Twice the Price

NorthQuad · Post by **NorthQuad** » Thu May 22, 2008 12:29 pm

Caution: Cry baby moment ahead.

So, before I buy anything else to put in the Explorer I need to have an alarm installed. I might as well get a starter combo with locks and trunk while I'm at it. At least then it won't feel like the theives have caused me to spend money on them alone.

Ok, I don't really mind forking over the cash for a good alarm/starter. Actually, I do mind, I'd rather spend the money on a cd changer and add some midbass to the system. But I'm trying to convince myself that it's no big deal. Whatever.

The thing that really gets on my nerves is that as I search for a good price I see a huge difference in U.S./Canada prices. The products are always twice the price. Like wtf? Our taxes aren't THAT much more than yours. So what's with the mark up?

Seriously, am I just being a baby? Do I need a Waambulance? Probably yes to both. But damn, does four hundred for a mid level alarm/starter seem ok to pay? When that same starter can be purchased for half the price and arrive at my door in a few days. And some places want $475 for the alarm here in town. To be specific and so you know, it's the CompuStar 2W900FMR that I'm looking at.

It's the same thing with all products though. I think I should just order from the U.S. from now on. Just sick of getting hosed, you know?

Thanks for letting me bitch and moan. You can put me on ignore now if you like.

solacedagony · Post by **solacedagony** » Thu May 22, 2008 12:53 pm

I'm going to take a wild guess and say it's because the products are manufactured in the US and the Canadian price takes into account customs charges, but I really have no clue.

jonnyb · Post by **jonnyb** » Thu May 22, 2008 2:49 pm

is the $400 for the unit installed?
if it is, thats not too horrible.

NorthQuad · Post by **NorthQuad** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:02 pm

solacedagony wrote:I'm going to take a wild guess and say it's because the products are manufactured in the US and the Canadian price takes into account customs charges, but I really have no clue.

Yeah, I'm sure it's partly taxes and exchange. But one guess is that the distributers in Canada double the price after receiving it from U.S. distributers. From there the price is doubled again when the retailers sell from their shops around Canada.

I'm sure it would be much cheaper if they could skip the Canadian distributers. Which is exactly what happens when Canadians order or buy directly from the U.S.

NorthQuad · Post by **NorthQuad** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:05 pm

jonnyb wrote:is the $400 for the unit installed?
if it is, thats not too horrible.

No, I wish. Add another two hundy for install.

Ryan from Ohio · Post by **Ryan from Ohio** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:40 pm

Just buy it from E Bay and have it shipped there.

smoker · Post by **smoker** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:26 pm

and dont buy a compustar....look very hard at autopage, specifically the rs 727 lcd

NorthQuad · Post by **NorthQuad** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:41 pm

Ryan from Ohio wrote:Just buy it from E Bay and have it shipped there.

Yeah, ebay pops up in lots of searches. Crazy cheap prices. I'm just nervous the product that shows up won't look the same as it did on the site. Do you trust most ebay stores?

NorthQuad · Post by **NorthQuad** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:44 pm

smoker wrote:and dont buy a compustar....look very hard at autopage, specifically the rs 727 lcd

Yeah, I did a search on here earlier and had read you prefer Autopage. I was checking out there site but haven't yet looked at the prices. Thanks for the tip, I will definitely check them out more before anything.

Ryan from Ohio · Post by **Ryan from Ohio** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:56 pm

I for sure wouldnt buy a no name alarm.

Wasnt there a brand called skytec that was cheap and worked well? I think thats the name Ive seen it mentioned in a few places.