I know there was thread somewhere about how pants Amazon.ca is. Could not find it. Question is, is there an alternative?

R x

Never had any trouble getting stuff from the US Amazon site!

Go to a store and buy it in person. Doesn't matter what mail order service you use, it's coming via Canada Post or Purolator usually, both of which suck.

If you don't mind a trip over the border some people buy on amazon US and ship to a freight company near the border and then every so often do a weekend border trip up and pick up their amazon stuff.

That sounds like a good idea thank you!

No problem Millie, my sister regularly uses amazon US and then gets it sent to a freight firm in Blaine and then once a month heads over from Vancouver and nips into Trader Joes whilst she is over the border. I think if you time your ordering right and need some shopping or going camping then it can work out quite well

I've been ordering from Amazon.com (US) for years and never had any problems with getting stuff delivered - though there is the odd item that isn't available to be shipped to Canada.

The last item I purchased through them was a high end camera which was $300 cheaper via an Amazon.com merchant than I could buy in Canada.

I get all my kindle free books from Amazon.com too - even though they keep trying to get me to sign up with Amazon.ca, I won't because they hardly have anything decent.

If you are buying camera kit, B & H are the way to go. Use them all the time, delivered to the door and the service excellent. Prices are the best in North America. Saying that, I have found camera bodies to be cheaper in Canada, everything else in the US. Out west Broadway Camera and Leo's. Though B & H I have saved a lot over the last year on the Canadian prices. The tripod just purchased was $400 under CDN price at B & H.

Have also used US and UK amazon for books mostly, delivered to Canada.

Here's that previous thread. I still find it's better/cheaper sometimes.

Off on a tangent I was looking at IKEA the other day. The chair I was looking at comes with different colour cushions.

With some colours it was cheaper in Canada, with others, it was cheaper in the UK.

Are you stung for duties for home delivery?

I haven't been so far.

Good to know, thanks

+1 Thank you!

It depends what the product is and country of manufacture. Some companies will include taxes, duty and shipping in the price when sending into Canada or leave it to you to pay the carrier directly. The first option is the cheaper. There is no duty on some items, some as little at 1% other 20%.

If none is being charged on incoming goods and it is due, you are supposed to self report. Bit like garage sales in BC, the seller is supposed to charge PST and pay it to the govt. Surprised they are not chasing after this.

I read on the CBSA site that books aren't exempt (under $20), so we should pay the HST plus $9.95 Canada Post handling.

I want to order a used book from the UK worth $3.95 - but then have to pay c. $11.50 extra in tax and charges.

Have I figured that right?!!