U.S.$

[EmilyB]

I got my bulbs in 10 days again from Premium Aquatics. I'm thinking of making another order real soon before the buck goes up.

[Samw]

Customs officials in Alberta are more efficient. That's why Albertans don't need to pay provincial tax. Gov't workers actually do work there. Just a guess. No offense to gov't workers in BC.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Samw

No offense to gov't workers in BC.

None taken. We really don't do anything.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

I got my bulbs in 10 days again from Premium Aquatics. I'm thinking of making another order real soon before the buck goes up.

Same with my last order with Premium Aquatics. They really know their stuff when shipping international. Paperwork is done right. which makes a big difference in fast customs clearance.

[Samw]

Well, I don't doubt that shipping time from the US in the past has been good.

But for US shoppers in the near term:

http://www.canadapost.ca/business/co....asp?prid=1026

"October 18, 2004

CANADA POST ADVISES CUSTOMERS OF EXTREME BACKLOG OF INCOMING INTERNATIONAL MAIL

Ottawa - Canada Post today announced a serious delay in the delivery of incoming international mail due to a backlog at the Canadian Border Services Agency in Vancouver.

“Parcels coming into Canada are taking up to five weeks to clear Customs”, said Cal Hart, senior vice-president, Marketing and Product Management for Canada Post. “While we understand the need for security precautions, this situation is unacceptable for our business and for Canadians. We can’t deliver the product until it is cleared by Customs.”

Canada Post receives dispatches from foreign posts on a daily basis and relies on the Canadian Border Services Agency officials in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal to review incoming mail admissibility to Canada as well as the assessment of any duties and taxes.

Since August 2002, mail has been subjected to backlogs at the Customs centre in Vancouver and today more than 150,000 packages (45 tractor-trailer loads) are waiting for Customs clearance in the Vancouver Mail Processing Plant. "

--


I guess mail to Alberta has to come in from Vancouver so they should be affected as well.

[Samw]

Well, I got the bulb in about 14 days. Not bad at all. Came in a big box stuffed with styro peanuts. No way that bulb was going to break.

[ree-fready]

What do you think the savings were on you bulb?

[Samw]

Originally Posted by ree-fready

What do you think the savings were on you bulb?

I saved $48 on the bulb (assuming I was going to buy from the average local store). If I bought 2 bulbs at the same time, the savings on the 2nd bulb would have been $61 (total savings of $109 for 2 bulbs) since you don't need to pay shipping and brokerage twice. Most of the weight of the package was the big cardboard box used for shipping.

[Bob I]

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but it appears there have been HUGE increases in the price of sending parcels. Both in Canada, and the US. My last order of a PFO pendant from Premium Aquatics had $25.00 US postage on it. I just sent a 24" T5 fixture to Montreal, and it cost me $9.36. That seems to be much higher than I am used to.

[trilinearmipmap]

I favour buying from a Canadian store when the item is available within 10% to 15% of the cost.

One barrier to buying from the U.S. is the cost of customs brokerage plus shipping, especially when you are buying a single item like one light bulb.

It might make sense to arrange a group order of drygoods on a regular schedule, say every 3 months, from the U.S., if anyone is interested.