Canada is so far behind the times?
Oct 20th 2008, 2:07 pm
#167
Part Time Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: Canada is so far behind the times?
Zurich and Geneva as well as in the Lausanne area Big Multi nationals often hire English speakers as its the common language used by all in Switzerland.
And as for world class skiing there are more world cup or Olympic class runs in Europe than anywhere else
In the top twenty world cup runs 15 are in Europe 1 in Canada and 2 in the states, the other two are Japan and Sweden
So if its demanding skiing you want then I’d stick to Europe, but then very few people who ‘talk the skiing’ ever over-night-ed on the train to go skiing in France which is totally do-able from London UK
But then why bother when East Midland to Geneva is £60ish
Oct 20th 2008, 2:09 pm
#168
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 468
Re: Canada is so far behind the times?
What I've noticed so far:
Banking system - eg most of their chequing/current accounts are fee based. You have to pay a fee for cheques, for using other banks' ATMs, for making too many transactions.
Mobile phones - the contracts that they offer are ridiculously expensive and their phones are a bit old. Even their pay as you go is crap - credits expire after 30 days, you have to pay $1 per month for being able to dial 911. Calls are expensive!
Checkout service - it's not Tesco where they try to get as many customers through the tills as fast as possible. Here, the staff doesn't seem to give a toss and take their own sweet time, even if the queue is really long.
Online shops - there doesn't seem to be many online shops compared to the UK. Even ebay.ca doesn't seem to be too popular.
Post service - I regret ever criticising Royal Mail. The postal service here is slow and unreliable. The postman leaves the parcels at the doorstep without ringing to see if anyone's in.
Product display prices - The price I see isn't the price I pay. You have to add tax GST + PST on top, which is damn annoying.
Banking system - eg most of their chequing/current accounts are fee based. You have to pay a fee for cheques, for using other banks' ATMs, for making too many transactions.
Mobile phones - the contracts that they offer are ridiculously expensive and their phones are a bit old. Even their pay as you go is crap - credits expire after 30 days, you have to pay $1 per month for being able to dial 911. Calls are expensive!
Checkout service - it's not Tesco where they try to get as many customers through the tills as fast as possible. Here, the staff doesn't seem to give a toss and take their own sweet time, even if the queue is really long.
Online shops - there doesn't seem to be many online shops compared to the UK. Even ebay.ca doesn't seem to be too popular.
Post service - I regret ever criticising Royal Mail. The postal service here is slow and unreliable. The postman leaves the parcels at the doorstep without ringing to see if anyone's in.
Product display prices - The price I see isn't the price I pay. You have to add tax GST + PST on top, which is damn annoying.
Last edited by SambaDeAmigo; Oct 20th 2008 at 2:12 pm.
Oct 20th 2008, 2:14 pm
#169
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 53
Re: Canada is so far behind the times?
What I've noticed so far:
Checkout service - it's not Tesco where they try to get as many customers through the tills as fast as possible. Here, the staff doesn't seem to give a toss and take their own sweet time, even if the queue is really long.
Product display prices - The price I see isn't the price I pay. You have to add tax GST + PST on top, which is damn annoying.
Checkout service - it's not Tesco where they try to get as many customers through the tills as fast as possible. Here, the staff doesn't seem to give a toss and take their own sweet time, even if the queue is really long.
Product display prices - The price I see isn't the price I pay. You have to add tax GST + PST on top, which is damn annoying.
And Canada is not the only country that adds tax on to the list price.
Get a grip people, time to integrate and enjoy. Perhaps also a good time to get outside and get a hobby!
Oct 20th 2008, 2:20 pm
#170
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 468
Re: Canada is so far behind the times?
sorry, the service here is infinitely better than the UK, it may be slower because the checkout staff actually talk to the customers.....
And Canada is not the only country that adds tax on to the list price.
Get a grip people, time to integrate and enjoy. Perhaps also a good time to get outside and get a hobby!
And Canada is not the only country that adds tax on to the list price.
Get a grip people, time to integrate and enjoy. Perhaps also a good time to get outside and get a hobby!
Well Canada may not be the only country that adds tax on top but the point of this thread is to compare the differences between it and the UK. It's only normal for us to make those comparisons. Are you saying that this thread shouldn't exist? These are things that we can't change and we all know we have to adapt to them.
Last edited by SambaDeAmigo; Oct 20th 2008 at 2:24 pm.
Oct 20th 2008, 2:22 pm
#171
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: Canada is so far behind the times?
What I've noticed so far:
Banking system - eg most of their chequing/current accounts are fee based. You have to pay a fee for cheques, for using other banks' ATMs, for making too many transactions.
Those fees can be avoided if you keep a certain balance in your account.
Mobile phones - the contracts that they offer are ridiculously expensive and their phones are a bit old. Even their pay as you go is crap - credits expire after 30 days, you have to pay $1 per month for being able to dial 911. Calls are expensive!
Agreed. I wouldn't have one, if I didn't need it for work.
Checkout service - it's not Tesco where they try to get as many customers through the tills as fast as possible. Here, the staff doesn't seem to give a toss and take their own sweet time, even if the queue is really long.
Depends on the supermarket. Our local IGA cashiers move fast and there is a guy at the end packing the stuff for you.
Online shops - there doesn't seem to be many online shops compared to the UK. Even ebay.ca doesn't seem to be too popular.
Post service - I regret ever criticising Royal Mail. The postal service here is slow and unreliable. The postman leaves the parcels at the doorstep without ringing to see if anyone's in.
Any doorstep will do.
Product display prices - The price I see isn't the price I pay. You have to add tax GST + PST on top, which is damn annoying.
Banking system - eg most of their chequing/current accounts are fee based. You have to pay a fee for cheques, for using other banks' ATMs, for making too many transactions.
Those fees can be avoided if you keep a certain balance in your account.
Mobile phones - the contracts that they offer are ridiculously expensive and their phones are a bit old. Even their pay as you go is crap - credits expire after 30 days, you have to pay $1 per month for being able to dial 911. Calls are expensive!
Agreed. I wouldn't have one, if I didn't need it for work.
Checkout service - it's not Tesco where they try to get as many customers through the tills as fast as possible. Here, the staff doesn't seem to give a toss and take their own sweet time, even if the queue is really long.
Depends on the supermarket. Our local IGA cashiers move fast and there is a guy at the end packing the stuff for you.
Online shops - there doesn't seem to be many online shops compared to the UK. Even ebay.ca doesn't seem to be too popular.
Post service - I regret ever criticising Royal Mail. The postal service here is slow and unreliable. The postman leaves the parcels at the doorstep without ringing to see if anyone's in.
Any doorstep will do.
Product display prices - The price I see isn't the price I pay. You have to add tax GST + PST on top, which is damn annoying.
Oct 20th 2008, 2:30 pm
#172
C'est correck
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: La Prairie, nr Montréal
Posts: 839
Re: Canada is so far behind the times?
Online shops - there doesn't seem to be many online shops compared to the UK. Even ebay.ca doesn't seem to be too popular.
Post service - I regret ever criticising Royal Mail. The postal service here is slow and unreliable. The postman leaves the parcels at the doorstep without ringing to see if anyone's in.
Post service - I regret ever criticising Royal Mail. The postal service here is slow and unreliable. The postman leaves the parcels at the doorstep without ringing to see if anyone's in.
Luckily there's nothing to buy there... I get used to expecting to pay a bit more - I'd say it's the least of my problems with Canada
Oct 20th 2008, 2:34 pm
#173
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: Canada is so far behind the times?
That's two IGA fans, then.
Oct 20th 2008, 2:44 pm
#174
Lotus-eater
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Cascadian Autonomous Elysian Region
Posts: 5,069
Oct 20th 2008, 3:22 pm
#177
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Beautiful BC
Posts: 1,106
Re: Canada is so far behind the times?
There's something rather ironic about people who choose to leave a country that they perceive is more up to date to come to Canada and then complain that in their opinion it is behind the times, and/or start to nit-pick about everything that isn't exactly like the UK. Keeping in mind that Canada is made up of immigrants from all over the world, I wonder why they think it should be just like the UK. Most of us are glad it's not, and prefer to live here anyway.
Oct 20th 2008, 3:25 pm
#178
Lotus-eater
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Cascadian Autonomous Elysian Region
Posts: 5,069
Oct 20th 2008, 3:34 pm
#179
Part Time Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: Canada is so far behind the times?
There's something rather ironic about people who choose to leave a country that they perceive is more up to date to come to Canada and then complain that in their opinion it is behind the times, and/or start to nit-pick about everything that isn't exactly like the UK. Keeping in mind that Canada is made up of immigrants from all over the world, I wonder why they think it should be just like the UK. Most of us are glad it's not, and prefer to live here anyway.
Oct 20th 2008, 3:36 pm
#180
Lotus-eater
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Cascadian Autonomous Elysian Region
Posts: 5,069
