Why does Amazon.ca even exist?

This Cyber Monday, I logged in to Amazon.com to see what cheap, unnecessary electronics I could purchase with money I don’t have.

There was a complete Harry Potter Blu-Ray boxset, electric mixer, Nespresso espresso maker and 4-slice toaster that tempted my sad chequing account. None of the deals screamed “buy me!” but they still reminded me of how much better Amazon.com is compared to its depressing, Canadian counterpart.

While Amazon.com was full of Cyber Monday deals I didn’t need, Amazon.ca was full of deals I simply didn’t want.

Half the stuff I searched on Amazon.ca was way more expensive than on Amazon.com, while the other half I searched just didn’t exist on the website.

I get why the catalogue and prices on Amazon.ca leave a little to be desired. The population density in Canada is significantly lower than in the U.S., especially outside of Ontario and Quebec, so shipping goods must be a pain. But it’s not like they’re being transported on snowmobiles and bobsleds.

Like many, I prefer to use Amazon.com and don’t even bother with Amazon.ca. But if that’s the case, why does Amazon.ca even exist?