140 in Canada, 130 in US. WHY??? - Page 3

nightfool · 05-28-2011, 03:38 PM

The price difference is probably due to the fact that the US has a bigger market than Canada.

Latinandgreek · 05-28-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfool

The price difference is probably due to the fact that the US has a bigger market than Canada.

That's my guess, too.

nashira · 05-28-2011, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfool

The price difference is probably due to the fact that the US has a bigger market than Canada.

Sadly doesn't make it suck less to buy ereaders outside of the USA.

plaid · 05-29-2011, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightfool

The price difference is probably due to the fact that the US has a bigger market than Canada.

Curious though why that would only be affecting the Kobo 3 touch reader. As far as I know, Kobo 1 and Kobo 2 were both the same price in USA and Canada on release.

SensualPoet · 05-29-2011, 12:25 AM

A Kobo bought in Canada is cheaper than a Kobo bought in the US and shipped to Canada ... a Kobo Touch at $139 (vs $129.99 ... note the difference is $9.01 not $10) is very good value. It is considerably cheaper than a Kindle 3 shipped to Canada; or a Sony PRS-350 bought in Canada; and you can't buy a Nook here anyway.

This is a silly argument and posturing for the sake of trying to find a flaw.

Kobo Touch at $139 in Canada, no shipping fees, is excellent value and either appeals to you as a good ereader or not ... the $10 (or $9.01 as the case might be) has no bearing on it.

taming · 05-29-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plaid

Curious though why that would only be affecting the Kobo 3 touch reader. As far as I know, Kobo 1 and Kobo 2 were both the same price in USA and Canada on release.

No--they were cheaper in the US except in the beginning when, waaaay back in time, they were priced the same in US dollars (and the CAD was worth less).

nightfool · 05-30-2011, 02:29 AM

I preorder one, and it's like 155 dollars with tax. So yeah, it's still cheaper than buying an ereader from the USA thanks to customs.

mrmls · 05-30-2011, 07:18 AM

Everything is cheaper in USA all the time. Especially gadgets.

corona · 05-31-2011, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmls

Everything is cheaper in USA all the time. Especially gadgets.

"Slightly higher in Canada, eh."

cutterjohn42 · 05-31-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I assume it is still the case that Canada's govt levies taxes at the wholesale level. The US govt does not.

Yep in Canada they get screwed twice. Once by the province(PST - provincial sales tax) and then again by their wonderful federal gov't(GST get this goods AND SERVICE tax -- they LOVE their taxes). Which IIRC is a total of 14% in Ont at least.

From what I know of pricing in most other countries though, the list price already has their VAT baked in, usually 20+%. Not sure if Australlia does the VAT thing or sales tax like Canada/USA.

...and oh yeah, these things ARE made in PRC, and if you hunted around you could dig up the ODM, but apparently unlike MANY other small time ebook sellers in NA, Kobo is actually doing their own firmware v. contracting the ODM to slightly customize their stock firmware...

masona8 · 05-31-2011, 09:02 PM

It is $179 here from Borders!
If ordered from the USA no tax would apply as it is under $1000

HarleyB · 05-31-2011, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masona8

It is $179 here from Borders!
If ordered from the USA no tax would apply as it is under $1000

$179 is for the Kobo wifi.
I don't think the Kobo touch is available in Australia as yet so we can't buy it or preorder it at any price.

cutterjohn42 · 06-01-2011, 08:42 AM

oops, they're made in Taiwan, says right on the Kobo 2 at least...

Canadianskeezix · 06-06-2011, 03:57 PM

This is common in Canada. A product will cost more in Canada than in the United States, notwithstanding the fact that the Canadian dollar is currently higher than the U.S. dollar.

Retailers in Canada have a litany of excuses as to why this is the case (some valid, some excuses). They usually vaguely claim that the expense of running a store in Canada is higher than in the United states (often pointing to labour costs), and that the economies of scale in Canada are less (e.g. higher distribution costs for a smaller population spread over a larger area).

If goods are imported from Asia, not all retailers will import separately for the Canadian market, which means that the goods will be subject to duties when the retailer brings them into Canada (free trade does not apply to goods manufactured in third countries). I have no idea if a Kobo made in Taiwan was imported into Canada through Vancouver, or through some U.S. port.

The main reason, though, is because they can (as a number of posters have stated above). The retail market is generally less competitive, and Canadians are accustomed to higher prices from the days when a Canadian dollar was worth 63 cents U.S.

The Terminator · 06-07-2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coinín

Even so, maybe it's just me, but I almost think it's worth ten bucks to NOT go to Walmart. I hate the crowds and lineups and just feel the time I didn't spend in line surrounded by People Of Walmart is worth a tenner.

I bought mine at Wal~mart and I paid the full price of $149.99. So Wal~mart isn't always cheaper.

05-29-2011, 12:25 AM	#35
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	A Kobo bought in Canada is cheaper than a Kobo bought in the US and shipped to Canada ... a Kobo Touch at $139 (vs $129.99 ... note the difference is $9.01 not $10) is very good value. It is considerably cheaper than a Kindle 3 shipped to Canada; or a Sony PRS-350 bought in Canada; and you can't buy a Nook here anyway. This is a silly argument and posturing for the sake of trying to find a flaw. Kobo Touch at $139 in Canada, no shipping fees, is excellent value and either appeals to you as a good ereader or not ... the $10 (or $9.01 as the case might be) has no bearing on it. Last edited by SensualPoet; 05-29-2011 at 12:27 AM.

05-31-2011, 09:02 PM	#41
masona8 Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: kobo, Kindle DX graphite, Kindle 3	Australia It is $179 here from Borders! If ordered from the USA no tax would apply as it is under $1000

06-06-2011, 03:57 PM	#44
Canadianskeezix Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kobo	More in Canada This is common in Canada. A product will cost more in Canada than in the United States, notwithstanding the fact that the Canadian dollar is currently higher than the U.S. dollar. Retailers in Canada have a litany of excuses as to why this is the case (some valid, some excuses). They usually vaguely claim that the expense of running a store in Canada is higher than in the United states (often pointing to labour costs), and that the economies of scale in Canada are less (e.g. higher distribution costs for a smaller population spread over a larger area). If goods are imported from Asia, not all retailers will import separately for the Canadian market, which means that the goods will be subject to duties when the retailer brings them into Canada (free trade does not apply to goods manufactured in third countries). I have no idea if a Kobo made in Taiwan was imported into Canada through Vancouver, or through some U.S. port. The main reason, though, is because they can (as a number of posters have stated above). The retail market is generally less competitive, and Canadians are accustomed to higher prices from the days when a Canadian dollar was worth 63 cents U.S.

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05-28-2011, 03:38 PM	#31
nightfool Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: nook color, kobo touch	The price difference is probably due to the fact that the US has a bigger market than Canada.

05-30-2011, 02:29 AM	#37
nightfool Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: nook color, kobo touch	I preorder one, and it's like 155 dollars with tax. So yeah, it's still cheaper than buying an ereader from the USA thanks to customs.

05-30-2011, 07:18 AM	#38
mrmls Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 99 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Europe Device: Sony PRS 505, 600, 950	Everything is cheaper in USA all the time. Especially gadgets.

06-01-2011, 08:42 AM	#43
cutterjohn42 Addict Posts: 274 Karma: 1029955 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Palm IIIx, EBM-911, REB-1100(dead), PRS-505	oops, they're made in Taiwan, says right on the Kobo 2 at least...

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