Why are books more expensive in Canada?

Answer 1

It's not the exchange rate. At the moment, the American dollar is worth $1.14 in canadian money, so yours is more valuable.

Part of the cost is due to the major publishers all being American. The shipping alone for heavy items like books is a killer. Publishers have to factor in the discount they will give retailers, and it has to be attractive enough that Canadian chains and stores will want to order from them.

When a publisher sets two prices on a book cover, for the U.S. and Canadian market, they try and hit a level that will cover any small fluctuations on the exchange rate. For example, a book that is $10 in the US, would currently cost about $11.40 in Canada. So the publisher would fix the price at a wide enough margin to protect themselves from having to incur the cost of a cover change, should the rate rise dramatically. So in Canada that book would likely sell for around $12.95 or $13.95.

Ever wonder why books are .99 or .95? Because they can be advertised as under X dollars, and because a "partial" dollar price is more attractive to consumers.

Answer 2

Maybe it's because dollar in Canada is more expensive than the U.S.
Just like here in my country, the Philippines, a dollar costs about 50 pesos. A 10 dollar book from America might cost 500 pesos in the Philippines.

Answer 3

the price on the back of the book is listed in american dollars and in canadian dollars. canadian dollars are worth less than american dollars, so it takes more of them to buy the same thing.

*****
the american dollar is equal to 1.15 canadian dollars. so, for example, a book that would be $10 in the usa would be $10 x 1.5= $15 canadian dollars. the previous answer may be right that there are higher costs to sell in canada, but he/she is incorrect about the exchange rate.

Answer 4

It's just the exchange rate...

Answer 5

they've got higher taxes then the states do

Answer 6

taxes