Canadian BUY & SELL?

[Statsman1]

Hey guys, not to be too fussy here, but it appears to me that most of the BST deals are coming out of the US, and it takes reading the ad to find that out.

The problem for us Canadians is that the shipping costs tend to be quite prohibitive, even on smaller items.

Would it be possible to set something up so that sales and offers originating in Canada are more readily apparent?  Like putting the country of origin in the title or something similar?

[CheffoJeffo]

A ways back, there was a push to include the origin in the posting, but it never really took. There really aren't that many offers of stuff from Canada, the UK or elsewhere to make it worthwhile. It would be reasonable for people who are posting stuff outside of the US to include the country of origin, but I'm willing to bet that doesn't take either.

As far as shipping to Canada goes, it isn't that much worse that shipping within the US, so long as you don't use UPS (I've also had trouble with Fedex Ground) or aren't trying to ship at magazine media rate. Having said that, a wise man once said, "anybody in the coin-op hobby in Canada should definitely get a US address".

If you are looking for coin-op stuff for sale in Canada, I would also check the CGCC and MAACA forums from time to time.

[SirPeale]

A ways back, there was a push to include the origin in the posting, but it never really took.

I think, going forward, all posts to B/S/T should include this information. 

[Statsman1]

It sure would make everyone's life easier, wouldn't it?

I find, on the whole, much of what I want is only available in the USA, and to ship it to me is too expensive for the product.  Bummer.   

[tomdotcom]

I'm in BC, Canada as well. Probably a good thing there aren't more games here or I'd be broke ahahah..but I do wish there was more people up here trading, selling,etc

[CheffoJeffo]

I find, on the whole, much of what I want is only available in the USA, and to ship it to me is too expensive for the product.  Bummer.   

What type of things are you talking about ? I rarely come across situations where shipping is a deal-breaker, although I may simply have a higher tolerance.

If it is smaller stuff (or high minimum shipping charge), it may be worthwhile to do a group buy and then parcel stuff out to individual buyers on this side of the border. I've done this when ordering stuff from Hong Kong and for one US vendor who had a ridiculous minimum shipping amount.

Alternatively, some of the stuff may be available from folks here ... can't hurt to ask!

 

[tomdotcom]

For myself I'm talking about complete cabinets.

[CheffoJeffo]

For myself I'm talking about complete cabinets.

Shipping / transporting cabs from the states isn't (reportedly ... I haven't done it myself, just been regaled with other people's accounts) that much more terrible, compared to doing it within Canada, but I would definitely give Everything You Didn't Want to Know about Customs a read. It was written by a collector who is also a customs broker (or something like that).

[Statsman1]

The situation isn't different than e-bay - if I can get an item I want for $8, why would I want to pay $35 to ship it from Upper Nowhere, USA via UPS?  I find myself reconsidering the whole purchase of the used goods and pay for new goods.

For instance, the stuff I've bought from Ultimarc comes DHL, and I have no problem with that because very often, the e-bay stuff costs the same, and the shipping cost is very similar.  But used stuff - no way I can justify paying huge dollars for shipping used stuff that doesn't cost as much as the shipping itself does.

This is not to suggest anyone HERE is ripping people off on the shipping costs, just so you know.

That sort of thing NEVER happens on e-bay, though...right?   

[CheffoJeffo]

The situation isn't different than e-bay - if I can get an item I want for $8, why would I want to pay $35 to ship it from Upper Nowhere, USA via UPS?  I find myself reconsidering the whole purchase of the used goods and pay for new goods.

For instance, the stuff I've bought from Ultimarc comes DHL, and I have no problem with that because very often, the e-bay stuff costs the same, and the shipping cost is very similar.  But used stuff - no way I can justify paying huge dollars for shipping used stuff that doesn't cost as much as the shipping itself does.

This is not to suggest anyone HERE is ripping people off on the shipping costs, just so you know.

That sort of thing NEVER happens on e-bay, though...right?   

Laugh if you will ... I have a fair amount of experience getting arcade stuff shipped (and even have a US address that I have let people use).

And, no, you never, ever use UPS to ship across the border, unless you have arranged for the shipment to clear using a different customs broker. If you have the same item shipped by USPS and have to pay a brokerage fee, you pay $5, NOT $35 as you would with UPS. For a bunch of stuff, you won't even have to pay that.

 

[CheffoJeffo]

Somewhat ontopic -- Tanman (over at MAACA and CGCC) has two sets of JPac/ArcadeVGA (v1) that he is selling for $125 (per set, I believe) shipped in Canada.

[xar256]

"anybody in the coin-op hobby in Canada should definitely get a US address".

On that note, has anyone actually done this?  (PO box, etc)  What kind of options are out there and what are the costs involved?  I've considered this option, but never got into looking further into it...Too many shiney things kicking around.   

[CheffoJeffo]

My parents live in the US, so I use their address when normal options fail. I did set up a mail drop (not for coin-op stuff) at a US MailBoxes etc, but can't recall what the costs were.

On a related note, a new Canadian provider of pinball parts has just opened up

http://www.canadapinballparts.com/storefront/