The Canadian Dollar has went up in the past few weeks, making it worth our while to buy pins in the U.S. .
I was wondering if anyone here has a notion of what could be waiting for us in the near future (next month or so).

I want to know if I should buy now or wait a little and buy later to save on a game worth lots of $$$.

Thanks for the info.
Claude.

Simply put the US dollar will weaken over the next 3-5 years, however there will be large fluctiations up and down. It is more than likely we will see the Canadian Dollar at par or better to the US dollar. With that said our government is working hard to devalue our dollar as we are an exporting nation and a strong Canadian dollar is not good for the health of our economy.

My opinion is that you have a long time to buy pins in the US and you have the luxury of time. This exchange rates will likely stay strong for many years but as I said with strong moves up and down. If you feel we will have an election next summer in Canada then you should not wait longer than March to make purchases.

My money is staying in Canada and I would not buy US dollars at this time.

Now for the math. If you find a good deal in the US.

For every $100 at 1.043 (There are fees so the best you can do is about 1.05 after fees)

$105
plus 13% tax at the border
for a total of $118.65 for every $100 US

This makes a $1000USD machine about $1186.50 plus the cost of picking it up or shipping

If the exchange rate falls to par then you are at $113 for every $100USD or
For a $1000USD machine about $1130.0 plus the cost of picking it up or shipping.

In other words if you find a good deal you can calculate the difference between buying in Canada or the US. No tax on a Canadian sale.  Waiting may save you $50 but it is likely not worth it given the risk. If you are looking at expensive or multiple machines it may be worth waiting until the spring.

My 2cents

Bonjour Claude,

The loonie is expected to continue to gain strength for the next 12 months at least. (more accurately, it is the USD losing strength)
However in the next month or two its going to swing up or down one or two cents at best.
For one or two pinball machines that is only $50-$100 difference.

Should Israel invade Iran, North Korea invade South Korea, China invade Taiwan, Pakistan get taken over by radicals, muslims invade Switzerland, or some other stupid things happen, all predictions are out the window.

Cheers,

The US dollar is over!  The world is beginning it's shift away from backing it's own individual currencies with the green-back.  The US keeps printing more dollars to get itself out of it's own debt, and the debt held by others (i.e. china, japan, middle east, etc) is getting smaller and smaller... why would anyone back their currency with a dollar that can not be supported or is not stable?  The world will be moving back to metals like gold & Silver.  No longer will the US be at the economic center of the world.  They are about to become just an average upper class nation similar to England.  

I wonder if the average US folk even realize it's coming....  ROME fell, so will the US, it's inevitable.

China and India are the next economic powers    (SCARY I KNOW!!!)

So basically, buy now or wait and get a marginally better deal in a few months... or wait a year or two and get a fabulous deal..... However if you wait, inflation will also creep up on up....

I'd act now, but that may be because I am ADHD as everyone knows.

My opinion is that the Canadian dollar will reach par with the US dollar.  However our politicians will find a way to do something stupid in an effort to reduce the value of our currency.  Define "something stupid"?  Your guess is as good as mine but Canadian politics have already alluded to "drastic" measures if the Canadian dollar stays at such high values.  I don't believe this will happen any time soon but sometime around summer 2010 when our dollar goes higher and higher with the price of oil they will do something to collapse it dratically.

Just my opinion - but if you find a good deal now at $1.05 exchange I would go for it.  Waiting for the 5-10% increase is probably not worth it and when our dollar does get there I expect it to be short lived with a quick turn back downwards

A week and a half ago the Canadian dollar was at 1.06 for each U.S. dollar, and now it's at 1.04 for each U.S. dollar, just that 2 cents saves me 200$, each penny saves me 100$ on my game.

Should I buy now, or wait a month or two?

I'd surely would much rather buy in Canada.....But this game is impossible to find, even in the U.S. ....

For a penny to save you 100 you have to be buying a machine worth $10,000. If that is the case who cares about $100. Just buy it.

Quoted from Jester

For a penny to save you 100 you have to be buying a machine worth $10,000. If that is the case who cares about $100. Just buy it.

In fact I'm paying 6500$ USD for it.

If the Canadian dollar reaches par with the American dollar, I can save 400$ extra, and that's not nothing.

If I can save 200$ to 400$ dollars I'll be patient and wait, I have a deposit given for it, the game is mine anyway...

Quoted from ALJO

In fact I'm paying 6500$ USD for it.

If the Canadian dollar reaches par with the American dollar, I can save 400$ extra, and that's not nothing.

If I can save 200$ to 400$ dollars I'll be patient and wait, I have a deposit given for it, the game is mine anyway...

Remember that you also save that amount in tax at the border as well so $400 saved = $452 saved

I had some money sitting in case I wanted to buy US dollars. As of yet don't see any reason to pull the trigger. My adviser thinks the US$ will drop a bit below the CDN$ in the new year.

Our government will try to lower our currency to protect exports but with interest rates already very low, there is a definite limit to what they can do to further control this.

People at my work say they will "just print money" and circulate it through elaborate government funded programs. Not so sure it's that simple. Now, if the Liberals had a majority govt. that sounds more likely. But, thats not likely (is it?)

Everything that is sure is that nothing is for sure.  Yes the dollar is expected to stay strong but can YOU afford to wait and can YOU stomach the risk?  You said every cent count but you are gambling!  Do not expect that the dollars will gain 10 cents or loose the same overnight although it is not impossible it is very unlikely so I guess in the end it is YOUR call but I would go for it right not and keep the remaining brown hair on my head brown and not help them turn white.

take care

Ya, there's no guaruntees when predicted things like prices. If people absolutely knew that the Canadian dollar would go to par with the American dollar, investors would have purchased our currency in droves, and we'd be there by now.