Challenge conversion rate for Canadians?

Sure, the Canadian dollar is close to par now, but a decade ago you'd have been singing a different song. So don't turn down the offer of currency conversion.

The problem is that if you give Canadians a financial compensation for local costs, you have to do the same for everyone else. Those of us who live in the middle of nowhere in the US don't have access to the sort of swap meets and piles of circle track parts that are found elsewhere, so we have to pay more in transport fees. The poor folks in the rust belt have to deal with rust. Californians have to travel a long way to the Challenge. Quite a can of worms.

Canada does have some advantages, such as safety checks and rust. This will make some components available earlier than they would be elsewhere. Miatas are particularly more expensive for some reason (probably due to supply, they didn't sell as well per capita after the first few years and a lot got exported overseas), so I don't think it makes sense to use them as a benchmark.

Also, something I've learned from taking phone calls from all over the world: Canadians like to complain about high prices. Now that the dollar has come up, we don't hear that particular complaint any more. Now it's complaints about shipping costs. So no matter what GRM does, there will still be complaints about the disadvantaged Canadians. It's a bit embarrassing.

If the US-based builders can run in the under-$1000 class, then it should be possible for Canadians to build a car for twice that amount.

I built my challenge car for $1200 Canadian when it was at $.65. It can be done.

Per Schroeder wrote: pro-ject

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Traitor.

DeadSkunk wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: Traitor.

After witnessing the awesomeness of what Canadians can do for and with automobiles at Targa, he is worried that a Canadian horde would descend on the challenge and treat the competition like a bunch of baby seals.Best to be safe eh?

Keith Tanner wrote: Also, something I've learned from taking phone calls from all over the world: Canadians like to complain about high prices. Now that the dollar has come up, we don't hear that particular complaint any more. Now it's complaints about shipping costs. So no matter what GRM does, there will still be complaints about the disadvantaged Canadians. It's a bit embarrassing.

Embarrassing is the way American based businesses often treat Canadians. On Friday, I asked a well known Illinois business a simple question. While you mention international shipping, you don't say which method is available. Is it possible for you to ship US post, as UPS will essentially double the cost of the order?

The response

Guy who ain't getting my business said: Mike, I would say about 1/4 of our orders are shipped to Canada. So Canadians are clearly paying for the shipping. You can ship USPS, but that is no more affordable. Most UPS packages to Canada run around 24.00 to 28.00. What are you trying to order that the shipping will "double the cost of the order"? Matrix Bike Stands or something else really big? You must be talking about the "Brokerage Fees"! That's a Canada thing. About oh... one in 100 or so packages get hit with that. And YES that Brokerage is a pretty crappy thing. You should speak to your elected officials about repealing that. ALL shippers will get hit with that. Doesn't matter who you ship with. It's the sneaky secret tariff that Canada imposes on importers. It's basically government organized legal crime. You have a right to be upset by brokerage fees.

THAT is embarrassing.

He really wrote exactly that? How very professional... UPS has well documented extortion/brokerage fees. USPS is much, much better as you know...

It's never Canadian bacon, since the bacon in question has no citizenship.