOMS的GROUP REQUEST,上限是$60. 已经有个离WOODBURY开车仅要15 MINS 的 INN给出了$60/NIGHT的BID,反正没有什么COMMITMENT, 继续等待. 如果我们决定过一夜的话,这个INN 离WOODBURY如此的近,我们星期天上午还能再SHOP半天才回TORONTO,正好MEET 48HR --> $400 DUTY THREHOLD.

可现在担忧的是人数和执行问题. 这可是两大问题. 感觉这里的SERIOUS SHOPPERS/GOERS好象真的太少,至于执行,在CASH HANDLING, ACCOUNTING TRANSPARENCY这些牵涉到MONEY方面, 我信得过大家,光靠INTERNET,大家恐怕对我也不敢全信. 这可咋整呢?

ON THE SIDELINE, I REALIZE THE ACTUAL CHANLLENGE E-COMMERCE CONFRONTS.

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛这两周要忙疯掉了. 现在看到PC就想吐...

ANYWAY,感觉有很多CONFUSION需要在这里CLARIFY,并同大伙统一下口径.

1. 我EMAILED少数几个PM的血友,这里也想让大家知道下. 虽说可以看出报名比较踊跃,但离凑够45 人OR HIGHER去租FULL-SIZE BUS还是不够. 看人数不够,说真的,我有点想就放弃了,前期这些准备工作实际就是几个电话,EMAIL就搞定的事,实在不足挂齿. 可又有于心不忍, 这儿有好些ROLIANS留下的POSTING可以看得出他(她)们有多渴望在节日前用我们硬板板的C元同那么多的TOP DESIGNER NAME-BRANDS做一次亲密接触, 这样吧,不到十月底,我就不提放弃论了.

2. 至于在FAIRVIEW MALL交定金一说,本只是CHRIS妞的一个建议,可这THREAD太长了,大家都看混了,甚至就直接开始说在FOOD COURT还是LIBERY. 就在这统一口径下先了: 在没有拿到最后可行的计划和价格前,不收定金. 到了要COLLECT FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS那一步时,由于牵扯到钱的问题, 我会重新开个NEW THREAD,而不是在这个贴上继续报料. OK?

3. 人数上,由于凑齐五十人并执行不太实际, 我考虑是否去租辆MINI BUS(22-26 PASSENGERS), 光租车,不请他们的司机. 而我认识个现在赋闲的大TRUCK的司机,他开MINI BUS是一定没问题. 酒店他就和我同宿一房. 感觉这样同原来比多不了太多INCREMENTAL COSTS. 就是我的ALTERNATIVE PLAN B. MINI BUS 的缺点就是车上没有WASHROOM,一阵阵要停下来, 另外人数少的话在HOTEL PRICES 上BARGAINNING POWER有点弱. 别的都好半.
下周和再下周我就照此思路联系后再来报料. 大家意下如何?更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net