This is according to cameracanada.com:
"Nikon Canada plans to increase prices soon. Please order by Wednesday, November 12, 2008 to take advantage of this current low price."
They have this warning on almost all Nikon products.
This could also be a marketing gimmick to get people to buy now.
Updates:
1. The Camera Store in Alberta posted a similar statement:
"The Canadian Dollar has lost significant value in a very short period of time. Many of our suppliers are indicating they will be forced to raise prices as early as mid November."
2. Here is an email from Henry's on the same topic:
Dear Henry's Customer,
Just one year ago we were watching the Canadian Dollar steadily
increase in value until it equalled and surpassed the value of
the American Dollar. Canadian consumers reacted with a cry to
Canadian retailers to lower their selling prices. At Henry's we
listened. We lowered our prices to reflect the currency changes,
and we satisfied our customers wishes. Again, thank you for your
vote of confidence and for continuing to shop in Henry's retail
stores and shop at Henry's online. But that was a year ago.
Today the news is quite different.
Over the past few months our Canadian Dollar has incurred an
incredibly fast and steep drop relative to the American Dollar
and the Japanese Yen. Our Suppliers are now telling us that
their prices have to go up, and soon. I'm sending this email
out to inform all of our customers that now is the time to
buy that new camera, lens or accessory.
If Henry's has a product in stock please take advantage of
our current low Canadian price. We are being told by our
suppliers that many price increases will go into effect
beginning November 1st. In particular, on large ticket
items. We have also been told by our suppliers that many
new products will see a price increase prior to them even
hitting our shelves.
I also have to inform our customers who have ordered new
models that have yet to be shipped that there may be price
increases on your products prior to their arrival.
I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
They are economy driven and in response to our suppliers' actions.
I wish everyone a Healthy and Happy Holiday Season.
Yours truly,
Mark Wolfson
Vice President Sales
Henry's
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20 Comments
The Canadian dollar (C$) is now worth US$0.83, vs. its value several months ago of over one US dollar. In US dollar terms, prices in Canada have fallen nearly 20%. We’re at the point that, neglecting warranty issues and if tax can be avoided, buying something from Canada could be a bargain for US residents. It’s likely that, in yen terms, that Nikon is losing money on sales in Canada.
An exchange rate adjustment seems in order to me.
the Camera Store in Alberta posted a similar statement:
http://www.thecamerastore.com/blog/2008/10/23/canadian-price-increases-looming
I got one of those email flyers from Henry’s the other day and there was a letter from one of their VP’s on the bottom of it saying the same thing.
Here is the message:
Dear Henry’s Customer,
Just one year ago we were watching the Canadian Dollar steadily
increase in value until it equalled and surpassed the value of
the American Dollar. Canadian consumers reacted with a cry to
Canadian retailers to lower their selling prices. At Henry’s we
listened. We lowered our prices to reflect the currency changes,
and we satisfied our customers wishes. Again, thank you for your
vote of confidence and for continuing to shop in Henry’s retail
stores and shop at Henry’s online. But that was a year ago.
Today the news is quite different.
Over the past few months our Canadian Dollar has incurred an
incredibly fast and steep drop relative to the American Dollar
and the Japanese Yen. Our Suppliers are now telling us that
their prices have to go up, and soon. I’m sending this email
out to inform all of our customers that now is the time to
buy that new camera, lens or accessory.
If Henry’s has a product in stock please take advantage of
our current low Canadian price. We are being told by our
suppliers that many price increases will go into effect
beginning November 1st. In particular, on large ticket
items. We have also been told by our suppliers that many
new products will see a price increase prior to them even
hitting our shelves.
I also have to inform our customers who have ordered new
models that have yet to be shipped that there may be price
increases on your products prior to their arrival.
I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
They are economy driven and in response to our suppliers’ actions.
I wish everyone a Healthy and Happy Holiday Season.
Yours truly,
Mark Wolfson
Vice President Sales
Henry’s
the ca dollar has pretty much rebounce to the standard range, wtf from the increasing price!
remember how long it took them to lower prices?
The dollar went down this month and they’re right on the ball…
Actually the prices are going up the middle of next month. I’ve seen the actual notices from various canadian distributors, giving retailers a heads up and we have in turn given our customers a heads up. This is not a price grab, good customer service. I’m upset that the new 50mm is available only in Dec as my staff price will go up for me
They are diligent in increasing the price but not the other way around.. Why Canadians always has to pay more? Canadians are paying more taxes AND retail price in addition. In the past, many of my Canadian friends refuse to buy from Canadian retailer because the price is not fair. According one of my close friend some of the goods are 5-20% cheaper on the US side even after nearly 15% of Canadian taxes and shipping charges…..which obviously doesn’t make sense.
We have free health care that we pay for through taxes, and with the conversion from USD to CAD most of the prices are what they should be.
So Canadian retailer can charge Canadian customer more because we have the “free” health care? I think he is talking about why Canadian retailer selling goods above the US price tag even after currency conversion and taxes.
“Why Canadians always has to pay more? Canadians are paying more taxes AND retail price in addition.”
Its basic import/export realities. If you want the 2 year Canadian Nikon warranty on the bodies and 5 year Canadian Nikon warranty on the lenses buy canadian otherwise quit griping about the price and buy US. Many people fail to realize that Nikon Canada imports FROM JAPAN for a SMALLER MARKET than the US MARKET and therefore import FEWER UNITS than Nikon USA and does not get as good a price from Japan as Nikon USA does. Its also a matter of Yen vs canadian dollar NOT canadian dollar vs. US dollar. There is also allot more bureaucracy as the goods enter Canada and all those canadian customs workers have to get paid. If you don’t want your camera to be serviceable in canada, and don’t want the awesome canadian warranty Nikon Canada put on what they sell and if you don’t want the fantastic service Nikon Canada provides (I used to deal with them on a regular basis as a repair manager in my former job), then buy US but don’t you come into my store and ask me questions if you’ve got a problem call the US store where you bought it from. By buying canadian you support the canadian economy and the workers within that economy. It could be worse, you could live in Europe where most Nikon gear is even more expensive than in Canada.
……FYI: Nikon Canada buys from Nikon USA
Not according to the Nikon reps I’ve spoken with. Also my 24mm PC-E came from Japan as did my 105mm f/2.0 DC through Nikon Canada Nikon USA was not involved. Also check a US body and you’ll see a different S/N series for any given body compared to the Canadian body. Most US serial numbers start with US followed by the serial number. If Canadian bodies were just US bodies they would also have the letters US stamped before the SN. If I still had my old used F100 from the US I’d shoot the s/n to show you.
In the future if your going to provide a statement that is contrary please support it with verifiable evidence or information / sources not just an FYI… this way if things have changed I can ask Nikon Canada directly. Or when the rep pops into my store next.
I was going to try and get the p6000 for the holiday season but its 500USD/600CAD. No camera this year.
P6000 is $500 Canadian and thats MSRP
Yeah but I’m commenting on a price increase article. If the price were to go up according to currency rates ($500 was back when the dollars were par) the new price would be $700-$600. I doubt an increase so high, but the CAN dollar is not worth that much right now in comparison.
So I take it this means we shouldn’t be holding our breath for any of the great US rebates either??
Most photo importers buy from Japan in US dollars.
I don’t understand this. We all have the Internet. And the calculators. Even with Canadian Dollar at $.82 US, the US prices are still lower. And they were about 20% higher for all the period that Canadian Dollar was strong. Can someone clarify if Mark Wolfson, Vice President Sales, Henry’s thinks we are stupid or illiterate?
I don’t know if the price increases have hit Vistek or McBain yet where I purchased a bunch of nikon gear a couple weeks ago, but even though the US B&H price looked significantly lower, in the end it wasn’t worth it. I’ll break it down with the lowest price between these two retailers for the products I purchased.
D700 $2949
24-70 $1799
14-24 $1899
SB-900 $519
Total $7166 Plus GST
Now the B&H Prices
D700 $2319
24-70 $1429
14-24 $1489
SB-900 $399
Shipping $84.35 (UPS Expedited who I hate. I guarantee you’re going to see at least another $50 in handling fees I know I’ve shipped from B&H and I won’t use UPS again. I’d spend $126.50 and go FedEx)
Total $5720.35 converted to CDN
0.7992 as of closing Dec. 12 throw in bank rate of 2% and it’s now 0.7792)
Total is now $7341
Now there are a few things you also have to think about on top of the already higher price. The biggest is that you lose your warranty, 2 years on the body and 5 years on the lens is huge. But by this point who cares because the price is already higher and that’s before tax!
Also I lucked out on a weekend sale at Vistek.ca and picked up my D700 for $2849. Then when I went to get my lens from the brick and mortar store they matched McBain’s prices for the flash and 24-70 and then knocked another $120 off the total price.
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