The Ultimate Toronto Thread

[Bill Smith]



I guess in the end, it is amazing how the purchasing power disparity is widening between Canada and the US.  One would need to earn 30% more to compensate.

I'm sure it's doubly hard for small businesses that purchase inventory in USD - it must be really killing them.

Unless they are hedging their currency, it's going to be murder for a lot of small retailers.

 

[spiermackay]

I guess in the end, it is amazing how the purchasing power disparity is widening between Canada and the US. One would need to earn 30% more to compensate.

I'm sure it's doubly hard for small businesses that purchase inventory in USD - it must be really killing them.

Yep. It's brutal. We can't raise prices as fast as the dollar has fallen. We have to eat the difference.

 

[jokb]

Yep. It's brutal. We can't raise prices as fast as the dollar has fallen. We have to eat the difference.

+1 We're getting beat up on all fronts.. including Euro and Pounds.

 

[velomane]



I had a jacket shipped through royal mail and declared at £250 get past with not duties 2 weeks ago, but I also usually have stuff send to my gf in New York as USPS never, ever charges on anything (Nik's post does scare me a little bit I will admit)

A girlfriend based in the US? Why didn't I think of that?

 

[kasper007]



A girlfriend based in the US? Why didn't I think of that?

it does have its advantages although the constant flying gets pretty annoying (and expensive..)

 

[Odd I/O]



Yep. It's brutal. We can't raise prices as fast as the dollar has fallen. We have to eat the difference.

So, you're saying that everything in your store is on sale right now and we better buy buy buy before they go back to their new regular price?

 

[Bill Dlwgosh]

I guess in the end, it is amazing how the purchasing power disparity is widening between Canada and the US.

I guess there's a good chance it'll get worse in September when a lot of people anticipate the U.S. Fed will raise their interest rate, and potential Iranian oil being added to the market won't help oil prices and the loonie. I'm watching the asking prices on some properties here in Downtown Brampton do some goofy stuff.

 

[spiermackay]

So, you're saying that everything in your store is on sale right now and we better buy buy buy before they go back to their new regular price?

Prices will have to go up. It's inevitable. Not only us, but for any importer. But on the flip side, any US customers are getting an additional 30% Off!

 

[scatterbrain]

All this talk of timing purchases to coincide with exchange rates reminds me that one day when I couldn't sleep, I started a thread on trying to figure out when is a good time for Canadians to buy from specific regions. It got some views, but nobody responded (probably due to my insomniac rambling).


Would still welcome any input on my crackpot question....

I'm looking at you @akoustas the economist...

 

[akoustas]

Unfortunately it looks like a rough ride for us Canadian importers of fine goods.

The federal reserve is set to hike interest rates while the bank of Canada just cut. That means more demand for us dollar denominated assets and a drop in the loonie. Factor in large oil supply and slowing emerging market growth and that means even more downward pressure. Probably going to get worse before it gets any better. It would take a dramatic shift in events to get back to 90 cents let alone parity.

With Greece almost in the rear view and the European central bank already at emergency rates the euro is as weak as it'll get against the Canadian dollar. Could see it rise in fact.

Pound will get stronger versus the loonie as well. They're much closer to raising rates than we are.

If there's any interest in this type of thing I m happy to comment from time to time!

 

[Bill Dlwgosh]

I guess I just became an even bigger fan of Canada's own, Samuelsohn.

 

[Viral]

Boys..........I'm from Toronto and live in NYC. I visit Toronto often, can proxy for a fee depending on the item.

Shoot me a PM and if I can help then consider it done!

 

[emidyl]

Boys..........I'm from Toronto and live in NYC. I visit Toronto often, can proxy for a fee depending on the item.

Shoot me a PM and if I can help then consider it done!

gesture is much appreciated Viral, I'm sure but can you get the CND $ back up to say even $.85.....

unfortunately some items on my wish list will have to wait indefintely

 

[Viral]



gesture is much appreciated Viral, I'm sure but can you get the CND $ back up to say even $.85.....

unfortunately some items on my wish list will have to wait indefintely

wish I had those powers brother

My intent was to help folks with customs fees......always down to help forum members lower costs

 

[emidyl]

wish I had those powers brother

My intent was to help folks with customs fees......always down to help forum members lower costs

I hear ya. Reread some of the earlier posts today WRT customs and CanPost/USPS with skoak/GF and the one thing that is certain is that there is no certainty.
Still believe it is the luck of the draw. I was dinged on my last order from skoak but not from GF and not my prev order from skoak. Until we can get a larger sample group say from the last month to end of summer, we will never really know the actual mechanics to getting hit with taxes and duties. I do however believe, based upon the last 3 purchases that if my items spend more than 2 days in customs, it's not a good sign. Might have to ask a buddy who works at CanPost if he knows