You should be aware that if you purchase the TV in the US, you will have to return to the US for warranty assistance.
Companies charge what they think they market will bear and they have every right to do so. And don't forget that because Canada has less people, Canadian retailers are unable to negotiate the same prices as their American counterparts. Even if Future Shop is owned by the same major electronics retailer as is present in the US, each is managed as an entirely seperate entity. And because we are a smaller market, it can be more difficult to negotiate lower prices from the suppliers.
If you feel that you want to support the American market rather than the Canadian market (and thus support building the American economy rather than the Canadian economy), that's you're perogative, however, be prepared to deal with the extra hassle as well if something goes wrong with your product.
cxz wrote:
already been discussed as to why, and the answers provided by the "industry" are rather "thin" to put it lightly.
http://www.futureshopforums.ca/t5/TVs/US-TV-pricin
g-vs-Canada/m-p/172194/highlight/true#M10386
The "thin" replies by the industry are only "thin" according to our perspectives as a consumer. Guaranteed if you worked for them, it would make a whole lot more sense (and not just in reference to profits). Fact of the matter is that the increased competition in the US, with a market that is ~10 times as big as ours plays a big role in it. They can also make a greater profit in the US with a smaller profit margin per unit as they can in Canada. And yes, there are extra packaging costs per unit in Canada. It may not work out to be a lot, but it all adds up. Don't forget, we don't just see the price differences in Canada for electronics. Go check out the price of food, laundry detergent, clothing, fuel, etc. It's all higher here than it is in the US.
But then again, we have public health care and don't have to worry about who will pay if we break a leg or something.
And you know the crazy thing? If you go to Europe, the same TV is also likely to cost a whole bunch more.
It just is what it is and if you choose to live in Canada, then these are the prices we pay. If you want to support the American economy, that's you're perogative, but then you can deal with the repairs or finding warranty insurance on your own. Oh, and don't forget to factor in the cost of medical insurance for the trip down there. It's either that, or if you end up in a hospital while there to pick it up, that $1500 TV could have just ended up costing $10,000s more.
Do what you want as its your money. My point of supporting the American economy is that by shopping in the US, you are giving jobs to Americans rather than Canadians - from sales associates, to distributors, to truckers, etc. And jobs fuel the economy. Every product bought in a country feeds that country's economy. It's basic economics.
Feel free to shop where you want. It's a free country. Personally, I don't like cross-border shopping for more reasons than just the warranty issue. There are fundamental issues with it. But that's my opinion.
Ultimately, if you want to take issue with the pricing of electronics in Canada, you should be contacting the manufacturers and complaining to them. They are still the ones dictating the prices to companies like Future Shop.
(Note: I do not work for Future Shop, nor have I ever. My opinions are my own and my own only).
