So, I’m trying to avoid saying too much about work here. But that’s what I’ve been doing a lot of lately….spending time at work. Yesterday I had a fun interaction that I just have to write about, so sorry, a work post.
While helping a couple with some digital imagining equipment I had all the usual questions. What cameras work best, how easy are they to use, what software works well with your photos, etc. Nothing unusual.
Like many folks, they wanted the best imaging for the lowest cost. Actually I’ve often heard, “What’s the best cheapest camera out there? You know, for under $100.” Gee, I’ve got no answer for that one. Hasn’t anyone ever heard that you get what you pay for? Often, that rule applies.
Yesterday’s big question really made me chuckle though. After talking cameras for a while the husband decided on what he thought would work well. I was pretty happy with his decision too. Middle of the road, good camera, they’d enjoy using it.
Before a final decision was made the husband asked me to help figure something out……
“We’re from Ontario Canada. Could you tell me what the price of this camera works out to with the current exchange rate in Canada. I want to be sure that I couldn’t get it cheaper in Canada.”
I paused. See, I read the financials every day. The exchange rate is actually something I know. Normally folks can’t find someone to make appropriate change, let along figure out a currency exchange. But I did it in my head and told him the cost in Canadian dollars.
“Well, can we check a Canadian store online to see if that’s what they’re selling it for, and to look into the relevant taxes as well?”
Uh, are you kidding me? You just found a guy that makes up 2% of Prescott’s population that can in fact convert between currencies. Now you need to see if I can work out what Canadian stores list cameras for? Wow, demanding.
Unfortunately I didn’t have web access to do the comparison. The guy was more than disappointed, he seemed shocked that I wouldn’t do this. Clearly he hasn’t had many people in the U.S. make change for him on his visit here. If he had he should have already been impressed with the currency conversion. Ah well, there are truly those moments when you just can’t please someone. 
Now, for all of my readers, where does the Loonie (Canada’s currency) currently trade versus the dollar. No fair looking it up……
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Rich,
It is about 1.03 cdn per 1 us
And people wonder why they call it a Loonie…..
when i looked a couple days ago it was $0.98C to $1.00USD.
has it continued to fall? i know it was around $1.12C to $1.00USD recently.