our dollar buys more but only if your ask

[Drock169]

Just to let you know it does cost more to ship to Vancouver as opposed to seattle. Shipping internationally always costs more, as working for Canada post has taught me.

[trilinearmipmap]

The prices ought to be somewhat higher in Canada for the obvious reasons: shipping costs, brokerage fees and fewer economies of scale. A reasonable cost differential might be 10% to 20% above U.S. prices, anything more than that seems like gouging.

As far as retailers selling stock they bought months ago with a cheaper Canadian dollar, I thought most retailers paid their suppliers 60 or 90 days after they received the goods. I am not in retail so if I am wrong here someone correct me.

If there are retailers in Vancouver who give in to demands to match U.S. prices please let us know who they are.

[Bryan]

What annoys me is retailers who don't drop their prices to reflect the change, but when the CDN dollar eventually drops against the US they will quickly raise their prices. Grocery stores are famous for this.

[banditpowdercoat]

Alot of times droping prices is not an option. Depends on the profit margin and alot of other factors. but I do agree with you, Bryan, that it's really gouging when they raise them due to dollar increase. like gas stn's raise price imediately when oil goes up, regardless of how much supply is in the tanks, yet complain and use the excuse that they have to use up the higher priced stuff in the tanks when the oil prices drop.

[PoonTang]

Originally Posted by Drock169

Just to let you know it does cost more to ship to Vancouver as opposed to seattle. Shipping internationally always costs more, as working for Canada post has taught me.

The doesnt explain why Canadian made products are usually cheaper in the states than in Canada

[Tarolisol]

Originally Posted by PoonTang

The doesnt explain why Canadian made products are usually cheaper in the states than in Canada

Exactly, look at bombardier (sp?) they are in big **** with the goverment for selling the products at a huge price difference, up to 40% in some cases. This is also a company that gets government funding.

[naesco]

To be quite honest I was totally shocked at the fact that there was only a $500.00 difference in 46,000 lbs of dry goods.

What this means is that we should be paying the same price American hobbyists pay for aquarium products.

The fact is we are paying substantially more.

I checked out a few other things as well. (quickly and I am no expert)
Seattle store lease rates are the same as Greater Vancouver.
Electricity is cheaper here.
Average US salaries are $12,00 per hour
Truck fuel is higher here.

There is no justification for paying higher prices here whasoever.

[G1GY]

As a consumer the best thing you can do is spend your money where you think you're getting the best value and service. A loss of buisness will make them adjust their pricing or cease to exist.

I order from the US on a weekly basis and have seen some minimal savings on stuff I buy from there.

I had a client come for a tattoo last week and ask me for a discount seeing as I pay less for supplies now than what I paid the last time they were here. I pollitely declined and asked the client to take their money to the US and enjoy the better value that he may get for it now and sent him on his way.

He's called me twice since then and I've told him that I'm much too busy.

As a consumer he made his choice just as I did as a retailer (of sorts.).

I guess what I'm saying is......... If you think you can get it cheaper from the US and it's worth your time and effort to do so, then do it. Just keep in mind that this will all ballance out at some point and if you dammage the relationship with the vendors that you've dealt with for a long time you may not be able to repair that when things are normal again. Try dealing with warranties and such with your US supplier.

Just a thought.

FWIW, I'm a aquarium supplies consumer and not a vendor of any type.

[naesco]

I am not suggesting that we abandon purchasing from LFS.

The issue is very simple
Someone is pocketing the huge savings we as hobbyists are losing.

If it is the importers or wholesalers, our local LFS should put pressure on their suppliers or look around for better suppliers.

If is the LFS and online stores that are pocketing the savings, they must understand that if they do not pass it on to us, we will take our business elsewhere, across the border only if necessary.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by naesco

I am not suggesting that we abandon purchasing from LFS.

The issue is very simple
Someone is pocketing the huge savings we as hobbyists are losing.

If it is the importers or wholesalers, our local LFS should put pressure on their suppliers or look around for better suppliers.

If is the LFS and online stores that are pocketing the savings, they must understand that if they do not pass it on to us, we will take our business elsewhere, across the border only if necessary.

Exactly why Gary suggests using your money to talk for you. Spending habits will dictate who sells what for how much. Reallistically though, if I stand at my LFS for an hour and mingle with the clients, most of them wouldn't even think of looking online, much less buy there. The local market shops price wise within itself, so as long as retailer 1 is 5% cheaper than retailer 2 down the street, they buy there. No consideration to what something might cost in California whatsoever. The people I talk to to that know what a J&L or OA is is probably less than 20%.
So, for now, the retailer still gets to dictate prices, especially in mid size markets like Victoria.