Nintendo Switch to Charge Canadians $100 for games

[RagnarokDel]

Why is it that in countries like Russia, games are considerably cheaper because their economy sucks but out of a sudden the CAD loses 30% of it's value against USD but the price increases. I dont remember magically getting a 30% raise within the past 3 years.

[Misanthrope]

Might be just incompetence of Amazon Canada that imports from the US rather than locally distribute.

 

They do that to Amazon Mexico too: they barely stock anything to their Mexican branch and just try to import from the US branch pricing things at a 30% premium plus 15% shipping or so meaning they're usually more expensive than any other local retailer.

 

They're basically failing spectacularly when it comes to their international branches in America.

[GoodBytes]

43 minutes ago, Misanthrope said:

Might be just incompetence of Amazon Canada that imports from the US rather than locally distribute.

 

They do that to Amazon Mexico too: they barely stock anything to their Mexican branch and just try to import from the US branch pricing things at a 30% premium plus 15% shipping or so meaning they're usually more expensive than any other local retailer.

 

They're basically failing spectacularly when it comes to their international branches in America.

Actually, most things on Amazon Canada is not from Amazon. They are independent sellers using Amazon online system, which may may not use Amazon shipping service.

[MoonSpot]

So...Doesn't that mean Canadians can now return their switch and switch titles to stores for a refund of 20% more than they originally paid for them?

Sounds fair to me.

[dizmo]

3 hours ago, Tao said:

It seems some Nintendo fans have found unreasonable prices for games for Canadians.   When looked at in American prices, the cost should be $80 Canadian after exchange rate, like most other games on other platforms.  However, it seems there is a $20 up charge for Canadians, and even sites like amazon.COM are charging a $15-20 "shipping and import fees deposit" for Canadian buyers.

Going even further:
I am in Saskatchewan and I believe this is illegal in our province.  The Saskatchewan Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act outlines certain 'unfair practices'  with fines for corporations being up to $100 000 for a first offence,  and up to $500 000 for further offences. http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/freelaw/documents/English/Statutes/Statutes/C30-2.pdf

You're ordering from a other country. Why wouldn't it be a higher price? You think they'll ship it for free? Amazon.CA exists for a reason. 

 

I would question whether that statute is even valid on international pricing. I'd be willing to bet it isn't. 

2 hours ago, BuckGup said:

I mean they are saving on unlocked phone fees so the money has to come from somewhere else now

Except... Those are two entirely different markets. 

2 hours ago, Tao said:

Ah I see.  Either way their prices are on par with everyone else on American sites.  Like shown in the OP, if you try to buy at American prices, it WOULD be $80 cnd, but they charge a BS shipping fee.

If you buy from a US company, why wouldn't there be a shipping fee? Your argument makes no sense on this. Shipping internationally is not cheap. 

2 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Duty fees and administration. There is a paper work that needs to be done, and duty fees (anything over 20$) that needs to be paid.

Electronics (and I imagine games) are duty exempt. 

2 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

When the Canadian dollar was well on par with the US dollars, the HALLS Cough Drops, cost more in Canada than in the US. HALLS are a 100% Canadian company, and they are manufactured in Canada.

Bulk purchasing comes into play here. You buy more quantity, you get a lower per unit price. The US market is significantly larger, and geographically quite close. 

[Misanthrope]

57 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

Actually, most things on Amazon Canada is not from Amazon. They are independent sellers using Amazon online system, which may may not use Amazon shipping service.

I noticed that many of those vendors are based on the US so the import and specially shipping gets you regardless. But fair enough I was specifically talking about orders fulfilled by Amazon themselves and their branches.

[GoodBytes]

6 minutes ago, dizmo said:

Electronics (and I imagine games) are duty exempt.

Only if they are manufactured or assembled in the US or Mexico

[Tao]

18 minutes ago, dizmo said:

You're ordering from a other country. Why wouldn't it be a higher price? You think they'll ship it for free? Amazon.CA exists for a reason. 

 

The shipping fee is unusually high for Amazon.com to Canada, although I have not used them much.

If you buy from a US company, why wouldn't there be a shipping fee? Your argument makes no sense on this. Shipping internationally is not cheap. 

 

The shipping fee is unusually high for Amazon.com to Canada, although I have not used them much.

Also large online retailers pay very little in shipping and fees due to shipping in bulk.  Also some manufacturers offer better prices to help deal with the extra cost that the exchange rate puts on.

I have never ever seen a $20 premium over and above the exchange rate on a Canadian version of a site.

 

[themctipers]

4 hours ago, Tao said:

It seems some Nintendo fans have found unreasonable prices for games for Canadians.   When looked at in American prices, the cost should be $80 Canadian after exchange rate, like most other games on other platforms.  However, it seems there is a $20 up charge for Canadians, and even sites like amazon.COM are charging a $15-20 "shipping and import fees deposit" for Canadian buyers.

Source: http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/nintendo-to-start-charging-100-for-switch-games-in-canada.454982173/  
Additional link to formal article included in source link:  http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2017/06/09/upcoming-nintendo-switch-games-will-cost-99-99-in-canada/260317/

 

Going even further:
I am in Saskatchewan and I believe this is illegal in our province.  The Saskatchewan Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act outlines certain 'unfair practices'  with fines for corporations being up to $100 000 for a first offence,  and up to $500 000 for further offences. http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/freelaw/documents/English/Statutes/Statutes/C30-2.pdf
 

Unfortunately it would take someone who purchased a Switch game (from a retailer in the province for this price tag) to challenge Nintendo in small claims court.  However it would be well worth it as small claims is fairly cheap and informal, and would get Nintendo's attention with the $100 000 fine.

welcome to canada

 

we get fucked over by everything like australia

 

but more so, except in isp. we dont talk about that yet.

[You_are_a_cunt]

5 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Anyway.. good thing I saved up my Canadian Tire money.

You should invest in the Kanuckistan Peso. In Beaver we Thrust.

[Mooshi]

At least when a Canadian rages enough to the point of punching a hole in the wall, you can go to the ER relatively stress free.

[dizmo]

9 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Only if they are manufactured or assembled in the US or Mexico

No, it doesn't matter if it's a NAFTA item or not. They're duty exempt. Not every product is subject to duty. Mountain bike parts are another example of a product that, regardless of country of origin, are duty exempt. 

[dmegatool]

When I thought 60$ was already a lot for a game. I'll continue to buy my games on a 2-3 year buffer... on sale.

[TetraSky]

I'm already not buying games now that they cost $80. So I will be buying them even less at $100.

It's like they think just because the exchange rate with the US went down, that suddenly all our paychecks went up to match it or something? I mean, come on now, this is ridiculous.

The US is why we can't have nice things. When companies base their pricing on their currency... Blame America! (USA)

[rashdanml]

and even sites like amazon.COM are charging a $15-20 "shipping and import fees deposit" for Canadian buyers.

 

Obviously ... if you try to buy from a US website, you're importing that item into Canada from the US. This isn't anything new, Amazon.com does it for all items that are shipped from the US and are eligible to be shipped to Canada, the import fees deposit is to prevent getting hit by an even higher fee known as brokerage. 

 

https://www.amazon.ca/b/ref=s9_acsd_hfnv_hd_bw_bHp5rLv_ct_x_ct01_w?_encoding=UTF8&node=16329255011&pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-4&pf_rd_r=3GQFM2FA0GSRQ7QS4ZDJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=484c6c87-da01-5e6e-928a-a7f1e81fa7ed&pf_rd_i=16329248011

 

They're $80 + tax on Amazon.ca, not factoring any savings for Prime members. 

[rashdanml]

18 hours ago, dizmo said:

Electronics (and I imagine games) are duty exempt. 

Yes and no. Electronics have no duty, but there is an import fee. Import fee is the summation of duty + local taxes. You still owe taxes on any item purchased, regardless of where it's purchased. 

 

If you were to drive down to the US (conversion rates make it not worthwhile anymore) and bring an electronic item through customs, if you declare it, you pay taxes. If you don't declare it, there's a chance you can get away with it (which is committing fraud), but if they send you for secondary inspection and discover the item, you'll get hit with a fine + the taxes. 

[rashdanml]

18 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Actually, most things on Amazon Canada is not from Amazon. They are independent sellers using Amazon online system, which may may not use Amazon shipping service.

This would depend on the item in question. Amazon does have at least 2 warehouses that I'm aware of in Canada, and I've usually been able to find most of the common items on both Amazon.com and Amazon.ca (with reasonable price differences). There are plenty of items that are eligible for Prime and are fulfilled by Amazon (both effectively equal, the latter of which can sometimes be third party sellers). 

[dizmo]

2 hours ago, rashdanml said:

Yes and no. Electronics have no duty, but there is an import fee. Import fee is the summation of duty + local taxes. You still owe taxes on any item purchased, regardless of where it's purchased. 

There's no import fee. You have to pay tax, and that frankly should be rather obvious. There's no difference between that and buying something in Canada, where you'd also have to pay tax. 

 

 

[rashdanml]

3 hours ago, dizmo said:

There's no import fee. You have to pay tax, and that frankly should be rather obvious. There's no difference between that and buying something in Canada, where you'd also have to pay tax. 

 

 

Quote

Import fee is the summation of duty + local taxes. 

 

For emphasis. The import fees deposit that Amazon.com charges includes both. Both duty and taxes. 

[dizmo]

On 2017-6-19 at 10:50 PM, rashdanml said:

 

For emphasis. The import fees deposit that Amazon.com charges includes both. Both duty and taxes. 

You're making no sense. I stated there's no duty in electronics, which there's not. I never implied you don't have to pay tax.