Price Difference for Cards Purhcased in Canada

[TMacfreak91]

Been pondering this one for awhile and thought it would make for a great topic.

I've read through many threads on here and have seen many posts from people on here who live in Canada saying that they pay X amount for a hockey box and make notes at how much higher the price is in Canada than in the US for the same box.
What I really don't understand is why people who do live in Canada continue to go to their LCS and overpay for products when they can purchase online and pay the American cost (with the exchange rate of course which is still less than Can. prices) and save themselves the cash?

Never really understood why they don't do that, anyone have any thoughts or opinions? I'd love to get some input and if there is something that I don't know about I really would love to know it as this has always seemed strange to me.

Thanks!

Steve

[RGM81]

It's all about supporting the local economy and, ahem, "buying Canadian."

Additionally, when I buy the box at my LCS, I have it in my hands and if there's an issue (missing YGs, poor QC, etc.) I can call him up right away to resolve the situation. Plus, there's usually the ability to chat for a good 20 minutes about the state of the hobby, what's coming down the pike, on the ice, which you don't get from ordering a box online.

Somebody drew a great analogy to all of this lately in another forum - I can buy a case of beer for a lot cheaper at the NSLC than the cost of 4 beers at the pub, but I have a better time at the pub with my friends than I do just sitting around at home drinking a beer watching the game.

[maple19]

I have no LCS

So i buy off of people like
Cardsbythebox,diamondcards,Les,And in Canada Quecan, quietthings and dealers on Ebay that ship from the us but mail boxes in canada

wish Da would do it but they don't as their close to the border

mike

[habscards]

The best way that I can put it into perspective as well is this:

Dave and Adam's have a case of 2006-07 Heroes and Prospects for $645. I had figured out the cheapest shipping charges and it is $43.12. Add that to the extra approx $50-60 in taxes that we will have to pay and we are looking at adding about an extra $100 to the same case case of cards.

So buying a case may be cheaper than supporting or LCS but by the time that you have to pay for it. Most sites you pay by credit card as well and you may have to pay interest on your purchase even if you pay it off right away and you have to wait a while for the case to get to you.

[reoddai]

Been pondering this one for awhile and thought it would make for a great topic.

I've read through many threads on here and have seen many posts from people on here who live in Canada saying that they pay X amount for a hockey box and make notes at how much higher the price is in Canada than in the US for the same box.
What I really don't understand is why people who do live in Canada continue to go to their LCS and overpay for products when they can purchase online and pay the American cost (with the exchange rate of course which is still less than Can. prices) and save themselves the cash?

Never really understood why they don't do that, anyone have any thoughts or opinions? I'd love to get some input and if there is something that I don't know about I really would love to know it as this has always seemed strange to me.

Thanks!

Steve

I have yet to find an american source that sells for less than any of the three local card shops in the area.

Here's one example:
09-10 Artifacts:

Blowout cards.com: 79.95 USD
LCS (miraj.com): 94.99 CAN

Looks like a simple choice right? Well no. First, let's figure out what we're paying for the LCS:
94.99 + tax = 107.34 CAN

Now, let's buy from Blowoutcards.com. We have two options for s/h:
UPS:
79.95 + s/h = 90.44 USD
BUT! UPS will charge you a handling fee for crossing the border at a rate of 40% of the declared value (in this case, $31.98!!).
79.95 + s/h + customs fees + taxes = 132.81 USD
Convert to Canadian: 141.81 CAN

Of course, never use UPS if you can help it. Its usually cheaper to do USPS because their customs fee is always 5$. Of course to ship with them is more expensive
USPS:
79.95 + s/h = 103.70 USD
79.95 + s/h + customs fees + taxes = 119.01 USD
Convert to Canadian: 127.08 CAN

So here's the final look:
Buy from LCS: 107.34 CAN
Instant purchase + goodwill from store + choice on box number
Buy from Online source: 127.08 CAN
Wait a couple days to receive + online points

LCS wins by 20$.

Can you show me any example where an online retailer from the US sells for less than a LCS if you factor in customs and taxes? Please don't show me an e-bay link, unless its from an actual store. I don't want to buy a possibly searched box. The only people who seem to come close are Quecan and even then most of the time you still can't beat the LCS once you add in s/h.

Cheers,
reoddai

[habscards]

I think that the only one way around it for us fellow Canadians is this:

I could ask a friend on here who I really, really trust to do it for me. It would have to be an American friend as well. I would pay them what the case costs and then they order it. The case gets shipped to them(usually free and sometimes with bones packs/boxes depending upon the site) My friend then opens the case and ships me the cards in it. Yes I would have to send them extra for shipping purposes when I send them the money in the first place. Now their are two problems here;

one; the most fun thing about hockey cards are opening the packs which you donèt get to do.
two;you have to leave all of the base cards behind unless it is a super high end product that the base cards have some value.

Has anyone ever tried doing this before.

[TMacfreak91]

Great input so far guys!

Habscards - To add to your most recent post about buying through an American friend. One thing that I think would save you a ton of money would be to have your friend open the case and simply repackage it. Rather than have him open the case, he could simply repackage the unopened boxes into 1-3 (depending on the size of boxes) flat rate USPS boxes where you can ship anything regardless of weight for one flat rate as long as it fits into the box. This is something I think could save on shipping but I very well could be wrong.

Any other thoughts? Loving the input so far!

Steve

[TeamChevelle]

I think there is a large difference in prices even within Canada. Because there is often several hours between stores that can also affect what some of us pay. For example UD1 is $89.95 a box at the LCS, $79.95 about 90 minutes away. Can I cover that 90 minutes for $10, probably not. I buy online as well as support the LCS, lucky we just had another one open up.

[Goose97]

Actually when most products cross the border they are subject to Tariff's and drive the cost of a box up.

We could buy from other online sources, but having a good rapport with your LCS will mean you could get a decent price in the end.

I know I don't pay sticker price. If I don't get what I want, I go to the other guy, but I at least will be reasonable, as to the fact they are running a business, and need to make a profit, and they are aware I have the coin to spend, and will do what it takes to get my business. They take care of me, and I take care of them. Besides nothing beats the social outing away from work, and home.

[doniceage]

Great input so far guys!

Habscards - To add to your most recent post about buying through an American friend. One thing that I think would save you a ton of money would be to have your friend open the case and simply repackage it. Rather than have him open the case, he could simply repackage the unopened boxes into 1-3 (depending on the size of boxes) flat rate USPS boxes where you can ship anything regardless of weight for one flat rate as long as it fits into the box. This is something I think could save on shipping but I very well could be wrong.

Any other thoughts? Loving the input so far!

Steve

Steve,
One reason to get into casebreaks when folks do them here. As it can save you on the case price, get the team you want, and a cheaper price if the case buster is in the U.S.

Matt,
Good analgoy as always but dont' a lot of folks not declare their boxes when they get them shipped? As that would make a big difference.

DON