what goes up?
 

So the Canadian dollar has again hit parity with the US dollar. Sounds like a good time to start shopping for gear overseas to me.

What are your thoughts on the possible effects to airsoft pricing or will there be any effects as canadian prices are usually artifically inflated. Or do you think retailers will see this as an opportunity to get large group orders rolling. Or will we start seeing them stockpiling.


Lets keep it civil though and stay on topic.

Too bad Paypal never follows suit.

ain't that the truth...

For me, this is the time to hit up my US and overseas suppliers. Finally catch a bit of a break!

It's a simple formula really... when I save, my customers save.

Cheers!

I wish dude, pay pal almost never updates those if our $ is above or getting close to beating the US $.

But they have no objections going the opposite way. :rolleyes:

Then don't use Paypal!
Use a credit card directly. Yes it might not be as "safe", but it shouldn't really be "unsafe" either.

I'm on the phone with KWA right now. Too bad I only need $40 worth of parts. Still though every little bit helps.

+1. Use common sense and check that the site is reputable, secure and there is a clear means of contact.

You just answered your own question. ;) Canadian prices have been traditionally artificially inflated, because such businesses want a lot of your money. Parity gives them more money, not you.

The guys that bring in Prohibited Devices charge a gun-running-risk premium that ranges from quite reasonable to downright insulting, thankfully not too much of the latter as of late. The guys that bring in cansoft charge... Well, whatever they charge, they're getting better return on their investment than other businesses.

In between the above are the legal opaque airsoft guns, with quite dismal margins compared to the above two, for whom parity is more a relief than a boon.

Yep I'm stocking up as well.. Too bad some of the items I want are out of stock everywhere ><

Paypal is crooked as a witches nose when it comes to currency conversion.

HOWEVER, here's what you can do. If your not comfortable with using a credit card online or with overseas retailers. use credit card gift cards. they can be purchased for any denomination and they will currency convert (at the rate posted on that cards provider.. ie visa or mastercard which is usually 100% accurate as to what it is).

It allows you to basically use cash to pay for your transaction but the retailer will think its a credit card, because it is.

Personally I think paypal should be bitch slapped. why the hell do they no advertise their currency conversion rate BEFORE you do the conversion. that would be like ordering from a menu with no prices. Who knows how much that glass of wine just cost you. It leaves buyers with an uneasy feeling.


Just my opinion.

Yes, I share your opinion. However "gear" and legal parts from overseas this can be a great time. But retailers have and will gouge because they can and that is their prerogative. Seriously 200-300% markup? That's insane. But what can you do.

Inversely, the high dollar could mean that canadian retailers feel the pinch of being cut out of the gear market and could result in lower prices in other area's but thats probably not true either.

We will see.


I would like to point out that there are quiet a few awesome retailers (such as Mach1) that are charging completely NORMAL retail markups. 50-75% is amazing and frankly I have nothing but respect for these guys.

Oh yes, good time to shop overseas for just about anything other than guns.

With the way things are, this parity might last a while, too.

The only Canadian guys I buy gear & parts from on any sort of a regular basis are One Shot Tactical and Airsoft Parts Canada (and a bit of Dave's Tactical). When I've done the math in the past their pricing has always been more than fair.

As an aside, most big importers will have their currency rate locked in at the bank, and will have paid for the stuff they're selling months ago. If the dollar stays at parity for six months then you may see some more movement downward on prices.

Last I heard economists are predicting that we will be at parity or above by a couple cents for quite a while