A blog post

No iPhone, No Flip Camera, Canada Sucks

Posted on the 04 March, 2008 at 12:03 pm Written by in Marketing

Last year, Apple came out with the iPhone in the United States. I enviously watched my colleagues at the New Media Expo last September using their cool iPhones. I’m in the market for a new cellphone and I want to purchase the iPhone.

Then, Oprah mentions the Flip Camera on her show. And Patsi Krakoff, one half of The Blog Squad, demos how simple it is to use the Flip Camera. So, instead of getting a webcam, I now want to buy this device.

Yet, despite the fact that I want to purchase both the iPhone and the Flip Camera, would you believe that neither of them are available for sale in this country?

Worst yet, both Apple and Pure Digital (the company who manufactures the Flip Camera) are not legally allowed to ship either device internationally. It would appear that Pure Digital is aiming to provide the Flip Camera for sale in Canada for the holiday season later this year. Apple? Who knows. The story of why the iPhone isn’t in Canada changes depending on who is reporting it.

Canada sucks. Or, maybe it’s Apple and Pure Digital that suck. It doesn’t really matter who. What matters is that I’m just one of many who really want to buy these products, yet I’m being penalized based on my country of residence.

And it doesn’t appear that either company is in a hurry to satisfy the demand here in Canada. That’s lousy customer service. Or, brilliant marketing tactics.

  • Jack

    Another poor victim, I guess

  • Carl

    I guess you could just move to the States and give up the health care, low violence and high standard of living. Canada sucks over an iPhone? I think someone needs a reality check- maybe check out the latest in Afghanistan- perhaps ask a Canadian soldier what sucks about Canada right now.

  • Jonny Canuck

    A little research, hmmm?

    http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/10/11/tech-iphone-trademark.html

    YOU — a Canadian — are being penalized by a greedy Canadian company.

  • Sean

    I feel your pain. I wonder if Apple has decided not to bring the iPhone into Canada because they realize how badly the carrier would gouge Canadians on data, and they simply don’t want to be associated with that kind of a rip off.

    If that’s the case, I guess I can understand.

    Apple should say something, one way or another.

    If data rates were somehow magically brought into line with the rest of the OECD countries, I think Apple could probably sell 1-2 million iPhones in Canada. But with data rates being what they are now, I’m not sure I could justify an iPhone. And I REALLY do want one.

  • Peter

    Hey, at least you can get Cuban cigars… :^)

  • Frank

    Blame Canada’s Rogers Wireless for no iPhone, not Apple. Roger’s sucks. If Rogers didn’t buy out Fido (the first GSM cell phone company in Canada) maybe we would have iPhone in Canada, eh?
    And what about Comwave’s existing iPhone brand (voip service). I’m sure Comwave is not going to lose its chance to get Apple to pay up for its iPhone brand….May Apple Canada can just rebrand the Canadian product “EyePhone”

  • http://www.writingontheweb.com Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad

    I can’t believe this sad tale of woe. On top of that, you’ve got to endure months of bad weather. If you need a sponsor to immigrate to San Diego, I’d volunteer. I say a big flip-off to Canada…

    P.S. thanks for the mention. I’m planning to use my Flip in a series of 2-minute clips why we love biz blogging… soon… whenever I find time off from the tennis courts… did I mention the weather is sunny and warm here? Oh dear I can be so cruel…

  • http://www.leesabarnes.com Leesa Barnes

    Judging from the comments above, there’s no definitive answer as to why the iPhone isn’t in Canada.

    Patsi, I may take you up on that offer. I spend so much time in the US, I might as well just live there ;)

  • joy

    If it’s not allowed in Canada how did your colleagues got it? what if you try travel and buy one outside the country, I believe it’s not gonna be confiscated right? Funny, I just found out about this Canada and Apple problem, i didn’t know it exists..

    Anyway, Goodluck Finding one!

  • http://www.solutionsforbusymoms.com Sarah Zeldman

    I moved to Toronto from the New York three years ago. Finally, someone else who understand!

    A couple more reasons why canada sucks in this respect:

    1) No Target.
    2) Limited itunes store access
    3) OUTRAGEOUS taxes on anything you order from the states!

    Ahhh….I feel better now.

    Other than that, Canada is a lovely country.

  • Joe Sulli

    Canada does suck. On top of the cold weather and high taxes, Canadians have to be the most insecure individuals on the planet. I guess that’s the result of a nation of people who can only define themselves by what they are not (Not American) rather than what they are. Furthermore the health care in Canada sucks. The quality is actually among the worst in the world (among the developed nations) and it is only “access to” where the industry improves it’s case. Although bringing this up to a belligerent Canadian that has watched “sicko” to many times and insists they know everything about our health care system is pointless.

  • http://www.solutionsforbusymoms.com Sarah Zeldman

    Oh come on. Canada isn’t THAT bad. Each country has it’s failings — including the US. I still think it’s a lovely country, with the exception of a few commerical pain-in-the-necks, which, in the big scheme of things, really isn’t a big deal.

  • Joe Sulli

    I take it that you don’t generate too much income. I am upset that my transfer from New York to Ontario costs me 25K extra a year in taxes.If you make under 100K a year, Canada is not a bad country but if you do, It is a socialist country at it’s finest.