HST savings information
Why is the UBC Bookstore charging NO HST to UBC departments?
What purchases at the UBC Bookstore does the NO HST apply to?
What is EWAY.ca? What is the link with the Bookstore?
What is Staples Advantage? How does it differ from Staples?
How do I set up an Open Account?
How do I set up a UBC Purchase Card account?
How do I set up an EWAY account?
The discount between the Staples Advantage catalogue price seems to be far higher at 50 – 83 per cent then the Bookstore Department discount. How does this work?
Where or how do I get my goods? Do I have to go the Bookstore or does EWAY have a pick-up point?
1. Why is the UBC Bookstore charging NO HST to UBC departments?
The UBC Bookstore wants to save departments money and ensure that as much revenue as possible stays at UBC for future investments for your departments and our students. This saves departments’ time in claiming the rebatable portion of the HST, resulting in tax savings of 3.42 per cent – a win, win situation!
2. What purchases at the UBC Bookstore does the NO HST apply to?
The NO HST applies to all departmental purchases billed by the UBC Bookstore including office products, furniture, computers, electronics, books, gifts and clothing.
Whatever method of payment you choose: UBC Purchase card, Journal Voucher or Bookstore Open Account, you will be charged NO HST.
3. What is EWAY.ca? What is the link with the Bookstore?
EWAY.CA by Staples Advantage is the official online ordering site of office products for UBC.
The final price for the same purchase, whether using Open Account or a Purchase Card (PCARD) is exactly the same, even though the method is different:
- Purchases made on EWAY.CA using a UBC Bookstore Open Account will mean NO HST. You will see HST when you check out online on EWAY.CA, however, there will be NO HST on the final invoice (it will be removed) from the UBC Bookstore.
- Purchases made on EWAY.CA using a UBC Purchase Card will be charged HST, however, the actual product prices have been reduced by the equivalent 3.42 per cent HST to offset this.
The UBC Bookstore partnered with Staples Advantage seven years ago and the EWAY.CA on-line ordering, delivery and billing processes are now integrated with Open Account and Purchase Card customers to save UBC departments time and money.
4. What is Staples Advantage? How does it differ from Staples?
Staples Advantage is the commercial business to business (B2B) division of Staples. Their partnership with the UBC Bookstore as official office products supplier for UBC saves UBC departments time and money.
Staples Retail and Staples.ca are the retail divisions of Staples and are not part of the partnership with the UBC Bookstore. Staples Advantage is the only division of Staples which partners with UBC.
5. Does this apply to purchases made at the Bookstore using a Purchase Card, Open Account or Journal Voucher?
Yes, UBC departmental customers can pay by Open Account, Purchase Card or Journal Voucher (JV) when shopping in person at the UBC Bookstore.
UBC Departmental customers can pay by Open Account or Purchase Card when ordering on EWAY.CA.
Well, the three options have different benefits to the customer:
1. An Open Account allows authorized departmental customers listed on an Open Account to use their speed chart in person, by fax, by email or on EWAY.CA when ordering. The UBC Bookstore invoices the order against the speed chart provided.
2. The Purchase Card is a Departmental Visa card that allows for automatic billing and is the most streamlined option for one speed chart and has the lowest transaction cost to UBC.
Using a Purchase Card, the purchaser will see HST on the invoice. However, the actual price of the product will have been reduced by the HST equivalent of 3.42 per cent to compensate this.
Please note, not every one that orders supplies is authorized to have a Purchase Card and Purchase Card transactions have to be reconciled to the Visa statement at the end of the month.
3. A Journal Voucher (JV) is an electronic or hardcopy form that is used internally at UBC for interdepartmental purchases and can be used at the UBC Bookstore for all department purchases.
7. How do I set up an Open Account?
Departmental customers (authorized signatory) will send a JV to the UBC Bookstore to set up a new Open Account. The Open Account update form on the UBC Bookstore’s website is used for adding/deleting names to an existing open account. Bookstore open accounts must be renewed annually at fiscal year end.
8. How do I set up a UBC Purchase Card account?
UBC Purchase Card information is on the UBC Supply Management website.
9. How do I set up an EWAY account?
With a UBC Bookstore Open account or a UBC Purchase Card you can apply for an EWAY.CA ID and password by completing the EWAY enrolment form on the Bookstore’s website and send it to :
10. The discount between the Staples Advantage catalogue price seems to be far higher at 50 – 83 per cent then the Bookstore Department discount. How does this work?
The 50-83 per cent discount is off the “List Price”. With an EWAY account, you will be able to access the UBC contract pricing and see the list price and also the net price you pay after the discounts on EWAY.CA.
The Departmental discount from the Bookstore is calculated off the Bookstore retail price to arrive at the same net price that the Department would pay on EWAY.CA for the same item.
Retail stores sell at their retail price and offer limited time promotional pricing or nominal discounts.
11. Where or how do I get my goods? Do I have to go the Bookstore or does EWAY have a pick-up point?
You’ll be pleased to know that EWAY.CA orders will be delivered to your office, next business day at no extra charge for orders received by 4:00 pm (furniture on EWAY.CA will have a minimal delivery charge). EWAY.CA returns will be picked up within a few days from your office.<-->
