Canadian cross boarder shopping (Long)

[canoetrpr]

Well JDCAN, I hate to break it to you that there is no 'plot so massive as to stagger the imagination' regarding the drop in the US dollar.

The USA has had a massive trade deficit for many years now. All other things remaining equal (like the Yen pegged at fixed artificially low value) it is only natural that the value of the US dollar would drop relative to other currencies. What was surprising was that the US dollar held its value for so long given the size of the trade deficit. This was partially due to the status it enjoyed as the 'worlds currency', which has started eroding as the Euro has become widely adopted.

Our economies are very very integrated. I am very happy to spend my money in USA and Canada without asking the vendor of what their political beliefs are or whether they support which war or oppose the other. While I may disagree with a lot of current US adminstration policy, by and large the people of the USA are as decent as any of us up here in Canada and sport the same basic values. Contrast that with the many countries we trade with that have authoritarian regimes (China, Saudi Arabia.... the list is long).

While the drop in the US dollar may hurt some, it is a blessing for American exporters of all kinds of goods who have been hurt while the value of the Yen has been kept pegged at an artificially low value.

It may hurt us in Canada in the short them as our manufacturing sector had gotten used to having a competitive advantage with a dropping looney. Now we have to find ways to be productive to compete. This is a good thing in the long run IMHO.

 

[Northland]

Well JDCAN, I hate to break it to you that there is no 'plot so massive as to stagger the imagination' regarding the drop in the US dollar.

The USA has had a massive trade deficit for many years now. All other things remaining equal (like the Yen pegged at fixed artificially low value) it is only natural that the value of the US dollar would drop relative to other currencies. What was surprising was that the US dollar held its value for so long given the size of the trade deficit. This was partially due to the status it enjoyed as the 'worlds currency', which has started eroding as the Euro has become widely adopted.

Our economies are very very integrated. I am very happy to spend my money in USA and Canada without asking the vendor of what their political beliefs are or whether they support which war or oppose the other. While I may disagree with a lot of current US adminstration policy, by and large the people of the USA are as decent as any of us up here in Canada and sport the same basic values. Contrast that with the many countries we trade with that have authoritarian regimes (China, Saudi Arabia.... the list is long).

While the drop in the US dollar may hurt some, it is a blessing for American exporters of all kinds of goods who have been hurt while the value of the Yen has been kept pegged at an artificially low value.

It may hurt us in Canada in the short them as our manufacturing sector had gotten used to having a competitive advantage with a dropping looney. Now we have to find ways to be productive to compete. This is a good thing in the long run IMHO.

Hear, Hear-well said canoetrpr!

JDCAN-it's more then a bit sanctimonious of you to start preaching to Canadans about supporting overseas' wars if we buy tractors in the US when you yourself bought a tractor over there. That and as canoetrpr suggested your opinions are just that-not based on actual facts.

 

[RAILTRAC]

Well JDCAN, I hate to break it to you that there is no 'plot so massive as to stagger the imagination' regarding the drop in the US dollar.

The USA has had a massive trade deficit for many years now. All other things remaining equal (like the Yen pegged at fixed artificially low value) it is only natural that the value of the US dollar would drop relative to other currencies. What was surprising was that the US dollar held its value for so long given the size of the trade deficit. This was partially due to the status it enjoyed as the 'worlds currency', which has started eroding as the Euro has become widely adopted.

Our economies are very very integrated. I am very happy to spend my money in USA and Canada without asking the vendor of what their political beliefs are or whether they support which war or oppose the other. While I may disagree with a lot of current US adminstration policy, by and large the people of the USA are as decent as any of us up here in Canada and sport the same basic values. Contrast that with the many countries we trade with that have authoritarian regimes (China, Saudi Arabia.... the list is long).

While the drop in the US dollar may hurt some, it is a blessing for American exporters of all kinds of goods who have been hurt while the value of the Yen has been kept pegged at an artificially low value.

It may hurt us in Canada in the short them as our manufacturing sector had gotten used to having a competitive advantage with a dropping looney. Now we have to find ways to be productive to compete. This is a good thing in the long run IMHO.[/QUOTE


My thought's too canoetrp

Sometimes we forget about the Made in Canada costs we add to a product being imported into Canada for example having both official languages on the packaging, CSA approval, etc. I not saying these should not be done, but they add to the cost.

If you live in Alberta and cindershnauser touched on it that it can cost up to 20% more and IMHO not to many vendors can move on the price.The Alberta Kiss Off. Of course prices in the US look more attractive.
When our society went shopping for a tractor the JD dealer(AGRO) went to JD to reduce the price of the tractor. JD had no problem helping out on the cost as long as we could prove we were a charity.
Now I'm looking to purchase 20 acres and want to buy a CUT for myself. I went to the local JD dealer and what it is, is what it is. Then you get the other side of the coin. People with lots of cash and who like to "tell" you how much money they spent buying something. Me I remember in the 80's when the oil boom went bust. My money stays close to my wallet.

Being Canadian and working for an American Co. I have beeen discussing with my collegaues about buying a CUT in either the USA or Canada, quite a few have volounteered to do some field research for me in the USA.

 

[JDCAN]

Hear, Hear-well said canoetrpr!

JDCAN-it's more then a bit sanctimonious of you to start preaching to Canadans about supporting overseas' wars if we buy tractors in the US when you yourself bought a tractor over there. That and as canoetrpr suggested your opinions are just that-not based on actual facts.

Northland it's very clear as a Canadian I don't object to supporting our American brothers. I stated it was a shame that John Deere Corp. has it set up so Canadian Dealers can't offer the same pricing. They can offer the same service so maybe next John Deere Corp, can monitor things so Canadian dealers can offer close or same level pricing that would benefit everyone.

In regards to canoetrpr, don't kid yourself the Canadian economy has hardly improved leaps and bounds over USA to justify a 50% strengthen of our currency. The current economic factors of the USA market has not been the sole reason for the dollar drop. The irony is Canada exporting to USA has dropped 10 folds over the last 24 months, yet our dollar still keeps climbing over the USA currency?

Currency trading is a controlled environment, while at times watching currency trading, is like watching paint dry, the current USA dollar drop was fast, dramatic, and completely controlled. Canada hardly has the economic data over the last 16 months to give our dollar the so called strength.

Above is all just IMO, and to be honest it's getting a bit off track.

Canadians enjoy the deere machine, weather you buy local or USA. Learn educate and shop.

That is the best part in all of this. The hunt & it makes allot of new buyers join this forum.


Cheers

 

[canoetrpr]

We'll just agree to disagree JDCAN... and back we will go to discussing tractors

Anybody see the 4120 in the autotrader? If one were shopping for a good 40ish hp machine today I think that would be a good local buy at $25000. It's got a CX loader. If it was a private deal (no tax) I might have thought twice about picking it up and putting my Kubota for sale . I like the 4x20 machines a lot.

I'm convinced that when buying locally, a private deal is the best bet to shop for if you have the luxury of time. Might as well save what taxes you can.