Best Buy Canada
Best Buy Canada… maybe not the “best buy” after all - well, at least not in Canada. I was looking for the “best buy” on certain electronics this weekend, and found some interesting information for all Canadian shoppers. Let’s take a look at my shopping list:
iPod Touch 16GB - $435.99 ; ($399.99 USD @ bestbuy.com)
DVD Player - $69.99 ; ($54.99 USD…)
GPS Device - $449.99 ; ($349.99 USD)
37′ LCD - $1299.00 ; ($999.99 USD)
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Total at BestBuy.ca - $2,256 CAD vs. Total at BestBuy.com - $1,805 USD
Thats about a whopping $415 difference!.. and oh yeah, last time I checked…
1 Canadian dollar = 1.029654 U.S. dollars
Canadians are facing hugely discriminatory prices. I do understand that maybe the cost of shipping and other expenses may be a little higher, but that still doesn’t reason the $415 difference I just noted above. Don’t get me wrong, it is not only Best Buy Canada that is doing this - it’s all the retailers. As Canadian consumers, we need to negotiate on the prices we are facing, and apply pressure to the retailers to help resolve this issue.
Some retailers are moving towards rebates, discounts, and price cuts to prevent Canadian shoppers from buying the same items south of the border. Hudson’s Bay Co. announced that it was going to renegotiate import contracts to cut retail prices by between 5- and 25-percent. The lower prices should start coming into effect by Friday at the company’s Zeller’s stores. Mr. Flaherty (Finance Minister) lauded the Bay’s move, saying it’s exactly what he’s asking of retailers.
I applaud Mr. Flaherty for applying some pressure to retail during the past few weeks. Although it seems to me as if he is afraid of stepping, or at least receiving criticism for stepping in to the free markets; And honestly, he shouldn’t be. It’s a matter of saving Canadian consumers, retailers, and the economy of Canada. What were to happen if all Canadians were to travel to the United States for their Christmas shopping? It sure wouldn’t be a pretty thing for Canadian retailers nor the economy - but as for consumers.. well, let’s put it this way… they sure would be getting the “best buy”.
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