It isn't an oligopoly. The deal is the US does not always want to deal with us, and pre 08 most of their models said it was bad business. So they give representation deals to folks in canada who handle the biz in a small market with a lot of complexity, and large distances. That ads 30% on top, and if you have an option to paying that you should grab it with both hands. But if you need the services a store provides you end up paying for it. Basically it is the border. The border is a huge screw fest of consumers, and it isn't just price, it is product range and service, it has never been more expensive to be a Canadian as far as retail is concerned. Every time they fix something, like slow customs service, or duty, something else comes along to screw the pooch.