Purchases becoming prohibitive Cdn$

Drive to the US and bring it back?

John,

I have done this a few times ...

Just driving over for this purpose however is not the best idea.

The last 3 times I went to Cleveland for work, I did bring stuff back that I had delivered in advance to the office down there.

 

That's a lot of loonies!

I feel for our friends overseas who also have to pay huge amounts for shipping.   Would certainly limit my spending.

Regardless of the exchange rate, Canadian protectionism has served your country well in general, a lesson that sadly remains unlearned south of your border. It can cause pain in situations like yours, but in general it is a good thing. Canadian jobs tend to stay there

far better than do ours here.

Ours? Hah. It's all about consumerism.

 

We share N. America with two other countries, both of which seem to understand "take care of your own" better than the Big One in the middle.

 

Now, about those s/h issues - well, houses are very cheap in Detroit...

 

quote:

Canadian protectionism has served your country well in general

 

I happen to agree with you. That said, imagine how much these newly made trains (and everything else) would be if the USA had similar protectionist policies in place.

I'm OK with the way Canada works ... the issue is the exchange rate that pushes everything over the top ... 

Doesn't the exchange rate vary? I think the exchange rate between the USA and Canada was about 85 cents USA for every Canadian dollar for a very long time. But the last time I was in Canada, a few years back, the Canadian dollar was worth more than a USA dollar.
Regardless, some of the arcades in Lake George, NY used to have signs saying they would even trade Canadian dollars for USA quarters. I guess they figured the 15 cent loss was better than loosing customers.

 

The Cdn dollar was at par for a while with the US for about a year or more.

It has dropped to about 25% lower then the US about 6 years ago ...

Then the premium stores add for exchange which is always higher and the other charges I mentioned.

I feel your pain too, have given up on buying & shipping from the USA & just hope to pick up some items here once someone else has taken the hit.

James  

No dealers around here that sell O gauge.  In fact, one dealer I spoke to didn't even know if he a supplier for Williams by Bachmann items.

 

I think we just have to a approximate Canadian dollar amount in mind when we purchase the item and try to stick to it.  

 

I avoid eBay's shipping program with taxes included.  I feel it's a ripoff.  From what I hear eBay takes a cut from the shipping charge and the taxes don't seem right and almost certainly include a handling fee.  UPS is just as bad and will charge "brokerage" on every item even though there is free-trade with the US.

 

I prefer shipping by USPS. I've had no problems and almost always have tracking. Whether you are charged taxes on postal shipments seems to be hit and miss.

 

We may just have to wait out the dollar for big items.

Wow, 15% sales tax on top of everything else. That's punitive! If it keeps going like this, why before you know it, the Canadian government will just take everything that you work for.  It amazes me how some people in government feel that it is right, to confiscate your earnings.  

While driving across the border may not be practical, it may actually help in the long run. Especially when you add up the cost overall. Oh sure, gas is expensive, but prices are falling rapidly. So, you may have just a little more money in the pocket for a trip down south and when you arrive, fill the car up with as much as you can afford in train stuff. Haul it all back and enjoy it.

 

Nothing is inexpensive any where. It is all relevant to where one lives and what one does.

 

 

Pete

Many Harley owners do that, John, especially those who live close to the border; have family in the US; etc.  There are businesses in the US close to the border who operate like a UPS store's mail operation.  The Canadian opens an account in the US and the US operation receives and holds the items for pick-up.  These options are particularly useful given the per item cost of Harley stuff--$25 will barely cover the cost of a t-shirt these days.  The saying goes "HD stands for hundred dollars."

 

 

Earlier this year I purchased an MTH Santa Fe set online for 219$ US and had it delivered to a Holiday Inn I was planing to stay at the following week. The shipping was like 12$ so in the end when it was said and done I paid about 260$ Cdn. It cost nothing to cross the border since we are allowed 800$ after being in the US for 48 hours.

 

This set (if you could find it) was selling up here for 400$ in a LHS + 15% = 460$

 

 

@ YAMAWHO   i dont think you ever stated how far you are from the border and where.   might help us to decide / resolve your issue

About an hour's drive ... I live just north of Montreal.

Plattsburg NY would be the closest.

 

When I drive to Cleveland I across just north Watertown NY. 

The exchange rate has returned to it's former self.  Back before the recession and well before Y2K we were paying current rates if not worse.  Even when we had it good the cost of shipping made importing through the mail cost prohibitive thanks in part to high oil prices.

 

I wish I'd squirreled away a few more dead presidents before the return of the strong USD.  It's always enjoyable taking a weekend shopping trip to a neighboring State.  Got one planned for January to Syracuse and Utica.

 

Bruce