Happ and Canadians

[Effayy]

Just wondering if any Canadians here ordered from Happ (or anywhere in the US for that matter) and had the items shipped USPS instead of UPS Ground?

Were there still brokerage fees that needed to be paid?  Was it significantly cheaper in the end?

I'd order through Starburst (Located in Toronto, I live in Ottawa), but their website is vague with the parts they have.  I'm not sure if I'd be able to give them Happ part numbers and get the exact same items that I'd receive from Happ directly.

Just checking out my options.

- FA

[Sapper]

I'm from Kingston...ordered through Starburst.  They are an official Happ distributor, so whatever Happ parts are available on the Happ website should be able to be ordered by them.  In fact, the parts I ordered were cheaper from Starburst than from Happ direct-taking into account exchange rates etc.  I also received my parts in about a week.

Phone Dave at Starburst if you have questions about stock.  416 251 2122

[ericball]

Send Starburst an email with the Happs part numbers you are interested in.  They will give you the price and whether they have them in stock.  For comparison here are the prices I got from them earlier this week:

Competition joysticks are $15.00 each and in stock in black.  
The standard pushbutton with horizontal microswitch (part# 58-91XX-L) is in stock in 8 different colors and sells for $2.00 each

56-5500-10T    2 1/4" trackball red translucent  $115.00
55-0203-00    mount plate 2 1/4" black    $20.00
49-0999-00    T-mold 3/4" black    $.35/foot    (in stock)
49-0999-10    T-mold 1 1/2" black    $1.10/foot    (minimum is 25 ft)

I believe they also stock more than Happ, but you may have to go to the shop to find out.  Or send an email with the part info.

WRT shipping, I'd recommend USPS.  UPS is notorious for extra brokerage fees, and I think FedEx has the same issue.  But you should also assume that you will get charged the C$5 Canada Post handling fee plus duty, see http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/postal/ind_duty_free-e.html.  But even with USPS shipping is not cheap, see the end of http://pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/immicl/immiclcd_003.html, minium US$8 for a 1 pound package (with no tracking or receipt).  I figure you have to be saving at least C$25 before taxes (assuming tax=duty) to make it worth it.

[RayB]

Just wondering if any Canadians here ordered from Happ (or anywhere in the US for that matter) and had the items shipped USPS instead of UPS Ground?

I ordered a 19" monitor from them. Unfortunately, a monitor is too fragile to ship by USPS, so it was by UPS.

Were there still brokerage fees that needed to be paid?  Was it significantly cheaper in the end?

I have ordered parts from other sources than Happ, and yes, there are still fees even if you have it shipped by USPS. Importing new merchandise is subject to fees regardless of the shipment method. But you'll find that the fees are *much* lower than if shipped by UPS.

I'd order through Starburst (Located in Toronto, I live in Ottawa), but their website is vague with the parts they have.  I'm not sure if I'd be able to give them Happ part numbers and get the exact same items that I'd receive from Happ directly.

Starburst has told me that they can get any part Happ sells. Just look it up on the website and let them know the part numbers. The advantage to you is you won't get dinged with broker fees, etc. It works out for the better in most instances, except when Happ has sales. Starburst can't match sale prices (which is why I ordered direct when I got my monitor).

~Ray B.

[Effayy]

Excellent! Thanks guys.  I'll make a list of Happ items I need and get in touch with Starburst.

So, SO nice to see a Canadian distributor!

- FA

[MiKman]

Excellent! Thanks guys.  I'll make a list of Happ items I need and get in touch with Starburst.

So, SO nice to see a Canadian distributor!

- FA

Make sure to call them and just give the guy the HAPP part numbers you will be satisfied.  I got a 27" bezel and a 4-way red ball top joy from them. They never answer emails sp just phone them.

[Effayy]

Make sure to call them and just give the guy the HAPP part numbers you will be satisfied.  I got a 27" bezel and a 4-way red ball top joy from them. They never answer emails sp just phone them.

hahah. Of course, I read this about 10 minutes after firing off an e-mail.   ...

- FA

[RayB]

I've gotten email replies... It sometimes takes em 48hrs.

[Nefesis]

Make sure to call them and just give the guy the HAPP part numbers you will be satisfied.  I got a 27" bezel and a 4-way red ball top joy from them. They never answer emails sp just phone them.

happ sells 4-way balltops?

[Chris]

happ sells 4-way balltops?

http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/5060841125r.htm

[Nefesis]

oh, that one. did they change their prices? i thought it used to be over $60. oh well, i can live with it being that price  

[Mamezilla]

I've e-mailed Dave at Starburst twice just yesterday, and got replies on both occasions in less than 2 hours.

[MiKman]

I've e-mailed Dave at Starburst twice just yesterday, and got replies on both occasions in less than 2 hours.

You must have a special email address, I just used the one off thier website, several times, and never got a response ever from them.  (parts@starburstcoin.com)

[Mamezilla]

I used the address :    partsdept@starburstcoin.com , which I got in the "Game support / Parts" section on their website.

[DF]

I purchased my happ stuff through Canadian Amusement and Game Supply.
http://www.cagsonline.com/