Ya know, I have been goin to hobby stores in Canada and the US of A for about 3 years now. Latelly I have been goin to a train store (hobby store) every time I make it to the states, and have noticed one thing that really stands out. Even with Canada's taxes, and that tax I have to pay at the border-model trains (for the most part) come out to be cheaper in Canada. Not even models, for along period of time, MR didn't keep up with the exchange rate so we got a good deal on that too. Now, if I am not crazy, why is it like this?? Happy Railroading!! Dane N. ------------------ TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to BCRailKing@Canada.com AIM me at TAMR2860!
Hi, BC Rail King, June 20th,2000. No Your not Crazy. It all Depends on where You Shopped. I've gotten Items at LGB Trains in Buffalo for a lot less then in Canada. Savings, Can B quite a bit if done Right etc. Shop around on the net and then get back to me. Hey Guy, Happy Shopping and have a Great Model Railroad Week. OK. Andrew, Calgary. grandtrunkent@RRmail.com
Dane, you are leaving yourself open with a title like that... hehe I understand your 'confusuion'. Like you in Canada, we have high taxes on imports. But Life-Like sells here at off-the-shelf retail prices that are near the US 'on special' prices. An example is the LL SW900/1200. Originally the retail price was (at the lowest) AU$44.00 here and US$65 in the US. The second run went up to AU$57-64 depending where you bought it. The new E6's have a similar pricing structure too. Kato, Atlas and the rest are the opposite - dear as poison. Why? Who knows? Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page N to the Nth degree!
One thing I guess I forgot about is the ever changing exchange rate. I got a check from some one in the US topay be back for something, and it came out 15 dollars to little. Anyway, this really does affect the model RR world, as especially with Canada and the US, a solid rate of exchange doesn't exist. It has been between .48 and .29 for along time. But as I said, people like MR have trouble keeping up. Happy Railroading!! Dane N. ------------------ BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. BCRailKing@Canada.com
Things must be better on the coast because here in Regina prices are much higher than I can find in the US. This of course may be due to the extremely small size of our Railroad related hobby shops. These poor retailers here have to try to eek out an existence on very little sales volume. There is no way they can compete with the US discounters. ------------------ Grant grantha@Canada.com CEO Wascana Sherwood Lines
I thought of yet another thing (boy, my brain starts to work, after the school year is done ) is that one of the hobby stores in my area has a godd relation ship with some 'important' people at H&D, LL, and Kato. This can serve them well when they are ordering a new product. And then, my favourite store (the one I don't help out at-but shop at) gives Kato pictures of Canadian engines. They sent Kato some detail shots of the SD9043MAC. They believe, but are not sure, that one of the CPR SD90s Kato will do will have the mounty. Happy Railroading!! Dane N. ------------------ BC Rail King TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info. BCRailKing@Canada.com
While I was in America I found the prices were not that much cheaper than in Australia although buying via email can save a lot of money especially Kato and Atlas equipment. It seems lifelike import direct to Australia whereas Kato and Atlas import to USA first so by the time we receive it in Aus the exchange rate has killed us. ------------------ http://members.optusnet.com.au/~pcassar/index
Prices in the US generally are much cheaper than in the UK. When we order from the US, pay the shipping, import duty, VAT, we still save about £10 on a Kato or Atlas loco. (about $15) ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery