US/Canada Pricing

[mrusse01 0]

If you can buy equipment in the US cheaper than you can in Canada then go ahead and do it.

I don't see what the big deal is. If it is so much cheaper in the States to buy things, stop whining about it and just start buying things in the States.

Personally, and sorry if this offends anybody, I don't give a rat's ass about 'local retailers'. If they cannot compete in the market, then I feel bad for you, but I'm not going to pay more money for something due to some ill defined feeling of sympathy towards the 'little guy'. Of course smaller retailers do provide additional service, fittings, and so on...and you know what? That additional service does certainly add value, but it's not enough to warrant me personally spending $900+ on One90's when I can buy them on eBay for under $500. That's just me. I make buying decisions for myself, and I don't expect other people to follow me or agree with me all the time. We all have different situations.

These threads complaining about the issue are pointless. If it's cheaper for you to buy something on the internet, factoring in shipping/duty/inconvience/lack of service/etc...then just go ahead and buy it online/across the border. If you realize you'd rather pay a steep premium, but you get the benefit of actually seeing the product in person/easier returns/personal service/no shipping/maybe feel good about yourself for helping the local economy, then well go ahead and buy equipment at your local shop.

[duch 0]

Regardless of NAFTA,there are still a lot of protectionism in the economies of both countries. Nobody wants to get stiffed or loose jobs or livelihoods to the other, so barriers are still placed in the path of totally free trade pratices. Also the tax structure of both countries is different in Canada and the U.S. and you won't get a government on either side of the 49th parallel relinquising control on that. Now if it where on big country, a North American Union ( NU ) as it where, you might see it, but, AS IF, that is going to happen. Regardless of how similar our countries are, it's going to be like this for as long as we're around, so we may as well just get used to the price gouging, it's not changing anytime soon.

[Jordan 13]

My 2c on purchasing power.

Buying power and size (population) is a huge factor and this can apply to LHS vs. E-tailers.

Quick demographics - USA popuation ~ 301 million, Canada population ~ 33 million. For simplicity say it's 300 million vs. 30 million. If half the people in Canada spend money on hockey, that's 15 million people. (very generous) That's one in two (50%) people. If 1 in 20 Americans (5%) spend money on hockey, it's 15 million as well.

The population of your country has nothing to do with the price you are going to pay as a retailer for hockey equipment. If you call up Bauer or THC, or any other manufacturer and ask to sell their line, the first question they are going to ask you is how much are you going to buy. Your answer will depend upon the location and size of your operation, which will be determined by the HOCKEY PLAYING POPULATION in your market. Logically, large national chains will have more purchasing power than a local boutique.

I have news for you, there are more hockey players in Canada than in the United States.

Registered Hockey Players by Country

Country, Nation, Hockey, Players, People, Number, Percent These are the number of registered hockey players in each country. Canada, obviously, comes in at No. 1, with over half a million people, and 1.76% of the national population.

1. Canada - 574,125 (1.76%)

2. United States - 485,017 (0.16%)

3. Russia - 77,702 (0.05%)

4. Czech Republic - 72,075 (0.7%)

5. Sweden - 65,613 (0.7%)

6. Finland - 52,597 (1.0%)

7. Germany - 25,934 (0.03%)

8. Slovakia - 12,375 (0.23%)

9. Denmark - 4,255 (0.075%)

10. Belarus - 2,850 (0.02%)

11. Latvia - 2,740 (0.12%)

12. Kazakhstan - 1,800 (0.01%)

13. Ukraine - 1,728 (0.003%)

14. Slovenia - 980 (0.05%)

So your assumptions are way off, Canada has more hockey equipment purchasing power than the U.S.

[wullymc 0]

Poor Slovenia!!! They must be paying an arm and a leg for their hockey gear! ;)

I am all for supporting the lhs but they have to help us by going back to the suppliers for better pricing on products if it is not them making a big cut.