More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

[gaffer]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

Bombardier, what a load of crap that is. Canadian tax payers have been keeping that company alive for years so Quebecers can have jobs, meanwhile they are bending Canadians over on the price of their machines. Guess it would be time to look at a Polaris.

I am in the same camp as Blair about buying stuff in the USA, it is so easy with a parcel forwarding service like Package Express and my US Visa. I too plan to buy as much as possible out of the States.

It also saves me from dealing with the crowds and the crappy service we have in this city. Nothing like all your christmas gifts being delivered to your door without having to hit the mall.

Andrew

[Boy Racer]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

I think people need to look at their Nationalism for answers to this. The point is that Manufacturers are asking their retailers to do analysis on their customers and exclude those that fit certain profiles. Court of human rights has more to do with this issue than NAFTA which just deals with Tax or any type of finance minister. Pretend we are visually different from americans just to make the point clear... or a more obvious example, lets pretend the same issue was pronounced in Canada where retailers were told not to sell to anyone of African origin, who should the complaints go to?

[gaffer]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

I think people need to look at their Nationalism for answers to this. The point is that Manufacturers are asking their retailers to do analysis on their customers and exclude those that fit certain profiles. Court of human rights has more to do with this issue than NAFTA which just deals with Tax or any type of finance minister. Pretend we are visually different from americans just to make the point clear... or a more obvious example, lets pretend the same issue was pronounced in Canada where retailers were told not to sell to anyone of African origin, who should the complaints go to?

That is an interesting angle on that which I have never considered.

Andrew

[Stonewall]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

I never looked at it that way before Simon. It could almost be called racism that we can not buy something somewhere just because of out nationality. I bet if this happened in Europe there would be a huge outcry.

[100%VAGitarian]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

i ordered something from the US, which i've ordered before, and this time they tell me that they have lost their usual shipping supplier rates. cost to ship was doubled for same item to same address, in Canada. usually, things i buy go to my sister in Seatle, she gets it to me. but i dont do christmas so i dont really care about beating any rushes or holiday pricing. and if selling to Canadians becomes a bigger issue, then my wife can buy, she's American.

[VWSM]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

i buy all my tools from Amazon because Canadians can't or won,t match the prices,being a small business owner you have to go shopping.

[N'Syncro]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

I have a feeling that this years X-mas season for retailers is going to be horrible.

...And good reason! Maybe after that, they'll get the message.

[MusicalGenius]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

Just to pitch in my $0.02.

Not all retailers can adjust their pricing, in our store for instance the prices aren't set by us, they are set by another company worldwide. So we are to use the pricing structure that they lay out for us. If we deviate, we'll either take a massive hit or we'll overcharge someone (and we all know nobody wants to spend more than they should). So until the larger company changes it's pricing to adjust for the Canadian dollar we're stuck selling products at times for $300 - $500 more than on the southern side of the boarder.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

That is the problem, these global companies need to act, because we all know it is not costing them as much money to get their products into Canada, but they do not make much in the way of price adjustments, and most inventory is not 2 years old when things were back at a 30% exchange. They also may not care as much as much as if we buy a product from them here or in the states the essentially are still getting the sale, but they are also alienating their local dealers, which could end up hurting them in the end.

I hope your not on commission, could be a slow season.

[nordex]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

The finance minister had a press confrence today after meeting with many of the big players. He has encouraged that they do not gouge on this side of the border but did note prices well never be the same as there is more costs to doing buissness in Canada. One thing he pointed out that is an additional cost was the fact that in canada most package has to be re-done for french.

[Stonewall]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

Ahh so it is the Frenchies who are screwing us!!!

[MusicalGenius]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

Actually Blair I work on strictly commission. As of about 20 minutes ago I also crossed the seven figure sales mark. Not bad for a 20 year old!

As for the price discrepancies and people choosing not to buy here. The only way for someone to get one of my products at an american price is to either have an american credit card, with an american residence - or- for them to travel to the states about buy it there, unpack it, put it into a bag and make it seem as if they brought it down with them. Needless to say the majority of people aren't overly fussed (although there are still a variety of bitchy people) since they're all used to paying more on our home turf.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

The finance minister was also told that companies purchased there inventory when rates were higher, which to me is another crap excuse for higher prices. In current business environments companies work very hard to manage inventory levels with buying them as close as possible to when they need items, as Just In Time inventory is very common. Also in some product markets things are very now items so I somehow doubt they bought those items that far in the past.

Lets look at an example of the recently release Transformers DVD.

For the 1 Disc Amazon.com $14.99 Amazon.ca and Futureshop $23.99 thats a 60% difference.

2 Disc Version Amazon.com $22.99 Amazon.ca and Futureshop $27.99 thats a 22% difference.

HD DVD Version Amazon.com $26.95 Amazon.ca and Futureshop $32.99 thats a 22% difference again.

Now the last time exchange was in the 1.20 range was in the summer of 2005, I somehow doubt they picked up their inventory back then. I know this is not taking everything into account but I just am tired of being lied to while they try and make more money.

[100%VAGitarian]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

/\ and i doubt they ordered Transformers in 2005!

[MusicalGenius]

Re: More blockades for Canadians going South to shop

The finance minister was also told that companies purchased there inventory when rates were higher, which to me is another crap excuse for higher prices. In current business environments companies work very hard to manage inventory levels with buying them as close as possible to when they need items, as Just In Time inventory is very common. Also in some product markets things are very now items so I somehow doubt they bought those items that far in the past.

Lets look at an example of the recently release Transformers DVD.

For the 1 Disc Amazon.com $14.99 Amazon.ca and Futureshop $23.99 thats a 60% difference.

2 Disc Version Amazon.com $22.99 Amazon.ca and Futureshop $27.99 thats a 22% difference.

HD DVD Version Amazon.com $26.95 Amazon.ca and Futureshop $32.99 thats a 22% difference again.

Now the last time exchange was in the 1.20 range was in the summer of 2005, I somehow doubt they picked up their inventory back then. I know this is not taking everything into account but I just am tired of being lied to while they try and make more money.

So there are a few things I'd like to say, just to get off my chest.

First off, large companies like FS and Amazon do not buy small amounts of products. They purchase in very large quantities, so as to get the bulk discount and to allow for lower selling prices. Wholesalers are in the exact same boat. Wholesalers will purchase even more than any one retailer at any given time. So we've got to factor a few things in here. The dollar has only been strong for a relatively short period of time, I would be incredibly shocked if ANY large manufacturer of any product would adjust their prices in such a short amount of time. They will look at the markets, and they will analyze the situation over and over again. Until they see that the markets are stable and that the dollar will stay constant. Until then you're probably not going to see any significant price adjustments outside of a select few markets (seasonal foods, oil, etc.) which are always in a constant state of change, and the general populous is used to the ebb and flow.

Second, if there is any section of the current market that would take a hit from dropping the pricing on goods, it would be the wholesalers. They are the one's with stockpiles of goods, and they are the one's who are selling product to the retailers. Until they are willing to lower the prices that they sell to stores at, we again will be lucky to see any price adjustments.

Third, the finance minister has zero say in anything dealing with pricing. He cannot change the pricing structure for countless numbers of companies, nor can he force any wholesalers to change their prices. He can recommend and tell the populous whatever he may want, but in the end his presence on the markets is virtually that of a Gnat on an Elephant.

Fourth, in smaller retail locations such as my own, or any other local business, store there order in parts in smaller quantities than the Big Box Stores. So even though it seems as if we are ordering in product at all times, the pricing structure we follow is again ... dictated by the wholesalers. Unless of course as in our case your prices are dictated by a larger company (in my case, Apple).

So basically I'm saying that on the whole most sectors of the market won't see any drastic price cuts or adjustments to account for the current strength of the Canadian dollar (and the inversely proportionally failing American dollar), until it stays consistently above the American dollar for long enough to ensure that the Canadian dollar won't just drop back down to where it was previously sat in comparison to the American dollar.