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-   -   Dollars equal Today! (https://www.fodors.com/community/canada/dollars-equal-today-737805/)

NeoPatrick Sep 20th, 2007 02:56 PM

Dollars equal Today!
 
So Canadians, is it a good thing or a bad thing that today for the first time since God knows when our dollars became equal?

Seems really bizarre with so many things priced higher in Cadadian dollars that US dollars. Greeting cards and books for starters.

irecommend Sep 20th, 2007 03:17 PM

We have been promised more price equalization and the public at large will not be too happy if there is none. I have been a vocal opponent as I live on the border and refuse to pay Canadian Pier One prices on identical items I could purchase at quite a bit less with a 10 minute drive.

kodi Sep 20th, 2007 04:04 PM

I am VERY happy. I know there are serious downfalls, but for me personally, I'm thrilled. I go to the States often and this will mean I can go more often.

It's all over the news here today.

It is very frustrating to have to pay so much more for items like magazines and greeting cards.
Even crossing the border hasn't caught up. Last week I crossed the border. The fee is paid as you return to Canada. There is a big sign stating the toll. $2.50 US and $3.50 Canadian. HUH??? Crazy.

I bought perfume in the US last week. $25 dollars cheaper than in Canada.

But, I'm still thrilled and will look forward to my trips to the USA!


danon Sep 20th, 2007 04:06 PM

good for visiting New York,
bad for our exporters to the US (manufacturing jobs).

April Sep 20th, 2007 06:13 PM

I'm quite happy about it. It is high time book and greeting card companies got with it though. I'm avoiding buying them at full price until they do.

toedtoes Sep 20th, 2007 06:57 PM

As a frequent visitor to Canada, I am actually happy to see this happen. I think Canada's had a bad shake for a long time with the exchange rate and it's nice to see them get something back finally.

gannetmusic Sep 21st, 2007 02:53 AM

This is a serious blow to Canada's manufacturing sector [especially here in Ontario] and tourism. Not good news.

Jerry

traveller69 Sep 21st, 2007 07:05 AM

OK - I am confused Kodi. We live on the border as well and travel south all the time. We have never had to pay a fee????

Other than that it is great news for us as we spend 6 mos in our place in S. Arizona. That makes it great now but the kicker is we paid for it when the dollar was about 25% lower. We toughed it out when we were paying almost 60% for awhile. Bottom line for us is - we have a travel budget so now we just get a lot more for out money.


ShelliDawn Sep 21st, 2007 08:06 AM

It's both a good and bad thing. Good for some industries, bad for others. And when the dollar was low, it was the same thing, just in reverse.

I'll be more happy about it when the prices have been equalized, but according to the news last night, we shouldn't expect that for at least 6 months.

NeoPatrick Sep 21st, 2007 08:13 AM

I think Kodi was quoting a toll charge with two different rates -- like for a bridge -- not an actual fee for entering Canada.

bob_brown Sep 21st, 2007 12:12 PM

There was a time when those of us who lived in the United States referred to the "Third World." The rate at which the dollar is declining may well demote us to at least "Second World."

Haughty Americans should take note of the fact that the once might US dollar has sunk to new lows against just about all of the world's major currencies: these include the British pound, the euro, and the Swiss franc.

When you consider the fact that a luggage emergency forced us to buy a new suitcase in Edinburgh. After some shopping, the best we could find was on sale at 75£ which equated to $151.00 US. We looked at the price, compared the alternatives, and made our forced choice. We cringed but bought the sale item. Short of a cardboard box, we could do no better.

When traveling in Europe I now feel like the pauper class.

kodi Sep 21st, 2007 02:13 PM

Thank you Patrick. Yes, I meant the bridge toll coming back across from Lewiston.

icithecat Sep 22nd, 2007 09:09 PM

Just returned from two weeks on the coast of Oregon and Califoria spending those greenpesos.

Royal Sep 24th, 2007 11:10 AM

I for one am happy with the dollar's climb. We spend 3 months of the winter in Naples Fl and it will be great to save money on our rental and all the other purchases we make.

For years we have vacationed in the States and have cringed at the exchange rate we had to pay.

Am really looking forward to finally being on an equal footing.

Hope it lasts.


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