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Path: utzoo!utgpu!utcsri!utegc!utai!ubc-vision!fornax!bby-bc!john
From: john@bby-bc.UUCP
Newsgroups: can.politics
Subject: Re: prices in Canada
Message-ID: <139@bby-bc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 9-Jul-87 12:58:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: bby-bc.139
Posted: Thu Jul  9 12:58:45 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jul-87 09:00:54 EDT
References: <133@bby-bc.UUCP> <414@pembina.UUCP>
Distribution: can
Organization: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Lines: 53
Summary: yes, it is getting better


> Perhaps articles are more expensive in B.C. than Alberta.

I don't have any experience with Alberta but prices are higher
here than in Ontario for a variety of computer stuff.

> While I have certainly encountered computers and related
> items with this sort of pricing, I must say that in the
> last year or so this has been less and less the case.

Yes it is decreasing here in Vancouver too.  The price of clones
took a deep slide due to a lot of hole-in-the-wall stores run
by a particular ethnic group (not necessarily relevant) selling
with low profit margins - the established retailers had to follow
suit.

> I consider anything higher than 1.6 times the US price to
> be a ripoff [1.6 is approximately (exchange rate * duty * fst),
> duty on computers is 3.9 % if I remember correctly].

As do I.  There is no longer any duty on computer stuff that I am
aware of, so currently we have 1.33 * 1.12 = 1.49 approx.

> > me : but that's the same as the US list price plus exchange + fst!
> >
> > salesperson : yes but our list price is relatively higher; you have
> >		to take the US list price and then add exchange + fst to
> >		get our list price.
.
.
> which I'll take it or make a final counter-offer.  No matter what
> your looking for always be prepared to walk out without buying.

I am. I usually ask their price and if it is high point out what it
would cost me to get it landed in Vancouver from the US and add
that I am willing to pay a *reasonable* amount more to be able to
buy it from a local vendor and to keep some of my money in Canada.

The typical response to this is "so go buy it in the US".  It really
makes me wonder.

A common attitude among US retailers is that it is better to make a
sale and move merchandise out the door even if you only make $1 than
it is to let it sit on the store shelf.  This seems to be rare here
in Canada.

.
.
> 			Bjorn R. Bjornsson
> 			{ubc-vision,mnetor}!alberta!bjorn


john