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