[drnkn_stylz]

I want to buy a new notebook, but I have been holding off because our Canadian dollar is equal with that of the American dollar right now, and all the Canadian pricing for Apple computers is roughly $200 more.

This made sense when our dollar sucked, but it has not been that way for a while. I could easily plan a weekend into the states to pick myself up a new MBP and save the money, but I am also a student. Do any of you know if the American stores will honor my Canadian ID card as validity for the educational discount? To me, $400 off a new computer is well worth the effort.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

It really is ridiculous. I've already bought my computer, but paying that much more when our dollar's higher makes no sense.

Does anyone know if there's a NAFTA reason behind it all?

greg

[nonhuman]

Hmm, I don't see why they wouldn't accept an ID from a Canadian school. Does the ID even say Canada on it anywhere? How would they know that you don't just go to some school in the US that they never heard of?

[Art Vandelay]

Many retail prices are determined at fixed times of the year. Most goods right now are cheaper in the States than Canada right now. It will be adjusted eventually.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by nonhuman 

Hmm, I don't see why they wouldn't accept an ID from a Canadian school. Does the ID even say Canada on it anywhere? How would they know that you don't just go to some school in the US that they never heard of?

Schools ID information is sent off to the school for verification. Some check, some don't. I know one school for certain that doesn't check ... unfortunately, it's a Canadian school.

[lpkmckenna]

Yes, this situation is lame. And many retailers have said they have no intention to drop prices because it's more expensive to do business here.

Frankly, I have no expectation that Apple will drop prices.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton 

Does anyone know if there's a NAFTA reason behind it all?

Given what NAFTA stands for, I can't begin to imagine why that would make sense. AFAIK the only major exceptions in NAFTA are for agricultural products.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

Schools ID information is sent off to the school for verification. Some check, some don't. I know one school for certain that doesn't check ... unfortunately, it's a Canadian school.

Not always. When I bought my iMac, they didn't even ask for my school ID. If the store is busy and you say "I'm a student" at the checkout, they may just ask to see some sort of school ID and not ponder on it too much.

I completely agree that the current price situation puts Canadians at a disadvantage, but as Art says, Apple doesn't change their prices on the fly, so the prices are basically what they were when the Canadian dollar was about 25¢ less than the U.S. dollar. Now that it's actually a bit over the U.S. dollar, the pricing is off kilter and will cost Apple sales.

[drnkn_stylz]

I think I will just try and get the discount with a Canadian ID next time I am in the states. Hopefully it will work out for me.

It seems every company has some sort of bullsh*t excuse as to why it is more expensive for products in Canada...

[mduell]

1250CDN - 14% tax = 1096CDN = 1161USD

$60 for the hassle of doing business in Canada doesn't seem so bad.

[hayesk]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I completely agree that the current price situation puts Canadians at a disadvantage, but as Art says, Apple doesn't change their prices on the fly,

Apple has always updated their Canadian prices when a model is introduced or updated. With the MacBook update they did not update the price this time - presumably to take advantage of the high Canadian dollar.

Notice how Leopard costs $129.95 - they did set the proper pricing for that, so why didn't they for the MacBooks?

[hayesk]

Originally Posted by mduell 

1250CDN - 14% tax = 1096CDN = 1161USD

$60 for the hassle of doing business in Canada doesn't seem so bad.

Canadian prices do not include taxes. So we have to pay $1250 + 14% tax. So yes, it is bad.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

Not always. When I bought my iMac, they didn't even ask for my school ID. If the store is busy and you say "I'm a student" at the checkout, they may just ask to see some sort of school ID and not ponder on it too much.

Oh, I thought we were talking about the online Apple Store.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by mduell 

1250CDN - 14% tax = 1096CDN = 1161USD

$60 for the hassle of doing business in Canada doesn't seem so bad.

What tax are you factoring in there?

[mduell]

Federal and local sales taxes... I thought Canada was one of those civilized nations that requires sales tax to be included in listed prices.

Yea, you're paying quite a bit more than in the USA. I didn't realize doing business in Canada was that expensive.

[shabbasuraj]

To the OP just go to the US and buy your computer, and save a wad o' cash. Show your student ID, and just play it off, like nothing.. and raise a friggin stink if they don't honor it.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Originally Posted by mduell 

Yea, you're paying quite a bit more than in the USA. I didn't realize doing business in Canada was that expensive.

i don't think it is. That's the point.

greg

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

Oh, I thought we were talking about the online Apple Store.

I just had to select my school from the list provided when I chose my state and city. I don't think ANY checking is done. And in this case, it's a legit student asking to not get worked over by a combination of exchange rate and Canadian taxes, so I don't see this as abusing the system-like not being a student at all and claiming you are to get the discount would be.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I just had to select my school from the list provided when I chose my state and city. I don't think ANY checking is done. And in this case, it's a legit student asking to not get worked over by a combination of exchange rate and Canadian taxes, so I don't see this as abusing the system-like not being a student at all and claiming you are to get the discount would be.

I used to work at a university computer store. Whenever a student from that university submitted an order on the Apple Store, Apple would send the students information to us for verification. We never checked and always said they were legitimate, but Apple did ask us to verify. I have to assume that they do this with other schools and that some schools must actually check.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by shabbasuraj 

To the OP just go to the US and buy your computer, and save a wad o' cash. Show your student ID, and just play it off, like nothing.. and raise a friggin stink if they don't honor it.

Of course, traveling to the US would negate any savings that would be realized by paying what the product is worth, rather than the gouging currently in place by companies trying to take advantage of the recent drop in value of the American dollar.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by drnkn_stylz 

Apple Screwing Canadians

I still can't figure out if you are complaining or making a request...

-t

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

Of course, traveling to the US would negate any savings that would be realized by paying what the product is worth, rather than the gouging currently in place by companies trying to take advantage of the recent drop in value of the American dollar.

Not if you live within driving distance of an Apple Store in the US...

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by nonhuman 

Not if you live within driving distance of an Apple Store in the US...

True, but relatively, that's a pretty small number of people. Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are the major Canadian centers within driving distance of a US Apple store. At current gas prices, the drive from these centers would minimize or negate any savings. Montreal is 6 hours to New York. Toronto is 4 hours to Detroit. Vancouver is 3 hours to Seattle. Additionally, if it's only a day trip, you would have to pay duty if you came back with purchases exceeding $50.

This is too much for Apple to expect from Canadians seeking to pay fair market value for the purchases. Based on todays exchange rate, Apple is charging Canadians $1322US for the base model Macbook. That's 20% more than they charge for it in the US.

[shabbasuraj]

Buffalo is closer to Toronto, as compared to Detroit.

[freudling]

Bloody Canadians.

Although I am one, I understand their pricing model. It costs Apple money to do business in other countries. They roll those costs into their pricing. Additionally, when they researched, developed and, to a lesser extent, made the products you are currently buying, the dollar was NOT on par, it was about 10-15% higher than ours. Talk to me in a year and, if the dollar is still on par and they have not changed their prices, I will side more so with those screaming bloody murder on Apple.

The UK should be upset, an entry level MacBook Pro costs $2600 CAD, so stop whining and buy a Dell.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by freudling 

Bloody Canadians.

Although I am one, I understand their pricing model. It costs Apple money to do business in other countries. They roll those costs into their pricing. Additionally, when they researched, developed and, to a lesser extent, made the products you are currently buying, the dollar was NOT on par, it was about 10-15% higher than ours.

Exactly. It is now costing Apple significantly less to do business in Canada than it did when they priced their products based on a higher American dollar. About 30-35% less.

The problems is, it isn't just Apple. What's worse, even Canadian companies (some which receive taxpayer subsidies) with products manufactured in Canada are doing this to Canadians.

[freudling]

Wiskedjak:

You are missing the point. Apple HAS - past tense - spent much money on researching and developing their products. They have also already spent money on having all the approvals for Canada for their devices, as well as all the other red tape. When they did that, their money was worth more. So what you are asking them to do is, chalk up all the extra money it costs to do business in other countries and take a hit, in this case, of about 10% off their retail prices so they are exactly the same as the US. Sorry, business does not work that way. It takes more time for prices like these, in the tech industry, to adjust to exchange rates. They have already spent X US dollars per machine and they need to get that same X US dollars back, plus their mark up.

Unfortunately, we won't see US prices inflate on their products like it should, not for a while. Because of this, the CAD prices will not change.

[Kevin]

I had to pay more for my England made amplifier than someone in England did.

Marshall is screwing their US customers!11

*shakes head*

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Originally Posted by Kevin 

I had to pay more for my England made amplifier than someone in England did.

Marshall is screwing their US customers!11

*shakes head*

Making no sense, I see. There isn't a large body of water called an "ocean" between the US and Canada, which seems to bump up overhead costs for some reason which may or may not be legitimate. Neither is there a cute little agreement called NAFTA between European countries and the US. And AFAIK Apple computers aren't even made in the US?

Since Canada doesn't have a computer-building industry I would not have thought there were any significant tariff barriers to shipping across the border.

You are missing the point. Apple HAS - past tense - spent much money on researching and developing their products. They have also already spent money on having all the approvals for Canada for their devices, as well as all the other red tape. When they did that, their money was worth more.

Well, our dollar has been near parity with the US for quite a while now; long enough so that your first argument wouldn't seem to be a strong one, anyway. (I'm not an economist though!) As for the second one, Apple's a large-volume computer retailer in Canada, online and store-based. I very much doubt they have to jump through a significant amount of red tape to get each newly released computer model approved (at least, no more than what they'd have for the US anyway).

greg

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton 

Making no sense, I see. There isn't a large body of water called an "ocean" between the US and Canada, which seems to bump up overhead costs for some reason which may or may not be legitimate. Neither is there a cute little agreement called NAFTA between European countries and the US. And AFAIK Apple computers aren't even made in the US?

Most Marshall's aren't made in England anymore, and they have a distributing company in the US. And we still pay a higher tax on them.

[kmkkid]

With our dollar at $1.07 I think Apple could at least make the prices at par, even factoring in any 'international expenses'.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Originally Posted by Kevin 

Most Marshall's aren't made in England anymore, and they have a distributing company in the US. And we still pay a higher tax on them.

Is it a tax, or is it just a higher price in the US compared to England? Is that higher price due to market considerations, ie. amps of a given quality have a higher market value in the US as compared to England? I can only imagine that there would be far more factors involved in pricing between the US and Europe than between the US and Canada...after all, we're just America Lite™.

Yeah, I just checked and my little Marshall's made in Korea.

greg

[Oisín]

I expected Canadians copulating apples in this thread.

Needless to say, I’m thoroughly disappointed in the lack of Deliveryness™ of the thread so far.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton 

Is it a tax, or is it just a higher price in the US compared to England? Is that higher price due to market considerations, ie. amps of a given quality have a higher market value in the US as compared to England? I can only imagine that there would be far more factors involved in pricing between the US and Europe than between the US and Canada...after all, we're just America Lite™.

I have no clue why it is. None.

Yeah, I just checked and my little Marshall's made in Korea.

greg

Mine was made in Britian. But I bought it in 1992. Old lady keeps wanting me to sell it. *sigh*

I never play out of it much. The 4x12 cab is a bit loud for the house. It's a LOUD 50 watts. '

I might sell it and buy a used 1x12 version of it.

[nonhuman]

Kevin, love the new sig. \m//\\m/

[Tiresias]

Wow. Please actually care what's happening in Canada.

[Chongo]

you could alway order online and get the exchange rate

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Tiresias 

Wow. Please actually care what's happening in Canada.

You mean the seal clubbing?

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by Kevin 

You mean the seal clubbing?

Canada is a strange country. The inhabitants have sex with apples and the seals go clubbing. Must be the cold messing with their heads.

[Railroader]

Isn't it ionic*, that in a thread where the title is "Apple Screwing Canadians" that most of the Canadians are discussing and the reverse? Canadians Screwing Apple.








*Famous Canadian Alannis Morrisette, eat your heart out.

[Tiresias]

Ha ha! This is the most hilarious typo ever.

I wrote: "Wow. Please actually care what's happening in Canada."

I meant to write: "Wow. People actually care what's happening in Canada?"

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Kevin 

You mean the seal clubbing?

I've had to pound a seal to get it seated properly.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Isn't it ionic*, that in a thread where the title is "Apple Screwing Canadians" that most of the Canadians are discussing and the reverse? Canadians Screwing Apple.

Hey, Canadians are not second class citizens and shouldn't have to pay more than Americans do for Macs damnit!

[Tiresias]

Apple computers are freighted across the icy tundras of Canada by moose. And that costs money.

[freudling]

ShortcutToMoncton:

Research and development happened over the course of 2 years, our dollar has been on par for about 7 weeks. Approvals several months ago with Industry Canada. But the most important economic point: APPLE WILL NOT INFLATE THEIR US PRICES ANY TIME SOON, SO OUR PRICES WILL NOT CHANGE. Any other country you would see the prices inflate, and other countries with stronger currency would cash in. When the shilling was in Austria, a pair of Nike shoes was like 900 shillings. Of course, it ended up being only $125 CAD because our money was worth 8x+ more. If Nike did in Austria what Apple is doing in the US, we would have to pay 1100 CAD for the shoes. This is an extreme example, but it illustrates the point. US prices should be inflating, but they are not. If they were, then our prices could and likely would be lower.

[Tiresias]

Originally Posted by Oisín 

the seals go clubbing.

[drnkn_stylz]

I do enjoy the humour in this thread

If you look at certain products (ie. Leopard) the American price is the same as the Canadian. Of course we are only talking about $129 here, but the point is, why have some products equal, then some reflecting the old exchange rate. I work in sales and sell various brand of computers. I get asked at least once a day if Apple ever plans to adjust their prices according to our current dollar.


So for now, I in turn plan to screw Apple and go down south to pick me up a new 'Book at the American student discount. I live in Winnipeg, so driving into ND isn't too far. I'll just make a weekend out of it and do some other shopping too.

[gradient]

Originally Posted by Chongo 

you could alway order online and get the exchange rate

It doesn't work that way. To order from the US Apple Store online you have to sign up with an American credit card. If you're a Canadian, you're out of luck.

[freudling]

My god, MACNN is getting worse and worse. Read previous posts to answer your question.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by freudling 

My god, MACNN is getting worse and worse.

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