Why are things so expensive in Canada

Hi,
I went to order a rear sway bar for my 64 Skylark from gmpartsdirect.com $76.34 U.S. plus shipping, but they won't ship internationally :af: So for a joke I phone my local GM dealer. $225.75 :af: :af: :af:. Does anyone know where I can get one for a reasonable price?
Thanks Bruce

 

I experienced the same problem for a package tray and other parts I asked for at my GM dealer , they ended up to be 2 to 3 times the price on the US based website shows

 

I have found the same problem to with regards to my 1970 Electra. Everything I need for my buick or vette is available in the US for a good price, but to bring it up here or order it from the dealer is expensive. Getting anything across the border once you account for customs and duties and crazy.

 

Canadian eyh ?

Just one of the many frustrating joys of being a Canadian ? ? ? ou:
. . . 15 - 25% on every dollar, + GST/PST, + excessively high brokerage fees, + shipping charges, Customs declarations, and duty fees.
How am I doing, so far ? Hey pass the KY ! :moonu: :moonu: :moonu:
Get some friends or relatives in the good ole US of A ! :beer :TU:

 

Healthcare

Just an opinion ! Your national healthcare ! when I go to Canada the taxes on everything are outrageous ! Hillarys going to do the same thing here When and if she gets in? IMHO :TU: Gary / Moz

 

Vote in new polititions. I agree with above as we are starting to vote in same types here. Keep your hands on wallets. Find someone here that lives near the border and just have shipped to their address and drive down and pick-up unless you live up in Polar Bear country.

 

a lot of u.s. companies do not want to ship internationally because they have to create customs paperwork; takes time & money. my response is "so what".
for taxes, we pay provincial & federal on nearly all purchases, except food, drugs, etc..
i would also guess that the markup by cdn retailers is much higher that their u.s. counterparts due to lack of volume sales.
if u are lucky enought to be able to buy from your gm dealer at garage price, u can save about 23% +/- . normally the price they quote is retail.
as for our universal healthcare, it has its flaws, but i will take it any day, over what u americans do not have. i do not ever see the u.s. having universal healthcare- too costly & politically impossible.

 

There are exceptions to my argument but I think a lot of the differential is pricing based on a Canadian Dollar of 60 or 65 cents U.S. rather than the 87 to 90 cent level(where it has been for a goodly long time).Guess who benefits from this kind of spread.This is pure old greed or sublime inadvertence to reality.!!And the rich get richer!
Rod

 

All you have to do is just set up seasonal trips to the US for car parts, just hit up the big retail stores like Jegs and Summit. Its like having christmas four more times a year. :laugh:.......Just dont get caught with too much at customs. :rant:

It works for us.

Erik

 

Thanks for the replys. I feel a road trip coming on. Hey wait my Dad's in Myrtle Beach for the winter. I wonder if he'll give me his credit card number. :laugh:
Bruce

 

Funny, but I've never had a problem. I purchase all of my restoration parts from Gasoline Alley, in Port Coquitlam, BC. Prices are the same as you will find in OPG Year One or any of the other large US restoration companies. The difference is that there are no shipping charges and no hassle with customs. Regarding other parts, I just price check. For example I bought a new B4B from my local part supplier cheaper in Canadian dollars than the US price. Maybe I'm lucky because I live close to the border.
Harvey

 

Funny...parts seem to cost so much in Canada, but KY seems to be reasonable...lol :laugh: :laugh: But you do have awesome beer up north.. :beer :beer

 

Beer, Beer, and more Beer !

Thet's whots keeps ush happy eyh ! ! ! :beer :beer :beer :TU:

 

Hello Harvey , do they have a website , catalog or anything ?

 

Google is a wonderful thing! :Smarty: :TU:
http://www.gasalley1.com/Templates/home.html

 

Thank you NSbound :TU:

It sure is a wonderfull thing but if I had done it by myself no others would has discovered it ! Now we all can :laugh:

 

Here's another one that frosts my hienie. :af:

GM's OnStar system is something like $16.95/mo in the US, but if you're in Canada, it's $24.95/mo. Same system, same operators, using the same satellite. o No: Unless they have special Canadian operators schooled in the correct usage of "eh" eh. :laugh:

Oh yeah, I travel to America frequently, so when it's time for parts shopping, I'm set. :TU:

 

Thanks for the replys. I just ordered one from Gasoline Alley. $109.00 cdn plus $18.00 shipping. :grin: Going out today.
Bruce

 

I'm glad it worked out for you. I purchase a lot of stuff from them and have alwlays been dealt with very fairly.
Harvey

 

Gasoline Alley is a great place.... they save on shipping by making one large order to the US instead of a bunch of small ones. Sometimes you have to wait a bit, but it's worth the cost saving, and the guys are really helpful!