A number of news releases clutter my in-box cross my desk on any given day, but this subject line caught my eye.
“Canadian Consumers Flock to Online U.S. Retailers as Canadian Dollar Strengthens”
The survey was conducted by Wishabi.ca, a social shopping service that provides intelligent shopping information. It’s an online shopping community that lets visitors evaluate the best bargains in the U.S. and Canada by comparing not only price, but also hidden costs (brokerage, duties, etc. when ordering across borders), whether or not the retailers have warranties, etc.
This survey of Wishabi.ca users found that six in ten community members research the U.S. price as part of their discovery, and 15% of those went on to purchase from a U.S.-based merchant. Some per-item discounts for cross-border purchases were more than 60% in certain categories.
“As the Canadian dollar approaches parity with the U.S. dollar, it’s not just our borders that are congested with Canadian shoppers heading south in search of a good deal. In the world of e-commerce, cross-border shopping is also booming,” says Wehuns Tan, Wishabi’s CEO. “Increasingly more consumers from across the country are going online and making the time to compare the deals offered by retailers on both sides of the border. As a result, over the past 30 days, we have seen a significant increase in the number of Canadians who are favouring purchases from U.S. retailers, particularly when it comes to electronics, fashion accessories and baby products.”
I’m particularly gun shy about online cross-border shopping having been burned by nasty duty charges in the past when catalogue shopping. However, it’s not just the thought of H1N1 germs that has me cringing at the thought of shopping malls this holiday season. So maybe sitting at home, surfing the net in the comfort of my pyjamas will be the solution to my Christmas shopping challenges.
How about you? Do you cross-border shop online? What are some of your favourite sites? Tell me about your best bargain!
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i have shopped online at llbean and landsend both when the dollar is at par and when they have free shipping. i love their clearance sections and have found super deals there. i have never had a problem with receiving the items or when i’ve had to make returns. they make it so easy for their customers.
i don’t care if the dollar was at $2.00, i still wouldn’t drive 2 hours out of my way for a pair of pants. i value my time more than anything and you can’t place a dollar value on that.
Since i had my third child in 2008, it’s harder and harder to get out and shop. i like to shop online. my fave is the u.s. site, http://www.garnethill.com
i love their women’s clothes, kids’ clothes and bedding. i also love jcrew for kids and adults, ll bean, and gymboree