MacBooks (still) Overpriced here in Canada

Well I was hoping a price update with the strong Canadian dollar would accompany the new MacBooks but it seemed that did not come true (same with many other wishes =P). Other than driving 4 hours round trip to Seattle and buying it there, are there any other options for me? I did some calculations (which may be wrong, don't trust me on them) and found that with our strong dollar, it's $1420.09 US + tax (converted CDN price) for the high end white MacBook with my student discount if I ordered it up here. I'd pay $1199 US if I drive down there. Ridiculous. I'd save $147 after paying state sales tax and provincial sales tax when I bring it back across the border. Would Apple listen to me if I gave them a call?

 

I suggest we petition Apple to give Canadians fair pricing .

And of course, its not just the MacBook. A 8GB iPod Touch is $300 in USA, but its $330 in Canada. A 8 GB iPod Nano is $200 in USA, $220 in Canada.

A 2.2 GHz MacBook Pro is $1999 in USA. $2199 in Canada. A whole $200 more, despite the fact that the Canadian dollar is higher than the American dollar!

Petition! Respect the Canadians and give them fair pricing, eh!

 

I think you guys are looking at it from the wrong perspective. The US dollar is weaker vs the CA dollar so Apple has to sell items in CA for a higher price to make the equivalent amount of profit as the US. Factor in CA customs/import charges and transportation costs to CA and the difference in price isn't as much as you think.

Some people are lauding the destabilization of the US dollar. If you are of that mindset keep in mind that as the US dollar drops prices for exported goods will increase. Conversely foreign products will have to drop in price in order to be affordable to US customers. This means lower profits for foreign businesses. In layman's terms this is bad for everyone.

 

Why are they cheaper in the UK then?

 

I just checked the Apple Store pricing around the world and compared with the latest currency exchange rates, and:

In Canada, you can get the base model MBP for $2322 US ($2199 CDN).
In UK, its cheap, $1880 US ($1299 Euro).
In Australia, its ridiculous, $2670 US ($2899 AU).
In Japan, its $2261 US (259,800 Yen).
In Hong Kong, its $1985 US ($15,400 HK).

So apparently, Apple's pricing is higher outside the US except for UK and Hong Kong (which is pretty close, but no sales tax in Hong Kong).

 

Here's some good reading material.

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8300945231/m/232003357831

http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/259269

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/271015

 

meh it could be a lot worse. For Nike shoes a 100 pair of shoes is 140 canadian. A 170 dollar pair is around 260. I read today that a bmw 550i or something the fully loaded 5 series is 85 grand in canada and 51 grand in the states. It could be worse

 

The UK price is £1299 Pounds Sterling which works out at $2704 US. It does include 17.5% Value Added Tax though (roughly analagous to Sales Tax), so the tax free equivalent price would be $2301 US.

We're not known as 'rip off Britain' for nothing , and we certainly don't use the Euro - yet!!!!!

 

Yes, and they should be more concerned about the Japanese government's artificial manipulation of the yen.

 

I believe that European models get 2 year warranty (1 global, 1 local) since the EU is forcing every seller to sell their products with 2 year of warranty (by law).
The price differences in EU are forced by VAT's percentage in pricing.

 

cheap in the uk? lol

 

I saw it was the same price as where I live (for MBP).
Macs are overpriced in Europe as well. I believe that the pricing should be something like this: US + VAT.
Currently Apple thinks 1EU=1US, so this is why (that mf Jobs...) I hate getting one from here...but I do get 2 years of warranty.

 

Yes, I just realized I was using Euros instead of Pounds Sterling . But in that case, France is cheap, because the MBP is $1299 Euros there.

Thanks for the clarification...I always thought buying Apple products in UK were expensive (I remember listening to some podcasts saying that), and what I found contradicted that. So now I know .

 

You're welcome ... Though the cheapest MBP I can see on apple.fr is Eur 1899!

 

Yeah, much more expensive than US or CA.

 

wheres the cheapest then, i should fly over there and get one.

 

Its pretty cheap in Hong Kong...its $1985 US ($15'400 HK) and no sales tax in Hong Kong.

Although not worth the airfare for it , unless you plan on going on a ultra spending spree.

 

im just joking, i cant afford one right now so i defo cant afford going to hong kong to get one lol

 

Nope, you're wrong. Prices for IMPORTED goods will (or at least should) decrease as the USD falls. Canadian retailers are now importing product X from the US for much cheaper than before, yet they set the price p to the same as before, thus increasing their margin for profit.
But After months, even years of complaints by consumers, Canadian importers/suppliers are finally acknowledging that they should lower the Canadian prices. I mean, it's ridiculous. Prices for some stuff (like a can of bean) can be 50%, sometimes even 100% more expensive in Niagara-on-the-Lake than in Buffalo.

As more and more users find out about websites like outpost.com and other online US electronic outlets, Canadian retailers will have no choice but to be satisfied with their profits of 3 years ago.