Magazine and book prices from the U.S. to Canada

I had not really thought about the differences. I know that the mags have both prices on their labels.

But they shouldn’t be making extra money on the deal. I assume shipping and delivery charges should be the same in both places.

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Yeah, this is really frustrating and extends past the mags. I looked at a new Festool router the other day. $410US vs $585CAN. That’s just nuts! But back to the topic at hand, as long as we keep buying them, I guess.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Mot What about buying from companies thats on both sides of the border. I think Lee-valley have stores in both countries.

Do they sell at MFG list price or do they do currency conversions. I assume the CAn price doesn’t include the taxes?

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Lee Valley is actually a Canadian Company with retall stores and catalog sales in the US. It’s a bit of an exception. Stores like Home Depot have some parity in pricing, but for the most part, there is a VERY large disparity between US and Canadian prices on tools. The exceptions, again, are tool companies that will ship to Canada. We can buy at the conversion rate, just pay Goods and Services Tax plus shipping and not make it too bad.

Sorry to hijack this thread, Bob.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Mot no problem here. Just making an observation anyway.
Your point is well taken too. Many companies see the border between our lands as an opportunity to make extra money that they normally would not have access to.
I have heard of every excuse under the sun:
Taxes, additional work involved, government interference by setting artificial standards etc etc.
All that being said, it washes out when a major company enters the trans border equation because they get better shipping rates, brokerages rates and quite often better prices from the manufacturers. (export pricing).
I have always maintained that pocketing that over charge was a slap in the face to the consumer.
We did, after all, sign a Free trade agreement .

bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

an interesting discussion.
I hadn’t thought about that book/mag. prices before!! Yah.. now I’m on the bandwagon with you.

Just validates my personal goal of buying as much “home grown” products as possible. (Not that my tools are Canadian—sometimes I forget my commitment and sometimes it just doesn’t make sense NOT to buy a non-Canadian product.)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Hi Debbie:
You might be interested in this article I just Googled a few mins ago.
Talk about “Deja Vu!” VBG
Book prices in Canada

Cheers Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

oh now doesn’t that just …. oh… oh… oh!!!!
makes me want to not buy any more books. That’s for sure – and I’m a book-addict.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Hi Debbie:
I think what is picking me the most is that many woodworking books and magazines are sold diirectly to Canadians from the individual publlishers. Tauton, August home, etc.
They are fully aware of what they are engaged in and choose to look the other way.
Can you imagine going into a restaurant for a meal and being charged 20 30% more than the other patrons because of your nationality?
Why can’t Canadians just pay in U.S. $ ? We all know that answer dont we?
Rubbish! and shame on them all!

I think we should surcharge oil and water!
Naw, that would not be neighbourly,<vbg>

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

I guess it’s the old “if they will pay it, we will charge it” (kinda like our gas prices, don’t you think? NOT that I’m wanting to start THAT discussion here.. yikes)

But this conversation does make me think about my purchasing practices.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I just saw on the news that some Canadian bookstores are offering a 5% discount due to the exchange rate issue.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Deb:
I am sitting down looking at Fine wood working-Woodturning basics .
The one with Bill Macy on the cover.
It’s $8.99 US and $9.99 Cdn. (1.093)
Exchange rate today is around 94 cents (1.06 per USD $.)

8.99 USD = $9.48160 CAD
Now if I snip out the adverts that comes to about a buck a page.

Good thing it isn’t a book! <g>

10 bucks for an advertising booklet – rubbish! <vbg>

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

well, don’t forget that new 5% discount… that would be.. gee… 50 cents? .. hmmm yah.. that makes a difference!!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

It shouldn’t be up to the vendor to compensate the enduser in this case.

I still think that the mag is over priced for the content provided.

It’s really about the old level playing field again.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

true… more work needs to be done in this area.. chipping away at it one step at a time is better than nothing.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)