Editor:
In response to Frank Bucholtz's editorial about the costs to Canadian business by shopping in the U.S., I offer this rebuttal.
I recently had some body work done in the Fraser Valley to my truck; the part, not OEM, cost slightly over $265, and the factory cost was over $500.
The U.S. non-OEM part, delivered to Lynden was $39 U.S. While I try my best to support Canadian business the huge discrepancy in cost of goods and services between our countries is often to large to ignore. We are in the market for a new gas stove, U.S. price is around $600, Canadian is $1,200 to 1,400 and the tax on both items is the same. Until the federal and provincial governments give some tax respite to Canadian businesses buying south is to hard to resist.
I find that in the U.S. a sale is a sale, often 40 to 50% off, while in Canada 10 to 15% is a big deal, and in the U.S. getting the goods out the door is the priority, in Canada it seems to be hang on to the goods for the most profit.
Terry Brenan, Aldergrove