Economic equality
For the casual consumer, the times are changing. Not too long ago, those in large urban centers had a real advantage in pricing for many articles. I’ve been buying photographic equipment sporadically for better than thirty years. I grew up with the belief that the best prices were to be found in the nether pages of Popular Photography magazine (meaning in the stores that have doors on Times Square). I even ordered stuff via a slow boat from China. Little empirical proof to offer; just belief.
I spent this morning and afternoon as a virtual shopper. After all, the Internet gives me access to price quotes from all over the continent. Even better, Skype allows me to phone and ask pointed questions of real people, who often will give insights that are more timely than even the dynamic web pages. “We’re backorder on that item until the third week of January” is not part of the web designer vocabulary set.
What I learned is that, finally, we are getting better prices for equipment than our American neighbours, even before exchange is factored in. Prices are now uniform, to the cent, across the country. And, best of all, sometimes stuff is in stock here in the city that will be unavailable elsewhere for weeks to come.
Starting late last week, I purchased a new camera at a local furniture store for exactly the same price quoted in other major cities. I then purchased a lens from a company in Toronto that I have used as a bellwether for decades. The price difference after taxation boundaries and shipping are tossed around in the money blender; nil. I then purchased a second lens (that is out of stock pretty much everywhere) at the original furniture store. The “in and out in fifteen minutes” experience of buying over the counter was less stressful than waiting on our friends at Canada Post, who might mix my address up with someone in a different city (not likely, but I am a careful shopper).
I’m now deeper in debt than a week ago, but I have a brand new camera and I have supported a local merchant. I have satisfied my “greener pastures” question with proof. Everything costs the same everywhere. The Internet has brought economic equality to my town. Or, is this proof of price fixing and monopolistic practices? How paranoid should I be? Nah, not worth the money any more.
