https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:45:22 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/3#post-1426861 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 13:02:56 +0000 Daria 1426861@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>shevia&nbsp;</b>- I was actually researching companies shipping to Israel (my friends there have just had a baby) and found out that nextdirect ships worldwide (including Israel).&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/3#post-1426850 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 11:56:30 +0000 jenanded 1426850@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here's a rub for those of us in Australia... Some brands would charge around 25% MORE on the Australian site than the US when our dollar was better than the USA so the item should have cost us LESS. We would still pay shipping. Now I can get things from the UK to Australia when the $&nbsp;exchange price is the same, they take OFF the UK VAT and then the shipping is less than the cost of the bus fare to the stores here! That all adds up to scam from US retailers in my books.... On top of&nbsp;the price differential of the item, postage differs between $6-$10 from the UK to $60-70 from the USA... I do believe it is further to the UK than the USA... So I can only imagine how it feels being in Canada </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/3#post-1426780 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 04:31:48 +0000 Jaime 1426780@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When my sister lived in Toronto I found the prices were quite high - even at the second hand shops! Living in Israel, I certainly do have occasional Nordstrom's frustration, and there really isn't the concept of returning for cash. Zara, which is well represented, allows store credit and that seems like a luxury. On the other hand, I have access to some amazing thrift and second hand shops stocked with European clothes (Israelis love to travel and love to shop when they travel), and the prices are less than the equivalent stores in New York. We also get imports of European (particularly Spanish)&nbsp;and Australian shoes like Senso, free shipping and returns from ASOS and shopbop, and once in a while JCrew, and the places shipping here seems to grow daily. So I am not complaining! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/3#post-1426468 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:28:16 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1426468@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wish Danier would sell to theUS; from what I've seen they have great stuff and I'd happily buy from them. Or maybe I don't wish they did...</p> <p>My DH and I were hoping to visit Montreal in April but now his dad's gotta have a medical procedure in March so that may not happen, boo. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/3#post-1426431 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 18:37:41 +0000 Daria 1426431@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>lisap</b> - thank you! It's fun seeing all the familiar names. SImons used to be one of my fave places to shop..<br />To all the US-based fabbers - with the weakening Canadian $, shopping in Montreal will be actually a good deal for you!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/3#post-1426408 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 17:53:01 +0000 gradfashionista 1426408@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember how Gap was kind of a luxury brand growing up, and was shocked to discover how cheap the jeans could be in the US. Now that I live in the US, I find the price difference disturbing, and refuse to buy in Canada what I can buy in the US, unless it's an "emergency" situation. It's worth it to save up and visit the US, either in Buffalo, Seattle, Detroit, etc. There are services where you can rent a US postal box and have items delivered there, and then pick them up when you're able to.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/3#post-1426377 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 16:57:50 +0000 Marilyn 1426377@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Our Sears is still boarded up as well but Nordstrom is arriving sometime this year.....can't wait.&nbsp; Fingers crossed that they have a nice selection of petites in store.</p> <p>We're also getting a Simons which should be good.&nbsp; My MIL lives in Montreal and has raved about how nice it is.</p> <p>Let's hope Danier keeps afloat. I read recently that it's one of the many Canadian stores that may face trouble.&nbsp; I picked up a black moto jacket in the fall....sale on sale price which was awesome....and they shortened the zippered sleeves to fit my little arms perfectly for just $25.&nbsp; I was impressed.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426359 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 16:38:45 +0000 Anonymous 1426359@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi&nbsp;<b>Daria -&nbsp;</b>thanks for chiming in ,and nice to meet you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426355 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 16:34:15 +0000 Daria 1426355@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hello ladies,<br />I'm a new member although never got to formally introduce myself yet. However, as a Canadian currently living in the US, couldn't pass by this topic!&nbsp;<br />In general&nbsp;I think shopping in Canadian big cities is quite good, in terms of both selection and prices (I'm from Montreal but fairly sure it's similar in Toronto, Vancouver etc). However, if we talk about "niche" markets (e.g. petites as was mentioned by one of the previous posters, or maternity clothes, or premium denim), US market clearly offers more choice and better prices. I used to order maternity wear from the US and even with all the duties it turned out cheaper than in Montreal stores.&nbsp;<br />Canadian online shopping is however in rather sad state and is definitely not where one would expect it to be in one of the most developed countries in the world. Glad it's slowly improving however. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426215 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 06:42:31 +0000 Caro in Oz 1426215@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Agreeing with&nbsp;TS I will only order items from the U.S. that I cannot get here in Australia. Because of the much smaller market here,&nbsp;Australian shops don't always pick up on all the trends that are readily available in the US (or Europe for that matter). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426180 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 04:01:23 +0000 Deborah 1426180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting discussion. &nbsp;I am not really up to speed on this issue but my bug bear is shipping costs to Australia. &nbsp;They vary so much. &nbsp;I must admit I don't understand the duties etc that you incur in Canada. &nbsp;My husband orders quite a bit from the US (sound and musical equipment) and he finds it very cost effective. &nbsp;He buys his guitar strings from the US and pays about 1/3 of what he would pay here (he tends to buy in bulk). &nbsp;I am nervous about ordering from the US simply because of the potential cost in returning if necessary. &nbsp;I think my only purchase from the US was my harem leggings. &nbsp;Ordered from Urban Outfitters and the shipping was only $9.00 which is equatable to local shipping - Metalicus orders incur a $10.00 shipping fee. &nbsp;However when I have looked at ordering from Nordstroms, shipping has generally been around $25.00 and postage back to the US can be costly. &nbsp;The positive side of this is that I now prefer to shop locally. &nbsp;If I look hard enough and long enough, I can usually find what I want here and I like to support my local retailers. &nbsp;Of course the challenge is that in the US you have SO MUCH choice and variety... it makes it &nbsp;VERY tempting. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426175 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 03:44:49 +0000 Carla 1426175@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Real crazy is that some great swimwear and amazing leather goods are made in Canada, imported to US, and sold back to Canadians via websites and catalogue!</p> <p>I do catalogue LE and LLB, but only when the $C is close to the US$. Things aren't so good right now. Mostly I'm B&amp;M, and try to approximate what I see.</p> <p>Heads up folks, I'm saving up since I'm going to Seattle in October 2015 to visit my Dad...and other things! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426160 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 03:24:17 +0000 annagybe 1426160@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>But how much is it The Tyranny of Choice?<br />Which I see many members of the forum&nbsp;succumb to.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426158 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 03:15:29 +0000 Elizabeth P 1426158@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh yes, Montreal! I'm in!</p> <p>Sveta you're the second person who has mentioned Sears. Ours is still alive and well. As is the one where my mother lives. Call me thick, but I didn't even realize they were closing stores! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426155 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 03:11:56 +0000 Sveta 1426155@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My head is spinning from all these numbers! On the bright side - we have Club Monaco and prices in US are the same as we have here in Canada so we win here :-)<br />I can count on one hand when I&nbsp;ordered things&nbsp;from US to be delivered to my house. I learned this hard way but don't do it again - unless it is worth it. I did order Land's End puffer coat because I could not get anything of this quality here in Tall and it was on sale and free shipping - and I did not ned to return so overall it was worth it.<br />I never order from Nordstrom. That's why I do my yearly extravaganza at NAS when I drive over, try everything on and keep only what I want &nbsp;- and if I am lucky I don't even need to pay tax on the border.</p> <p>On another note I was in one of our 2 big "upscale" (for our city) malls last night and left it pretty depressed. The space where&nbsp;Sears store was which closed a year ago is still boarded, MEXX is having a closing sale, Club Monaco store closed last year, The Bay store has no household items in it, only clothing (you need a set of dishes or towels - too bad!)...the list can continue. So&nbsp;much for shopping B&amp;M local stores On the bright note we have a huge Forever21 store spanning 2 floors...but I never shop there.<br />At least Danier store is still there! :-)<br />Gaylene, I love your list and should expand my online shopping from Canadian sites. The recent discovery was shoeme.ca (thanks Michelle) with free shipping and returns. It is not the same selection as Zappos has but still darn good for us - and there is something in my size I can try on!<br />We need to make YLF gathering in Montreal one day!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426135 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 02:11:53 +0000 Helena 1426135@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What kiwigal said!</p> <p>I always just look at the total cost and decide whether it's worth it to me to pay that much for the item ... I don't care if the cost is on delivery taxes, exchanges rates or the cost of the product, and I don't really care whether my cousins in Chicago would get it for $30 less. Sometimes it's worth it, sometimes it's not!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426133 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 02:06:27 +0000 jackiec 1426133@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love the conversation here!</p> <p>Gaylene - thanks for compiling such a comprehensive list of fantastic Canadian shopping sites! I am officially thanking (or blaming) you for my latest online order from Simon's! It's never been on my radar but I spied a pair of plaid pants that I thought might be fun. And with free returns in Canada, why the heck not!?</p> <p>Angie - I'm always up for a shop with you in Seattle. Best.time.ever </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426101 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 01:05:04 +0000 rachylou 1426101@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting. Comparable and yet not. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426096 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:56:06 +0000 Anonymous 1426096@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>rachylou -&nbsp;</b>re wages: &nbsp;no, when you make $50 an hour, we likely make $65 Cdn - thus being comparable. &nbsp;Our minimum wage is much higher than yours too. &nbsp;Certain professions are better paid in the US - medical ones are the most prominent ones. Our medical system and amount earned is controlled, whereas yours are not. Anyways - this is all stuff that is widely available to read on the web &nbsp;Re why the stupid $68 sweater can be had in both countries at the same price? &nbsp;Because we are importing the same sweater from the same off-shore factories in Asia and have our buys negotiated in Cdn dollars. You get the benefit of scale of economy vis a vis your larger population, but Canada is a desired trading partner and has better shipping ports and less union interference to deal with. &nbsp;Sometimes Cdn importers will negotiate their off-shod production in US dollars - all depends upon the trading value that day.It's like playing the stock market. &nbsp;</p> <p>One thing that can go wrong when you have to trade on currency value in booking off shore production, is that you are negotiating your production based on the value of the dollar at the specific time. &nbsp;It really shows when books are priced a year ahead of landing on the shelf .....and then the dollar increases in value and matches yours. &nbsp;Consumers freak out, and rightly so. &nbsp;That might explain the IKEA situation - based on where that stuff is actually manufactured and when the price was set.</p> <p>And further to the wage thing: our wages somewhat reflect the difference in the cost of living here. (minimum wage being much higher for example)&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426092 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:39:14 +0000 Dimity 1426092@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Funny thing is my Ikea Ektorp sofa that I bought in Canada was actually made in Canada, but the one I bought in Australia was made in China and has a hinge that folds the back down for flat packing. Talk about globalisation, huh! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426086 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:29:15 +0000 Marilyn 1426086@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't know for sure, <b>Dimity</b>, but Ikea might be the same price in Canada and the US because it's an import for both countries.&nbsp; Swedish not American.</p> <p>That's an insane amount in Australia. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426083 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:20:42 +0000 Dimity 1426083@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just did an interesting comparison with an Ikea JennyLund chair. I know it isn't clothing but it's one of the few things that we have in Australia that is identical to what you have in the US. In the US, the chair is $199US.<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S89830491/">http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....S89830491/</a></p> <p>In Canada, the chair is $199CAD.<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/S89830491/">http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/cata.....S89830491/</a></p> <p>In Australia, the chair is $449AUD.<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S89830491/">http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....S89830491/</a></p> <p>So in Canada, it seems that you're getting the chair at a discount on the exchange rate if you compare to the US. In Australia, you're paying way more than the exchange. On today's rates, a chair at $199 should be about $250, not $449 in Australia. What this says to me (based on this one small example)&nbsp;is that if you're in Canada, then you're better off buying things there if you can, and if you're in Australia, then be prepared to be taken for a ride.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426079 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:13:13 +0000 rachylou 1426079@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>nother dumb question, Gaylene. When we say the wages are comparable, that means - if we both did the same job in our two countries - I make USD $50 and you make CAN $50, right?</p> <p>But back to being able to get a basic acrylic sweater for CAN $68 or less... How is it that it a basic acrylic sweater cost USD $68 in the US? Someone is cheating me, I tell you (!) <p>When I was in Jamaica, I don't know, the weekly wage was some ridiculously low figure. Like JAM $100. Ok, but people were not dying on the streets. For JAM $5 you could get like 20 lbs of rice. In the US, for USD $5, I'd be getting a 1/2 lb of rice. So things <i>are</i> dire there, of course... but the price of things is some voodoo.</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426078 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:12:15 +0000 Tanya 1426078@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am always up for shopping in Boston :)<br />I am sorry to hear ordering from Canada is becoming such a pain.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426075 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:10:23 +0000 Angie 1426075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jokes aside ladies, I'm sorry it's a mare shopping online in Canada from US stores.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426072 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:07:34 +0000 Elizabeth P 1426072@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I pick Boston :)<br />I've been kicking myself for a while at not making more of an effort to get there a few months ago... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426071 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:07:34 +0000 Angie 1426071@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dimity, you're invited - OF COURSE.&nbsp; </p> <p></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426070 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:07:17 +0000 Anonymous 1426070@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm up for that! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426066 Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:02:48 +0000 Dimity 1426066@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooh! I want to come shopping with you in Seattle, or Boston, or pretty well anywhere. Too bad I'm half a world away. I'll start saving up now... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/canus-shopping-and-perceived-value/page/2#post-1426062 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 23:56:39 +0000 Angie 1426062@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm inviting you ALL to come shop in the US with me in Seattle. I love shopping in Boston and Santa Monica too, so take your pick. xo </p>