Canadians Being Ripped Off !

[EdT]

You compare prices between Meguair's US and Canadian sites, you will notice that the same exact item is being charge almost twice over even with the exchange rate added in.

For example a bottle of NXT Wax costs $14.99us(19.50cdn) on the US site it costs $31.99cdn($24.60us) on the Canadian site

So what is the story here ???

[Mike Phillips]

Hi EdT,

I think the problem has to do with Canada, not Meguiar's. I'm not sure, but I think everything imported into Canada cost more because the Canadian Government charges taxes, brokerage fees, duties, etc. on all product brought into the country.

Companies then pass these added expenses on to the customer because if they didn't, they would lose money and go out of business. So I think the problem has to do with the Canadian Government. Perhaps 2hotford or another Canadian forum member can add to this or clarify further?

Mike

[C32 AMG]

This is because we are living in Canada.

I believe, those high prices products push / force us to buy the other brands such as Simioniz, Turtle, Black Magic and etc.



We have no choice, or we could go to the States, buy and bring them here. (Be careful of the Custom too).

What happens to Free Trade?

[Cam]

Originally posted by C32 AMG
This is because we are living in Canada.

I think this is the right answer! Anything made in the USA is duty free, but there's still plenty of fees we're charged for bringing things across the border. A local auto supply shop has their NXT TechWax priced at C$39.99. And then our 14.5% in sales taxes on top of that! Ridiculous.

[EdT]

Originally posted by Cam
I think this is the right answer! Anything made in the USA is duty free, but there's still plenty of fees we're charged for bringing things across the border. A local auto supply shop has their NXT TechWax priced at C$39.99. And then our 14.5% in sales taxes on top of that! Ridiculous.

Yes, I would think the Free Trade Agreement is already in place since the late 80's or early 90s and every bottle of Meguiar's product is marked "Made in USA" so I don't see any problem with customs and the prices I quoted is before taxes, so it still doesn't make any sense ! I have seen some Canadian distributor sell the NXT wax at $20.50cdn(http://www.eshine.ca/BrandMeguiars.htm) and still make a profit and the Canadian Tire(a large Canadian auto parts chain) sells it for $29.99cdn even though Meguiar Canada lists the MSRP is $37.99cdn. Mike I have seen the Meguiar's "Suggested Retail Price" list and some merchants are charging the full MSRP and some are charging much much less. If it was $2-$3 I wouldn't mind, but I'am talking over $10 difference !

[Mike Phillips]

I'm sorry, I don't have an answer for you, but I will try to find out what's going on.

Mike

[C32 AMG]

2 words:


RIP-OFF

[C32 AMG]

P.S.

Dear Canadian Fans,

Why don't we just leave Mike alone, I don't think he can do anything to our prices in Canada. We should write some letters to Meguiar's Canada regarding this matter and let them know why are not satisfied with the prices.

Mike is a good man and also a professional detailer. Let him concentrate to our detailing problems / questions.

The only thing that I worry about in Canada is: They will keep discontinue some of the good stuff that made by Meguiar's such as NXT techwax, NXT metal polysh and etc. If this happens, I believe I have to quit doing detailing my cars during the weekends or what-so-ever.

[Cam]

Originally posted by C32 AMG
Dear Canadian Fans,

Agreed, I'm certainly not aiming my comments at Mike. It's just frustrating when cross-border fees and other mysterious factors double the price of the products on our shelves! Personally, I've found it makes more sense to buy online in a big batch straight from a US vendor willing to ship by USPS. This also gives acces to products not available in Canada. #16, for example.

[nx80v]

Perhaps we can arrange a group buy from Meg's Online periodically so we can spilt the costs for shipping and brokage. With a big enough order, Meg's Online may even give us some kind of discount or free shipping as well
Cheers
Stephen

[eShine.ca]

Hey guys, its Chris Pace from www.eShine.ca . I just wanted to clarify why Canadian prices tend to be so high. Excuse my mumbo jumbo and run-on sentences! LOL First off if a product is made in the USA there are no duties to be paid. The item can be imported into Canada free of charge but GST+PST must be paid. However, if ordering from the USA someone has to fill out the paperwork. This is where brokerage charges come into play. Brokerage charge is simply what a shipper such as UPS charges to fill in the paperwork. This money is not going to Canada, it goes to UPS or FedEx. They have a Min $16 charge on all items and the cost increases as the dollar amount goes up. It gets extreme. Most Canadian companies who get their stock from the USA have no other option but to pay these charges and tack them onto the price of the product. Also, many Canadian companies are forced to purchase the products from a Canadian distributor who has already tacked these charges on the initial cost. How do we sell the NXT for $20 and make a profit? Its easy, we put more time into the purchase! We do not but from Canadian distributors. We purchase from USA , we then get the products shipped to a Buffalo address. When the product arrives we drive over the border in a truck, pick the stock up and fill in our own paperwork. This eliminates the brokerage charges and these costs do not get added to the product price. It takes us more time but we can now price our products at a reasonable USA comparable price! Most Canadian distributors are forced to get the product shipped to them in Canada as I'm sure Meguiars Canada does too. Now comes the profit factor. It is a general rule of thumb that distributors price is double what they pay! I assure you, every product you buy the company you purchased it from just made double. This does not apply to the Manufacture, the retailer makes more on a sale than the manufacture. For example (Amounts are fictional). It cost Meguiars $1 to make a bottle of wax, They sell it to a distributor/retailer for $1.25. Now the retailer sells it for $2.50. This is going somewhere now! The cost for the brokerage charges that a Canadian company just paid is considered added cost for a product, this usually gets doubled also! So not only do Canadian companies make you pay for the brokerage charges, the amount is doubled and added to the product price! This is how Canadian prices get out of control. To sum this all up, UPS, FedEx and others are what forces Canadian prices so high, They have to do the paperwork and need to get paid for it. Its unfortunate we all have to pay these extra dollars!

Chris Pace

[EdT]

Welcome Chris, good to hear from someone having the lowest prices in Canada on the net for detailing products, your cost is right on the nose with the US prices after the exchange rate. Meguiar's Canada(Dominion Sure Seal) won't be happy with your response, but thats just too bad for them, over charging prices and limited selection of products makes me buy elsewhere. Now, if only if eshine.ca carried more of Meguiar's Professional line products you just might become our unofficial Meguiar's supplier ...LoL

[mopar]

I know it stinks but what can you do.I feel sorry for meguiars more then anybody .Someone walks into canadian tire and goes to look at waxes.What do they see .They see simoniz for 10.99.turtle wax for 5.00,nu finish for 10.00.Then they see gold class wax 20.00,nxt 29.00.Now most people that go to a store like that for detailing supplies only have one thing on there mind what cost the least amount of mony.In there mind cheapest is the best. So what if nxt blows turtle wax away turtle wax is 25.00 dollars cheapers.And this goes for alot more products aswell.Well this is how i look at it anyways.I hope i didnt offend anyone but i dont know how may times i have been in canadian tire and looked at someone pick up a bottle of #40 and i think finally someone with some sense and then they look at the price ,set it down and walk away with a bottle of armour all.One time i was at canadian tire and there was guy there looking at gold class wax and i picked up the nxt wax he asked me if i had used it before and i told him yes it works very well.Then his girlfreind walks over 30 dollars for wax!.He says listen i paid 34,000 for my nissan im not useing a cheap wax on it .I said to myself finally soemone with some sense.

[eShine.ca]

Originally posted by EdT
Welcome Chris, good to hear from someone having the lowest prices in Canada on the net for detailing products, your cost is right on the nose with the US prices after the exchange rate. Meguiar's Canada(Dominion Sure Seal) won't be happy with your response, but thats just too bad for them, over charging prices and limited selection of products makes me buy elsewhere. Now, if only if eshine.ca carried more of Meguiar's Professional line products you just might become our unofficial Meguiar's supplier ...LoL

Actually Dominion sure Seal is likely paying more for the products so they are doing nothing out of normal buisness practice. I am not 100% sure but I thought I heard somewhere that SOME Meguiars Products are made in Canada? This is why the Canadian line is different than the USA line? I believe the Canadian products are priced much more reasonable.

Chris Pace

[C32 AMG]

I know UPS and Fedex have to charge those brokage fees, how about USPS? I heard somebody using USPS instead. They are cheaper and do the same service as UPS and Fedex.

If this is the case, can Meguiar's choose USPS for the courier?