Canadian vs US pricing at bigal's web site...

[alexv]

I'm looking for substrate heating cables and found something I'd like to buy - Red Sea Root Therm 400. Looking around I found it at www.bigalsonline.com at a reasonable price - US$31.49. It turns out that US site doesn't ship to Canada. I checked the canadian site and was amazed at their price: CDN$89.99

Any idea how such a huge price difference is justified and how to get it with the US site's pricing (or at least closer to it)?

[BigDaddy]

Economies of scale.  Selling to 300 million makes for a different market than selling to 30 million

If you do a search on US prices, you'll see the topic has been covered quite a few times on the site.

[Nerine]

and you seriously cannot forget customs fees, shipping fees etc
but this topic is allllll over this site!

[Plum]

I never understand why some of the people of this site just don't have items shipped to Massena and drive them accorss the border. This way you avoid brokerage fee's.

As can be seen, there is huge savings. I never buy anything in Canada.

[alexv]

I never understand why some of the people of this site just don't have items shipped to Massena and drive them accorss the border. This way you avoid brokerage fee's.

It's quite simple, really. Not everyone is a Canadian citizen who can just go into US without a visa

And I understand the difference in market sizes, fees and taxes and I expect some differences but 3 times the price.... well, not even taxes can be responsible for that...

[pitabread]

And I understand the difference in market sizes, fees and taxes and I expect some differences but 3 times the price.... well, not even taxes can be responsible for that...

Big Al's is overpriced.  I prefer to order from J&L Aquatics, usually at 10-30% less the price.

[Plum]

It's quite simple, really. Not everyone is a Canadian citizen who can just go into US without a visa

And I understand the difference in market sizes, fees and taxes and I expect some differences but 3 times the price.... well, not even taxes can be responsible for that...

Pretty sure you can find someone capable of entering the USA to help you out with this. There are many reasons for the US prices offered at a significant discount. Whatever they are - I am happy someone is willing to be competitive unlike Canadian retailers. I picked up an FX5 last week for $175 US shipped.

Can't do that up here.

[kennyman]

Pretty sure you can find someone capable of entering the USA to help you out with this. There are many reasons for the US prices offered at a significant discount. Whatever they are - I am happy someone is willing to be competitive unlike Canadian retailers. I picked up an FX5 last week for $175 US shipped.

Can't do that up here.

True that. The cost of employees and doing business in general is very hard on small business and really drives the price up. I am glad you got a good deal for your tank. But every time I see these threads I cant help but wonder what other types of work people do and if they think about people buying whatever service they provide from the states.

[Plum]

True that. The cost of employees and doing business in general is very hard on small business and really drives the price up. I am glad you got a good deal for your tank. But every time I see these threads I cant help but wonder what other types of work people do and if they think about people buying whatever service they provide from the states.

Well - Here are a few examples since I am constructing a 1300 sq.ft addition.

Armstrong Grand Illusions flooring
Canadian price for 2500 sq/ft through my contractor - $4.89
US price that I negotiated in Massena - $3.59 US

Someone might say - "But Sean what about those border fee's?"

It is an extra 3% since (flooring product made in China, sold in the USA)

For curiosity sake - I priced Kitchen Cupboards at Home Depot

33% off to buy the same exact product in Massena as compared to Ottawa.