And some of you still shop here!

Check out “Canadians pay more than Americans for Canadian-made vehicles” 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2012/06/12/ottawa-car-price-disparity-border-shopping.html

CBC News looked at the relative prices of 24 models made in Ontario by the five big automakers — Ford, GM, Chrysler, Honda and Toyota — and found that in 18 cases, the models cost thousands of dollars more to buy in Ontario than in the United States, including Hawaii.

“A resident in Alliston, Ont., where the Acura MDX is made, would pay $52,690 based on the suggested retail price, while in the U.S. the vehicle’s suggested price is $43,030.”

Here’ a reprint of their list.

 

Sometimes it’s not just about the cost!

Sweetened beverages, including soft drinks, fruit drinks or fruitades, are the largest source of added sugar in the daily diets of children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Parents should reduce or eliminate sugary drinks as much as possible.

When 10 Liters of this in Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is the same price as 4 Liters of this in Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compared to this in the US – WE HAVE MORE THAN A PRICING PROBLEM

Apples 2 Apples – No! Apples to Bushels, Canadian Flights

Have to go to Memphis in July so played a bit of airfare roulette yesterday. Needed a flight for myself and business partner. Interestingly enough just happened to receive a couple of emails announcing “Special” Deals from AC and Southwest. You know where this is going,  You just can’t make this stuff up! Oh and BTW AC also charges $35.00/bag.

Hey AC want to know why 5 million Canadians fly out of US Airports – probably not.

book and save at aircanada.com ($2,161.30)

1 Stop from Toronto

Southwest Click N’ Save Sale ($646.20)

1 Stop from Buffalo

Paint the Town, Twice if you live in US.

Now before we get going I have to share the obligatory research. According to the Conference Board of Canada “Canada is not acting as quickly as its peers to reduce VOCs in consumer and commercial products, such as cleaning products, personal care products, paints, and printing inks. Canada ranks a dismal last place out of 17 countries and earns a “D” grade.” I say this because when I questioned why paint was more expensive in Canada at Home Depot vs US Home Depot I was told that it was due to the Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) rating. Canada has reduced VOC emissions per capita by 41 per cent since 1990, but its peers have done more. The U.S., for example, reduced emissions by 49 per cent. (Although according to HD not in paint). I was also told that I could face a fine of up to $2,000.00 if I tried to import paint from the US.

In 2011 the Consumer Reports U.S. rated different paints depending on the type of paint finish, Home Depot’s paint, Behr, came out on top in all 3 finish types. The Behr Premium Plus Ultra was best overall, and has only 50 (claimed) VOC grams/liter.

So now that the VOC “reason” is debunked here are the numbers – Can you guess what one in Canadian? HINT – The “C” in the Model# Stands for Canadian not costly or con! Don’t let color throw you off US pre-mixes so they can ship to consumer.

 

Fly United, Delta anything as long as it’s out of the U.S.

When you see a headline like this at cbc.ca you figure out pretty fast that it’s a government corporation…  “Cheap American flights threaten Canadian airport business” 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2013/05/03/mb-cheap-flights-united-states-manitoba.html

So today I thought I would rewrite the article heading as it should have been written.

“Expensive Canadian flights drive 5 million Canadians to US Airports”

“Outrageous Airport Taxes and Fees send Canadian Travellers to the U.S.”

Headlines you can expect to see soon….

“Canadian Government content to lose millions of dollars in lost revenue in Canada — “Why bother we can make it up in other taxes”, says unknown source”

” Canadian Airports increase Parking Fees to offset Airport Losses”

“Pearson to install Toll Lanes for people wanting to pick up passengers”

And finally for those who insist…

THEY STILL WANTED $35.00 FOR A WINDOW SEAT

New Stewardship Fees will make US prices more attractive

I have recommended in this blog that fellow CBS’ (cross-border shoppers) compare all costs when comparing prices down south. One of those has been the “Stewardship Fees” read TAXES that are charged up front for recycling of electronics, tires, paint cans etc. Well get out your calculators they are going up.

On TV’s 29″ or larger fees are increasing from $27.60 to $39.50. that’s 10% more on a $395.00 set. Good new for those of us purchasing a “floor standing” Photocopier though, those fees are going down.

BUT WAIT!

Fees charged by Retailers - If retailers choose to recover this cost by passing it on to their customers in the form of higher prices or as a separate charge on the customer’s invoice, it forms part of the fair value of the taxable product and/or service provided and is subject to HST at a rate of 13 per cent. So $39.50 becomes $44.64

http://www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca/sites/all/files/pdf/consumers/ehf_consumer-may1.pdf

And it’s not just in-your-face fees; until March 31, agriculture and off-road tires had a maximum fee of $250, and most were under $100. Starting April 1, fees are now based on weight, and range from $5.88 for tires weighing less than 15 kg, up to $1,311 for tires that weigh over 1,200 kg. In one example, the fee on farm equipment tires rose from $15 to $353.00 Do you think the farmer is going to eat, no pun intended, these additional costs or will they be passed on to you?

Ontario charges $1,646 for one tire for a Deere 9770 combine, compared with $210 in British Columbia, $90 in Saskatchewan, $54 in Newfoundland, $24 in Manitoba and Prince Edward Island and zero in other provinces. Maybe we’ll start seeing farmers cross-provincial shopping!

Read more: 
http://london.ctvnews.ca/ontario-consumers-face-higher-eco-fees-for-big-televisions-new-phones-1.1223814#ixzz2RtLCFxhQ

Light at the end of the tunnel?

This just in - 

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/04/08/ontario_to_revamp_eco_fees_in_coming_weeks_says_bradley.html

Environment Minister Jim Bradley said Monday that new legislation he’ll introduce within weeks will ban companies and retailers from charging the recycling fees separately.

“It’s a cost of doing business … there’s no need to be plunking it on as a separate fee as though it’s some kind of penalty,” Bradley told reporters.

Anybody willing to take bets on this one? I can just see retailers absorbing a 10% fee on $400.00 TV that they make 5% on.

Speedy? Ya But It’s Covered By Insurance

Over the last month I have had the misfortune to get two stone chips in my windshield. The first was in Phoenix. As I was familiar with Speedy I found the closest outlet and headed on down.

The Service Advisor took a look at the windshield and said it could easily be repaired, cost $24.99. Done, great job out in 15 minutes.

About 1,500 miles into a 2,300 mile drive back to Toronto a stone hit the windshield, this time on the drivers side. Got back to town and again looked up the local Speedy.

Spoke with the local Service Advisor and told him that I had a stone chip repaired by Speedy in Phoenix and that they had a 1 year Warranty. Any other chips would be repaired for free. It was at this time that the Canadian Advisor told me that the Canadian and US companies were not related and therefore the warranty would not apply. No big deal, right.

He advised me that the repair, same sizes as one I had in US, would be $99.95 Plus Tax. I asked him why so much and told him what I paid in Phoenix. His reply, wait for it! “What difference does it make what (they) charge as my insurance will pay for it anyway”

And we Ontarians wonder why our insurance rates are so high. Here’s one of the reasons. I’ll get it fixed next time I’m in Buffalo!