Why are Canadians paying more for Apple products in Canada?

[Ronf]

If the Canadian dollar is at par -why do we pay more for Apple products in Canada? Apple Tv for example is 17% ($50) more expensive - the new IMAC is 7% more ($150) - Ipod Touch $30 more - anybody know why?

[Crys009]

Originally Posted by Ronf

If the Canadian dollar is at par -why do we pay more for Apple products in Canada? Apple Tv for example is 17% ($50) more expensive - the new IMAC is 7% more ($150) - Ipod Touch $30 more - anybody know why?

Hi Ronf,

Thats a good point, I've been wondering that too. It's probably because they don't expect the Canadian dollar to stay at par for too long. For them to keep changing the price based on our fluctuating dollar is probably too cumbersome. So they kind of find a happy medium with their prices....I guess, I don't really know. I feel the same as you, I want American prices right now, we are at par.

[Yuiichi]

Welcome to the TAB forums Ronf! Hope you enjoy your stay!

There's only one way to take advantage of our dollar right now: go across the border! I don't really expect companies to start rolling out discounts as our dollar goes up in value, at least not at the start. If our dollar stays where it is... I don't think they'll have a choice (hopefully!)

[baseballboy828]

I am pretty sure there are some countries where Apple products are 50 to 100 percent more. But with the Canadian Dollar being so close to the American, Apple should lessen the difference. They probably don't want to change the price because the American Dollar could always rise back up, and then people in the U.S. would start buying from Canada if prices were identical. I don't know. Exchange rates and technology are always a tough issue. No true way around it.

[Yuiichi]

Originally Posted by baseballboy828

They probably don't want to change the price because the American Dollar could always rise back up

That's always the case. And that's why I don't think that prices will decrease instantaniously because our dollar has been on par for a couple of days. I just hope that, if the Canadian dollar does stay up, that we will reap the benefits of lower prices!

[philbowell]

It's frustrating with technology and exchange rates. Over here the iPhone is going to be £269 which is more expensive than in the US. They exchange is roughly $2 to the £ so it "should" be £200 over here. Steve said it was tax and other stuff that made it £269. That seems a bit pricey to me, to blame it on that, but it does demonstrate there is more going on in different nations with regard to pricing than in the US. Which is why you can't rely on straight conversions.