General Business Updates and News

[tomh009]

Kitchener-based Pout fashion app acquired by Everalbum

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/626325...-everalbum

Pout is only two people at the moment?

[MacBerry]

Kitchener-based Pout fashion app acquired by Everalbum

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/626325...-everalbum

Pout is only two people at the moment?

Only two people ....?  
Marcus Frind was the founder and developer (2004) dating site "Plenty of Fish".

A Canadian startup,  ran the site from his apartment for five years and was the only employee. He sold to Match.com for $575 Million USD or $720 Million CDN.

Gentlemen: Size is not always important

[rangersfan]

Very good news, Rimowa is expanding :

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/626582...-cambridge

[tomh009]

Very good news, Rimowa is expanding :

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/626582...-cambridge

Great to hear.  Permanent jobs better than contract employees, too.

Oh, and the luggage is very good!

[ookpik]

Oh, and the luggage is very good!

I should hope so considering the $500+ prices.

Any idea where one can get their stuff at a discount? Do they have a factory store in Cambridge? This is one product category where know knows that you bought a "scratch and dent" model.

[tomh009]

Oh, and the luggage is very good!

I should hope so considering the $500+ prices.

Any idea where one can get their stuff at a discount? Do they have a factory store in Cambridge? This is one product category where know knows that you bought a "scratch and dent" model.

Yes, it's expensive.  But I hate buying poor-quality things and throwing them in the landfill.  Rimowa's are well built, and the manufacturer provides a repair service (including warranty).  Depending on the level of airline baggage handler abuse, a Rimowa should last a decades.  For hardsided luggage (which I prefer), the only other currently available high-durability option I know of is the Samsonite S'cure (less expensive, but not cheap, and certainly less stylish).  Sadly most others won't last for long.

[tomh009]

Oh, discounts ... I think there was a factory store, but no longer. And few stores offer discounts on Rimowa. One option is http://www.koffer24.com, who will ship to Canada, and you can buy without VAT, saving about 20% from the listed prices.

[ookpik]

One option is http://www.koffer24.com, who will ship to Canada, and you can buy without VAT, saving about 20% from the listed prices.

Thanks for the link. Yes they ship to Canada but they charge €50+. So that means minimum €250 purchase to offset shipping with the VAT savings. But the real killer to that idea is that the only brand they won't ship to Canada is (wait for it...) Rimowa. Delivery Info

Nevertheless I'll file this away for my next trip to DE/AT. The problem is going to be either (1) leave the purchase unused in its cardboard box so as to qualify for the VAT rebate on the way out but then pay extra luggage charges to the airline or (2) bring a duffle bag to DE/AT, swap contents to the new Rimowa, but then lose the VAT rebate (because it applies only to new, unused goods.)

[tomh009]

I bought my carry-on-sized Topas at a department store that had a (modest) sale on them, and filled out the VAT refund paperwork; it wasn't in a box, just had the tags on it. I then went to the customs office before checking in, actually the night before the flight, and they stamped the VAT paperwork. The next day, after checking in, I showed the stamped paperwork to the VAT refund office to get the refund. No one actually checked whether I was using the suitcase to carry my things back. (If your goods need to be checked in, practically no one can verify that anyway.)

[ookpik]

That seems highly YMMV.

According to VAT refund rules it doesn't have to be in the box but it does have to be new, unused and available for inspection.

I found out the hard way with an expensive pair of hiking boots that I had put into checked baggage before I tried to get the VAT refund. The guy argued a receipt alone wasn't good enough. After all I could have given the boots to an EU resident. He then added that even if I'd worn the boots on the trip home he'd have disallowed my claim on the grounds that I was "using" them in the EU, they were no longer "new" and thus I was being validly taxed on the "value added" from wearing them.

Perhaps this also depends on whether the VAT refunder works for the government (they have an incentive to disallow claims) or works for a sub-contractor (they have a monetary incentive to allow claims because their income is a percentage of the amount refunded.)

All-in-all I have to decide (1) if the high cost of Rimowa is worth it for my usage and (2) if so if it's worth the added hassles of buying outside of Canada.

[mpd618]

All-in-all I have to decide (1) if the high cost of Rimowa is worth it for my usage and (2) if so if it's worth the added hassles of buying outside of Canada.

(This store seems to sell online in Canada and at a few Toronto locations.)

[Spokes]

Pout is only two people at the moment?

Only two people ....?  
Marcus Frind was the founder and developer (2004) dating site "Plenty of Fish".

A Canadian startup,  ran the site from his apartment for five years and was the only employee. He sold to Match.com for $575 Million USD or $720 Million CDN.

Gentlemen: Size is not always important

I've seen this a couple times in the last few days, let's remember we have members and readers of both genders on this site

[tomh009]

According to VAT refund rules it doesn't have to be in the box but it does have to be new, unused and available for inspection.

I found out the hard way with an expensive pair of hiking boots that I had put into checked baggage before I tried to get the VAT refund. The guy argued a receipt alone wasn't good enough. After all I could have given the boots to an EU resident. He then added that even if I'd worn the boots on the trip home he'd have disallowed my claim on the grounds that I was "using" them in the EU, they were no longer "new" and thus I was being validly taxed on the "value added" from wearing them.

I think it would be worthwhile checking the VAT refund rules in detail.  In my case (and it appears also for Germany), you can get the customs desk to check the goods (and stamp the form) before checking in; after you've checked in, you just go to the refund office with the stamped form.

http://www.globalblue.com/destinations/g...n-germany/

[rangersfan]

Roadtrek has been purchased by the largest RV manufacturer in Europe.

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/633032...nufacturer

[panamaniac]

The latest Conference Board of Canada report sees strengthening growth (2.7%) in the local economy, including in the manufacturing sector (2.1%), up slightly from 2015 (2.6%). Best news is a projected increase in employment of 2.1%, compared to a decline of 1% last year (something I've not seen much comment on). The local housing market seems to be perking up again as well, according to the K-W Realtors Association.

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6373...nce-board/

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6371...-february/