High price in Canada - Low price in USA - same item.

[Rerun]

I'm currently looking at purchasing a KitchenAid side x side ss counter depth refrigerator #KSCK25FVMS.

FutureShop is selling it for the exorbitant price of $3,999. The best deal I can find so far in Canada is $3689 + shipping.

I went on the web and was able to find this same fridge for $2235 US out of the States. What a difference!!! (the problem is that I don't think they will ship up to Canada.)

However, Bestbuy in the USA has this fridge on sale now for $2422 US (which would be approx $2800 CDN) and there is a BestBuy in Kalispell Montana. Frankly for the $1000 difference in price I might just take a drive down to Kalispell and buy it there.

http://www.universal-akb.com/ksck25fvms.html
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....egories&ks=960

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...91&catid=19535

[Rerun]

One question though... do refrigerators have to be transported in the vertical position or can you ship them on their back?

[valo403]

Have you factored in any duties or fees you may have to pay at the border? I have no idea how that works, but I assume they won't let you slide through without paying anything.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Vertical is best, but I think horizontal is possible if you give it 24 hours for the refrigerant to settle afterwards. I'd give it more than that if you're driving it far.

It is a sham how Canadian consumers are getting the shaft on pricing though.

[Jedi Ninja]

I was trying to google this... It looks like you will pay an 8% tariff on this (refrigeration equipment) and who knows if there is an environmental levy on top of that for the refrigerant in the appliance. (OF course, I'm no expert on importing stuff.)

This stuff is built into the Canadian price, as is an $.80 dollar and additional transportation and distribution costs.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by valo403

Have you factored in any duties or fees you may have to pay at the border? I have no idea how that works, but I assume they won't let you slide through without paying anything.

I am making the assumption that a KitchenAid refrigerator is manufactured in the USA and is therefore eligible for entry into Canada duty free. Therefore the only fee I will have to pay at the border will be the GST.

Edit : I called Canada Border Services. If it is made in the USA (check the Name/data plate on the back of the fridge) there is no duty. If it is make outside of the USA there is an 8% duty. No environmental charges.

[Bertuzzied]

US population: 330 million people
Cdn population: 30 million people

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

US population: 330 million people
Cdn population: 30 million people

Really?

[mykalberta]

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load...451931924.html

According to this site you will only need to pay GST. Not sure how you get around the Evironmental levee from Alberta.

Also warranty looks to be an issue with some.

[atb]

The redflagdeals forum is a really good resource for bringing stuff across the border.

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Really?

I'm sure if we had 3.3 billion people living in Canada prices would be alot lower.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

US population: 330 million people
Cdn population: 30 million people

It isn't like you are rubbing elbows with people the second you cross the border.

Population of Kalispell - 22,000 (Population of Monotana - 967,440)
Population of Calgary - 1,000,000+

So you are telling me it is reasonable that a city that is 2.2% the size of Calgary, and is at least as remote (if not moreso) should get commercial goods for 2/3 the cost of in Canada?

Yeah, Canada is a huge country. But a huge proportion of the country has population density very similar to the US. 41% of our land mass holds 0.3% of our population.

Saying the US has a more population is, I think, an easy answer to give without really considering everything.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Saying the US has a more population is, I think, an easy answer to give without really considering everything.

Yes, but if a store chain in the US has 8 times the customers, they do have increased buying power. The fact that the states that border our prairie provinces are small is just a cost of business for those big chains.

Part of it is also that the purchase orders here would have been made when the US dollar was a lot higher. The fact that they bought that fridge for $3000 then and could buy it for $2700 now doesn't mean they can turn around and re-sell it for less now.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

It isn't like you are rubbing elbows with people the second you cross the border.

Population of Kalispell - 22,000 (Population of Monotana - 967,440)
Population of Calgary - 1,000,000+

So you are telling me it is reasonable that a city that is 2.2% the size of Calgary, and is at least as remote (if not moreso) should get commercial goods for 2/3 the cost of in Canada?

Yeah, Canada is a huge country. But a huge proportion of the country has population density very similar to the US. 41% of our land mass holds 0.3% of our population.

Saying the US has a more population is, I think, an easy answer to give without really considering everything.

I think there are three major issues in Canada for consumers.

One, protectionism. We've had our own type of "Buy Canadian" framework in place which allows retailers to overcharge and be extremely sluggish in altering currency exchange related costs, since the alternative is met with restrictions, forms, duties, levies, shipping costs, and other hidden costs. By strongly encouraging Canadians to buy from Canadian retailers, they are ensuring a more vibrant industry and not allowing Canadian consumers full access to the North American market.

Two, transport subsidy. While its totally true that the overwhelming majority of Canada lives in four zones (Southern Ontario (Ottawa-Windsor), Montreal-QC Corridor, BC Lower Mainland and Edmonton-Calgary Corridor), the prices in Canada reflect the transport costs to those in the hinterland regions that have relatively limited buying power.

Three, taxes. Simply put, we tend to have more of them to pay. Manufacturers and retailers tend to pass their tax burdens onto the consumer.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

It isn't like you are rubbing elbows with people the second you cross the border.

Population of Kalispell - 22,000 (Population of Monotana - 967,440)
Population of Calgary - 1,000,000+

So you are telling me it is reasonable that a city that is 2.2% the size of Calgary, and is at least as remote (if not moreso) should get commercial goods for 2/3 the cost of in Canada?

Because of how widespread online retailers are in the US, it doesn't matter where the city is located or what its population is. Big box retailers have to be somewhat competitive with the online retailers who are usually only able to differentiate themselves by price.

More competition in the US means lower prices. Because online retailers are way behind those in the US, we get the shaft when it comes to prices.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Yes, but if a store chain in the US has 8 times the customers, they do have increased buying power. The fact that the states that border our prairie provinces are small is just a cost of business for those big chains.

Part of it is also that the purchase orders here would have been made when the US dollar was a lot higher. The fact that they bought that fridge for $3000 then and could buy it for $2700 now doesn't mean they can turn around and re-sell it for less now.

And those are valid arguments, but the whole US>Canada answer is a lazy answer.

But I'm pretty sure I saw a Best Buy or two around town; I would imagine that they should get similar wholesale costs. If they bought the stock when the dollar was depressed then that is indeed a valid reason, but I'm not sure that would account for such a massive discrepancy.

[Caged Great]

Plus another reason is that they need people to go through the added paperwork and to deal with any border issues. That costs money. Not necessarily the entire amount for the difference, but a part of it anyway.

[Rerun]

In a lot of cases its the manufacturer that is gouging the Canadian consumer. They sell the same product to their Canadian distributors for a higher price than they sell to their USA distributors... because they can because their just isn't the competition for lower prices here in Canada.
I bet Future Shop (owned by BestBuy) here in Canada pays a lot more for the same item that BestBuy distributors do in the USA.

As in all free trade commerce... sellers will charge what they believe the market will bear. ... not a price that has any correlation to the manufacturing and distribution cost.

Sometimes it really sucks to live in Canada.

[ken0042]

And the dollar difference is only part of it.

The thing to remember with Best Buy here- it is a different company than in the States. All that Best Buy here is Future Shop stores, and Future Shop has paid licensing/royalties to Best Buy- US to be able to use the name.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Plus another reason is that they need people to go through the added paperwork and to deal with any border issues. That costs money. Not necessarily the entire amount for the difference, but a part of it anyway.

The cost of paperwork and time is minimal. I import stuff into Canada all the time from the USA, here at work. Its no big deal... very easy. Do the paperwork (nafta certificate of origin) once for the year and you are good to go for the next 12 months