Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!utcsri!utegc!utai!ubc-vision!alberta!bjorn
From: bjorn@alberta.UUCP
Newsgroups: can.politics
Subject: Re: prices in Canada
Message-ID: <414@pembina.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 4-Jul-87 23:43:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: pembina.414
Posted: Sat Jul  4 23:43:36 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 5-Jul-87 05:39:58 EDT
References: <133@bby-bc.UUCP>
Distribution: can
Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Lines: 40
Summary: US price * 1.6 is about right

In article <133@bby-bc.UUCP>, john@bby-bc.UUCP (john) writes:
> salesperson: it's only $X.
>
> me : but it's only $Y in the US (where $Y = 0.5$X usually)!!

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

> 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.

I'll start bargaining down from 1.6 * US going/list-price and
usually succeed in obtaining a price that compares favorably to
competitive US prices.  To be honest I should note that most of
the time I'll let the salesperson talk themselves into a lower 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.

> me : good day

Forget about their markup and try to obtain the product at what
you consider a fair price.  They'll sell it to you unless they'd
take a loss.  Remember though that salespersons need to make a
living,  don't cheat them out of the entire commission.

For high priced items deal with the manager or the owner.  The
run of the mill salesperson may not have authority to cut into
the store's markup.


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