Canadian/U.S pricing?

[minnie56]

I was in Michaels today, they are actually snipping off the USD prices on many of their products now so we cannot see the discrepancy between the USD and the CAD! Makes me sooooo mad! I asked if I could pay in USD and she said "Sure, but you have to pay the Canadian price not the U.S." WHy are we presumed such dummies???

 

[Jaymie]

Last week Zellers was selling anything with a US price on it for that price. Things like books, greeting cards, etc. Plus they were knocking another 10% off the total purchase.

 

[minnie56]

Be nice if they ALL did that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[drag n' fly]

I was in Michaels today, they are actually snipping off the USD prices on many of their products now so we cannot see the discrepancy between the USD and the CAD! Makes me sooooo mad! I asked if I could pay in USD and she said "Sure, but you have to pay the Canadian price not the U.S." WHy are we presumed such dummies???

Thanks for letting us know. It will remind not to shop there

 

[Tantor]

I'm not shopping there for that reason.

 

[dhluvsDisney]

Myself and a lot more people have noticed that and are not shopping there for that reason as well. I'll give you another FYI, I sent a nasty note to Pier 1 Imports about their HUGE price discrepancy. They started taking off the American prices around 2 years ago when the dollar started gaining speed. Some price differentials that are from October and haven't changed (their margin from Cnd/Us are the same as they were 7 years ago).

Candle U.S. price (I paid in Grand Forks) $8.00 Canada $12.00
Christmas Wreath U.S. $35.00 Canada $50.00

This is just a small example and it really bothered me, but I got back the same old corporate "doggy doo" about costs, etc. Yeah right. Then why haven't the prices changed at all in many years??????????

 

[minnie56]

I know, Also Indigo...books, 2 prices, NEVER in our favour! Card stores, same thing. Big differences. I am not buying 'Special cards' this year (apart from those I bought in Buffalo last week!) here at all. Pier One, long been an issue I agree. I bought some big-ticket purchases there for My DD, again, in Buffalo.

None of this can be good for the Canadian economy yet nobody (other than Walmart) seems prepared to be the 'Trailblazer' and do anything about it!?!?!?!

I am sure the 'numbers' will be waaaay off this Christmas. Perhaps a good wake-up call?

 

[LindaM]

I was in Micheals last night and the lady ahead of me was livid regarding them taking off the US prices, the cashier told her that the stores were getting the inquiries regarding the US prices so they were told to take off the US pricing and just leave CDN pricing on, the cashier told her she should complain to their head office, as the stores are only doing what they are told. Maybe once Micheals sees that they are losing customers they will rethink this.

I got to admit I didn't even realize they were taking off the US dollars Guess I'll shop elsewhere for my supplies, until they make changes.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

I noticed this too about 6 weeks ago. I thought it was a pretty low thing for Michaels to do. Do they think we are dumb? I find a lot of their prices over inflated to start with.

 

[MamaLema]

I noticed this for magazines as well

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

That's good to know. I have never shopped at Michael's but now I definitely won't. Same with Pier 1 Imports.

I live right on the border and I must say, shops around here are pretty good. At Shopper's, for instance, they charge you the US price for magazines and cards.

 

[Scornelius]

I was at Zellers yesterday and they were charging the American price for cards, books and calendars. I was thrilled! It was at least a dollar off for every card, and 5 dollars off for the calendar.

Here's why I wont shop at Michaels anymore. I worked there for a couple years when I was a teenager and one day in mid December they called us in on a sunday for a manditory, yet unpaid meeting. It was supposed to be to plan our Christmas party, and instead they told us all that come Jan 1, we would all be out of a job. Merry Christmas! Then they gave us faulty statements of what our severence pay would be. (For example, I was supposed to get about $700 according to the paper, and I got less than $100).

From working there I can promise you they really don't care about their customers or their employees. I think a massive boycott is exactly what they need!

 

[Tantor]

I was at Zellers yesterday and they were charging the American price for cards, books and calendars. I was thrilled! It was at least a dollar off for every card, and 5 dollars off for the calendar.

Here's why I wont shop at Michaels anymore. I worked there for a couple years when I was a teenager and one day in mid December they called us in on a sunday for a manditory, yet unpaid meeting. It was supposed to be to plan our Christmas party, and instead they told us all that come Jan 1, we would all be out of a job. Merry Christmas! Then they gave us faulty statements of what our severence pay would be. (For example, I was supposed to get about $700 according to the paper, and I got less than $100).

From working there I can promise you they really don't care about their customers or their employees. I think a massive boycott is exactly what they need!

WOW, that is interesting. All the more reason not to shop there.

 

[minnie56]

I sent an email to them complaining in part of the fact they are 'snipping off the prices' to delude us further. I am sure they did not grasp my remarks (or chose to ignore) as I rec'd back an email that was pretty generic and referred merely to the USD-CAD price discrepancies. I believe it looks like a standard auto-reply directed at these questions that they are likely being inundated with!

Here it is:

Thank you for your E-mail.

Unfortunately there is no single answer as to why the pricing would be
significantly different in Canada when compared to some of the US stores,
as there are several factors involved.

Contrary to popular belief, the pricing is not the same from area to area
or even store to store. This, along with additional transportation and a
fluid exchange rate can make the pricing in Canadian stores a bit higher.
These charges include but are not limited to customs duty fees, import
brokerage fees, and freight charges. In addition to this, some items'
pricing is dictated by the manufacturer and/or vendor of the merchandise.

We do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, but in order to
provide you with Michaels Stores Inc. merchandise we must apply these
charges.

Thank you for visiting us at Michaels.com

Sincerely


All I know is, that I am tired of the fact that even when we 'get a break' with our dollar, we DON'T!

 

[minnie56]

Oh and I like the 'BIT higher' part!
Let's see $1.99 USD for ribbon compared to $3.49 CAD??? Last I looked, we haven't been at that exchange rate for quite some time!!!!

 

[Allegro]

I recently purchased the complete West Wing Series on DVD from amazon.com. 171.00 shipping included. No duty charged. Out of curiosity I changed the ".com" part of the address of ".ca" just to see how the price changed. The price BEFORE shipping was $299.99. You GOT to be kiddingme.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I recently purchased the complete West Wing Series on DVD from amazon.com. 171.00 shipping included. No duty charged. Out of curiosity I changed the ".com" part of the address of ".ca" just to see how the price changed. The price BEFORE shipping was $299.99. You GOT to be kiddingme.

Have you actually received the items yet? It's not Amazon that will charge duty but it will be taked on at the border. I've had that happen several times. They expect you to pay for it when it is delivered at your door.

 

[minnie56]

I have no idea what the criteria is behind duty being assessed? I had some jewelery shipped last week from St Maarten. No duty?? Was fully expecting there would be...

That being said---When I order State-side--I have the goods shipped to a Freight company in Lewiston, N.Y. They charge $5 per pkg. EASY!!!!!! I declare--more often than not, they wave me through. Even if they make me pay, I am still WAY ahead factoring in the better pricing in the first place!

 

[Ham Ham]

I noticed many periodicals for sale in Canada no longer have US prices on them.

 

[Allegro]

Have you actually received the items yet? It's not Amazon that will charge duty but it will be taked on at the border. I've had that happen several times. They expect you to pay for it when it is delivered at your door.

Got them several weeks ago. No duty! And really even if they had charged me duty (which I was prepared to pay) I'm doubting ti would have amounted to $130!