Got Ripped off and do not want the same to happen

Broompilot · Sep 20, 2005

First do not have any service done in Canada unless you break down. The tax on a $300.00 bill was $40.00 was suppost to be able to stop in Duty Free for a rebate. Nope not on fuel, oil, or labor. We owe you $ 6.00 but cant give that either until you accumilate $14.00 in credit. Wow what a SCAM. They owe me $ but I have to spend more to get it back.

2nd this is not about how the Canadian Government screws business and free enterprise, but how I managed to get myself taken advantage of.

Always ask how much $ my first mistake today.

Oil Change and PM no air filter $340.00 Canadian I professionaly complained and the ladies response was it could have been a whole lot more. I than proceded to my truck got my last oil change bill and showed it to the manager and his stupid assistant. Cost $180.00 and I thought that was high not steep but have had them done for less. Cummins dealer in White Bear Lake MN $180.00 US.

This was Detroit Diesel in Surry British Columbia. This is there fair price but it is no wonder Canada has a much higher unemployment rate than the US. It is no wonder that they pay 45% on every dollar they earn, why fuel is over $4.00 a gallon. They gouge there citizens and business owners for everything they can.

For now on I and hope you will ask HOW MUCH? I will never again feel ashamed or timid to ask this question as I want to know for now on. I never imiagned I would be taken advantage by such a large amount.

I delivered an Engine to these people 2450 miles and for all of you who are bashing the little C Cummins this is the 2nd Mercedes Engine I have delivered for a BRAND NEW Western Star not even put in service yet, in the last month alone. I figured here I am at a reputable dealer that I just delivered a load to so no DH and let me return the favor and give them the business since I was close to being due anyway. "Can you get me in for an oil change?" Next time same question with and how much will it be?

Tennesseahawk · Sep 20, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

I think some of that $340 has to do with it being west coast. The guy in WA, who sold me my truck, paid over $300 for a complete pm. Everything is higher out there.

LDB · Sep 20, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

Same thing happened to me on Proheat service. I was near the Springfield, Mass. dealer and nearing time so I went in. They charged me 20% more for the 1200 hour service than I had paid for the 800 hour service and the 800 has half again more parts with added labor than the 1200 hour. Major ripoff at Carrier Transicold of New England. I won't be going to any of their locations in the future and advise everyone else to avoid them as well.

Leo Bricker
OOIDA 677319
truck 4958
73's K5LDB
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

greg334 · Sep 20, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

All the times I spent time in the north hinter land aka Canada), I always sent in my vat/gst refund paper work.

the duty free shop by the bridge in Detroit is privatly owned, or was a while ago. I worked with the owners son and learn a bunch that stopped me from buying from them or any duty free shop.

RobA · Sep 22, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

BROOMPILOT wrote a sad tale and concluded

For now on I and hope you will ask HOW MUCH? I will never
>again feel ashamed or timid to ask this question as I want
>to know for now on. I never imiagned I would be taken
>advantage by such a large amount.
*********************************************************************
Sheesh Broompilot; for a guy that doesn't like or understand Canada you get sent here a lot!
Why didn't you post this in the Canada forum?
Let's deal with issues here:
1 - GST : You are a non resident so you should be able to get your GST refunded. You don't go to the "duty free" store; like Greg said those are private businesses who will process a tourists refund for a fee.
YOU are a business man. Handle this in a business-like manner. Contact the Canada Revenue Agency at the end of the year with all your receipts and total all the GST you paid out.
There is a procedure to reclaim this money.
Let me warn you; it will likely be convoluted and time consuming.
Do you use an accountant?
Let him/her do it.

2- Cost: Yes things are often more expensive here in Canada. There are only about 1/10th the number of people here that are in your country. BUT.....don't forget you were likely quoted in CANADIAN DOLLARS which gives you approximately a 10 to 15 percent discount when converting to your currency.

3- Good idea to always ask the cost before you have something done. Ask for an estimate. 65 to 70 dollars an hour seems like a good shop rate up here. That's Ontario so I don't know what the BC cost would be.

4- RELAX going through Customs - coming and going. Don't let them get to ya; you'll live longer.

5- Did you take my advise and keep a small float of Canadian $ for small expenditures (like TIM HORTONS).?

6- Use a credit card for larger purchases; the bank figures out the exchange rate on a daily basis.

7- Remember you ARE in a foreign country; it ain't the US of A and things do tend to be slighty different.

No, it wasn't a rip-off.

RichM · Sep 22, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

When I go to Canada and need local currency I go to an ATM and get what I need at the offical exchange rate. Hotels and reataurants will impose a transaction or service fee. I always keep $ 20-30 in Canadian currency with me for the times you have to go in quickly.

BTW the casino in Sarnia at the border has machines that will convert your US Currency to Canadian Currency, that way you can lose it quicker..

pamc · Sep 22, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

I am NOT Canadian ... but my wife is. We go to her home each and every year. I actually thought it was amazing that they (The Canadian Gov't) provided the opportunity for [American] tourists (etc.) to recover the (I believe) GST.

Yeah, we too found out it didn't apply to fuel, but guess what ... how much does the US or State governments give you back if you're a Canadian visiting? Nadda, Zip, Zero. The argument from a US Citizen might be, "...hey, I don't benefit from their tax, I should get it back..." Well, goes both ways.

Based on the current rate (9/22/05), your $340.00 bill would translate to $290.00 US. That took care of the tax, plus $10.00. When the rate was better, it'd put more in your pocket.

Think of the Canadian's who travel here. That diesel at $2.899/Gal US (FJ) Fuel costs them $3.396/Gal CDN a gallon. Ok, so then the argument could be that the same (FJ) fuel in Ontario costs him $4.28/Gal CDN, so he's still ahead $0.88/Gal.

Oh well ... but I still don't think that giving us back the tax is a big deal.

Just my $0.02,
Jerry

> First do not have any service done in Canada unless you break
> down. The tax on a $300.00 bill was $40.00 was suppost to be able
> to stop in Duty Free for a rebate. Nope not on fuel, oil, or
> labor. We owe you $ 6.00 but cant give that either until you
> accumilate $14.00 in credit. Wow what a SCAM. They owe me $ but I
> have to spend more to get it back.

Broompilot · Sep 30, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

1 G.S.T. lets see (we are going to dissagree totally here but thats all right). You state use my accountant, at the end of the year to get back oh lets see $50.00 while her bill would be $200.00 or more thats smart business? Time is $. GST if we are to be credited than one should be without going through hoops but thats how governmentS work so I am most likely out.

2. Than how does a business survive let alone prosper. Makes sense to me overcharge by 30% squeeze the small guy until he goes broke. Listened to many of drivers complaints in the waiting room. These people through my listening had close to 100K invested in equpment, but were only taking home less than $100. a day after all taxes etc.. were paid and a $1,000 repair bill was gona wipe out any savings plus cost them a couple of days of wages. But big business had no guilt overcharging what could be done elsewhere for alot less. Just there bad luck to breakdown on the wrong side of the border. Just the start of the debt process.

3. Yeah I am guilty here thats why I posted and fessed up to my ignorance or TRUST not to get ripped off buy a reputable dealer. Detroit Diesel Surry B.C. Shop rate $95.00 an hour. The same job can be done at a Speedco for $130. Cummins dealers about $180 same with a KW except Ft. Wayne has a $100 special. My local mechanic whos eyes had to be picked off the floor when telling him, $160. They are gouging enough said.

4. Yes I relax I was raised in Detroit with relatives in Toronto, Markem, and Stouville, been to Canada probably 100 times now. U.S. has always been difficutlt to deal with but now they are stupid. I see no reason for there inconsistancy forms, search, questions. This is why only a handfull of drivers US will cross. I will give you an excellent example of how stupid our border crossing guards are. (Except for X-ray) When searching my truck, under the hood, van body, interior. Not once have they ever had me open my belly box or cargo box. Real smart guards its bigger than a trunk on a Caddy.

5. Yes, $ is in my truck. Getting it in the States even near the border at any bank is difficult they do not keep Canadian funds available and there is large fee for non banking customers. ATMs do not work for American debit cards, tried.

6. Yes I do have some common sense

Totally dissagree, it may be slightly different but thats all. Canada is our largest equal trade partner, Canada US border is the largest non guarded border in the world (no military presence) I love Canada and going to, just comming back is a real hassle. But my point being is I did get taken advantage of but so does everyone who has to pay a rate of 95 an hour shop rate. Take the US discount and its still above $80.00 an hour. I admitted it was my fault for not asking it will never happen again but would never have thought that a simple PM would have cost $290 US. I was not looking for a discount service mind you but to pay double is a rip off.

Tennesseahawk · Sep 30, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

Broom... Wolverine Freightliner charges $80/hour labor. I really think it was that much because you were on the left coast, more than being in Canada (though that was a chunk of it). I got a pm done here in Detroit and it cost me $266. So, I don't believe you got taken as bad as you think you did. Call a garage in WA and ask how much a pm is there. I bet it's close to what you paid.

dukesadog · Oct 1, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

Canada's a great place, so what there's a high sales tax but there's no income tax, I bought a 158 year old farmhouse on the ocean in Prince Edward Island for 66,000 dollars with no neighbors but government subsidized potato farms. There's no where in the US you could get that kind of deal. The people are nice and not complete know it all idiots.

If I knew I could get a job up there I would be "poof" outta here but right now its my retirement paradise. Oh yeah...I'm looking forward to spending lots of my US money up there.

dukesadog

RobA · Oct 2, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

>Canada's a great place, so what there's a high sales tax but
>there's no income tax,

WHATTTTTTTTTTTT????????????????????????????????
Then where is all my money going to?
Um; I dunno who told you that; but.....(choking sounds and now I have to wipe all that coffee of computer screen and keyboard)

Yes we have income tax, but since you are a US citizen you "shouldn't" have to pay Canadian tax providing you only spend a certain amount of time here. It is 180 days if I'm not mistaken.

The GST is not charged sepaerately in Atlantic Canada; it is charged as HST (harmonized Sales tax) 15%.

Americans generally cannot understand the high tax levels we have here in Canada; but we also demand more of our governments. A situation like watch New Orleans drown would not be acceptable up here.

>If I knew I could get a job up there I would be "poof" outta
>here but right now its my retirement paradise. Oh yeah...I'm
>looking forward to spending lots of my US money up there.
>
>dukesadog

dukesadog · Oct 2, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

New Orleans? I have some choice words for New Orleans, Canadians probably wouldnt allow the intense corruption that exists there to exist at all. In 1996 my wife and I were in New Orleans on a Cruise, as part of the deal we had to go sit through a time share dealy and when we told them we werent interested at the end they dropped us off in the street, instead of taking us back to the cruise terminal.

Then the both of us got nearly beaten to death by muggers and spent 6 weeks in the hospital. Somehow I dont see bands of armed thugs roaming around in Canada beating up tourists while the useless police force doesn't even show up prior to an ambulance, Infact our attorneys had to physically go to the police station and threaten to sue the city prior to a report being filed, thats how bad it was/is and we never saw a single cop in our room the entire time we were in the hospital.( probably out plotting to steal all the cadillacs)

I'm not saying that its the peoples fault but the people that run the state certainly got what they deserved and I'm looking forward to watching the heads roll...especially Blanco's

dukesadog

Broompilot · Oct 3, 2005

RE: Got Ripped off and do not want the same to hap

This Thread has taken a totaly different course. SORRY FOR BRINGING IT UP.... Point being, I TRAVEL TO CANADA ALOT... Second point is I am not rude to Customs and use nothing but logical common sense in ALL BUSINESS DEALINGS and anyone who knows me personally knows this.... THIRD just do not do business without asking especially in Canada I for life of me cannot figure out any of you who commented here on how wrong I am.

How in Gods creation is willing to pay twice the normal standard charge for anything but you all seem darn willing to accept that fact "I am not" and I am pissed off that I got RIPPED OFF Screwed taken advantage of period.

So dont take my advice go run right to Surrey B.C. Detroit Diesel and request an OVERHALL since you all are so darn rich and want to support everyone elses pocket book but your own.... Go for it I am not.

And as for Canadian Govt. Ask any Canadian with any health issue that is not life or death how long it takes to get an appointment with all tests complete to happen that if they had been done in a timley fashion that they would have discovered the cancer early enough to be cured.... 'HEARD THIS WITH MY OWN EARS ON CANADIAN RADIO" the citizens up there are fed up with excuses on health care and thats why they come to the US and spend there own $ on medical thats called Insurance for everyone???? NO THANKS I will handle my own health insurance with no GOVERNMENT INTERFIRENCE thanks Hillary but no thanks.......