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Canadian, and Canadian Friendly Vendors
NoData:
I'm canadian too, and I know that you should read carefully before buying. Your order could came with some pretty bad custom fees.
UPS = Really bad trough any "ground" service! They clear the custom for you, they will deliver your order then charge you 5x the price of Canada Post plus GST. Any "air" service is fine because they have to clear the custom before the box can travel, so they cant charge you any extra fees except the GST.
USPS (United States Postal Service) = Best choice! ;D It's not really fast, but at worst you will end up with only $5 of fees plus the GST. I always use USPS when available since my order is transfered to Canana Post. I will choose a vendor over another if USPS is available.
DHL = Same crap than UPS.
FedEx = Best price for huge item (monitor).
For anything from Ultimarc, go with divemaster127 since the official store only offer DHL. divemaster127 carry most of the Ultimarc and Happ line, usually in stock, and offer fast shipping with USPS. Great service. I ordered twice for him. divemaster127 web site: http://arcadeemulator.net/
GGG great too, ship to Canada with USPS. Will probably ask you to send a proof that you hare the real owner of the credit card if your order is really big.
Lizardlick, good for buttons, joysticks, ect. They sale some spare parts. USPS available.
Good luck :)
opt2not:
--- Quote from: NoData on September 02, 2010, 11:29:11 pm ---DHL = Same crap than UPS.
--- End quote ---
Uh, not even close.
DHL doesn't charge you extra fees for coming from out-of-country, or for transferring to another shipping hub, nor do they lose your order as much as UPS does.
In fact, DHL's customer service is light-years ahead of UPS. At least you can properly track your items, whereas UPS (and USPS) doesn't update the tracking after your package crosses the border.
I'm in western Canada, probably the furthest away from these suppliers than in Ontario, and I've only had problems with UPS and sometimes with USPS (though I still like USPS overall -- though slower). But DHL has been fool-proof, you can't go wrong.
I also have only had to pay duty on certain items, but most of the time the packages come duty-free from the US (and I've been ordering arcade parts for almost 10 years now).
btw,
You can also order from Arcadeshop.com, it's run by a very nice couple that do their business mostly over the phone, and they are receptive to Canadian-bound-orders. The only downside is they take credit cards only. No paypal.
They ship their stuff out fast too!
ps. I say do a forum search on this topic, it's been discussed many many times before in multiple threads.
CheffoJeffo:
--- Quote from: opt2not on September 03, 2010, 01:14:05 am ---In fact, DHL's customer service is light-years ahead of UPS. At least you can properly track your items, whereas UPS (and USPS) doesn't update the tracking after your package crosses the border.
--- End quote ---
You are correct in that USPS doesn't update tracking when your package crosses the border -- at that point, both your package and the tracking are handled by Canada Post (use the same tracking number on the CP website).
Rick:
Here's the trick: USPS doesn't usually give you huge Duty or Brokerage Fees because they don't use their own company for clearing freight coming across the border. Also, if you ship AIR using UPS (if the fees are 'moderately' different - if they're crazy high, don't do it) then you also won't get hit with Duty.
(p.s. Feel free to debate the above, but be advised, I work for Purolator.)
;D
RayB:
There's quite a bit of misinformation in this thread...
First of all, there's almost no "duty" on anything anymore if it's coming from US to Canada. That's what the free-trade agreement was for. "Duty" is like a penalty charged on specific items in order to discourage the importation of that type of item. This doesn't apply to most consumer goods the average person is likely to buy. But what you DO pay is:
GST
PST
Brokerage fee
Or as of recently, in Ontario and some other provinces:
HST
Brokerage fee
The brokerage fee is what screws people when using UPS. They charge TOO much in proportion to the value of the items, and you are forced to pay on delivery. Canada Post also charges on delivery, but charges something like $5 to $8 though costs could be more for really expensive or obscure items. If an item is valued at $20 or less, you pay nothing. If it is $60 or less and is a gift, you pay nothing. Using UPS, they seem to not care if it's a low value item and will still charge you brokerage and taxes!
DHL: Opt2Not is wrong saying you pay nothing. Again the value of the item affects if/what you pay. If you DO owe taxes on the item, DHL will MAIL you an invoice. So, Opt2Not, you likely haven't received your invoice yet, or the items were not subject to taxation.
Here is an informative summary of costs, why, when and how, written by an actual shipper/broker: http://www.cgcc.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7594