Reading mode: Light Dark

Why does Canon Canada gouge Canadians?

Go to last post
msouris2003

msouris2003

Forum Enthusiast
Messages
450
Reaction score
17
Location
CA
... because they can, I guess.
Why does the 40D list at $1399 here, and $1299 in the States?
 
Are there different import fees?
Maybe they're taxed higher...... just a guess

--

'The value of persistent prayer is not that he will hear us...but that we will finally hear him.'
  • Albert Einstein-
 
While I am a Canadian, $100 is hardly gouging. I'd sooner spend the extra $100 on something local then in the states, for a 40D, which I am thinking about purchasing. If you buy from BH you'll spend close to $50 in shipping. Also there is the time, involved if you want to go cross border shopping. My time is worth more then the time to drive to Buffalo, and sit in traffic to cross to the border.

However what is absurd are lens prices:

Canon Fisheye EF 15mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens $579.95 at BH Photo
Canon Fisheye EF 15mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens $949.99 at Henrys

$370.04 savings

Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS $1699 at BH Photo
Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS $2149 at Henrys (after $450 off)

$450 savings
  • Paul S.
Disclaimer:
--------------

The comments made here are of my own opinions and experiences. The comments are not meant to be a testament of anybody else’s experiences but mine.

http://www.surettephotography.com
 
Watch it tho ... i justed grabbed a 17-55IS f/2.8 at 17photo.com and while it was 300$ CDN higher in Canada i got home one day with a wonderfull 160$ Custom Taxes + Federal Taxe + Provicial Taxe bill.

I still got off 140$ but don't just calculate the price difference.
 
What is even better is at Vistek.ca ...

Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Body - $9299 at Vistek.ca
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Body - $7999 at BH

That is $2000 difference! What a joke. Not to even mention that the dollar is now at or slightly above par!

I could easily justify saving 2K and not buying locally!

-d
TargetSu said:
While I am a Canadian, $100 is hardly gouging. I'd sooner spend the
extra $100 on something local then in the states, for a 40D, which I
am thinking about purchasing. If you buy from BH you'll spend close
to $50 in shipping. Also there is the time, involved if you want to
go cross border shopping. My time is worth more then the time to
drive to Buffalo, and sit in traffic to cross to the border.

However what is absurd are lens prices:

Canon Fisheye EF 15mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens $579.95 at BH Photo
Canon Fisheye EF 15mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens $949.99 at Henrys

$370.04 savings

Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS $1699 at BH Photo
Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS $2149 at Henrys (after
$450 off)

$450 savings
  • Paul S.
Disclaimer:
--------------
The comments made here are of my own opinions and experiences. The
comments are not meant to be a testament of anybody else’s
experiences but mine.

http://www.surettephotography.com
Click to expand...
 
what makes you think it's canon?

there's a general lack of competition for your camera dollar in canada.
 
How can you say there is lack of competition?? The internet is the greatest equalizer there is.

It is no longer a situation that consumers don't know what is going on in NY and can't compare to their prices in Calgary.

Gawd ... to save $2000 I could fly to BH ... pick it up and bring it home, and STILL Be money ahead.

-d
rrcphoto said:
what makes you think it's canon?

there's a general lack of competition for your camera dollar in canada.
Click to expand...
 
DShwed said:
How can you say there is lack of competition?? The internet is the
greatest equalizer there is.

It is no longer a situation that consumers don't know what is going
on in NY and can't compare to their prices in Calgary.

Gawd ... to save $2000 I could fly to BH ... pick it up and bring it
home, and STILL Be money ahead.
Click to expand...
stores like henrys, vistek, etc make most of their money from walk in sales, or in person sales .. and there's really only the two big stores in toronto at all .. toronto has always been far far more expensive in camera gear than the rest of the country .. is that canon's fault?

there's alot of people that don't purchase from mail order, especially for big ticket items.

so, yes, there is a lack of competition for those stores.

henrys and downtown camera bought out all the small camera stores in the same area long time ago, and now, the prices have never since then been reasonable . .regardless of nikon or canon, etc ..
 
The only taxes you need to pay are pst and gst, no customs taxes. If you did pay extra taxes, then they were wrong in assessing them, and you should be able to get them back. There are no extra duties on cameras brought into Canada.
 
Try this for size. Sometimes there is no logical reason behind pricing except they can get away with it,

Where I live in Colombia, S.A. there is only one national retailer of Canon cameras, they have an exclusive. Considering most of Colombia lives at near or below poverty level you would assume that the prices would be proportional, they are NOT. I priced several Canon Cameras including the XTi, the 30D and the Pro1, they are exactly double what I would pay B&H or Adorama for the same unit.
--

' You don't have to have the best of everything to get the best out of what you do have'.
 
msouris2003 said:
... because they can, I guess.
Why does the 40D list at $1399 here, and $1299 in the States?
Click to expand...
You're funny. Four years ago the 300D kit sold for USD$999 and CAD$1399 (or was it $1499). IMO, Canon Canada is finally fixing their pricing (at least on the 40D) and hopefully that exends to other items. I can accept a $100 difference as a market adjustment... Canon Canada and Canon USA are competely separate companies able to set their own pricing based on market and taxes.
 
At the time the 40D was released (2 months ago), the Canadian price was very close to the American one when you take the exchange rate into consideration. You can't rightfully complain that about, there's just no way. Canon was VERY fair at the time.

You can't expect retailers to change the price every time the Canadian dollar changes. I think the best you can ask for is a price change every quarter or so.
 
I actually used that site to get Henry's to price match my purchase, all I ended up paying was the extra tax in Ontario, the rep was reluctant to price match the US but after I convinced them a $4000.00+ commission based sale was at stake, they went ahead and matched it, then I got the rebate offer, so I had my cake and ate it too!

If everyone that went in there said "Hey price match this or you guys are going bankrupt because I'll never buy here again!" they would get the hint and start lowering their prices to be on par with both other provinces and the US.

Don't put up with it, demand that it get matched, they make a killing on this stuff and it's not like the 40D is old stock that they paid a premium dollar amount for. The retailers around here need to learn to take a hit once in a while instead of having the smug attitude that people will pay a fortune just because they are the only store local.
 
There are brokerage fees for carriers to pay the taxes for you when you go over the border.

Those fees range from $5 dollars for Canada Post or US post but can be over 50$ when using UPS or FEDEX

There is also a 2% duty on lenses manufactured in Japan and imported to the usa. DSLR bodies are duty free. Most times you will not get dinged with the 2% duty

Regardless you will be paying

PST and GST as well as brokerage charges depending on shipper

My suggestion is use USPS express and canada post will only charge you 5 bucks for paying the pst/gst on your behalf
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/holy_smokes/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top