Canada: The Shopping Culture Wars
Hello folks, and Happy New Year!!
I know it’s been a long time since you last got to fall asleep over the drivel I write. Let me make up an excuse;
I am currently residing in the states with my wife as we await the arrival of our first child. I have been terribly busy and my life is vastly changing in ways I could not imagine and so I have neglected Origami terribly. Our poor Blue State Cowgirl has been forced to pick up the slack.
Thank you BSC! I owe you one.
Now, I wish to discuss an important diplomatic problem between my native home and the U.S. of A.
In an old episode of the Simpsons, good ol’ Homer referred to my native home as America Junior. I don’t remember the response from my fellow Canadians when this episode aired, but I’m sure someone was insulted and pissed.
Not me.
I have always enjoyed what my neighbour to the South has offered product wise and I happily smile when some American mistakes Canada for the 51st state, thinks we are a part of Europe, thinks we live in a frozen wasteland or another continent altogether.
I just smile and nod. I smile because I have an ulterior motive, Americans have some good s**t.
As a child my family would go on trips to Florida and my older sister and I would always know when we really reached the states (the border crossing, though an obvious clue, didn’t cut it) by the cool and different candy bars which we couldn’t get back at home.
These feelings extend to this day, but my joy in having access to such culinary goodies is offset by a frightening realization…
Canada is a stupid bunch of culture racists who are afraid of America’s influence at the same time trying to emulate them. And all us Canadians pay the price, literally, since all your goods are sold at a rate much higher then what you see in your native land.
This is the diplomatic snafu! And my own country is behind it. Canada is denying its citizens valuable trade goods via higher prices.
Case in point — All these items can be currently found on Amazon.com as of this article.
PRISON BREAK (SEASON 2) DVD currently sells for $40.99
24 (SEASON 6) DVD currently sells for $37.99
PLAYSTATION 3 currently sells for $499.00
Now look at the prices for their counterparts on Amazon.ca, the Canadian equivalent.
PRISON BREAK (SEASON 2) DVD currently sells for CDN $89.98 CDN $57.99
24 (SEASON 6) DVD currently sells for CDN $59.48
PLAYSTATION 3 currently sells for CDN $499.99
Notice something rather odd here? The DVD packs are marked up by at least 10 (or if you have noticed out the scratched price) to 40 dollars here. Because I’m Canadian I get the privilege of paying 40 dollars more for Prison Break.
The Playstation 3 difference seems more stable, only a buck, but at a price of 500 dollars, I doubt any kid in Canada would buy a PS 3 for 800 dollars. No mark up there, but why is there one for items under a hundred?
If you’ve been to a Chapters, you’ll have noticed that books are often marked up by at least 10 dollars between the borders. Hell I even remember comic books costing a few cents more as a kid. WTF?
Sure food isn’t marked up, but don’t get me started on the selections available to me. Despite NAFTA we Canucks still have a hard time finding a number of items easily purchased here in the US. (I’m guessing for the sake of our national identity.)
As a kid I grew up missing dozens of sweet cereals, some of which are not even available for purchase to this day. I’m 35 years for the record.
I never heard of Edward’s Pies until I came here.
For those Canucks who used to enjoy Keebler Munch ‘Em’s, those tasty cracker -slash- chip they were discontinued a few years ago apparently. I used to travel to Plattsburgh to get mine since they were never sold up north.
Those Keebler Elves really have it rough, it seems there’s an embargo on all elf goods, pretty much the entire Keebler line is AWOL in Canada. The only item I’ve ever seen there is waffle cones. Poor elves must have angered the wrong Prime Minister to be treated so unfairly.
Pillsbury Toaster Strudels? Well we DO have them in Canada, but only 2 flavors. Strawberry and Apple. How many flavors exist in America? Let me see…
Apple, Blueberry, Cinnamon Roll with Cinnabun, Cinnamon, Cherry, French Toast, Raspberry, Strawberry, Strawberry Banana, Wildberry, Danish Style Cream Cheese and Cream Cheese & Strawberry.
Damn! That’s a slightly longer list than we get.
Why is this? Can someone explain to me why I’m denied foods because they don’t fit the criteria of the Canadian culture? Assuming we even have one at all. It seems to me that Canada is doing the very same thing Quebec does whenever a new federal program is formed. Quebec takes the money, utilizes the program’s objective and for the sake of their non-existent culture adds a Quebec or some other derivative title to the program name.
This is so stupid! Makes me laugh, cry and lust for a slice of pie all at the same time.
We Canadians are adored all over the world for our legendary politeness and aura of nicety. At the same time we are mocked for being wannabes in the world’s cafeteria. I, for one, prefer to be sitting with the cool kids at this moment.
I bid adieu,
your Origami reporter,
L.Manly
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Topics: Travel, Politics, Uncategorized |
2 Responses to “Canada: The Shopping Culture Wars”
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January 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Wait a minute: you as a Canadian are craving American junk food, Playstations and low-grade TV? Why do other countries always co-opt our crap while never touching the good stuff we produce? It drives me crazy that the Brits would send over Masterpiece Theater and we’d happy ask for Dukes of Hazzard in return. What about Lonesome Dove, Kerouac and Thanksgiving Dinner? Those things never make it outside our borders.
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Dearest Cowgirl,
I’m not actually a player of the PS2 or 3 or the Xbox. I may not be a fan of Masterpiece Theatre yes, but the item in question was not in question.
The point of my complaint was not so much what one purchases but the higher price for the same thing in my native land and I think we’re getting screwed.
Ah well.
Say hi to Sonoma for me.
L. Manly