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

My bad. They do charge me 2.5 percent.

http://corporate.visa.​com …?from=CAD&to=US​D&rate=0.0

cosworth wrote in post #3325891
You're new to importing stuff. That is the direct exchange rate. Rates for buying and selling currencies through your bank or visa are NOT reflected in XE's posted rate.

http://www.rbcroyalban​k.com …o7Q4/rates/cash​rates.html

These rate above are the cash rates. Visa charges cash rates plus a usual fee of %3. Some Visa cards charge a %2.5 fee on top of the cash rate (or as Doc's %0)

I try this reasoning with CDN sellers often. They see XE as gospel but forget that if I send them $2000 USD for a product, they don't get the same rate when selling the $2000 USD to the bank. You can see the reflected rates for buying and selling above in the link.

Silly me for thinking a financial institution wouldn't be paying the cash rate - I was aware of the difference for individuals buying foreign currency from banks, but not credit cards from those same banks. Thanks for clearing that up.

I realize that to some people saving a hundred bucks may not be significant, or "worth it". But, a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks to me. It's a half decent dinner out with the wife, a nice bottle of scotch, or god forbid, a $100 closer to another lens!
Whatever floats your (or my) boat.......

I buy from BH all the time man. Every single piece of gear I have except the sigma 15mm is bought in America. Money is money to me too. I don't have enough to just "blow" a hundred dollars.

However, I spent that extra money on a warranty for a lens I'm sure I was going to screw up or have an issue with (noisy focus).

I bought the lens long term. I've always wanted a fishy and bought thinking 10 year ownership. Bodies come and go, zooms come and go. My fishy is too specialized and statis a size to think short term with. That extra $100 was well spent to me.

cosworth wrote in post #3326067
I bought the lens long term. I've always wanted a fishy and bought thinking 10 year ownership. Bodies come and go, zooms come and go. My fishy is too specialized and statis a size to think short term with. That extra $100 was well spent to me.

So did you have to send it in? Was it noisy?

No, it works perfectly. I have seen others with the noisy focus and wanted to cover my butt long term.

cosworth wrote in post #3326067
I buy from BH all the time man. Every single piece of gear I have except the sigma 15mm is bought in America. Money is money to me too. I don't have enough to just "blow" a hundred dollars.

However, I spent that extra money on a warranty for a lens I'm sure I was going to screw up or have an issue with (noisy focus).

I bought the lens long term. I've always wanted a fishy and bought thinking 10 year ownership. Bodies come and go, zooms come and go. My fishy is too specialized and statis a size to think short term with. That extra $100 was well spent to me.

Sorry if it sounded like I was suggesting that you could just blow $100 - I didn't mean for it to come across like that.

From my end, I've simply been on the losing end of too many extended warranties - either not using them, or the company not honouring them (extended or factory warranties). After using something for 5-6 years, it's open to interpretation as to whether the defect is caused by normal wear/tear, owner mis-use, or a design/manufacturing flaw. I guess my experiences with warranties have jaded me, so as to create a mindset, that once you buy a product, you're largely on your own - hence, why bother with a long warranty (again, this is just my warped, pessimistic view of the world).

Extended third party warranties are not my cup of tea. I like that Sigma itself takes care of this.

canuck_newbie wrote in post #3326032
Silly me for thinking a financial institution wouldn't be paying the cash rate - I was aware of the difference for individuals buying foreign currency from banks, but not credit cards from those same banks. Thanks for clearing that up.

I realize that to some people saving a hundred bucks may not be significant, or "worth it". But, a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks to me. It's a half decent dinner out with the wife, a nice bottle of scotch, or god forbid, a $100 closer to another lens!
Whatever floats your (or my) boat.......

I have to agree money is money and it can go towards other things, but there is always the risk of getting a bunk lens and having to pay 60$ insured, to canon or the retailer for a new one. and if they insist nothing is wrong, you're hooped.

and personally, the risk involved for the <100$ for me i'd rather go to the store and pick the lens I want.

blam wrote in post #3326831
I have to agree money is money and it can go towards other things, but there is always the risk of getting a bunk lens and having to pay 60$ insured, to canon or the retailer for a new one. and if they insist nothing is wrong, you're hooped.

and personally, the risk involved for the <100$ for me i'd rather go to the store and pick the lens I want.

How about if the saving is more than $1000.00? Has anybody priced a 300 2.8 IS or 500F4 from B&H versus Henrys or Vistek? It just does not make economic sense to purchase big glass from a Canadian retailer at this time.

I sure have. I can buy one new from BH for the price of used around here. Canadians really need to wake up when it comes to selling stuff. Asking $4000 for a 2.8 L IS that's 8 years old is well silly. Asking $4000 for a 1D Mk.II is bordering on criminal.

There is a 1D Mk.II locally now that is asking $3200 CDN. If he gets it I'll just be floored. Frankdatank has an N for sale at $2900, a much better deal. I just chuckle and look forward to my next Point Roberts trip.

cosworth wrote in post #3327388
I sure have. I can buy one new from BH for the price of used around here. Canadians really need to wake up when it comes to selling stuff. Asking $4000 for a 2.8 L IS that's 8 years old is well silly. Asking $4000 for a 1D Mk.II is bordering on criminal.

There is a 1D Mk.II locally now that is asking $3200 CDN. If he gets it I'll just be floored. Frankdatank has an N for sale at $2900, a much better deal. I just chuckle and look forward to my next Point Roberts trip.

I'm sick of the prices. A guy was trying to sell a manfrotto stand with arm - 300 OBO. New it's 100 bucks from BH

Last week someone sold a scratched up 10D for 1250CDN

cosworth wrote in post #3327388
I sure have. I can buy one new from BH for the price of used around here. Canadians really need to wake up when it comes to selling stuff. Asking $4000 for a 2.8 L IS that's 8 years old is well silly. Asking $4000 for a 1D Mk.II is bordering on criminal.

There is a 1D Mk.II locally now that is asking $3200 CDN. If he gets it I'll just be floored. Frankdatank has an N for sale at $2900, a much better deal. I just chuckle and look forward to my next Point Roberts trip.

thats so true.
we all love our equipment but its worth only so much
Its one thing to be attached with it for old times sake but quite another to be so attached pricewise that you never gonna move it.

cosworth wrote in post #3327388
I sure have. I can buy one new from BH for the price of used around here. Canadians really need to wake up when it comes to selling stuff. Asking $4000 for a 2.8 L IS that's 8 years old is well silly. Asking $4000 for a 1D Mk.II is bordering on criminal.

There is a 1D Mk.II locally now that is asking $3200 CDN. If he gets it I'll just be floored. Frankdatank has an N for sale at $2900, a much better deal. I just chuckle and look forward to my next Point Roberts trip.

I sold my 1DMKII (in excellent condition) for 2300.00Cdn. Arrrrghhh

Cooper911 wrote in post #3327343
How about if the saving is more than $1000.00? Has anybody priced a 300 2.8 IS or 500F4 from B&H versus Henrys or Vistek? It just does not make economic sense to purchase big glass from a Canadian retailer at this time.

I am pretyt much on board if the savings are 200$ or more. because if something was wrong, I could send it back and still be saving money

Cooper911 wrote in post #3327343
How about if the saving is more than $1000.00? Has anybody priced a 300 2.8 IS or 500F4 from B&H versus Henrys or Vistek? It just does not make economic sense to purchase big glass from a Canadian retailer at this time.

I was curious, so here are the prices for the 300mm f/2.8L IS, courtesy of photoprice.ca, including tax, shipping, and exchange rate, and assuming Ontario:

Adorama: $4706
B&H: $4802
Henry's: $5699

That's crazy!