Leupold and Canadians!

I believe Leupolds cost more here as well b/c Canada isn't a big market compared to the US

Yet it's not happening with Nightforce, Sightron, Minox, etc.. I'm sorry, but Korth is raking in the money because of a monopoly on Leupold products. The whole point of the OP (and this thread) was not that a certain product has manufacturer set prices on both sides of the border, but that we are getting screwed on pricing simply because we live in Canada, and that is the case with Leupold.
 
This is not just a Korth thing. It's a Leupold thig as well. Korth wants a monopoly and Leupold said fine. You do warranty and we'll allow you sole distributer. Simple for Leupold, great for Korth. Only loser is the consumer. As long as we put up with this crap time after time we will get the sh!tty end. I had an extensive talk with a Leupold exec. about this last year. He basically said "works for us, too bad for you" I still have a lot of Leupolds, but never another.
 
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I don't know why people tolerate this type of practice, its pretty simple either avoid them and buy better optics for less $$ or take it up the hoop, over pay and be at their mercy. I opted for the first choice.

Cheers!!
 
I wasn't aware of this practice by Leupold and Korth. I am in the market for a scope, but I will not spend my money with either Leupold or Korth. Screw 'em.
 
I like a good righteous indignation as much as the next guy, but when you run from one system thats screwing you to another thats screwing you it doesn't accomplish what you think it does.

Its not just optics, did you ever notice that gunpowder that is made in Canada costs more here? How about the rifles that cost more here than in the states and are made in neither place? Sleds? Boats?

Its good to get mad, and if you knew more you could be mad all the time.
 
I like a good righteous indignation as much as the next guy, but when you run from one system thats screwing you to another thats screwing you it doesn't accomplish what you think it does.

Its not just optics, did you ever notice that gunpowder that is made in Canada costs more here? How about the rifles that cost more here than in the states and are made in neither place? Sleds? Boats?

Its good to get mad, and if you knew more you could be mad all the time.

This is so true. Got the wife a new BRP Spyder. Tried to get it from the local guys in Regina. $33,500 plus tax..... Lodi CA. $24,250 plus SK tax when we import. The exact same unit.
Arctic Cat Wildcat Regina CNT $17,500 Mesa AZ CNT$13,850.
And on it goes. I don't get mad anymore, I just get even (sort of) The mfg still makes a sale though. Half the fun is shoppin' around.
 
This is so true. Got the wife a new BRP Spyder. Tried to get it from the local guys in Regina. $33,500 plus tax..... Lodi CA. $24,250 plus SK tax when we import. The exact same unit.
Arctic Cat Wildcat Regina CNT $17,500 Mesa AZ CNT$13,850.
And on it goes. I don't get mad anymore, I just get even (sort of) The mfg still makes a sale though. Half the fun is shoppin' around.

The game is rigged, but it isn't unbeatable. The ones win will be those that refuse to lose; not those that decide to lose somewhere else.

Its much more productive to learn to win than to cry about things being unfair. Life isn't fair. There's no such thing as fair.
 
Hopefully this wil provide a little clarity as to why some brands of optics demonstrate a greater price gap between Canada and the US.

For brands where dealers can purchase direct, the gap is relatively insignificant. For example, a brand new Swarovski Z3 3-9x36 plex/4A rifle scope is $779 US minimum advertised price (MAP) and anywhere from $799 to $819 in Canada (with $799 being considered Canadian MAP). Dealers can purchase directly from Swarovski Optik North America (US division of Swarovski Optik) and dealers pay a bit more than their US counterparts due to fluctuating currency, higher freight charges, and importation/customs charges. However, as stated, the price disparity is reasonable.

For brands where dealers must purchase through a Canadian distributor, the gap can be significant. Zeiss products are distributed by Gentec Canada, hence anyone wanting to sell Zeiss must deal with Gentec and not Zeiss, as Gentec has the distributorship for Canada. While Zeiss sells to Gentec (based on volume) at a better price than it would to a street level dealer, Gentec takes a mark-up (probably around 15 to 25%), which results in Canadian dealers getting a product at a significantly higher price that their US counterparts: Conquest 10x42 HD binos have a suggested Canadian list of $1,129.99 with a MAP of $1,059.99, while the US MAP is $999.99. On some items, the disparity between the price US dealers are paying and the price Canadian dealers are paying becomes clear (and hard to take) when a US dealer puts an item on clearance or "demos" the unit.

As for MAP being "price fixing", that is not a dealer choice, it is mandated by the manufacturer. The penalties for violating MAP as a dealer are quite clear in the dealer agreements, and dealers have lost lines as a result. One should also note that with many brands (Premier, Meopta, Minox) there is virtually no discrepancy between Canadian and US pricing. Conversely, for some brands (such as Schmidt) Canadian pricing is actually less than US pricing.

However my policy as a dealer is that, whenever possible, I observe US MAP pricing - given that many US retailers can sell into Canada it is competitively disadvantageous to force Canadian retailers to sell at a minimum price above US pricing (with a par dollar). If a line clearly indicates that I must observe MAP in advertising, however I can sell below MAP if it is not advertised, well I'm always willing to talk turkey!

Hopefully that provides some clarity.
 
plainSight Solutions, Thank You for trying to explain the reasons why things in Canada cost what they do.
There will always be the ones who know a great product (Leupold) and shop wisely.
And then there will be those that complain about everything else.
Me, I will continue to buy Leupold and shop for them in Canada, be it first in the EE section or my local retailer.
Now, should one wish to talk recreational motorcycles try a little research on Deeley Canada and Harley Davidson® Motorcycles
Tight Groups and Square Cross Hairs !
Rob
 
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Me, I will continue to buy Leupold and shop for them in Canada, be it first in the EE section or my local retailer.
Now, should one wish to talk recreational motorcycles try a little research on Deeley Canada and Harley Davidson® Motorcycles

I used to own over a dozen Leupolds, now I own two, a fixed 4x, and a 1-4x20, both purchased because of their small size. As for Harley Davidson, been there done that, never again.
 
A Honda CRV made in Alliston Ontario costs from $10-15K less in the US than here in Canada. I heard a term once..."Country Pricing", meaning the product is priced to what ever citizens from a particular country are willing to pay for it, or maybe what they can pay for it. I think the Canadian consumer for the most part is not aware of this, but it is now coming to light and more and more people are starting to shop outside their normal areas. I know for my next vehicle I will be looking stateside to see if it can be bought and imported for less than here. In the past I have been a staunch supporter to buy local, and I still am for the most part. But I am self employed, and my wife just went back to school at the age of 40, we have kids that will be going to college/university soon, a mortgage, parents that will need looking after soon, and....the list goes on as I am sure it does for everyone. I will be spending my money a little more wisely in the future.

As far as the Leupold/Korth situation is concerned, they will only listen when people stop buying their products. And that will be hard to do because they do have a great product.
 
I like a good righteous indignation as much as the next guy, but when you run from one system thats screwing you to another thats screwing you it doesn't accomplish what you think it does.

Its not just optics, did you ever notice that gunpowder that is made in Canada costs more here? How about the rifles that cost more here than in the states and are made in neither place? Sleds? Boats?

Its good to get mad, and if you knew more you could be mad all the time.

It has nothing to do with getting mad. It has all to do with making decisions. If Leupold and Korth are working in collusion to screw buyers, I will look elsewhere. Simple as that. And if you know where to look, you'll find what you want. Seek and you shall find.
 
It has nothing to do with getting mad. It has all to do with making decisions. If Leupold and Korth are working in collusion to screw buyers, I will look elsewhere. Simple as that. And if you know where to look, you'll find what you want. Seek and you shall find.

I'm being sarcastic about the mad. And I know where to look.
 
Hopefully this wil provide a little clarity as to why some brands of optics demonstrate a greater price gap between Canada and the US.

...

Hopefully that provides some clarity.


Just for that, I won't buy a new scope without checking with you first. Not that I buy a new scope often, but if it happens ...
 
It really sucks that it appears that we get hosed in Canada for pretty much everything. I suppose if it really bothers you that much you could always marry an American and get a Green Card...CCW too perhaps??
 
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