Canada sucks for musicians. Here's proof.

[ThePresident777]

Las time I was in the local l&m, a road worn jazz was almost $1500. Over $1600 after tax for a mim bass.

I am in the market for another bass and wanted to buy Canadian made, all I can find is 3 options. Godin, which doesn't have a model that speaks to me, F-bass and Dingwall, also mucho $$$$ for Canadian made.

The cost of living in Canada is terribly high. I am tired of it as well.

Google poverty and look at the images. Then tell me about the costs of living in Canada.

I'm not justifying Canadian prices. I'm taking exception to the narrowness of your view on costs of living. It's a bit in the First World Problems zone. Civilization is a wonderful thing and it's not cheap.

 

[stringthrough]

But you get free health care. Here in the US we pay for ours so count your blessings.

 

[StayLow]

Stopped in a Long & McQuade with my son and found a Fender Rumble 200.
After taxes $689!View attachment 835756
What a frickin' rip off.
A 200w combo amp for almost 7 bills?
In the states these are $449 and no tax if online.
Just sick of this crap.

Learn basic math.

$449 USD is *exactly* $609 CAD at current exchange rate.

Most major manufacturers, including Fender, dictate the selling price so that all dealers are on even footing, so it's normal for the US and Canadian prices at retail to be the basically the same.

As for taxes, the U.S. doesn't have "free" health care. Enjoy!

 

[DerekW]

Yeah, "free" healthcare. Sometimes you get what you pay for though.

Like 6 hours in an ER waiting room.
Tests kept to the bare minimum.
Beds in hallways. Budget cuts with nurse understaffing. The "Canadian brain drain" with doctors leaving for the US where they can make real money. Not being able to find a personal physician as they are maxed out with patients (salary caps) and a huge percentage getting close to retirement, with few new doctors coming in.

Don't get me wrong, you can walk into a hospital with a broken arm, and walk out later that day in a cast, and all you have to do is flash your card.

But medications aren't covered, so you still have to pay for those.

 

[shawshank72]

In Canada I would be looking at Traynor amps. I have both a Traynor SB115 and a Fender Rumble 100 v3. Both excellent combos but clearly the Traynor is superior. L&M stocks these. They are hard to find here in the US, (NY). Just a siuggestion based on my personal experience.

I own the sb115. Blows the rumble away i agree. Wasnt shopping per say just observing.

 

[StayLow]

I dunno why this is thread worthy, really... It's not like you don't have options: buy used or move south.

Yes, the $$$ situation sucks but it is what it is. I'll repeat: do not buy new, tons of good deals in the used market. And trust me, it is a buyer's market right now, some sellers are getting desperate to move their stuff.

I absolutely love my american neighbors but I won't complain about my canadian situation and it would need something life changing for me to move south.

Stop looking at what you don't have and get creative, there's good stuff out there in our country.

You seriously think people can just "move south"?

Employed taxpaying people from safe countries that share a common culture and language can't simply move to the States.

 

[bass12]

Well, it could be worse. You could be in Australia shopping for music equipment.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

Yeah, "free" healthcare. Sometimes you get what you pay for though.

Like 6 hours in an ER waiting room.
Tests kept to the bare minimum.
Beds in hallways. Budget cuts with nurse understaffing. The "Canadian brain drain" with doctors leaving for the US where they can make real money. Not being able to find a personal physician as they are maxed out with patients (salary caps) and a huge percentage getting close to retirement, with few new doctors coming in.

Don't get me wrong, you can walk into a hospital with a broken arm, and walk out later that day in a cast, and all you have to do is flash your card.

But medications aren't covered, so you still have to pay for those.

This. I lived in the States for 14 years. Had to pay for a health care plan. Covered everything, glasses, dental, eye care, prescriptions, chiropractic, all of which are not covered by state run health care in Canada. And the cost of the plan was WAY less than the difference in taxes. And to top it off, I could buy a case of Molson Canadian imported from Canada for just over half what it costs in Ontario.

 

[shawshank72]

Learn basic math.

$449 USD is *exactly* $609 CAD at current exchange rate.

Most major manufacturers, including Fender, dictate the selling price so that all dealers are on even footing, so it's normal for the US and Canadian prices at retail to be the basically the same.

As for taxes, the U.S. doesn't have "free" health care. Enjoy!

13% taxes on everything is not free.

 

[shawshank72]

Yeah, "free" healthcare. Sometimes you get what you pay for though.

Like 6 hours in an ER waiting room.
Tests kept to the bare minimum.
Beds in hallways. Budget cuts with nurse understaffing. The "Canadian brain drain" with doctors leaving for the US where they can make real money. Not being able to find a personal physician as they are maxed out with patients (salary caps) and a huge percentage getting close to retirement, with few new doctors coming in.

Don't get me wrong, you can walk into a hospital with a broken arm, and walk out later that day in a cast, and all you have to do is flash your card.

But medications aren't covered, so you still have to pay for those.

Exactly!
Doctor retired and now im on 3 waiting lists for over 3 months.
Only option is wait till my condition worsens then go to emergency.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

excuse me!?

 

[StayLow]

13% taxes on everything is not free.

That's why I put "free" in quotes.

Anyway it's far more than 13%. You're paying maybe 40% on income, and on what's left over you're paying taxes on ever cent you spend including on the electricity to power the combo and the gas to drive to the store to buy it.

Your post was mainly about the combo's price, and as I pointed out that price identical to the price in the States.

BTW, many states have sale tax too. Including if you buy online.

 

[GoLeafsGo]

I looked at Godin once also. Not worth the + $1000 IMO.
Also..... Whats with the ego of puting their name all over the bass?
Headstock, pickup, other pickup, pickguard and or body.
Wow.

Love mine. It was quite a bit less than an MIA P, and every bit it's equal in terms of fit, finish, quality of electronics and components. And much better (for me) neck. Also, you forgot to mention the name on the strap too! I love the look.

 

[joebar]

I dunno why this is thread worthy, really

have you seen some of the posts that passes for threads around here?
this one is totally legit.

 

[ZenG]

L&M buys all it's basses from the U.S. (except Canadian-made ones). They buy them in US dollars. They also aren't on top of the pecking order because bigger chains in the U.S. have first dibs.

I guess for some reason the bass makers won't ship direct to L&M in Canada.

But when our dollar was at/near par with the US a while ago I didn't see the chains in Canada offering any spectacular deals. The prices still went up anyway.

As I mentioned before the Ibby SR500 is now going for near $1000 dollars here. And the price of that has been going up regardless of what the Can/US dollar exchange is.

And you don't just "up and move to the USA".....it isn't that simple.

Truth be told, I don't think L&M really gives much of a crap about basses anyway from my dealings...Tom Lee Co. is even worse nowadays.

If you think you're just going to whistle through the classifieds and get a fantastic deal on music gear...guess again. I haven't found anything in there yet here.

 

[Rogatien022]

You seriously think people can just "move south"?

Employed taxpaying people from safe countries that share a common culture and language can't simply move to the States.

Jeez man, it's saturday, take it easy. Do you really think I was being serious? Come on folks.

I was just pointing out that we have options, YOU decide to buy new gear or YOU decide to buy used gear. People need to stop being victims because we ain't. We all know it's more expensive up here in Canada, we all know all gear ain't easy to find here, but you got options, alternatives.

Come on folks, I don't see anyone in here on this very board as "poor". I can understand the rant about stuff being expensive - heck everything is expensive to some level - but come on, don't victimize yourselves.

Buy used and local, it's the best way to stretch your dollar. I hate to see our canadian dollar that low, it means that instead of going on vacation to my southern neighbors, I will chose to spend my money right here in Canada. I could also stay home and watch the rain or tv, I could also choose to skip vacations and work... I'm sure you get my point: we have options. So, instead of ranting about this and that, why not spend some positive energies on all the alternatives we have?

OP, if you REALLY want to buy new from L&M, save up some more and go back to the store. It's really simple.

 

[ZenG]

I suggest you shop around online for a better price. Once you have a lower price go to L&M and show it to them. They'll price match. Doing that has saved me a lot of money over the years when buying there.

TD

So they'll match a US advertised price dollar for dollar in Canadian? (50 bucks equals 50 bucks etc etc). I can't see that happening......

 

[StayLow]

Jeez man, it's saturday, take it easy. Do you really think I was being serious? Come on folks.

A lot of people think it is that easy .... trying not to be political here ... the hassle at borders and the fact of who can or can't easily "move" across the border is a *very* sore spot for many. Rightly so, so tough to presume someone's kidding. Cheers.

 

[ZenG]

Jeez man, it's saturday, take it easy. Do you really think I was being serious? Come on folks.

I was just pointing out that we have options, YOU decide to buy new gear or YOU decide to buy used gear. People need to stop being victims because we ain't. We all know it's more expensive up here in Canada, we all know all gear ain't easy to find here, but you got options, alternatives.

Come on folks, I don't see anyone in here on this very board as "poor". I can understand the rant about stuff being expensive - heck everything is expensive to some level - but come on, don't victimize yourselves.

Buy used and local, it's the best way to stretch your dollar. I hate to see our canadian dollar that low, it means that instead of going on vacation to my southern neighbors, I will chose to spend my money right here in Canada. I could also stay home and watch the rain or tv, I could also choose to skip vacations and work... I'm sure you get my point: we have options. So, instead of ranting about this and that, why not spend some positive energies on all the alternatives we have?

OP, if you REALLY want to buy new from L&M, save up some more and go back to the store. It's really simple.

Buying used and local isn't the best way to shop where I live. It's the best way to get ripped off.

The point is the OP does NOT want to shop at L&M.....the prices are too high.

 

[Rogatien022]

A lot of people think it is that easy .... trying not to be political here ... the hassle at borders and the fact of who can or can't easily "move" across the border is a *very* sore spot for many. Rightly so, so tough to presume someone's kidding. Cheers.

I'm sure you do know some people that moved south because of all kinds of reasons. It's doable. Not saying it's easy but I know a couple of folks who did it for various reasons - and that was not the price of some amp lol!

Cheers back at ya!