Stop paying the US / Canadian Dollar Markup!!!

[Devils_Advocate]

Stop paying the US / Canada Markup!!!

I know I'm ranting about a long standing grievance but why are we still paying a mark up on products from the USA because of our "weak" Canadian dollar?

I personally won't buy any big, medium, or little ticket items till something changes.

How bout the rest of you?

 

[CJ Tylers]

We're paying that markup because:

A) We're used to the current prices, and;
B) The retailers are used to gouging us and gaining massive, unwarranted profits.

 

[twoblues]

We're paying that markup because:

A) We're used to the current prices, and;
B) The retailers are used to gouging us and gaining massive, unwarranted profits.

The retailers are used to it just like we are, correct. It's entirely up to the retailer to charge what the market will bear. As long as people keep buying, no reason to lower the prices.

As a side note, and I'm too lazy to research this, what is our dollar doing in relation to other markets? Such as Asia where a lot of parts come from?

 

[HankQuinlan]

What pisses me off is the 30 to 40 percent markup on books and magazines -- Books? Maybe they were purchased earlier, maybe not. But new magazines? There is no possible excuse except gouging.

 

[Jodie]

Here is an article that explains some of the reasons our prices haven't changed:

http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/banking/credit/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5453988

I for one will be heading south of the border to purchase items where significant savings exist (i.e. for clothes, electronics, books).

Just remember, if you choose to buy things in the US, make sure they are made in the US, otherwise the cost of duty plus taxes may outweigh any savings.

 

[threepeat]

As a side note, and I'm too lazy to research this, what is our dollar doing in relation to other markets? Such as Asia where a lot of parts come from?

The short answer is that the C$ has gone up about 5% compared with most currencies this past year, compared to about 20% compared to the US$

 

[Devils_Advocate]

Just remember, if you choose to buy things in the US, make sure they are made in the US, otherwise the cost of duty plus taxes may outweigh any savings.

Is anything actually made in the US anymore??? Thanks for the link.

 

[slacker]

Great thread.

Yeah I've been thinking about this a lot recently as I am looking into a large purchase where I have an option to get a cheaper price in the US. And I will go the US route. Not so much just to save myself some money, but to punish the Canadian retailers for trying to bend me over and take it until I bleed for them. What I really wish is that everyone would do the same, otherwise retailers won't get a clue.

I don't expect parity in pricing as there are duty and market size issues. But one simple example is to look at the prices of a place like Future Shop for TVs. Check their price, then check the prices you can find on the internet from US retailers. You will find in Canada prices can be almost double for big ticket items.

That's maybe another thread in itself - Future Shop has actually become a very expensive rip off for many items these days. I'll avoid the place whenever possible from now on. Quite handy how they set up a "competitor" (best buy) that they own. There is just no other way to read into that as an anti-competitive market tactic. In the US it would be harder to get away with that as it's a larger market leaving room for more players that are truly competing.

 

[Thelyhi]

The Canadian government is thinking about selling products at par,but that will be many months away.No more US prices or Canadian prices.Just one price.
Providing our dollar stays high.

 

[wolverine]

A missing voting option is "I have no choice". Edmonton is 6 hours away from the border. That's a long way to travel and a lot of fuel to burn just to buy a new book to read.

 

[donjoh]

Make sure that appliances, etc. have a CSA or ULC label:
Let's say a fire can be traced to this particular item. If it doesn't have Canadian certification, the insurance company can (and probably will!) refuse to pay. After all, their "job" is to look for reasons to pay out as little as possible.

 

[majikcalgary]

Is anything actually made in the US anymore??? Thanks for the link.

A friend of mine was travelling last year, India and Thailand just to name two countries he visited, and he said in his travels that he could have bought a new mp3 player for $5 Canadian. It is well known that alot of our clothing and electronics are manufactured in various cheap labor countries then transported via jam packed sea containers (which are HUGE BTW) to the west and purchased after multiple %100 markups. I am torn though...... I couldn't see myself dishing out $100 for a fawking t-shirt if they were made here.

Sorry a little off topic but I do see yer points. I can't understand how alot of cars that ARE made in north america are sometimes 10g's more north of the boarder.... that really gets me ticked.

 

[DDawGG]

I am looking at a new Suburban (yeah...yeah...yeah gas milage blah...blah...blah) the exact same vehicle is $67,000 here and $49,000 in Bellingham.

For $18,000, I could probably be talked into having my warranty work done in the US.

Rumour has it that a TO based lawyer is starting a class action/price fixing suit against a few auto makers.

Has anyone heard or have the link?

 

[LonelyGhost]

I am looking at a new Suburban (yeah...yeah...yeah gas milage blah...blah...blah) the exact same vehicle is $67,000 here and $49,000 in Bellingham.

For $18,000, I could probably be talked into having my warranty work done in the US.

there is no such thing as a 'warranty' ... if there is a recall, ALL dealers
have to fix it ... if there is a tech bulletin, they have to fix it ... they
cannot refuse ...

what 'warranty' usually means is some financial goodwill from the
dealer for buying the vehicle and they won't charge you for fixing
something that has come loose or broken ...

so for $25 you can sign up your vehicle at alldata and they will
send out all those bulletins, you can print them out and take
them to the dealer to be repaired irregardless of your 'warranty'.

and for an $18,000 savings you could fix a shitload of stuff at
going rates ...

 

[Walk Softly]

Books

Hey Wolvie! check out www.powells.com. They're an independent bookseller in the Portland area with a huge selection of new and used books online. Unfortunately, they canceled the free shipping to Canada recently but they're still pretty reasonable.

Cheers! WS.

 

[Thelyhi]

Yesterday,I went to a chain book store and bought some books.

There's the US prices (low) and the CDN price (arrgh high.)

..Now the book is like 50cents less than the stated CDN prices,but still not at US prices.For under $10 CDN books.

 

[SFMIKE]

Sure, lots of things are made in the USA

Is anything actually made in the US anymore??? Thanks for the link.

But like everything, there is a catch to the phrase "Made in the USA".

http://www.usstuff.com/saipan.htm

http://sonic.net/~doretk/Issues/00-06 SUM/madein.html

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/05/09/real.delay/index.html

There are so many other web sites, but you can get the idea from these. Google: "Made in America Saipan", and get 434,000 hits.

 

[BC visitor]

there is no such thing as a 'warranty' ... if there is a recall, ALL dealers
have to fix it ... if there is a tech bulletin, they have to fix it ... they
cannot refuse ...

what 'warranty' usually means is some financial goodwill from the
dealer for buying the vehicle and they won't charge you for fixing
something that has come loose or broken ...

so for $25 you can sign up your vehicle at alldata and they will
send out all those bulletins, you can print them out and take
them to the dealer to be repaired irregardless of your 'warranty'.

and for an $18,000 savings you could fix a shitload of stuff at
going rates ...

I don't think this is true. When a dealer does warranty work in a vehicle they actually bill the cost back to the manufacturer's sales representative in that country. If the vehicle was not "sold" as a new vehicle sale in your country, it's warranty is in the country it was first sold in and the manufacturer's sales representative in the country where the vehicle currently is does not have to do the work for free. Example, GM of Canada warranties vehicles sold in Canada; GM of the US warranties vehicles sold in the US. Buying a Suburban in the US and taking it into Canada does not obligate GM of Canada to warranty it. Most parts will be available, but not all. Even if it is recalled, GM of Canada is not obligated to fix it. If you take it back to the US, the US dealer must fix it.

 

[LaCreme]

Stop paying the US / Canada Markup!!!

I know I'm ranting about a long standing grievance but why are we still paying a mark up on products from the USA because of our "weak" Canadian dollar?

I personally won't buy any big, medium, or little ticket items till something changes.

How bout the rest of you?

pardon my english..

i dont know if i am with you. but what i think is we all should support canada instead.. someday we will be leader and many americans will apply to come to canada.......my canadian money has more value and it look more pretty

 

[Trav]

keep complaining

Keep pointing out the difference to managers . Yesterday I bought an item in Calgary for $ 629. it was listed at $ 699. and I could order from US for $ 599.
I spoke to the Mgr and said I was going to order from US , Showed him the US prices and he gave me a break! The shipping from US would have made it about the same.