getting camera to Joe, surplus funds

[VinceC]

Another thought. Gene's idea would be the most expedient, getting the camera into Joe's hands conceivably the end of this week with no travel involved.

I'll also be a lone voice on the excess donations. They were intended for photo equipment for Joe. I think they should be quietly pooled until such time as the approximate amount is known. Then it could be turned over to Joe, perhaps in the form of a gift certificate from one of the sponsors. I'm going to make a guess that RFF advertisers already cover the fairly nominal cost of keeping the Website up and running. And yes, after a particularly fascinating thread a few months ago, I did donate a small fee to keep the site up and running.

 

[Goodyear]

I'm with ManGo.

And Gene.

Delivery should be above board without attempting to fudge customs - especially if there's already enough in the kitty to cover the duties.

 

[wlewisiii]

I also agree with Gene on the delivery and with Vince on the disposition of any excess. The contributions were specifically for joe, not any other purpose. Get the camera, lens and appropriate hood to joe and then tally up the remainder as an account for him to use at a later time.

William

 

[nickchew]

Seriously,
Can we get a $2 thank you card to go with it? I mean, this is all a nice gesture, but what we really want to say is "thank you" right? So how about someone actually sending a thank you card with the gift? (I'll do it myself if it is ok with Joe to give me his address.)

Also, I don't know how customs duties are calculated here (Quebec), but I paid nearly CDN$100 for my bessa R valued at about US$300 then. So it is a sizeable amount.

Nick

 

[ch1]

While I have no qualms about someone in the US legitimately acquiring the camera from outside Calif. to "avoid" the sales tax I have a lot of qualms about "evading" customs duties.

Why not finalize the tally and see where we are. I assume PopFlash can determine the custom duties (we know that their website is "equipped" for international sales). Since the item is going to an out of state purchaser (i.e. put sales receipt in Joe's name - after all we bought all those Joe Rizuttos!) there shouldn't be any Calif. sales tax.

There are merits to either using any "surplus" as an "accessories fund" for Joe (since it was with the intention of making a gift to Joe that resulted in the cash) or donating it to RFF. I'm indifferent to that issue.

 

[GeneW]

Also, I don't know how customs duties are calculated here (Quebec), but I paid nearly CDN$100 for my bessa R valued at about US$300 then. So it is a sizeable amount.

First, just to be technical, there are no custom duties on photographic equipment. What you paid was taxes and, most likely, a ridiculous brokerage fee. It should have been summarized on the waybill. With the right kind of expedited, overnight courier, the brokerage fees can be paid up front by the sender as part of delivery.

Taxes, though, have to be considered. Does Alberta still have no provincial sales tax? If so, then we should get the final tally in USD, convert to CDN, and calculate 7% GST. Perhaps this could be wired to Joe, or sent via money order because he'll have to pay this at his end.

Gene

 

[GeneW]

Seriously,
Can we get a $2 thank you card to go with it? I mean, this is all a nice gesture, but what we really want to say is "thank you" right? So how about someone actually sending a thank you card with the gift? (I'll do it myself if it is ok with Joe to give me his address.)

I really like the thank-you card idea. It would be neat to have everyone send one individually to Joe -- neat collection. And those who can, could send a photo postcard of a good RF image, or maybe a small print with a thank-you card inside?

Gene

 

[ch1]

......
Taxes, though, have to be considered. Does Alberta still have no provincial sales tax? If so, then we should get the final tally in USD, convert to CDN, and calculate 7% GST. Perhaps this could be wired to Joe, or sent via money order because he'll have to pay this at his end.

Gene

This is a good point. While it should be relatively easy to "avoid" Calif sales tax the purchase may well be subject to Cdn GST. Our friends on the "uptown" side of the border should know what tax liabilities may arise from a cross-border purchase since many of them have purchased stuff from "downtown" vendors here in the US.

 

[sf]

Towards the site. I think that would be best.

 

[Andrew Touchon]

Whatever means is used to deliver the gift to Joe, I think the entire amount collected should be applied to Joe's present including the cost of shipping and taxes. I did not contribute to a RFF general fund or any other slush fund.

 

[FrankS]

We're a classy group and I thhnk we should go with Vince's sentiment about being above board with the Custom's charge.

Joe indicated to me that he is not fond of flying, so the airplane ticket idea is out. Some have expressed concerns about the appropriateness of that as well.

Gene's suggestion about deluxe shipping and Nick's about a card are very good and I think we should go that way.

The surplus funds issue seems to be devisive with some saying surplus should go to RFF, others saying surplus should still go to Joe. While money was collected in Joe's name, the goal was for a camera/lens and hood. (Joe said he wasn't big on cases.) That was exceeded. Shipping, taxes and Custom's charges should be covered too. Perhaps a poll to decide on surplus, or ask Joe?

 

[Socke]

Frank, first I'd like to personally thank you for conceiving and supervising this project.
Wonderful! Second, I agree that any surplus should go to RFF.

WELL DONE, FRANK!!!

Fred Morrison

I can' say it better myself so I just quote Fred!

 

[oftheherd]

I also agree with Gene on the delivery and with Vince on the disposition of any excess. The contributions were specifically for joe, not any other purpose. Get the camera, lens and appropriate hood to joe and then tally up the remainder as an account for him to use at a later time.

William

That is true that all were collected for Joe. However, most would probably not mind any excess going to Jorge. I don't, but don't mind it all going to Joe, perhaps as mentioned, as a gift certificate from a forum sponsor. Personally, I don't mind either way.

One thing I hadn't considered is that we should also pay for any customs duties with any excess. I sure agree with that. The value of the gift is lessened if Joe has to pay that. If there hadn't been an excess, I guess he would have been stuck or we would have had to kick in more. Since we know there will be an excess, I think it proper to pay any shipping and handling, and any duties.

If all agree with paying S&H and duties with any excess, let's do that. If there is still money left over, we can figure how much and debate its disposition after Joe has his well deserved gift free and clear.

How think you all?

 

[ch1]

The surplus funds issue seems to be devisive with some saying surplus should go to RFF, others saying surplus should still go to Joe. While money was collected in Joe's name, the goal was for a camera/lens and hood. (Joe said he wasn't big on cases.) That was exceeded. Shipping, taxes and Custom's charges should be covered too. Perhaps a poll to decide on surplus, or ask Joe?

Frank,

I thought of a poll too, but we cannot restrict it to the actual contributors so the result may not express the sentiment of the giftors.

I think we know what Joe will say - his humility is one of the things we are thanking him for.

So rather, I nominate YOU to make the decision and will support whatever you choose!

George

 

[oftheherd]

I really like the thank-you card idea. It would be neat to have everyone send one individually to Joe -- neat collection. And those who can, could send a photo postcard of a good RF image, or maybe a small print with a thank-you card inside?

Gene

Well, a Thankyou card is always a nice idea. However, with three threads full of heartfelt expressions from caring individuals ...

How could a card with sentiments from someone who doesn't know Joe top that!?

 

[FrankS]

Would anyone object to leaving the decision to me as opposed to conducting a poll?

 

[peterc]

However nice it would be to put the 'personal' touch on delivery, we could pay to have expedited, overnight courier delivery, even from the US

Gene has an excellent point. It's probably best to get it there as quickly as possible with all the legal and tax law ducks in a row.

Peter

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Hey🙂

Sorry guys, but I don't like where this is going.

Firstly, I think we should get the camera/lens/shade combo and get that to joe asap. The excess should go to Jorge to pay for the server time (or whatever he spends the money to run this place), if everyone is agreeable to that. Paying for joe to fly down to wherever to pick up the camera is, I think, inappropriate.

As far as I am concerned, this has been a one-off. We have come together to turn small tokens of thanks into an appropriate gift for someone who helps make this place possible. I think now that we should return to doing what we do best - talk, discuss and rant about things rangefinderish. This isn't the lottery, a savings and loan, the credit union, or a christmas club. The path to such things is the path to heartache and the destruction of that which we hold dear, and I don't want a part of it.

ManGo

Hear, hear...

My vote is for the camera to be delivered ASAP and above board; camera, lens , and hood. I'd like to see any surplus go into the RFF general fund -- just my thoughts on this 🙂

 

[FrankS]

Let's get Joe his camera asap and pay for shipping, taxes, and customs.

Whatever is surplus to that we'll do a poll or leave for me to decide a bit later.

Okay?

 

[BJ Bignell]

The cost for Joe - or an agent on his behalf - to receive the kit inside Canada would be 7% of the value in Canadian dollars (we call it GST!), plus a $5 handling fee. So if the goodies were worth, say, $2500 Canadian dollars, it'd be $180.