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Smart Shopper Importing Canadian Vehicles to the U.S.
391 messages, Last post on Dec 07, 2008 at 6:29 AM
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) Or would you have us believe that only Americans take advantage of exchange rates. You would have us believe that Canadians don't travel, or when they do, they make sure they don't take advantage if the exchange rate benefits them. Please sit down and get a firm grip on reality. Anyone will take an advantage as long as it is legal. And it is ok too. Or should I complain if I go to an auction and someone with more money out bids me? That's your argument in a nutshell. US consumers have more money than Canadian consumers, so they shouldn't be allowed to buy goods in Canada. So please make sure you don't travel to a nation where the Canadian's average income is higher, or your currency more valuable, than that of the nation you visit. Otherwise, you too will be taking advantage of your situation at the expense of those folks. Oh, and Canada isn't really selling toilets to US consumers who can't get anything but low flow units here. Shouldn't Canadian plumbing supply shops refuse to sell toilets to US citzens since they can't even buy that type of toilet in the US? I say no, they have an advantage, so capitalize on it. Puuleeeze. Businesses take advantage of these rates everyday when the have the chance. My problem is when these very same businesses then prevent their customers from doing so. Remember, free markets, that's my mantra. Let those who appear to be at a disadvantage find their areas of relative advantage. TB |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) Canada has some great boat builders that are making some excellent products. Their retail prices are in line with most of ours (including Searay) .. the difference is, they pay about 1/2 the price in labor and materials .. plus they get a huge "tax" placement from the Canadian govt. So their profit margins are 30/40% higher than the American counterparts -- So should we trade them cars for boats ..? No, that's their advantage .. so instead of the average US boat dealer making around 30%, the Canadian builders and dealers are making well over a 50% profit .. .. so who do we punish .? The buyer has the decision to purchase a Canadian boat or a US manufactured name -- it's the buyers decision. Terry. |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) As you know, I sell the things. My paycheck doesn't depend on who buys them. Your justifications need to be made to your fellow consumers, not to me. |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) I seriously doubt the Canadian consumers are lobbying the car makers based in the US and Japan to prevent US shoppers from crossing the borders to buy cars. Instead, it is probably US dealers who are doing this. Of course that is pure speculation, but I doubt it is far from the truth. So if my speculation is true, it is the businessmen who are against this sort of free trade and not the consumer. You probably don't see the backlash on the toilets because they probably are only made in Canada, so their are more jobs in the Canadian plumbing fixture industry  TB Who learned that even in Germany, plumbing is done on the "inch" system. Drives the Germans batty. |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) Regarding the toilets, I could be wrong, but aren't they only available in Canada because it is illegal to sell them in the U.S.? |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) Not a good story for either party in the transaction. TB |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) First, the manufacturer makes less on a Canadian spec unit because it is sold at a lower invoice to a Canadian dealer as compared to a US spec unit sold to a US dealer. As discussed before, Canadian prices are lower due to their economy and yes US consumers essentially subsidize Canada consumers in the profit column. Second, the manufacturer wants/needs to protect dealers near the border who are most affected by the lower prices in Canada. Although dealers say that there is little money to be made on new car sales, they still have to sell them in order to keep their franchise. My understanding is the following: dealers are allocated vehicles by the manufacturer - ie they take what is given to them and they have to sell them - even at invoice - in order to keep from going out of business they have to sell them in order to keep their franchise - sales drop and the manufacturer can pull the franchise they must be an authorized dealer in order to do warranty repairs although the trend is that manufacturers are cutting the payment on this work and it is no longer a great profit center. So dealers along the border lose whatever profit from a sale, get flack from the manufacturer for drop in sales, and get to do warranty repairs that don't cover the rent. The dealer closes its doors and sends everyone home. Dealer complains to the manufacturer and they put in place the rules that limit warranty coverage on gray market units. I've said it before - it will stop only with an increase in Canadian prices to eliminate the advantage. It doesn't help that many dealers are also importers and are essentially cutting their own throats for short term profitability. |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) What's wrong with pushing for a drop in US prices? |
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Replying to: dusti (Apr 16, 2002 3:53 pm) kcram Host Smart Shopper and FWI Message Boards |
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