If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US it's
$125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found that
the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a mathematical
conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company sells at
a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
made items.
I also noticed that the Lie Nielsen edge plane is cheaper or the same price
as the veritas (depending on which currency you view it in). I think I'll
buy the Lie Nielsen
On 18 Dec 2003 12:22:22 -0800, [email protected] (Guppas!) wrote:
> I suppose it's too much to hope for that there's any risque Canadian
>action in it, eh?
Like the hockey player strip tease at the end of "Slapshot"? <G>
I know it's an old movie! I've got season tickets to the American
League, so I watch the movie every year.
Barry
"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<NlbEb.745837$9l5.626452@pd7tw2no>...
> Sir,
>
> I purchased your DVD this year on sharpening tools and want to thank you for
> an inexpensive and excellent tutorial. I used your techniques to sharpen my
> first set of chisels and was very happy that with only a little elbow grease
> and a couple of inexpensive water stones I could get a razor sharp edge . . .
John, thanks for posting this. I have had little dealing with Lee
Valley, but reading the surrounding posts re their customer service
(and the need to understand sharpening) prompted me to order this DVD.
I suppose it's too much to hope for that there's any risque Canadian
action in it, eh?
On 17-Dec-2003, "Kevin" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Kinda like Canada selling US drugs at prices cheaper than can be had in the
> US.
Perhaps you prefer that there are US-owned companies operating in Canada
that sell to the US at _higher_ prices than they sell to Canadians. The
result is that US retailers near the border can't compete with sellers
in Canadian cities - cross-border shoppers prefer to drive and save.
Free trade ain't fair trade.
Mike
PS - As I understand it, Canadians pay for those drugs in the long run
with preferred patent laws. Keeps the generics away longer. That's part
of the deal that the govt made with the drug companies. Lower profits
for a longer period.
I think it is real short sighted of Lee Valley not to stabilize the U.S.
currency in the world market. :-)
I've purchased from both companies and have nothing but respect for both of
them.
"hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no...
> If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US it's
> $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
> always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found that
> the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a mathematical
> conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company sells
at
> a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
> made items.
>
>
> I also noticed that the Lie Nielsen edge plane is cheaper or the same
price
> as the veritas (depending on which currency you view it in). I think I'll
> buy the Lie Nielsen
>
>
Robin, I hear you. As a small internet company that sells primarily in the
US we price our product in US dollars. We have been unable to increase our
prices because of competition. This resulted in over 20% reduction in our
Canadian income after conversion. It is starting to hurt.
"Robin Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi -
>
> We price once per year, for each catalog, and hold our prices. We
certainly
> try to forecast exchange rates as best we can. When we priced last summer,
> the US dollar was stronger than it is now. New product (being added now)
is
> being priced at a working rate of 1.3 .
>
> In addition - operating cost and fulfillment costs (including taxes) are
> different by country - just because it's convenient to order from multiple
> coutries, doesn't mean that pricing structures are as mobile. Normally,
our
> US pricing (under a stable exchange rate) is a few percent higher than
> Canadian pricing - which reflects the additional processing work we
perform
> to operate across the border, and the duplicate facilities and operations
we
> have to perform.
>
> Believe me - US consumers were not happy with the Veritas price increases
> they received this year...
>
> It's also human nature that your reaction is YOU are being
> overcharged....the truth is - the US market is being undercharged - and we
> (Lee Valley) are absorbing the difference.
>
> Overall - the US market has not yet seen the effects of the drop in
> purchasing power of the US dollar - few Pacific Rim suppliers have passed
on
> price increases, having absorbed losses in the hope that the exchange
> differences would be temporary...that is starting to change now, with
> products priced in US dollars starting to increase in cost.
>
> Rob Lee
> Lee Valley
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no...
> > If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US
it's
> > $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> > conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> > checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
> > always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found
that
> > the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a
mathematical
> > conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company
sells
> at
> > a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
> > made items.
> >
> >
> > I also noticed that the Lie Nielsen edge plane is cheaper or the same
> price
> > as the veritas (depending on which currency you view it in). I think
I'll
> > buy the Lie Nielsen
> >
> >
>
>
"hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no...
> If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US it's
> $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars.
Rather than toss this out to a group of outsiders to speculate, why not
contact Lee Valley for the answer?
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
"hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no...
> If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US it's
> $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
> always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found that
> the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a mathematical
> conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company sells
at
> a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
> made items.
>
>
> I also noticed that the Lie Nielsen edge plane is cheaper or the same
price
> as the veritas (depending on which currency you view it in). I think I'll
> buy the Lie Nielsen
Oops -
Forgot to answer the plane point too - the edge trimming block plane is by
far and away our least competitively priced plane ....so much so that a few
months ago I asked our R&D department to redesign/remanufacture it - using
ductile iron instead of bronze, and with a goal of improving the
ergonomics/performance, and lowering the retail price by at least 1/3. We
have other planes/products on the go right now which make this a lower
priority though.
Cheers -
Rob
Is there PST and GST applicable for Canadian residents that may not be
applicable to US residents?
"hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no...
> If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US it's
> $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
> always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found that
> the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a mathematical
> conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company sells
at
> a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
> made items.
>
>
> I also noticed that the Lie Nielsen edge plane is cheaper or the same
price
> as the veritas (depending on which currency you view it in). I think I'll
> buy the Lie Nielsen
>
>
John -
Thanks for the compliment - I'll pass a copy of your post to Leonard Lee, so
he can see your comments about the video! I'll also mention that you're
lucky to have, in Edmonton, one of the first 10 or so non-family
employees...Linda, who manages the store!
Cheers -
Rob Lee
<[email protected]> wrote in message news:NlbEb.745837$9l5.626452@pd7tw2no...
> Sir,
>
> I purchased your DVD this year on sharpening tools and want to thank you
for
> an inexpensive and excellent tutorial. I used your techniques to sharpen
my
> first set of chisels and was very happy that with only a little elbow
grease
> and a couple of inexpensive water stones I could get a razor sharp edge.
I
> used them to chisel out parts of my oak flooring this summer for a
> renovation in my home and hope to use them for some real woodworking this
> winter. You have a wonderful store,website and catalogue, which my
> Father-in-law drools over, and I hope you keep up the excellent work. You
> have some of the best products around. Thank you.
>
> From a newbie woodworker in Edmonton,
>
> John V.
>
>
>
> "Robin Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:8X%[email protected]...
> >
> > "hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no...
> > > If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US
> it's
> > > $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> > > conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> > > checked a few other items and found various differences in prices.
But
> > > always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found
> that
> > > the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a
> mathematical
> > > conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company
> sells
> > at
> > > a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially
Canadian
> > > made items.
> > >
> > >
> > > I also noticed that the Lie Nielsen edge plane is cheaper or the same
> > price
> > > as the veritas (depending on which currency you view it in). I think
> I'll
> > > buy the Lie Nielsen
> >
> > Oops -
> >
> > Forgot to answer the plane point too - the edge trimming block plane is
by
> > far and away our least competitively priced plane ....so much so that a
> few
> > months ago I asked our R&D department to redesign/remanufacture it -
using
> > ductile iron instead of bronze, and with a goal of improving the
> > ergonomics/performance, and lowering the retail price by at least 1/3.
We
> > have other planes/products on the go right now which make this a lower
> > priority though.
> >
> > Cheers -
> >
> > Rob
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
Sir,
I purchased your DVD this year on sharpening tools and want to thank you for
an inexpensive and excellent tutorial. I used your techniques to sharpen my
first set of chisels and was very happy that with only a little elbow grease
and a couple of inexpensive water stones I could get a razor sharp edge. I
used them to chisel out parts of my oak flooring this summer for a
renovation in my home and hope to use them for some real woodworking this
winter. You have a wonderful store,website and catalogue, which my
Father-in-law drools over, and I hope you keep up the excellent work. You
have some of the best products around. Thank you.
From a newbie woodworker in Edmonton,
John V.
"Robin Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:8X%[email protected]...
>
> "hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no...
> > If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US
it's
> > $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> > conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> > checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
> > always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found
that
> > the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a
mathematical
> > conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company
sells
> at
> > a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
> > made items.
> >
> >
> > I also noticed that the Lie Nielsen edge plane is cheaper or the same
> price
> > as the veritas (depending on which currency you view it in). I think
I'll
> > buy the Lie Nielsen
>
> Oops -
>
> Forgot to answer the plane point too - the edge trimming block plane is by
> far and away our least competitively priced plane ....so much so that a
few
> months ago I asked our R&D department to redesign/remanufacture it - using
> ductile iron instead of bronze, and with a goal of improving the
> ergonomics/performance, and lowering the retail price by at least 1/3. We
> have other planes/products on the go right now which make this a lower
> priority though.
>
> Cheers -
>
> Rob
>
>
>
>
"Robin Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Overall - the US market has not yet seen the effects of the drop in
> purchasing power of the US dollar - few Pacific Rim suppliers have passed
on
> price increases, having absorbed losses in the hope that the exchange
> differences would be temporary...that is starting to change now, with
> products priced in US dollars starting to increase in cost.
>
My company certainly feels it! We import from Europe into the US and we are
taking it on the chin this year even though we have moved more product this
year than ever before.
Frank
I also want to say that our local store is staffed with knowledgeable
people, who work with most of the tools they sell. This is a bonus if you
are new to the Woodworking hobby. I have purchased many items from this
store, mostly for my father in law, and have not had any problems to report.
When I purchased the Lee Vally push mower this summer the salesman took it
apart and showed me how to set it up and demonstrated how to sharpen the
turning blades. Now that's service!!! Not something you get at HD or
House of tools. I have no affiliation with this company by the way, just a
very satisfied customer. They hold woodworking seminars throughout the year
and give excellent advice. One sale person even gave me the name of a local
customer who sells lumber at lower cost than most of the Shops around here.
John
"Guppas!" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<NlbEb.745837$9l5.626452@pd7tw2no>...
> > Sir,
> >
> > I purchased your DVD this year on sharpening tools and want to thank you
for
> > an inexpensive and excellent tutorial. I used your techniques to
sharpen my
> > first set of chisels and was very happy that with only a little elbow
grease
> > and a couple of inexpensive water stones I could get a razor sharp edge
. . .
>
> John, thanks for posting this. I have had little dealing with Lee
> Valley, but reading the surrounding posts re their customer service
> (and the need to understand sharpening) prompted me to order this DVD.
> I suppose it's too much to hope for that there's any risque Canadian
> action in it, eh?
Hi -
We price once per year, for each catalog, and hold our prices. We certainly
try to forecast exchange rates as best we can. When we priced last summer,
the US dollar was stronger than it is now. New product (being added now) is
being priced at a working rate of 1.3 .
In addition - operating cost and fulfillment costs (including taxes) are
different by country - just because it's convenient to order from multiple
coutries, doesn't mean that pricing structures are as mobile. Normally, our
US pricing (under a stable exchange rate) is a few percent higher than
Canadian pricing - which reflects the additional processing work we perform
to operate across the border, and the duplicate facilities and operations we
have to perform.
Believe me - US consumers were not happy with the Veritas price increases
they received this year...
It's also human nature that your reaction is YOU are being
overcharged....the truth is - the US market is being undercharged - and we
(Lee Valley) are absorbing the difference.
Overall - the US market has not yet seen the effects of the drop in
purchasing power of the US dollar - few Pacific Rim suppliers have passed on
price increases, having absorbed losses in the hope that the exchange
differences would be temporary...that is starting to change now, with
products priced in US dollars starting to increase in cost.
Rob Lee
Lee Valley
"hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no...
> If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US it's
> $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
> always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found that
> the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a mathematical
> conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company sells
at
> a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
> made items.
>
>
> I also noticed that the Lie Nielsen edge plane is cheaper or the same
price
> as the veritas (depending on which currency you view it in). I think I'll
> buy the Lie Nielsen
>
>
"Robin Lee" wrote ...
> We price once per year, for each catalog, and hold our prices. We
certainly
> try to forecast exchange rates as best we can. <snip of excellent reply>
To the OP: that LV prices once per year actually saves them money, from a
business standpoint, and that savings is passed along to you. If you expect
them to alter their prices with every hiccup in the exchange rate, then you
will see a rise in prices in both currencies. If is ain't broke...
--
Cheers,
Howard
----------------------------------------------------------
Working wood in New Jersey - [email protected]
Visit me in the woodshop - www.inthewoodshop.org
I think LL does say "eh" once or twice....but we made sure there were no Tim
H cups in sight.....
G'day -
Rob
"Guppas!" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<NlbEb.745837$9l5.626452@pd7tw2no>...
> > Sir,
> >
> > I purchased your DVD this year on sharpening tools and want to thank you
for
> > an inexpensive and excellent tutorial. I used your techniques to
sharpen my
> > first set of chisels and was very happy that with only a little elbow
grease
> > and a couple of inexpensive water stones I could get a razor sharp edge
. . .
>
> John, thanks for posting this. I have had little dealing with Lee
> Valley, but reading the surrounding posts re their customer service
> (and the need to understand sharpening) prompted me to order this DVD.
> I suppose it's too much to hope for that there's any risque Canadian
> action in it, eh?
"Robin Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
<reply snipped>
Hi Rob:
I just had to reply to say that I think it's really cool of you to
follow up like you did. From working with other companies (and not
just ww'ing stores), the OP's comment would have gone unnoticed. But
I really like the fact that you take the time to respond to customer
issues...and even just some "run of the mill" inquiries--in the NG.
It shows that this isn't just a business for you, but something you're
personally interested in and passionate about.
And, as an aside, the same comments go for Steve Knight (C;
Jim
"hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no...
> If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US it's
> $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
> always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found that
> the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a mathematical
> conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company sells
at
> a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
> made items.
Kinda like Canada selling US drugs at prices cheaper than can be had in the
US.
"Eric Tonks" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Robin, I hear you. As a small internet company that sells primarily in the
> US we price our product in US dollars. We have been unable to increase our
> prices because of competition. This resulted in over 20% reduction in our
> Canadian income after conversion. It is starting to hurt.
<snip>
Yup - what people also miss is that we've also dropped our prices (overall)
in Canada too - so US revenue takes a hit, and Canadian gross revenue also
takes a hit, albeit a smaller one...guess that's what one calls making the
worst of a bad situation ;)
Volume's doing just fine fine though (insert wry smile here) - this is the
year of doing more work for fewer dollars...
Cheers -
Rob
Taxes and so are not included in the price
"Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:BoUDb.63348$%[email protected]...
> Is there PST and GST applicable for Canadian residents that may not be
> applicable to US residents?
>
> "hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no...
> > If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US
it's
> > $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> > conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> > checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
> > always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found
that
> > the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a
mathematical
> > conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company
sells
> at
> > a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
> > made items.
> >
> >
> > I also noticed that the Lie Nielsen edge plane is cheaper or the same
> price
> > as the veritas (depending on which currency you view it in). I think
I'll
> > buy the Lie Nielsen
> >
> >
>
>
Well did you contact Lee Valley and ask them about this??
They're the best company in the world imho.
If it ain't right they'll fix it.
"hedgehog" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<8ZTDb.737185$9l5.488820@pd7tw2no>...
> If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US it's
> $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
> always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found that
> the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a mathematical
> conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company sells at
> a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
> made items.
>
>
> I also noticed that the Lie Nielsen edge plane is cheaper or the same price
> as the veritas (depending on which currency you view it in). I think I'll
> buy the Lie Nielsen
Risq eh :)
Nope, Mr. Lee himself does the video presentation for the DVDf rom his home.
He is Polite and matter of fact throughout. Shows you what you need to know
without any hoopla.
I enjoyed the content. Hard to dismiss good teaching. Makes it look easy
and that's why I liked it. I was able to directly go to my tools and
replicate what I saw without any muss or fuss. Of course it did help that I
already had the Veritas Sharpening system. ;) I dont have a turning lathe
as of yet but the section on turning knives really made it look easy to
maintain your stuff.
John
"Guppas!" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<NlbEb.745837$9l5.626452@pd7tw2no>...
> > Sir,
> >
> > I purchased your DVD this year on sharpening tools and want to thank you
for
> > an inexpensive and excellent tutorial. I used your techniques to
sharpen my
> > first set of chisels and was very happy that with only a little elbow
grease
> > and a couple of inexpensive water stones I could get a razor sharp edge
. . .
>
> John, thanks for posting this. I have had little dealing with Lee
> Valley, but reading the surrounding posts re their customer service
> (and the need to understand sharpening) prompted me to order this DVD.
> I suppose it's too much to hope for that there's any risque Canadian
> action in it, eh?
<snip>
> Also, a number of Pacific rim countries, China being the prime example
> (and some Latin American countries), have tied their currency to the
> US dollar. So there might not be much of an effect on US retail
> prices, unless those countries give in to US pressures to revalue
> their currencies.
<snip>
True - but where the cost increases are going to come from are the external
resources purchased for production - scrap steel, ore, machinery, tooling,
and most of all - transportation... while tied to the US dollar, their US
dollars buy less....
Cheers -
Rob
On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 07:52:03 -0500, "Robin Lee" <[email protected]>
scribbled:
>Hi -
>
>We price once per year, for each catalog, and hold our prices. We certainly
>try to forecast exchange rates as best we can. When we priced last summer,
>the US dollar was stronger than it is now. New product (being added now) is
>being priced at a working rate of 1.3 .
>
>In addition - operating cost and fulfillment costs (including taxes) are
>different by country - just because it's convenient to order from multiple
>coutries, doesn't mean that pricing structures are as mobile. Normally, our
>US pricing (under a stable exchange rate) is a few percent higher than
>Canadian pricing - which reflects the additional processing work we perform
>to operate across the border, and the duplicate facilities and operations we
>have to perform.
Being an economist, I occasionally check the difference, just for the
hell of it. A little more than a year ago, when the loonie was going
down to $US0.62, Canadian prices at LVT were considerably lower than
in the US. Now that the US dollar is tanking, Canadian prices will be
higher until the next price adjustment. So we do win sometimes and the
Yanks lose and vice versa.
LVT is stuck in the middle. They're losing on their Canadian-made
stuff selling to the US, but they might be winning on imported stuff
sold in Canada that is paid for in $US (depending on when they have to
pay for it and whether they have hedged their currency risk). But, in
the past, when the loonie that was dropping, they certainly took a
hit. These are the effects of exchange rate risk, a real problem for
any exporter outside the US.
One way of reducing that risk is to buy or sell futures contracts (or
options on futures) in currencies. That way, you can be guaranteed a
certain exchange rate in the future. Then you let the speculators take
the risk.
>Believe me - US consumers were not happy with the Veritas price increases
>they received this year...
>
>It's also human nature that your reaction is YOU are being
>overcharged....the truth is - the US market is being undercharged - and we
>(Lee Valley) are absorbing the difference.
True. For you Murricans, now is the time to buy all that LVT stuff
you've been drooling over. Sorry, Robin, but it will increase your
revenue, assuming you're not selling at a loss. :-)
>Overall - the US market has not yet seen the effects of the drop in
>purchasing power of the US dollar - few Pacific Rim suppliers have passed on
>price increases, having absorbed losses in the hope that the exchange
>differences would be temporary...that is starting to change now, with
>products priced in US dollars starting to increase in cost.
Also, a number of Pacific rim countries, China being the prime example
(and some Latin American countries), have tied their currency to the
US dollar. So there might not be much of an effect on US retail
prices, unless those countries give in to US pressures to revalue
their currencies.
Luigi
Replace "no" with "yk" for real email address
On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 07:54:44 GMT, hedgehog <[email protected]> wrote:
> If I buy the veritas edge trimming plane... In CDN it's $180, in US it's
> $125. Know go to your fav currency conversion website and do the
> conversion, it's $13 CDN or $10 US cheaper to buy it in US dollars. I
> checked a few other items and found various differences in prices. But
> always the same result, the item was cheaper in US currency. I found that
> the difference wasn't consistent, therefore I can rule out a mathematical
> conversion bug in the website. Kinda sucks when a Canadian company sells at
> a higher price to its own country men than to the US especially Canadian
> made items.
>
The only problem I have with Lee Valley is that it puts a SERIOUS dent
in my credit card. :-)
My apologies to you Mr. Lee. I should have email you directly as some had
suggested.
Let me clarify why I said what I said. When I noticed the difference the
first thing I attributed it to was the strengthening CDN dollar and
weakening US dollar... But! I checked other items and found that the
differences between the US price and CDN price were not consistent as they
should be if it were simply due to rising and falling dollars. E.G. Part
Number: 05P27.01; US price: 65; CDN price: 89; US to CDN conversion: 86.
Part number: 05P27.02; US price: 74; CDN price: 99; US to CDN conversion:
98. Part number: 05P22.01; US price: 99; CDN price: 139; US to CDN
conversion: 131. Part number: 05P25.01; US price: 159; CDN price: 219; US
to CDN conversion: 210. Part number: 23P01.01; US price: 79; CDN price:
115; US to CDN conversion: 104. If these numbers make any sense... The
difference ranges from $1 to 11 on the US to CDN conversion but the these
conversions are not proportional to the part numbers over all price,
therefore I ruled out currency rate fluctuations.
On a side note. After reading the descriptions a little bit closer on the
Lie Nielsen and Veritas edge planes the Veritas appears to be a more
improved and over all a better plane than the Lie Nielsen. I won't hold out
for a gray iron version - if anything your admitting to the discontinuing of
the bronze version will only increase its collectability in the future.
Any chance Veritas will be including a skew angle plane with adjustable
fence anytime in the future?
"Luigi Zanasi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 07:52:03 -0500, "Robin Lee" <[email protected]>
> scribbled:
>
> >Hi -
> >
> >We price once per year, for each catalog, and hold our prices. We
certainly
> >try to forecast exchange rates as best we can. When we priced last
summer,
> >the US dollar was stronger than it is now. New product (being added now)
is
> >being priced at a working rate of 1.3 .
> >
> >In addition - operating cost and fulfillment costs (including taxes) are
> >different by country - just because it's convenient to order from
multiple
> >coutries, doesn't mean that pricing structures are as mobile. Normally,
our
> >US pricing (under a stable exchange rate) is a few percent higher than
> >Canadian pricing - which reflects the additional processing work we
perform
> >to operate across the border, and the duplicate facilities and operations
we
> >have to perform.
>
> Being an economist, I occasionally check the difference, just for the
> hell of it. A little more than a year ago, when the loonie was going
> down to $US0.62, Canadian prices at LVT were considerably lower than
> in the US. Now that the US dollar is tanking, Canadian prices will be
> higher until the next price adjustment. So we do win sometimes and the
> Yanks lose and vice versa.
>
> LVT is stuck in the middle. They're losing on their Canadian-made
> stuff selling to the US, but they might be winning on imported stuff
> sold in Canada that is paid for in $US (depending on when they have to
> pay for it and whether they have hedged their currency risk). But, in
> the past, when the loonie that was dropping, they certainly took a
> hit. These are the effects of exchange rate risk, a real problem for
> any exporter outside the US.
>
> One way of reducing that risk is to buy or sell futures contracts (or
> options on futures) in currencies. That way, you can be guaranteed a
> certain exchange rate in the future. Then you let the speculators take
> the risk.
>
> >Believe me - US consumers were not happy with the Veritas price increases
> >they received this year...
> >
> >It's also human nature that your reaction is YOU are being
> >overcharged....the truth is - the US market is being undercharged - and
we
> >(Lee Valley) are absorbing the difference.
>
> True. For you Murricans, now is the time to buy all that LVT stuff
> you've been drooling over. Sorry, Robin, but it will increase your
> revenue, assuming you're not selling at a loss. :-)
>
> >Overall - the US market has not yet seen the effects of the drop in
> >purchasing power of the US dollar - few Pacific Rim suppliers have passed
on
> >price increases, having absorbed losses in the hope that the exchange
> >differences would be temporary...that is starting to change now, with
> >products priced in US dollars starting to increase in cost.
>
> Also, a number of Pacific rim countries, China being the prime example
> (and some Latin American countries), have tied their currency to the
> US dollar. So there might not be much of an effect on US retail
> prices, unless those countries give in to US pressures to revalue
> their currencies.
>
> Luigi
> Replace "no" with "yk" for real email address
Well, the Canadian dollar has been gathering strength lately. Maybe the Lee
Valley prices haven't been adjusted yet to reflect that change. With
fluctuating prices, there's always going to be one country price that is
more expensive than the other. You're never going to get exact parity.
"who_would_you_like_me_to_be" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:duUDb.732043$pl3.639780@pd7tw3no...
> Taxes and so are not included in the price