Canadians Pay Extra For Their Wireless Hardware

Todd Alivoy writes "Looks like Canadian wireless subscribers have been getting hosed when looking to get new hardware. This isn't the first time Canadian carriers have managed to charge far more than thier US conterparts for the same services. Anyone up there know why? It sure isn't the exchange rates." The linked article shows the price disparity for 14 phones available in both markets.

$699 for a phone? A SCO fee?

[SexyKellyOsbourne]

Does that $699 charge have anything to do with SCO?

Routers at a premium but Zoloft on the cheap!

[tenzig_112]

Perhaps they will set up store-front re-import shops where Canadians can buy cheap wireless gear from the US.

Some will argue that the US should not be able to get the stuff so inexpensively, that the reduced cost raises prices elsewhere. Others will argue that Canadian research firms put a lot of money into the wireless industry, and price controls would kill the industry.

Re:$699 for a phone? A SCO fee?

[Pakaran2]

No, no... Finland is Lunix... Canada is OpenBSD, idiot.

I wonder if you can run OpenBSD on a cellphone. the antenna would probably be off by default though...

Certainly seems that way...

[RobinH]

I had a blackberry through Rogers/AT&T, and once I got the U.S. roaming package on there, it cost me $57 (CDN) per month. That's more than my 3000 kb/s cable modem internet connection (under $40 per month). I loved the blackberry, but decided to cancel the subscription.

Then, the day after I decided to cancel it, we were broken into and they stole it off the table. Reporting it stolen actually saved me the cancellation charge (~$50), and I figure whoever ended up with the hot item is getting payback by paying the high fees.

That's what I tell myself anyway. Maybe it was that Michael Moore guy... I heard he was snooping around Windsor opening people's doors.

Re:50lu710n

[Deraj DeZine]

Ok, so just a quick drive down south to Australia and I'll get a free phone? What a deal! I'll be there shortly.

Except my car's broken. Is Australia within walking distance? I'm in Vancouver. Please respond (I was banned from MapQuest).

Simple explanation

[chunkwhite86]

This isn't the first time Canadian carriers have managed to charge far more than thier US conterparts for the same services. Anyone up there know why?

Well, I'm not entirely sure, but I get the distinct feeling it has something to do with Soviet Russia.

The Solution

[Newspimp]

"Routers For Meds" Program. Each wireless router is good for one name-brand prescription or three generics.

Toilets

[raider_red]

Anyone want to arrange a deal where we trade cheap cel-phones for high-flow toilets? I think we could work something out.

Re:Certainly seems that way...

[mattkime]

Then, the day after I decided to cancel it, we were broken into and they stole it off the table. Reporting it stolen actually saved me the cancellation charge (~$50), and I figure whoever ended up with the hot item is getting payback by paying the high fees.

Hm.....maybe thats how I can get out of my cell phone contract...

I always blame NASA

[WebMasterJoe]

The prices are obviously set by NASA. You see, in Canada, they use the metric system, and NASA thought they were going to go metric, but some of the guys didn't get that memo...

It was an honest mistake, folks, really. It's like rocket science.

Or maybe...

The computer industry did it! I mean, when did you ever buy a 40 GB hard drive that actually was 40 GB? They might have told Samsung to charge $400 for a $372.52 phone and say they were measuring the price differently. Yeah. If you're the only ones who measure it that way, it isn't different - it's wrong.

NO shit.

[RyuuzakiTetsuya]

I always see shit like,

59.99 USD

799,999.999 CDN.

someone had to say it

[McAddress]

Im canadian, you insensitive clod.

We can both win!!!

[Xiaotou]

You (Canadians) send me prescription drugs, and I (American) send you wireless gear. Everyone saves money!

Re:Simple

[Bill_Royle]

Call it clustering if you wish, I'll call it a prelude to an invasion.

The Perfect Solution

[Anonymous Coward]

*holds up sign reading: "Will Trade WIFI for Drugs"*