Exchange Rate Opportunity?

[Brian Bailey]

I'm always on he lookout for a plausible excuse to buy new gear of various kinds, and the recent rapid collapse of the the C$ vs. the US$ may provide one, for a while at least.  I have noticed that some photo gear, notably Canon & Nikon, is currently about 20% cheaper in Canada than it is in the US.  How long this might be the case is anyone's guess.  If you take the pessimistic view, that the C$ will be weak for a few years and that the camera companies will soon adjust their Canadian prices, this might be a good time to buy that lens or camera you've been contemplating.  It's not that anything is particularly cheap right now, just that it could soon become significantly more expensive, and stay that way for a while.

It would be a nice boost for the Canadian retailers if prices weren't adjusted though.  They really got burned when the C$ was strong and the US prices were much better than they were allowed to charge in Canada.  The current situation must feel like payback time for them!

BB

[Steve Hood]

If someone is thinking of buying a lens, they better act soon.  Our dollar dropped to 69 cents today with no end in site.

[Steve Hood]

Canon is supposed to be increasing lens prices by 20% at the end of March.  Time is running out.

http://www.canonrumors.com/the-canada-g ... ut-to-end/

[Steve Hood]

Nikon prices are going up on April 1st.

http://nikonrumors.com/2016/02/20/nikon ... -1st.aspx/

[Brian Bailey]

I was told by a Vistek rep last month, that Nikon had announced for April 1, and he assumed Canon would increase at the same time.  Exactly how much currency correction they plan to build in is unknown, but anyone contemplating a Canon or Nikon purchase, would be wise to do it before the end of March.

BB

[Steve Hood]

Henry's just posted something about this.

http://www.henrys.com/Canadian-dollar.a ... er%20Main#

"With that in mind, we would like to advise our customers that on April 1, 2016, price increases due to currency value will be in effect from most of our major camera partners, including Nikon, Canon, Sony and Panasonic. They will apply to a majority of goods from these brands. Price increases are expected to range from 10-30%, possibly even higher. These increases will be reflected across ALL Canadian retail outlets selling photographic equipment, not Henry's alone. "

[JW Mills]

Price increases on, um, April 1st? Hmmmm....

[Brian Bailey]

So you'd be a fool to wait?


BB

Sent from my birdroid using Tapatalk.

[Brian Bailey]

Well, after weeks of psyching myself up for it, I bought a new "L" series Canon lens last month. Awesome optics, but of course, expensive as "L". I feel somewhat justified today, seeing that the price did indeed increase by more than 23%.  :shock:  Now I can use my wife's line, "I spent money, to save money!" How can she argue?  :lol:

BB