Post by: ARROW on June 22, 2008, 04:07:27 PM
I shamefully admit that this topic has very probably been addressed here, and that I am being sorely lazy in posting a thread about this, but.......
Can someone lead me to a thread about retailers carrying up north here, and perhaps a brief anecdote if they were good to order/buy from from?
I've been getting in the few 25th Ann. figures I want from Stateside, but I'm curious if there's a alternate source up north here that is worth ordering from.
My goal is to avoid some of the shipping cost hits when getting stuff from the states.
Thanks!
Post by: Deadshot on June 22, 2008, 06:29:13 PM
here: http://eternitycomicsandcollectibles.com/ (http://eternitycomicsandcollectibles.com/)
there is local pick up available too.
Post by: martin-montreal on June 24, 2008, 10:18:00 PM
- http://www.joecanuck.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=GIJ (http://http://www.joecanuck.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=GIJ), , I ordered once awhile back from Mike. Everything was perfect.
- http://www.joecanuck.com/joe/board/http://joecanuck.com/board1//viewforum.php?f=7.0 (http://http://www.joecanuck.com/joe/board/http://joecanuck.com/board1//viewforum.php?f=7.0), Always a good place to look at. ;D
- http://www.toysonfire.com/ (http://http://www.toysonfire.com/), I never ordered there.
- http://eternitycomicsandcollectibles.com (http://http://eternitycomicsandcollectibles.com), I never ordered from their site, but I made a trade with Condor Night and I was more than happy.
- http://www.legendsactionfigures.com/ (http://http://www.legendsactionfigures.com/), I already ordered, but I made a local pick-up. Everything was perfect, but it was expensive.
- http://www.goldenagetoys.com/store/index.html (http://http://www.goldenagetoys.com/store/index.html), I never ordered from their site.
- http://www.toysrus.ca/ (http://http://www.toysrus.ca/), I never ordered online (becarreful, you dont get the same results for "g.i. joe" than for "gi joe" using their search engine)
Most of my orders were made on US sites:
- Small Joes
- Big Bad Toy Store
- Digital toys
- Entertainment Earth
- Brian's toys
- Reiltoys
- eBay
- and forums ...
I hope that helped!
Martin
Post by: Deadshot on June 26, 2008, 11:45:52 PM
Help us, help you save money!
Post by: morgardee on June 27, 2008, 08:28:49 AM
Quote from: "Deadshot"
We do offer free shipping within Canada when you spend over a $113 with us.
Help us, help you save money!
I didn't know that. I'm think of getting a full case with you guys. I just need to wait until next month. I've already overspent my Joe budget this month.
Post by: martin-montreal on July 02, 2008, 10:23:35 PM
Now, just hoping that Hasbro mass produced their toys to avoid backorders...
Martin
Post by: ARROW on July 03, 2008, 06:04:18 PM
Quote from: "martin-montreal"
I made my first order on http://eternitycomicsandcollectibles.com/ (http://eternitycomicsandcollectibles.com/) today and it is way the best to place an order for the 25th ann vehicle: Less expensive than EE, BBTS and many others! Also, you don?t have to worry about duty!
Now, just hoping that Hasbro mass produced their toys to avoid backorders...
Martin
But there is no duty on toys anyway, only GST/PST is charged on the USD value--which is pretty much what happens to domestic purchases anyway.
Post by: condor knight on July 03, 2008, 06:16:42 PM
Post by: Realboss on July 03, 2008, 06:52:53 PM
Quote from: "condor knight"
But customs like to charge a fee for items over a certain $$$ amountAnd it usually starts at $5 just to handle the package.
Post by: martin-montreal on July 03, 2008, 10:38:49 PM
Quote from: "Realboss"
Only $5? Some I got started at $8 + GST.Quote from: "condor knight"But customs like to charge a fee for items over a certain $$$ amountAnd it usually starts at $5 just to handle the package.
Martin
Post by: ARROW on July 04, 2008, 03:41:56 AM
Quote from: "condor knight"
But customs like to charge a fee for items over a certain $$$ amount
The threshold is about $30. You can actually get away with it up to about $60-$75 some of the times on mailed in items, and almost never on anything over $100.
Why they assign that handling fee is usually (their excuse) to cover inspection of the item and checking to see if it can be cleared.
The ironic thing is that, if you cross the border IN PERSON you do not get assigned this fee for these amounts, and yet a item imported via the mails merits it. :o
I've had charges that were higher or lower myself too, so I'm equally confused as to just what formula they use, and the Canada Customs info on this is vague.
The one thing you do want to avoid is using any kind of courier or express service to ship stuff up, because they WILL use a customs broker. The Customs broker basically does the same thing that Canada Customs already does with the "handling fee"--they "guarantee" the good can cross the border. In doing so they become a kind of redundant middleman with their hand out--BUT, if you agree to use a courier service to ship the goods into Canada you are also agreeing to the use of a third party customs broker--read the fine print.
What sucks is these jokers can add another 25% on top of what you have already spent ( item and shipping)
I just avoid any retailer or transaction where the sole shipping option is a UPS, FED EX or other courier services. Good ol' USPS doesn't use a customs broker for items sent via surface or airmail.
Its probably a good idea to read through the Canada Customs pages on-line that cover importation of stuff like this, just to get a better idea of how it works.
Post by: martin-montreal on July 04, 2008, 11:12:55 AM
Quote from: "ARROW"
I just avoid any retailer or transaction where the sole shipping option is a UPS, FED EX or other courier services. Good ol' USPS doesn't use a customs broker for items sent via surface or airmail.I did use one of these once, it was the first and the last one! The good old USPS/Canada Post work the best for me too.
Martin