Canadians - Where do you purchase your own equipments in Canada?

cosworth wrote in post #3230553
http://www.photoexpert​.com price matches and is in Delta. He had the 580Ex II in stock before anyone else and it was priced the same as Camera Canada. Plus no shipping.

If you want to stay local PhotoExpert is great. Fire off an email to them addressed to Brad and ask for the most competitive prices he can offer.

If you want to shop online to dodge PST (which I suggest you do since you're out here in BC) head over to Aden Camera. They have the best online prices in Canada and are an authorized Canon dealer. Even with the shipping charges and GST you still end up saving more since you dodge the 7% PST.

I am from Ontario, but I usually buy from The Camera Store in Calgary...good service,nice prices. But Lately I have been eyeing up a 500 4.0 and with the Cdn dollar being so strong it may be worth buying from the US. I have never purchased equipment from a US dealer...is there customs and duties up the yingyang?

I buy from 3 places - depending on 2 things, selection, and the state of the loonie.

1)The Camera Store in Calgary is a great place to buy, good prices, and no PST. You end up saving 8% right there.

2)B&H or Adorama. When the loonie is doing well against the greenback, I go this route. Which one I go with is dependent on availability.

Whenever I buy something, I price the equipment at all three places, convert to Canadian $, and apply taxes (14% combined PST/GST from US, 6% from Alberta).

Some camera stuff seems to have been re-priced recently, so buying from Canadian stores, (as long as you miss the PST) might be better in some cases.


And let's make it clear - there is NO, repeat NO, duty on camera equipment.

[QUOTE=canuck_newbie;3​250087]I buy from 3 places - depending on 2 things, selection, and the state of the loonie.

Whenever I buy something, I price the equipment at all three places, convert to Canadian $, and apply taxes (14% combined PST/GST from US, 6% from Alberta).

I just noticed that Henrys ïncreased"all their U.S. dollar prices on all cameras and lenses today which preclude me from buying through my US dollar account. Crap.

Cooper911 wrote in post #3250848
I just noticed that Henrys ïncreased"all their U.S. dollar prices on all cameras and lenses today which preclude me from buying through my US dollar account. Crap.

I would never buy something from Henry's - ridiculously priced items. Heck - a hood for the 10-22 is $70 there!

Price your gear at B&H and the Camera Store, factor in the conversion, the different taxes, as well as any rebates (Canadians can't get rebates from goods sold from US retailers), and go with the cheapest.

I'm all for supporting local businesses, but when we're talking $300-400 difference (which was my savings on an XT, a Tamron 28-75 and some accesories), I'm buying from the cheapest place.

cameracanada is awesome.
thecamerastore is ok.
i usually buy local from mcbain camera and have them pricematch thecamerastore.

have not bought anyhting that was a better price at B&H yet. but I plan to in the future.

I purchased a lot of my equipment form Aden Camera on Yonge Street in downtown Toronto. Last year I made two fairly significant purchases there, in person. I dealt with the same sales person and was quite satisfied.

This past March I wanted to purchase an EF 100 f/2.0 lens. My wife and I were in Toronto for a concert so I checked out the two Aden Camera locations and found that the f/2.0 was not in stock. Everyone wanted to sell me the EF 100 f/2.8 macro. They even wanted to debate with me as to why I would possibley want the f/2.0. Keep in mind that they only had the macro in stock.

I went to the Henry's downtown "super store" the next day. They actually had the f/2.0 100 mm but their price was way out of line (high) and to be honest they really were not very interested in me as a customer or in making a sale.

I was so frustrated that I decided to try purchasing online from Camera Canada. I found their price to be very competative; at least from a Canadian perspective. I purchased the EF 100 mm f/2.0 and a Canon 1.4 extender from them in March.

Last week I received my second purchase from Camera Canada; a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 as well as a Hoya UV filter and a Lowepro Nova 5 bag. I am waiting on a Stroboframe Pro T flash bracket that is back ordered.

blam wrote in post #3252757
cameracanada is awesome.
thecamerastore is ok.
i usually buy local from mcbain camera and have them pricematch thecamerastore.

have not bought anyhting that was a better price at B&H yet. but I plan to in the future.

It is awesome, if you can get out of paying the 8% PST. Us suckers stuck in Ontario don't have that luxury.

I'm in Alberta, so I only pay 6% GST.

lol

We really need to sticky one of these threads.....the topic comes up all the time.

canuck_newbie wrote in post #3253574
It is awesome, if you can get out of paying the 8% PST. Us suckers stuck in Ontario don't have that luxury.

Yes you do!!! I buy from The Camera Store all the time and I do not have to pay any sales tax (I'm in Ontario). On a $5000.00 lens thats a $400.00 savings. Shipping is quick and cheap from them as well.

Cooper - I was refering to the reference about Camera Canada - which is based out of London, ON. They charge out of province people only GST, but have to charge the 8% PST on in province sales.

Totally agree with you on theThe Camera Store, check back to some of my above posts. The Camera Store is one of my preferred stores, precisely because you save the 8%.

I've purchased from thecamerastore and cameracanada a few times but when it comes right down to it, especially for big ticket items, you're just much better off getting it from B&H. The canuck stores just can't compete with those prices (apparently).

Kurt

my 24-70 was actually more expensive from B&H at the time of purchase. now with the strong dollar its only about 50$ more.

and my 430ex from futureshop is the same price. even with the current dollar.

white lenses, however are great savings from BH.

Ok..what is happening? I went to pull the trigger on a 500 f4 at B&h and they are closed until Mon. So is Adorama. Are they changing prices? The difference on the price between Cda and US is 7100.00 Cdn vs.5971.00 Cdn (with conversion). Huge savings even though shipping and pst and gst is still to be factored in. Any of the Big Boys open in the US right now? Help.

BH opens later tonight. you can make your order before you go to bed