Are you still buying in the USA? Why?

[Reef Supplies]

With our dollar being at par, the only reason you should be buying in the US is if there is a product you can not find here OR if your buying large amounts. We have a couple of suppliers in the states whom we deal with on a monthly basis and we need to buy $5000+ to make it profitable. We try to keep the shipping/duty/brokerage cost between 8 and 12% of the total sale.

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/

On 2 occasions this weekend we were asked to match a US retailers price. Both times we were actually cheaper when calculating the TRUE cost of the US item delivered to your door. 90% of the time UPS will be handling your US/CA border brokering. If you buy a $200 item you need to add $25 just for brokering, then you have shipping, Disbursement fees and Visa fees. Visa charges about 2.5% conversion fees.

Being Sunday, I'll be back and forth all day so my replies will be delayed.

Please discuss

Ray

[Aquattro]

I don't even look at US prices. I have a network of vendors I deal with that take care of me, and saving a couple of bucks isn't worth the price of not supporting the companies that are there for me when I need something.

[Reef Supplies]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I don't even look at US prices. I have a network of vendors I deal with that take care of me, and saving a couple of bucks isn't worth the price of not supporting the companies that are there for me when I need something.

Well said

[tim the toolman]

I feel much safer buying as close to home as possible. I like to be able to see what I'm buying before I spend and also I would like to make any warranty work as simple as possible.

[68shelby]

My local fish store sells the halides I use for $130 and up a piece, sorry I can get them online for a less than half. There markup and then theres gouging.

[tim the toolman]

Originally Posted by 68shelby

My local fish store sells the halides I use for $130 and up a piece, sorry I can get them online for a less than half. There markup and then theres gouging.

I also ordered bulbs from the us before until one shipment showed up and 2 bulbs did not work. They said that with bulb a there was nothing they could do so I was left holding the bag.

[reefme]

Originally Posted by tim the toolman

I feel much safer buying as close to home as possible. I like to be able to see what I'm buying before I spend and also I would like to make any warranty work as simple as possible.

+1 for me.

[tim the toolman]

I think that another point that should be made is keeping the $$ local. I have a LFS that I go to whenever I can in hopes that a good store owner can stay in business. I'm glad this hobby doesn't have a walmart mentality yet, and I hope it never will.
Here's to the little fish in big water

[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!!!!

[Cal_stir]

Sometimes you just can't buy it in Canada, nobody has a decent supply of JohnGuest fittings or refillable media cartridges, so, once in a while I order from BRS, other than that, it`s All Canadian for me.
I live on the border but have no desire to go to the US, I have no passport, no nexus, no nothing, TOOOOOO many guns overthere.