[Ti] iTunes bypassing Canada [OT - RANT]

[T Molnar]

I generally agree with Murray's observation that something is Whacky 
with the Apple-Canada connection as it concerns iTunes and pricing 
generally and particularly how Apple operates in the Education realm in 
Canada  (or increasingly doesn't,  as pc's are replacing them - I know 
I have seen it happening at least in my neck of the woods).

I would also agree that its unlikely CRTC rulings alone are holding up 
Apple iTunes  in Canada.  It's likely Apple's proprietary (?) leanings 
that are the road block.  Relying totally on anecdotal evidence I would 
say Apple (once very common here in education areas) has given up the 
ghost pretty well.  Too bad because the people I have worked with and 
met from Apple Canada were some of the most passionate and devoted 
users I have run across.

iTunes? It would be nice to have it up and running, but .Mac i 
definitely like and use.

Passing the Canadian channel when buying computer related items is 
something I have done as well at times.  Apple Canada and Apple (USA) 
do things which often seem discontinuous.

I have sometimes got better deals from places like Smalldog, OWC, etc.. 
than I get from Canadian retailers, or Apple Canada.
With the Free Trade Act  its supposed to be all one big market in North 
America (there is no duty charged on camera/computer stuff coming into 
Canada from the US) but this isn't how its played out.

Even with companies like ATI who had their origins in Canada, a few 
years ago when I was buying vid cards I could buy cheaper in the US 
than from in Canada (where they had their head office), and the 
difference was like $ 100.

It's ironic that some in the Apple world complain about others 
providing no service or less service or software etc.. because of 
Apple's "small" installed base (i.e its a windows world etc...), yet 
Apple turns around because of "size" (?) and provides lower quality 
access to a "small" market (i.e. Canada).  That's business I suppose.

Canadians do have money to spend on Apple products and as far as I know 
despite being coloured funny its something any company would like to 
get hold of.

cheers all
tim

On 1-Jul-04, at 2:31 PM, Murray Kastner wrote:

> As a Canadian and a user of Macintoshes since the 128k (still have 
> it!) I can attest to the fact that Apple Canada seems to march to its 
> own drummer. On one hand they have different market forces and a 
> variety of governmental hoops to hop through but on the other hand 
> they can be somewhat obdurate and rather high-handed. I was 'forced' 
> to buy a PowerBook in the USA two years ago when Apple Canada refused 
> to readjust their prices in keeping with the rather drastic 
> realignment in currency exchange rates. Although I am usually a loyal 
> customer through my dealer here in Montreal, I could not ignore the 
> fact that Apple Canada maintained their price structure far too long 
> and I was able to save more than $1000.00 bypassing the Canadian 
> channel. Since I also have a residence in the USA, I was able to do it 
> but they did not make friends of the people who had no options but to 
> overpay or switch platforms. The windows boxes kept pace with the 
> currency changes.