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Your country's currency value... does it dictate your buying habits?

Jan 31, 2014

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    1. This topic was prompted by the fact that the Canadian dollar is sinking lower and lower by the day against the most commonly used denomination for doll buying online... aka the USDollar.

      There are threads about how the 'general economy' affects doll buying; but not one addressing actual 'currency exchange values' (that I could find). What I am wondering is; does the value of your currency against the currency used to make the purchase. For me the current drop in the Canadian dollar is making me rethink what I choose to buy. Do I buy now in case it drops more or do I wait and see if it goes back up? Or do you want it so you pay regardless of the exchange rates?

      I have no idea how other countries currency stacks up in this but would be curious to hear that too... but I really want to hear from other Canadian's who are sharing my dollar value drop...
       
      #1 Lady Tiku, Jan 31, 2014
    2. The sinking AUD is definitely making dolly purchases a much harder decision! It took a while for me to start even factoring in the exchange rate after being at parity for so long...it's definitely a hit to be charged $40-$50 on top of the already high price + shipping!

      I'm in the same boat as you though - wondering if I should take advantage of the current exchange rate or wait for it to get higher, my lack of patience usually dictates my ordering habits though :lol:
       
      #2 Jingerbell, Jan 31, 2014
    3. ^ This. I just paid $220USD for something, and it ended up costing me $265AUD. It's shocking how weak the Australian dollar is right now.

      ...selling, on the other hand...
       
      #3 MissAniThrope, Jan 31, 2014
    4. for me the CAD is getting closer and closer to hitting a low we have not seen in a decade... and it has dropped fast... as in weeks, few months. 10 cents on the dollar in a few months is insane -_-

      EDIT: in 2010 we reached parity... and were not too far down for the better part of the last 3 years... now our dollar is tanking. >< And I have sooooo many plans... or... I did?
       
      #4 Lady Tiku, Jan 31, 2014
    5. Currency value surely influenced my spending habits when the US dollar dropped sharply to the Yen over a year ago, for a while there I didn't even think about entering a Volks lottery. For a while we were at .87 cents to the dollar (or 100 Yen). It has gotten better since, but I feel for you.
       
      #5 idrisfynn, Jan 31, 2014
    6. Currently the AUD is worth about .87c US so I've definitely cut back on my doll spending. Right now, unless it's something that I really, really, really want/need/must have, then I'll leave it. It's not just the cost of the item, it's Paypal fees (if you pay that way) and postage as well, and they all add up surprisingly fast. Luckily, my boys have plenty of clothes, eyes, wigs and props so for now I can afford to put the money towards other things that don't involve an exchange rate.
       
      #6 Lillie, Jan 31, 2014
    7. Generally if I really want the doll, the currency exchange doesn't matter too much to me. But I do check the exchange rate when I'm working out the cost so I don't get any sudden surprises like I did with my first doll. It would be nice if the Canadian dollar went up a little more...:|
       
      #7 Uenna, Jan 31, 2014
    8. When I bought my first doll the canadian dollar was much lower than it is now and it definitely was an "ouch" factor. We have had it good in the last few years with near parity. I definitely do the math before I decide to buy one not these days, it boils down to how much I want the doll and how much mad money is free at the time.
       
      #8 DominiqueB, Jan 31, 2014
    9. dumb question (i suppose) would using a credit card and using the Korean won(?) or Japanese yen as (change CAD to won/yen) to pay make a difference or does it all work out the same in the end ... (im going on 2 days no sleep now so brain is in reverse ><) I've wondered about it where you can change the currency types on Paypal too.
       
      #9 Lady Tiku, Jan 31, 2014
    10. I feel your pain fellow Canadians! The weak Canadian dollar to US dollar had impacted me buying things in USD. I recently bought an unicorn outfit for $30 'more' than the listed price because of the exchange rate. Ouch!!! I think if it was an item that wasn't time sensitive to get, I will wait because it really sucks when the difference is right in your face:(. But if it is time sensitive/rare/I'll never see it again GAH then I will probably still get it :sweat
       
      #10 nkei, Jan 31, 2014
    11. I live in a country whose exchange rate is going lower and lower not only with USD but other country rate. Fortunately, this day it is not sinking significantly but still, in just one year, a same item that should cost like $50 become around $65. Sometimes I even forget that the rate has changed so when I found something I thought is cheap, it is not:...(
      With how corrupt my country is, I don't think the rate will back again...
       
      #11 twinage, Jan 31, 2014
    12. I try to offset fluctuating currency exchange rates by asking to the paid in USD when I sell things online... so usually when I buy online I can pay in USD. I'll have to keep a closer eye on Canadian dollar though, I didn't realize it was sinking like that XP
       
      #12 Yukamina, Jan 31, 2014
    13. first you have to have stuff to sell LOL... but ya I get that... When I sort through my Barbie stuff I might do just that.
       
      #13 Lady Tiku, Jan 31, 2014
    14. CAD has been lower than the USD more than it's been higher in the past 3 or 4 decades. For many years the Euro was tied to the USD, but the US recession messed that up. Exchange rates are always shifting. If you wait for them to change you could be waiting years. It's just a part of life--something you can't control or really predict (unless you're a pro at such things, and even then!).

      I'm older. I've seen rates rise and fall and stay the same for years and years. I just know that I have to bite the bullet: the cost is the cost and you just have to take that into consideration when buying. It's like the people who know they might have to pay a lot of customs fees... it's just a part of getting what you want... or not.

      So, no, I don't really look at exchange rates. I just look at the total price and figure things out from there.

      One way around all that, of course, is to buy second-hand within your country or region, of course.
       
      #14 april, Jan 31, 2014
    15. This is true about the 'get what you want when you want & can'... which is why I have a horrid amount of shopping to do right while the dollar is in 'tank' mode... and the last time we were good with the US... I don't mean the just last time... was late 70's early 80's. Back then a trip to Hawaii in winter followed by a trip to Disney (California) was totally doable with the exchange back then. Not so much now. But the rate at which the CAD is dropping is almost alarming. Slow and steady up or down gives adjustment time at least :sweat

      And you are not old until you are dead :P
       
      #15 Lady Tiku, Jan 31, 2014
    16. I wouldn't say "dictate", but it's certainly got a say, especially in times with limited funds. I can't complain, the Euro is doing great, but I still catch myself stalking exchange rates. :sweat
       
      #16 Jany, Feb 1, 2014
    17. I'm lucky to be in the US, but I do have to pay attention to the USD/JPY exchange rate. I recently jumped on the Unoa order and got a chibi, but I was also considering getting a Sist in the preorder. In two weeks, the price went up $10. :?
       
      #17 aikoe, Feb 1, 2014
    18. Well, the exchange rate between Euro and USD was better two years ago (for us Europians) and a year ago it was a lot worse, but that never stopped me from buying ^ ^;; So no, I don't think it makes me re-think what I choose to buy. Of course the better the exchange rate to my favour the better for my wallet, but in the end, the dolls I want will still be dolls I want and if that changes, maybe it meant I didn't want them as much?
       
      #18 Shailara, Feb 1, 2014
    19. In a word, yes. The $/£ ratio used to be a gift from the resin gods. Frankly, back in the days when it was 2/1 buying was AWESOME! When, for reasons I'm still entirely unclear on, BJD items are perpetually sold in USD and the GBP was so strong against it was genuinely FANTASTIC. The amount of resin I could import then was ridiculous, literally everything was half price for the UK buyers for many years and it was a sort've golden era for the hobby in this country.

      Then of course, the European market crashed, governments here started to get greedy with importation taxation and currency values fluctuated wildly enough that many of us stopped importing at all. For us over here, the exchange rates simply never recovered, and more of my doll friends go through EU dealers now than risk attempting to buy direct. So yes, currency issues have a huge effect on buying ability.
       
      #19 Lulu, Feb 1, 2014
    20. it definitely affects me. i know i spend more when the dollar is up and tend to curtail spending when it is down. i've also been known to check exchange rates to decide when to pay off flexible layaways! but basically the lower dollar means everything costs more, so i have less money to spend.

      the exception is when i sell stuff in my etsy store, it has always been listed in usd since most of my customers are international anyway, so then those funds aren't affected. (and usually go out as fast as they come in :lol:) i'll probably have to do a lot of closet clearing this year if i want to be able to get any more dolls. predictions are that the canadian dollar is going to get worse before it gets better. :(
       
      #20 auntbear, Feb 2, 2014
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