February 17th, 2000

[7:00 AM] Canadian Apple Store Quietly Introduced: Similar Services, Slightly Higher Prices by Oliver Dueck Finally, after a seemingly endless wait, an online Apple Store is now available for Canadian customers. The Apple Store was originally available only to US customers, but has since expanded to serve customers around the world. Unfortunately, Canadians were given the short end of the stick and were not able to buy build-to-order Macs in any way, shape, or form - until now. Not surprisingly, the Canadian Apple Store looks similar to the American one. In fact, they are practically identical, save for pricing. The policies of the two stores are very similar as well. The main differences are that Canadians can expect longer shipping times; what they can't expect is to lease or finance their computer through Apple. Both stores can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but if you want to be serviced in French, you will have to call between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday - at worst, a minor inconvenience. The Apple Store for Canada is most significant in that it allows Canadians to buy custom-configured systems; it also means they can now purchase the beautiful Apple Cinema Display. We examined the build-to-order options given to Canadians, and they appear to be identical to those found in the US store. Unfortunately, when adjusted based on current exchange rates, prices at the Apple Canada store are generally a bit higher than those at the US store, by about 3%. Some products are priced even higher than that. For example, the iMac DV, which goes for US$1299, is listed at $1999 Canadian. Adjusted for current exchange rates, the iMac DV is 6% more expensive in Canada than it is south of the border. The Mac Observer Spin: Despite its somewhat higher prices, we welcome the online Apple Store for Canada. Finally, those customers who don't have a good Apple dealer in their area, or live in rural areas, have an alternative to MacWarehouse. Most importantly, it is now possible to order custom configured systems. It took a while, but Canadians have finally received what they have been waiting for. But as the saying goes, better late than never. Strangely, this new store is hardly mentioned on the Apple Canada web site. The only reference to it which we could find was a small link near the bottom of the home page. Apple's new products are taking center stage instead. Apple Store Canada