Monday, August 20, 2012

Retail Price Adjustments in Canada

Have you ever bought something, only to be highly disappointed that it went on sale the next week because you purchased it at a higher price?

Many stores in Canada, particularly larger chains, have a "price adjustment" policy.  This means that if something goes on sale after you have purchased it, you can go back with your receipt and receive the difference of the price.  As an example, if you paid $100.00 for an item, and a couple days later it went on sale for $60.00, you could bring in your receipt, ask for a price adjustment, and you would receive $40.00 back. Nice, eh!?

Each store does have their own specific policies though, so it's good to research the policies for the stores you typically shop at.

Not ideal if you live rurally and the item is $5.00 cheaper since your gas costs getting back to the store would outweigh the difference, but for larger items it can make a big difference!  When I bought my laptop at Futureshop a couple years ago, I noticed it in the flyer the next week on sale, and was able to go back in for a fairly substantial price adjustment.

If it happens to be a store you shop at often, it might be handy to keep those receipts for smaller items in your purse to check back in case the items you bought is $5.00 less next week.

Very occasionally, you might even find a store clerk giving you the heads up that your purchase will be going on sale soon.  If you know the policies, you can buy it at full price, ensure you get the product before someone else buys it off the shelf, and come back for the price adjustment.

Knowing the policies for the stores you shop at is key! If your favorite store is not in my list of favorites, find the website, and the price adjustment policy is typically found within the returns policy, often in a link at the bottom of the website.

Here is the research for some of my top shopping destinations.
 

ADDITION-ELLE:

Price Adjustment Policy: We offer a one-time price adjustment within 14 days on items purchased at regular price. To receive a price adjustment for merchandise purchased online, you may call us at 1-888-385-8585. Note that price adjustments for merchandise purchased online can be received exclusively in this manner and cannot be received in-store.

AEROPOSTALE: 

To receive a one-time purchase adjustment, present your original receipt within 14 days of the original date of purchase.

THE BAY:

Price adjustments will be made with the original receipt, within 7 days of purchase.  Price adjustments will not be made for clearance merchandise.  

CANADIAN TIRE and MARK'S WORK WEARHOUSE:

These two companies are both owned by Canadian Tire, and I couldn't find any info on price adjustments with them on their websites.

FUTURESHOP:
 If our own price was reduced in the last 30 days.
  • Present us with your original receipt.
  • We will refund you the difference.
For purchases from futureshop.ca, and if there are no Future Shop stores in your area, you can contact us at 1-800-663-2275 or by email service@futureshop.com.

ROOTS:

Note:  The following is regarding online orders, but I'm guessing their in store policy is a similar 14 days.

Roots.com offers a one time only price adjustment on items purchased at REGULAR price within 14 days of invoice with your original invoice. Please include a note indicating the item and its new price.

From time to time we may run promotions where a price adjustment will not be available. If a price adjustment is not available on any given promotion we will state that fact on Roots.com Canada.

Send your original invoice postmarked no later than 14 days of invoice to:

Roots.com Canada- Pricing Adjustments
9133 Leslie Street,
Unit #120 Richmond Hill, ON
L4B 4N1

Please note we cannot accept photocopied invoices or packing slips and we will only credit the credit card used for the original purchase.

SEARS:

Note:  I couldn't find a policy regarding in store purchases, but I did find this one regarding catalogue and online purchases.  This one is interesting...will match not only their own prices but ones from other stores too, post-purchase!

We'll match any competitor's advertised price for identical merchandise offered
in Sears catalogues and on www.sears.ca within 30 days of purchase.

I hope this info has helped!  Have you ever used price adjustments to get money back on a purchase?





Monday, August 13, 2012

Overnight Summer Camp - You Can't Claim it All

I loved overnight summer camp as a kid.  It was the highlight of my year to go to camp for two weeks each summer. The camp I loved was pricey, in the Muskoka region of Ontario. I requested the "going to camp" experience each year instead of receiving birthday and Christmas gifts. (Ok, I still received some gifts, but smaller ones!)

My daughter started going to overnight camp last summer.  She also loves it!  But did you realize that you can't claim all of those overnight camp fees as childcare costs on your income taxes?

Camp IS childcare for our family during the summer, as it is for many others.  We use a combination of daycamps and a week of overnight camp.  All daycamp fees can be claimed, no matter the price, but there is a maximum on the amount you can claim for overnight camp.  This maximum amount is in need of being raised to a more realistic current amount.

The daycamp at the local university that my daughter looks forward to each year is approximately $200/week.  This can be claimed, no questions asked.  Even if it was $500/week it could be claimed, no questions asked.

However, for overnight camp for the 2011 tax year:

"The maximum you can claim for expenses that relate to a stay in a
boarding school (other than education costs) or an overnight camp
(including an overnight sports school) is $175 per week for a child
included on line 1 in Part B, $250 per week for a child included on
line 2, and $100 per week for a child included on line 3."

Line 1 equates to children 7 years and younger.
Line 2 equates to children under 17 who qualify for disability tax credit
Line 3 equates to children between 8 and 17 years old, or over 18 who qualify for disability tax credit.

For most "camp aged" children this means you can only claim $100 for the week of overnight camp, instead of the $200 that I pay for daycamp.

I decided to take a look back to see when this amount was last updated.

2001 (10 years ago).  Same amounts as 2011
1999 (12 years ago).  Same amount as 2011, with no disability option.
1998. (13 years ago)
"You can claim payments made to: individuals providing Child care services; day nursery schools and daycare centres; educational institutions for the part of the fees that relate to Child care services; day camps and day sports schools; and boarding schools, overnight sports schools, or camps where lodging is involved."

WAIT.  HOLD IT!!  What was that?? My parents could claim the full cost of overnight camp as a tax deduction for child care, but we can't?  UGH.

I get it, I do.  It's because the whole thing is lumped together as the upper class sending their kids to boarding school, and why should the upper class get a tax break for something that others can't afford.  I'm not disagreeing with that.

What I do think is that the rates need to updated.  That $100/week amount for children between 8 and 18 needs to be raised to $150 or $200/week.  There are absolutely no daycare providers in my area that would charge only $100 for full time daycare for one week, even for a school age child (infant and preschool spots typically charge more than school age to begin with). I've heard from friends that typical school age rates here (and I am NOT in a large city where rates can be much higher) are $30/day, or $150/week.

Will you join me in writing to your MP regarding raising the amount you can claim on your taxes for overnight camp to match what you would pay for daycare or daycamp?