Just a little rant about shopping

The Canadian dollar is at a record high.  Right now it is trading at $1.07687 USD.  This is the inverse of what it has been for most of my life.  It means our economy is booming.  It also means that goods which sell in both markets should be approximately the same price.  No let me say that again, they should be the same price.

I'm taking your advice and going for something down.  I plead temporary insanity for my last few coat posts likely caused by watching too much What Not to Wear.  I loved my last down coat and see no reason to go back.  (I may keep one of the wool ones for right now, but come January I'll be walking in some sort of duvet).  What clinched it was seeing a woman looking tres warm and chic in a North Face down parka like this.

(It's a bit eerie without a body in it).

I thought it a tad warm to be wearing this already.  But it was pouring rain and windy and really damp and she clearly didn't own handknits, so she can be forgiven.  She looked cozy and I'm all for that. 

I did a bit of online browsing (since actual in person shopping time is tough for me).  The above jacket (Metropolis parka)  is about $279 USD and $400 CDN.  Taking my trusty currency converter it should actually be about $259 CDN--that $140 difference is a lot of yarn money.

I also really like this one--the Arctic parka.  I like those furry hoods.

$299 USD, $450 CDN.  Should be about $277.

Now I know that retailers probably bought the coats for more since they probably bought stock last year and shouldn't completely bear the brunt of this rant.  But really--everyone is making a bundle here.  I know that wholesale is 50 to 75%  less than retail so they're not losing out.  Usually, the more upmarket something is, the more the prices are marked up from wholesale.  I know they're a higher end coat, but I also know that my Gap puffy coat lasted only 3 years before the down fell to the bottom (I was cold for the last half of last winter) so I'm also a proponent of "you get what you pay for" and frankly, I can afford it so why not?

So I'm going to try some on here and figure out how to get one from the US.  (This place in Florida(?!) has them on sale.) 

Interestingly, most of the big places like Altrec say they can't ship them outside of the US.  If I was Fox Mulder, I would say it's a conspiracy to keep me cold.

Rant over.  I won't even get into the price difference for TVs or books.

Comments

[Aven]

I admit they aren't quite as fashionable (I like the waist shaping on the ones you show!) but Eddie Bauer has a bunch of down coats... it's a US website, but they do ship to Canada, and then you can take advantage of the exchange rate! Of course, you have to pay duty, but it would still be cheaper than the markup you're talking about. eddiebauer.com

[Martha]

Ugh, the cross-border prices are so maddening right now. The upside I can find is that KnitPicks orders are looking like even more of a bargain, with the exchange! Christmas shopping season is really going to tell the tale for the market this year. There's no wonder everyone is going across to Buffalo, with the markups so high.

[Kim]

If they won't ship outside the US, could you have the coat shipped to an American pal who then ships to you? I'd be happy to act as your US connection. Love both coats, BTW.

[Sara]

I have been known to provide shipping services...and I live near a Lands End outlet (which they call an inlet, but never mind that). And EMS. Just sayin'. I have no immediate plans of returning to Toronto to skate with Gary Beacom or to buy new skates, which if I did would be fortuitous...

[RobynR]

I can easily believe that those coats originate in FL. I drive a school bus here in the middle of the state and I had a child board my bus this morning in a poufy bomber style jacket with a fur trimmed hood. This morning's low? 46F
My former Torontonian self had a private giggle.

[Seanna Lea]

I was looking at the LLBean site and it looked like they didn't change the prices (shipping for a similar coat to the non-furry one was 12.95) based on the country between US and Canada. It might be worth trying.

[stephanie]

tell me about it, i'm on the other side of the border in buffalo and for many years enjoyed the exchange...i had great excuses to visit toronto for some retail therapy. but now i couldnt dream of it with the exchange so horrible (for me that is) and the canadian prices so inflated. in fact, a friend and i are renting a van and trekking out to the ikea in pittsburgh vs. going to burlington in a couple weeks!

it makes me sad, i love this region b/c toronto is so close and is like a quickie vacation for me. but no more. the bridge traffic alone is enough deterrent.

[Flan]

If you'd like to ship to someone in the US and have them ship to you, I'd be happy to do so. I live in Minnesota, and I've been taking/sending packages for a friend studying at McGill so she can take advantage of the exchange rate.

[Deborah C.]

I have the Lands' End commuter coat, which is down and looks like it isn't. It is incredibly warm, for days when it is 20 degrees (Farenheit) and I wait on the railway platform for the train to pull in. They also have a Chevron Long Down Coat, and they do ship to Canada. I don't know if the price will change, though, it is $169.50 US.

[May]

It's flipping ridiculous what they think they can get away with in pricing in Canada. sigh. It's time to buy it from the US, send a note to the Canadian side of the company saying that they just lost the sale, and get your US buddies to ship it to you. Mind you, however, I'm hearing that Canada Post (another rant all together) is now having issues keeping up with packages. Right before Xmas... nice isn't it?

[arpelia]

I was looking at the exact same two parkas yesterday (I especially love the second one), and was frustrated that no stores in the US can ship to Canada. Apparently it's part of their contract with the manufacturer.
It's a conspiracy to force us to pay more, I'm sure. *digs out tinfoil hat*
So in my case, it means staying cold.

[anmiryam]

Let me know if you want me to order one for you and then ship it across the border.

[Suzanne V. (Yarnhog)]

I'd be surprised if the place in Florida didn't have them on sale!

[Teresa]

I know your pain. I have been planning a work trip to NJ (where I am now) for a few months. As the dollar keeps rising my shopping list is increasing.
One of the things I am getting is a Dyson vacuum. In Canada $649, I'll be picking mine up here for $549 US- 20% coupon -exchange rate. So I am looking at spending about $430 for the vacuum. I have written Dyson Canada to complain - got a quick response but basically said the prices will never as cheap as in the US.

If you need anyone to be a mule I am in NJ to Nov 26 then back to Kitchener.

[Kat]

Thank you for your coat research, I have just ordered the one with the fuzzy hood and a pair of Keen shoes (also on sale)!

If it doesn't fit, shall I send it to Canada? ;-)

[stephanie]

i noticed on natalie dee there are 'mail forwarding services' http://www.myus.com/ - it gives you a us address that you give when you order, but will end up mailing it to you in the end... i haven't used it - but thought i'd put it out there.

[deeni]

R- bought a down from Mountain Co-Op, it's over 5 years old and still in great shape. Cost? It was expensive.

A lot of Canadians have been bitching about the prices. Canadians have to keep in the mind the rapid climb of our dollar and that the population of the U.S. is 10X that of Canada.

I find it disturbing that Canadians would wait to cross the border for 5 hours. An idling vehicle adds how much to global warming? Just to save a couple of bucks?

This lowering of the GST thingy? Stupid political ploy. With everyone shopping in the U.S. how is the government supposed to make money? Hmmm cut money to Health care? Cut money to social programs? Raise income tax? GST was supposed to replace the 15% manufacturing tax (a hidden tax) so where are they going to get the money?

Buy less for more in Canada.

Getting off the soapbox.

Peace from the Peace.

[Helen]

I have a Lands End down coat and it is just fabulously warm. It's the Chalet Coat. It doesn't have the stylish cut, but it's not hideously frumpy either. I've had it for at least 5 years and the down is still in the same place. They do a Chevron Coat which is waisted.

A lot of American clothes manufacturers sell their clothes in the UK at the same number of pounds as dollars; it's outrageous. Crocs cost $29.99 in the States, and £29.99 in the UK, like about double.

And yes, those disembodied clothes... Anyway, I came here looking for the Earth Stripe Wrap: do you have any new photos yet?

[Sharon T]

When it's really cold, I want to be warm. Really warm. I splurged and bought a goosedown filled jacket last year and LOVE IT! Good luck getting your warm coat.

[Beth]

Have to say I'm with Deeni. Buy less for more in Canada, help keep our neighbours employed, enjoy our advantages over US life. MEC is my first call every time.

[Cathy]

Hey! That's "The Kayak Store" - they're down the road from us and we buy a lot of our Boy Scout miscellany and any fancy camping goods we need there.

I'm wondering if the crazy Canada prices are because they are multiplying instead of dividing or if there are some hidden taxes.

[Paula]

What about Linda Lundström’s LAPARKA they are the ultimate Canadian winter coats.

http://www.lindalundstrom.com/

[Jane]

I like the second one with the fur trim, if it is fur and not that faux stuff. My only advice would be to use caution when ordering online from the U.S. Sometimes they ship via UPS and when UPS arrives, they ask for a further $50+.

Hope you can take a peek at my blog entry today. I'm moving right along with your beautiful Skull Scarf for my daughter!

[Angie]

The discrepancy will continue as long as the Canadian market can bear it. Don't believe that you are not good enough to deserve the savings. It is not patriotic to be a punching bag. Even if the down will soften the blow.

[Elysbeth]

What Not to Wear never does sensible it's blowing cold wet snow clothing. They don't do "Walking to work in subfreezing" clothing. You are correct though, those jackets look lovely, with enough shaping that you won't look like a Yeti.