Email I sent to Sal @ Zaino

Kewjoe · 08-31-07, 02:45

I sent this to Sal today. I'm hoping for a response. How does everyone else feel? See below

Quote:

Sal,

You may not respond to this, but I'll give it another shot. I work better with numbers and I need you to see where I'm coming from. I wouldn't make this fuss if I didn't like your product. Once you see the evidence you'll understand how difficult it is for us Canadians to continue to buy Zaino. I'm going to use some of your direct competition to better illustrate the problem at hand.

Currency Conversion done with: XE.com - Universal Currency Converter

Zaino: (source: USD - Zaino Store, CDN - Welcome to Zaino Canada - Show Car Polish Web Site)

Z-AIO:
US: $26.95 USD or $28.45 CDN
Can: $32.95 CDN

Difference: $4.50 CDN

Z-CS:
US: $29.95 USD or $31.62 CDN
Can: $36.95 CDN

Difference: $5.33 CDN

Ordering Z-CS + Z-AIO (US shipped to Miami, Can shipped to Toronto)
US: $65.85 USD or $69.55 CDN
Can: $93.37 CDN

Difference: $23.82 CDN !!!! <-- this is the issue at hand!

Optimium: (source: USD - We Are Car Care ! Car Wax - Car Polish - Auto Detailing Supplies & Car Accessories, CDN - eShine Canada- Canada's Car Care Leader.)

Poli-Seal:
US: $19.99 USD or $21.10 CDN
Can: $23.99 CDN

Difference: $2.89 CDN

Opti-Seal:
US: $24.99 USD or $26.38 CDN
Can: $27.99 CDN

Difference: $1.61 CDN

Ordering Optimum PS + OS (US shipped to Miami, Can shipped to Toronto)
US: $57.10 USD or $60.31 CDN
Can: $65.81 CDN

Difference: $5.50 CDN

As you can see above, I have to pay $23.82 CDN more than Americans do to buy the same two products of Zaino. I think that is ridiculous! Sal, I'm at a crossroads here, I need an AIO and a sealant and I'm having a hard time justifying going with Zaino again. Help me understand why Canadian Zaino fans get the short end of the stick? Clearly there are companies such as Eshine as well as others that are able to sell their products without a huge markup compared to in the US. Why can't Zaino operate that way? You should allow other companies sell your products. Zaino.ca is the only option in Canada so he can set his price to whatever he wants to and gets away with it.

I appreciate a response! I spent a lot of time on this email!

Thank-you!

cgage · 08-31-07, 02:59

Perhaps the prices were set when the conversion from US was more favorable (to Americans). Now that the currency is equalized it seems that Zaino.ca may be reaping the benefits...

Patman · 08-31-07, 03:35

I think they have already begun lowering their prices, I know of one dealer in Burlington who has already lowered his prices to reflect the stronger CDN dollar.

Setec Astronomy · 08-31-07, 03:45

I think this is another instance of an old distributor relationship, like the one that prevents us in NJ from ordering from the Zaino online store. It seems some of these agreements must have been signed in perpetuity.

DFTowel · 08-31-07, 03:45

I have to laugh at this. First of all, why not wait for a response before posting a prejudicial email like that? IMO it just shows ignorance because you are completely ignoring the high cost of shipping and customs expenses to Canada from the US. Even though there is no duty to be paid because of NAFTA companies like UPS and FedEx charge heavy fees to simply fill out all the documents to clear customs and not pay the duties. It really is very expensive and very time consuming for a company to deal with all this.

Do you think the Canadian importer doesn't deserve to make his money back on all these expenses by adding it to the price of the goods?

SpoiledMan · 08-31-07, 03:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFTowel

I have to laugh at this. First of all, why not wait for a response before posting a prejudicial email like that? IMO it just shows ignorance because you are completely ignoring the high cost of shipping and customs expenses to Canada from the US. Even though there is no duty to be paid because of NAFTA companies like UPS and FedEx charge heavy fees to simply fill out all the documents to clear customs and not pay the duties. It really is very expensive and very time consuming for a company to deal with all this.

Do you think the Canadian importer doesn't deserve to make his money back on all these expenses by adding it to the price of the goods?

Leo, I think his only real issue is this:

Quote:

Ordering Z-CS + Z-AIO (US shipped to Miami, Can shipped to Toronto)
US: $65.85 USD or $69.55 CDN
Can: $93.37 CDN

Difference: $23.82 CDN !!!! <-- this is the issue at hand!

Setec Astronomy · 08-31-07, 03:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFTowel

Do you think the Canadian importer doesn't deserve to make his money back on all these expenses by adding it to the price of the goods?

I think that argument would have more validity if we were talking about a single online purchase. Presumably the distributor is buying the Zaino product in bulk, where the manifesting costs would be amortized over a large number of Zaino bottles, adding perhaps 1 or 2 dollars per bottle rather than 20+, but I could be wrong about the duties.

blkZ28Conv · 08-31-07, 04:02

I just hope you also CC the e-mail to the Zaino.ca knowing the fact that they have the real say on the final cost of the product.
Are there any Zaino distributors not obligated to Zaino.ca? Have you tried contacting a US Autopia member and compare the pricing with double shipping?

I am sure Sal will get back with you but give him some time to analysis the concerns and the fact that this is a holiday weekend. It is wonderful at least one can contact the Head Dog at a company.

Kewjoe · 08-31-07, 04:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFTowel

I have to laugh at this. First of all, why not wait for a response before posting a prejudicial email like that? IMO it just shows ignorance because you are completely ignoring the high cost of shipping and customs expenses to Canada from the US. Even though there is no duty to be paid because of NAFTA companies like UPS and FedEx charge heavy fees to simply fill out all the documents to clear customs and not pay the duties. It really is very expensive and very time consuming for a company to deal with all this.

Do you think the Canadian importer doesn't deserve to make his money back on all these expenses by adding it to the price of the goods?

The point of posting it here wasn't to flame Zaino, but to get other opinions on the matter.

In fact the whole point of the email was to say "Hey! I love Zaino, why do i have to pay such a premium?!"

And your point about how expensive it is to pass customs and duty and all that is great and all, but I showed prices from another retailer who has to deal with the exact same problem and his prices aren't outrageous.

Kewjoe · 08-31-07, 04:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by blkZ28Conv

I just hope you also CC the e-mail to the Zaino.ca knowing the fact that they have the real say on the final cost of the product.
Are there any Zaino distributors not obligated to Zaino.ca? Have you tried contacting a US Autopia member and compare the pricing with double shipping?

I am sure Sal will get back with you but give him some time to analysis the concerns and the fact that this is a holiday weekend. It is wonderful at least one can contact the Head Dog at a company.

Good point about CCing Mike at Zaino.ca. I'll probably do that. I just wish it wasn't one distributor we're tied to, if Sal opened up the market for his products this probably wouldn't be a problem.

Blake · 08-31-07, 04:51

I find it amazing no one has brought up the ridiculous price difference between buying Meguiars products in Canada and buying them in the states. The difference is much worse than the Zaino difference.
DF Towel missed the fact that E Shine is a Canadian retailer bringing in products from the US and not charging the ridiculous markups.

Kewjoe · 09-01-07, 09:29

Sal responded, told me to give him a call next week. I'll let you know how it goes

It does say a lot when the owner of the company is so willing to talk to its customers. I'm sure it'll be a very interesting conversation at the very least.