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Will Apple Canada's prices follow dollar's strength?

10298 Views 62 Replies 40 Participants Last post by  jdurston, 
S
I know Apple Canada had revised it's pricing a few months back when our dollar was skyrocketing. Well, it's shooting up again. Which begs the question, will they adjust prices again? And what if our loonie climbed past the US dollar?
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C
From past history, they tend to update pricing when they come out with new hardware.
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adagio
The CDN $ hit 99.99 cents today.

Don't be holding your breath for a price break.
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monokitty
What CdnPhoto said.
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8127972
If you want a cheaper price for Apple hardware, don't wait for Apple Canada to drop the price. Cross the border and buy it at the Apple Store in Buffalo. Apple seems to want to hose Canadians for all they can get.
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M
8127972 said:
If you want a cheaper price for Apple hardware, don't wait for Apple Canada to drop the price. Cross the border and buy it at the Apple Store in Buffalo. Apple seems to want to hose Canadians for all they can get.
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Actually they're not alone. A friend looking to buy a Yamaha ATV recently pointed this out to me. The ATV he wants is listed on the CDN. Yamaha page with a SRP of $12,000. Same ATV on the US Yamaha page has a SRP of around $8500. :eek:

He's contemplating cross border shopping as well.

Cheers
MacGuiver
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8127972
MacGuiver said:
Actually they're not alone. A friend looking to buy a Yamaha ATV recently pointed this out to me. The ATV he wants is listed on the CDN. Yamaha page with a SRP of $12,000. Same ATV on the US Yamaha page has a SRP of around $8500. :eek:

He's contemplating cross border shopping as well.

Cheers
MacGuiver
Click to expand...
True. Check the price of a car in Canada and in US. There's a HUGE difference.
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monokitty
8127972 said:
True. Check the price of a car in Canada and in US. There's a HUGE difference.
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Check the pricing on importing cars and ATV's from the U.S., and you may feel the extra hassle isn't worth saving a buck.
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Gene B
I sent the email below to [email protected]
I hope to stay with .Mac, so alternatives at this point in time are not an option.



The US and Canadian dollar almost equal as it closed the day (Sept. 17) at 98.64 cents US. (Analysts now say the Canadian dollar could reach parity with the US dollar in the coming days or weeks, already up 13.9 percent this year against the greenback.) The .Mac membership is $99.00 US and $139.00 CAN. Why the $40.00 difference? Also what are the taxes that I'm being charged? With my figures I don't come close to the $44.48 CAN estimate.

I'm mostly happy with my .Mac membership but the disproportionate difference in US and Canadian membership costs makes me wonder if Canadian members are being taken advantage off. There are now other alternatives and they offer just as much or more for less.

Why is the Canadian membership so high when compared to the US?


The reply received yesterday.

From [email protected]


Dear Eugene,

I understand you are disappointed in the Canadian .Mac price and also believe you may have been overcharged in sales tax. My name is Lauren and I am able to provide you with some information regarding this.

The price of a one-year subscription to .Mac is $139.00 (CAN) and $229.00 (CAN) for the .Mac Family Pack. This amount is not based on currency conversion. It is a price point that has been set. I urge you to submit feedback via our support site regarding this matter.

The .Mac Support Team does recognize that our best advice comes from our customers and that they are instrumental in the improvement of the .Mac suite of services. If you wish to provide feedback to be considered for possible product enhancements, please use the .Mac Feedback page at http://www.apple.com/feedback/mac/tm.html to do so. This will ensure that your comments will be read by the individuals responsible for such decisions.

Regarding the the tax on your .Mac order confirmation, this is an estimate. Please review the charge when it appears on your credit card statement after October 17, 2007. It should appear for the correct amount at this time, as you will only be charged the tax that is necessary by law. I apologize for the confusion this has caused.

I hope this information has been of help to you, Eugene. Please do not hesitate to respond to this email if you have any further questions. I am happy to help.

Sincerely,

Lauren
.Mac Support


My reply to the above.

Thank you for the response. Why was this price point set if it has nothing to do with the exchange rate. What is this rate based on? Is it a charge based on market conditions? Is it based on what the Canadian Market is willing to bear? Makes me rethink my .Mac subscription. Many up here in Canada believe I have more money than brains to subscribe to .Mac with the lacklustre performance and usurious rates for Canadians. And again, what taxes am I being charged? I have contacted .Mac Feedback but it states that no personal replies are forthcoming.

Waiting for a reply.
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adagio
I've sent Apple my 2 cents worth.
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madgunde
I heard you can buy a .mac retail package from the US and use it in Canada for a new .mac account, or to renew an existing account. My brother bought one from ebay for less than US retail and the guy emails the codes to you right away. I'll definitely be doing that next time I go to renew if Apple doesn't do something about the price by then.
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Steve-O
I'm thinking that you will not see a price break from companies for some time. Please keep in mind that everything on store shelves right now was purchased before the canadian dollar surpassed the USD. (I'm assuming it will soon so i wrote it in past tense I am not crazy) So until products are purchased with a stronger Canadian dollar you will not see price breaks.

This however is in complete contradiction to when gas prices go up, with the excuse given that our dollar went down .008 cents.
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(( p g ))
Gene B said:
I sent the email below to [email protected]


The price of a one-year subscription to .Mac is $139.00 (CAN) and $229.00 (CAN) for the .Mac Family Pack. This amount is not based on currency conversion. It is a price point that has been set. I urge you to submit feedback via our support site regarding this matter.
Click to expand...


Apple's reply doesn't make sense. Since the surge in value of the CDN dollar, Apple has dropped the prices on most of its products. As things stand right now, we're being charged an astonishing 40% premium on .Mac for no reason apparent other than "because we want to."

Outrageous...
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dona83
I'm guessing most of you over there live close enough to Buffalo to get .Mac for $99USD. I'm an hour + border waits from Bellingham here.
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harzack86
adagio said:
I've sent Apple my 2 cents worth.
Click to expand...
Will this give you a 2 cents rebate on your next purchase? ;)
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monokitty
--
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Gene B
Another reply. At this point I'll never receive anything close to being a reasonable and informative reply. Anyone know Job's email address? Even addresses of his immediate subordinates.

Dear Gene,

I understand you have further questions regarding the Canadian .Mac pricing and estimated sales tax.

Unfortunately, I am unable to comment on Apple's pricing decisions.

Fortunately, I can assure you that the feedback you left at the support page will make it's way to the department who makes such pricing decisions, though you will not receive a personalized response. Again, I am sorry this has caused you so much frustration. That is not our intent.

The estimated sales tax you have been quoted is only an estimate. I apologize for the inconvenience the email has caused you. When your membership renews you will receive an email stating the actual amount you will be charged. The amount you are charged will only include applicable sales tax as deemed by your local laws.

I hope this does not hinder your enjoyment of the .Mac Suite of Services and I thank you for your understanding. If I can help you with your .Mac service, please let me know. Have a great day.

Sincerely,

Lauren
.Mac Support
http://www.apple.com/support/dotmac
http://www.mac.com/learningcenter
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adagio
harzack86 said:
Will this give you a 2 cents rebate on your next purchase? ;)
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:D

I haven't purchased .Mac from Apple in three years now. I started getting an American buddy to buy from Amazon.com @ $79 then sending me the Key Code. (yes, it works fine). Last fall I picked up at deal at Future Shop about a month after I renewed. I just used that to renew this year and again it worked okay.

When I gave Apple a piece of my mind I reminded them that an auto .Mac renewal isn't a physical item. There is no packaging or warehousing involved. There is no need to pay a higher price for an item that a retailer may have purchased and had sitting on the shelf prior to the increased dollar.

Don't forget we're getting double whammed. We're paying tax on $139, not $100 like it should be.
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Fen
One of the worst examples is our price for a 30" and the USA's. $1799 US vs $2099 CDN... for shame!
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T
If you'd like to see changes to the prices make sure and voice your opinion to apple. If they get complaints from enough people they will make changes.

I actually found this thread because I emailed .Mac billing support the other day to complain and got a reply back that was very similar to the reply posted earlier in this thread.

If you want to voice your opinion:

Email address to use: [email protected]

Sample email body:

It would be really nice if you guys would adjust the price you charge for .Mac in Canada. With the current exchange rate the way it is the price should be more in line with the US price. Instead we are paying a 40% premium for the exact same service. Please bring down the prices in Canada.

Thanks,

me
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