Are you still buying in the USA? Why?

[lockrookie]

our local fish store in regina is very pricey here is an example eheim compact 5000 is 259.00 koralia 1050 69.00... 41.00 US and io salt 75.00 per pail. luckily at this time petsmart sells salt at 49.00 per pait 39 onsale so i buy that locally but when it comes to equiptment i have no choice but to search online. i will search canadian companies first then US. i look at shipping costs. and overall where ever is the cheapest gets my money. i have no choice i refuse to pay 259.00 for a pump i can get for 189.00 shipped. if its an emergency i have no choice ill buy it but id rather spend that 60 bucks on something else than throw it away.

one last example of lfs pricing verses say ebay given this ebay company is canadian. i recently purchased from another reefer a de mh light fixture he sent me spare bulbs he had one box had the price of 69.00/bulb. i looked on ebay.ca and found a place that sold said bulbs 3 for 68.00 when they showed up to my surprise they where in the exact same packaging.

now i know saltwater is a limited market and a tough to pay rent and other expenses if your giving the product away. and not getting profit for staff and bills. so i understand your frustrations with ppl trying to get lower prices out of you just cause they saw it cheaper online. i personally dont try to barter price with companies thier price is thier price . it is my job as the buyer to do my research and buy smart. the lfs has a reason for the cost of thier product. the reasons may be due to costs to getting it landed to thier shop.. staffing costs.. or thier yearly/monthly trip to some warm and sunny place.

it is what it is.... and if you happen to be the lucky one with the right price at the right time of my need/want or desire. your welcome. and if your costomer service shines maybe ill buy more next time.

ps. i dont mean to come off as a snot this is not my intention.. it can be frustrating in this hobby when you live in the middle of nowhere and limited options locally. lfs has saved and helped me alot and i still support when i can. just not pocket friendly at times.

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by Reef Supplies

Have to disagree.

Yes, we get the occasional client locking to save 5 bucks BUT most of the time we are talking about 10-15-20% differences in price for the same products. If my client can save 10-15% elsewhere, he should take it...he is a fool if he does not.

I order from the US because I work 10 mins from the border and bring things back over from my mailbox in Blaine, WA in amounts that don't incur duties/taxes. That saves me 12% right off the hop. For places likes MarineDepot and Premium Aquatics, there is a sweet spot where you'll get free shipping while still not triggering duties/taxes from CBSA. So I'll get the goods both tax free and with free shipping. While I'm at it I'll pick up a tank of gas at around $1/L. It's a no brainer on my part.

I estimate that 75% of my equipment/drygoods is purchased this way. It would be higher were it not for the excellent prices of our local dealers like J&L.

"Buying local" makes you feel warm and fuzzy and I would I do so if all else was equal. Unfortunately, it's not and financial reality hits.

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by 04V10

Well I might as well be the bad guy. I'm all for supporting the Canadian economy, and local shops, however when I can buy something online and have it show up to my door for half price compared to buying in Canada, I'm gonna do it. Here's a perfect example, I wanted to get new tires for my car and would have paid $4800 for just tires from the dealerships or local tire shops. There was also a back order until the end of June for the back tires. I order online on a monday from tire rack, and they show up to my door on Friday, for$2200!!!!

+1 on 50% of the price.
But why stop at US border they get their stock from China anyway! None of it MADE in US of A or Canada.
Why not go to China direct?

I got my Calc reactor and skimmer delivered to my door at half of the Canadian price, DELIVERED to my local post office 5 min away fro me.
http://www.reefshops.com/product-377.html
.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=74827
The unit above would cost me MORE then double here in Canada. I got it delivered with total of $133 Can plus I get $9 usd gift cert for next purchase.
So why would i shop locally ?....

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by Reef Supplies

With that being said, the JBJ would have cost you about $110 at our store (free shipping over $175).


Ray

Again... I paid $100 including shipping/brokerage/duty. Most things are cheaper at BRS.., and if I had cheaper Canadian options I would take it. Any day. Even at jl it's free shipping over $100... And it would have been $135.

$35 back into other tank supplies.






I buy livestock exclusively local. But dry goods, hard to compete anywhere in town.

[whatcaneyedo]

My last purchase from the USA was a bulk order of media and RO filters but that was at least a year ago. I generally buy enough at a time to last a few years so I haven't needed to purchase anything from outside of the country since then. At the time BRS was still the lowest price for the best of those products even with shipping and brokerage factored in.

[RuGlu6]

Here is an example
2.5L Bubble Magus Dosing Container $58.99+tax+$8.94 shipping= $67.93+tax=$76
http://www.reefsupplies.ca/canada/bu...ontainer-2-5l/

Exactly the same item for $20 (select size in drop down window)
http://www.reefshops.com/liquid-storage-bucket.html
$43 total shipped looks a lot less the $76 to me. Plus i could use a $9 discount from my previous purchase.

Bubble magus NAC7 cone skimmer $248.99+tax =$278+free shipping
http://www.reefsupplies.ca/canada/bu...-cone-skimmer/

Exactly the same item for $170+$38 shipping= total $208 shipped.
http://www.reefshops.com/bubble-magu...n-skimmer.html

[Seriak]

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

Here is an example
2.5L Bubble Magus Dosing Container $58.99+tax+$8.94 shipping= $67.93+tax=$76
http://www.reefsupplies.ca/canada/bu...ontainer-2-5l/

Exactly the same item for $20 (select size in drop down window)
http://www.reefshops.com/liquid-storage-bucket.html
$43 total shipped looks a lot less the $76 to me. Plus i could use a $9 discount from my previous purchase.

Bubble magus NAC7 cone skimmer $248.99+tax =$278+free shipping
http://www.reefsupplies.ca/canada/bu...-cone-skimmer/

Exactly the same item for $170+$38 shipping= total $208 shipped.
http://www.reefshops.com/bubble-magu...n-skimmer.html

You have to be careful with that site. It looks like most of their stuff is 220V.

[Magma]

Originally Posted by Reef Supplies

As a hobbiest you cant possibly be saving money from buying US, can you? Check out this site, it is pretty accurate http://www.thefinalcost.com/shipments/calculate/

This is not accurate at all, I just used a previous order coming from the US and input all the values.

Actual Values
Sub Total $125.00
Shipping Total $12.00
Grand Total $137.00

Brokerage fee when the item arrived via Fedex $16.02 making the total cost of the item
$153.02

Same values put into this calculator

Final Price
CAD$ 184.53

Thats about 30$ different..

Not to mention I find if you can get items shipped via USPS 9/10 times if the dollar value is below 200$ you wont see brokerage fees, sure you have to wait longer but seems worth it IMO.

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by Seriak

You have to be careful with that site. It looks like most of their stuff is 220V.

Yes it is all 220V.
Got my 200W voltage transformer for $10 on CraigsList. CalcReactor and Skimmer together are less then 30W both plugged in the same transformer so i am OK.
BTW this site is legit and support is OK too.

[carnut]

if you can give me a canadian site that sells the same products at the same prices as brs even after duty and shipping I would shop at home. The only site i have seen is reselling the product at a mark up, higher then a us delivery.