On Fail! (Canada Customs style)

Sometimes I buy bicycle accessories from the UK, for example, finding tubular road tyres (or tires) can be difficult, especially since I like Vittoria, and it seems most of the shops in Toronto, if they even have tubular tyres, they sell Conti's only. Anyway this is a letter I sent Canada Customs recently, I'm not including the customs declaration or invoice here, suffice it to say what my letter said is true, just take my word for it. :)

April 12, 2012


Dear Sirs,


As the attached invoice and customs declaration show, on, or around, March 29, 2012 I was shipped two Road Tubular Tyres (these are bicycle tires – they measure 23mm in width and fit a 700mm (or 28 inch) wheel, hence the 28”x23c on the product description.


Bizarrely you have classified this as “Clothing, female, cotton”. Although I suppose it is possible to remove the inner tube and punch holes in it, it would take an exceedingly slender woman to fit inside the tire, furthermore, they are made of vulcanized rubber, not cotton.


To my understanding there is no duty on bicycle accessories from the EU and I assure you my intention is to use these two tires on my bicycle, not dress any unfortunate soul in them! Therefore please refund the $23.81 you charged me for this error and guys, please read the description a little more carefully, I admit the English can spell things funny sometimes, tyre instead of tire, but if the manufacture is Vittoria, it is red/black and it’s made of vulcanized rubber it’s probably not an article of clothing!


Thank you


Michael Cole

Anyway the $23 isn't the main thing, the main thing is, how on earth do you go from "Tyres - Road Tubular" on the Customs Declaration provided by the vendor to "Clothing, female, cotton" on the CBSA Postal Import Form?

On Creative Writing

As I have noted earlier I am working on a novel. I haven't had much time for it lately, threw out a pile of work and restarted from Chapter 2. But just out of curiosity, supposing I put chapter 1 online and readers who liked it might donate say, ten cents ($0.10) per chapter or some other marginal amount, I'm hoping that with enough financial and moral incentive (have to finish a book if I've got a paying audience!) I might just focus myself a little better.

Any thoughts?