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Leto · 10-26-2007, 10:34 AM

I was in Houston in Sept of this year on a conference. While I was there, I did some comparative shopping between Houston ("the US") and Toronto ("Back Home"). Just what I say and the recent news around pricing should serve to ignite some discussion. For example:

iPod Touch:

Apple Store in the Houston Galleria: $299
Future shop & Best Buy in Toronto: $329

Asecs Running shoes (Gel 1120)

Sports Authority Houston: $69
Running Room Toronto: $119

Other examples: I went to the Hallmark Store in Toronto's Fairview mall and bought a birthday card. On the back, there were two prices: US: $3.99 Canada: $6.50 I told the clerk that I would like to pay the US price, and that I had some American money to do so (left over from my trip). No Luck.

In the past I believe that we assumed that there was an issue around the exchange rate, but now that the Canadian dollar is worth $US1.04, that excuse doesn't wash anymore. We have been hoodwinked that a 30 - 50 % price difference is acceptable.

Some of the excuses provided are the cost to retailers passed on by duties, taxes wholesalers etc, but americans receive imports from the same places that we do. I can see a price inflation of maybe 5% due to duties & French packaging requirments, but huge differences like we see are obscene.

Cars are another big category with differences in pricing of tens of thousands of dollars. The Chrysler 300 (manufactured right here at home in Ontario) starts at $30,395 at Toronto Dodge Chrysler.

When it gets shipped over the border to Detroit, it costs $25,270 at Naylor Motors in An Arbor. And to top it off, we are not allowed to purchase these vehicles. The American dealers are not allowed to sell to Canadians.

That is my rant. Are we a bunch of pussies, or are we going to flex our consumer muscles and start using the internet for our Christmas shopping?

10-26-2007, 10:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	Canada: Are we paying too much???? I was in Houston in Sept of this year on a conference. While I was there, I did some comparative shopping between Houston ("the US") and Toronto ("Back Home"). Just what I say and the recent news around pricing should serve to ignite some discussion. For example: iPod Touch: Apple Store in the Houston Galleria: $299 Future shop & Best Buy in Toronto: $329 Asecs Running shoes (Gel 1120) Sports Authority Houston: $69 Running Room Toronto: $119 Other examples: I went to the Hallmark Store in Toronto's Fairview mall and bought a birthday card. On the back, there were two prices: US: $3.99 Canada: $6.50 I told the clerk that I would like to pay the US price, and that I had some American money to do so (left over from my trip). No Luck. In the past I believe that we assumed that there was an issue around the exchange rate, but now that the Canadian dollar is worth $US1.04, that excuse doesn't wash anymore. We have been hoodwinked that a 30 - 50 % price difference is acceptable. Some of the excuses provided are the cost to retailers passed on by duties, taxes wholesalers etc, but americans receive imports from the same places that we do. I can see a price inflation of maybe 5% due to duties & French packaging requirments, but huge differences like we see are obscene. Cars are another big category with differences in pricing of tens of thousands of dollars. The Chrysler 300 (manufactured right here at home in Ontario) starts at $30,395 at Toronto Dodge Chrysler. When it gets shipped over the border to Detroit, it costs $25,270 at Naylor Motors in An Arbor. And to top it off, we are not allowed to purchase these vehicles. The American dealers are not allowed to sell to Canadians. That is my rant. Are we a bunch of pussies, or are we going to flex our consumer muscles and start using the internet for our Christmas shopping?