Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!utcsri!utegc!utai!ubc-vision!fornax!bby-bc!john
From: john@bby-bc.UUCP
Newsgroups: can.general,news.misc,news.admin
Subject: Re: uunet access from Canada
Message-ID: <132@bby-bc.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 4-Jul-87 13:17:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: bby-bc.132
Posted: Sat Jul  4 13:17:46 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 5-Jul-87 01:36:23 EDT
References: <954@van-bc.UUCP> <824@looking.UUCP>
Distribution: can
Organization: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Lines: 47
Xref: utgpu can.general:634 news.misc:568 news.admin:533

In article <824@looking.UUCP>, brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) writes:
> In article <954@van-bc.UUCP> sl@van-bc.UUCP (Stuart Lynne) writes:
> >
> >Is there any real reason for this? 
> >**********************************
> >
> >None that I can see. Tymnet does not have significantly higher costs of
> >doing business in Canada. And in fact almost all rates are the same in
> >Canada as in the US. We just don't rate getting this rate.
> 
> You underestimate the capacity of the Canadian government for getting
> in the way of people trying to do cross-border business.
> 
> I think it's still illegal, for example, to ship data from point A in
> Canada to point B in canada via point C in the USA.  Usenet has always
> been semi-illegal because of this.  Why does a federal express pac cost
> $40 from Canada.  Why is a letter (no duty) cost $23?  Why are airfares
> much higher?

I think you could more reasonably put this down to the desire to make
what the traffic will bear than governmental interference.  If what
you are saying was true I wouldn't have been able to send a 5kg package
from Vancouver to Texas by UPS for $8, or a 24kg package from LA to
Vancouver for $45 (by UPS), or get a return airfare from Vancouver
to LAX for $285 on CP Air.

It is not the Canadian government it is business that results in the
higher prices.

Why does a Sony CDP1302 list for $1900 at a time when the US list is
approx. $1270 ($950 US) - they both have to come from Japan.

Why does an Everex Qic02 tape unit cost $2500 here in Vancouver and
only $1500 if bought in the US and shipped here ($1500 includes
exchange, FST, and shipping)?

Why does an HP LaserJet-II list for $3400 ($2500 US) in the US and $4700
here in Canada?

You don't have to look far to find examples like this.  There are
companies which don't do this, e.g. Atari seems to sell the ST for
about the same in Canada as the US price + exchange + FST.

This sort of stuff really pisses me off but I don't think you can
lay the blame at the government's door.

john