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: How does Chapters stay in business?


Death2Theft
01-05-2012, 08:26 PM
When they still charge us like our dollar is only worth 60 cents on the USD?

akalic
01-05-2012, 08:27 PM
cause they sell books and people like books

RRxtar
01-05-2012, 08:27 PM
yuppies

Lomac
01-05-2012, 08:53 PM
It has nothing to do with Chapters (or Coles or Black Bond Books or...)... it has to do with the publishers setting the prices. Frankly, I'm not going to drive down to the states to save $2 on a $12 paperback novel. Time and convenience > Saving pennies.

Yes, places like Costco have better pricing but their selection is very limited.

dinosaur
01-05-2012, 09:04 PM
I shop online with them...usually they have pretty good deals. If I ever shop in the store, I stick to the bargain section.

unit
01-05-2012, 10:12 PM
yeah i cant stand the pricing on books.
also indigo.chapters or whatever has way lower prices than the chapters store, and chapters wont match those prices.

boatcaptain
01-05-2012, 10:23 PM
go to public library?! save more money!!

Hondaracer
01-05-2012, 11:15 PM
yea the prices are pretty rediculous, the only time i buy from chapters is if i really want it right now, or cant find it elsewhere

ive bought box sets of books off ebay for $15 total for a brand new box set of 3 books where EACH book at chapters was $25

iwantaskyline
01-06-2012, 12:08 AM
amazon.ca

StylinRed
01-06-2012, 12:08 AM
yeah the difference in the CAN$ and the US$ is pretty ridiculous @ times

and you can save if you buy online or from amazon but if you like books you cant resist going through a bookstore and picking some up right away

Ludepower
01-07-2012, 12:21 PM
Chapters has the book market covered in Canada.
Retail prices are ridiculous but their online pricing is fairly competitive against amazon

Mr.HappySilp
01-07-2012, 01:09 PM
I usually buy thier books online. Is not like I need it right away. Most of them is for school anyways so they can wait.......

I maybe setp foot in cheapters every months read what books they have and if I liek it I order online.

Gumby
01-07-2012, 01:26 PM
When they still charge us like our dollar is only worth 60 cents on the USD?
The reason products in Canada cost more than those in the US, even though our currency is almost at par, is because the Canadian government charges taxes/duties to bring goods into the country. Don't blame the retailer, blame the government.

Also, the size of the Canadian market is tiny compared to that of the US. That's also why we have a much smaller selection of goods.

Redlines_Daily
01-07-2012, 01:34 PM
^many books that are published in Canada still have the same pricing scheme. Also, Canadian books that are sold in the US dont have a a 20% price increase over their canadian counterparts, yet still face the same taxes/duties.

Nightwalker
01-07-2012, 01:45 PM
I get Chapters giftcards at xmas sometimes. I only use them online, prices don't seem that bad. Shame you can't get online prices in the stores I guess.

taylor192
01-07-2012, 02:57 PM
amazon.ca

amazon.com

I have a Kindle and buy books online. eBooks are cheaper, and its super easy to order from amazon.com and pay US prices.

Boostaholic
01-07-2012, 05:48 PM
Borders is a big bookstore chain in the states that recently closed down. As more people move towards purchasing ebooks with eReaders or Tablets, Chapters either need to pivot or they might end up just like Boarders.

iwantaskyline
01-07-2012, 05:49 PM
I still prefer an old fashioned paper book. I've tried an e-reader and I just can't get use to it. Even though I would save a ton of money...

tegz
01-07-2012, 06:04 PM
How do they stay in business when amazon.ca beats their prices, and amazon.com beats their prices by even more while still delivering to Canada I will never know.

I guess people like the experience of going in and checking out the different sections and reading them a bit before purchasing the book. As for me, I only buy books on recommendations or after reading some reviews so I know what I want before I go in the store.

Death2Theft
01-07-2012, 07:15 PM
Really? What do you make of that thing they call a "free trade agreement" then? Does it not apply?
The reason products in Canada cost more than those in the US, even though our currency is almost at par, is because the Canadian government charges taxes/duties to bring goods into the country. Don't blame the retailer, blame the government.

Also, the size of the Canadian market is tiny compared to that of the US. That's also why we have a much smaller selection of goods.

bloodmack
01-07-2012, 07:44 PM
Only books i ever buy are informative and not like guiness world record.. stuff like 40 laws of power etc.

I like the kindle but having the physical book is just more appealing to me. also in 40 years time books will be a thing of that past :P.

Gumby
01-07-2012, 08:16 PM
Really? What do you make of that thing they call a "free trade agreement" then? Does it not apply?
Ok I'll be the first to admit that I'm not an expert at this stuff, but in general, Canadian taxes are higher than US taxes, no?

Another point to consider is that the CDN dollar isn't *really* going up, instead the US dollar has been going down.

And because our market is so small, there just isn't as much competition here in Canada.

unit
01-07-2012, 10:26 PM
How do they stay in business when amazon.ca beats their prices, and amazon.com beats their prices by even more while still delivering to Canada I will never know.

I guess people like the experience of going in and checking out the different sections and reading them a bit before purchasing the book. As for me, I only buy books on recommendations or after reading some reviews so I know what I want before I go in the store.

certain books you really should read a little of first before buying. that being said, if you can wait then just go read it in store, then buy it on amazon.ca

Anjew
01-07-2012, 11:30 PM
taylor using the kindle imo is the BEST option.

once i switched to e-reader, hard copy was a thing of the past.

Ludepower
01-08-2012, 02:13 AM
Im not a fan of the kindle or ebooks....if your going to read from a screen...why not just read it off your computer monitor.

Having a physical book and building a library collection appeals to me.

quasi
01-08-2012, 07:02 AM
I go to Chapters and browse for what I want then I go home and order it through Amazon for half the price. The prices that Chapters charges for books is retarded.

geeknerd
01-08-2012, 09:06 AM
I go to Chapters and browse for what I want then I go home and order it through Amazon for half the price. The prices that Chapters charges for books is retarded.

This is kinda what I do for a lot of the things i buy. I check prices on the internet first. shopbot.ca or amazon etc. i also check US prices for big purchases