Computer hardware sellers in Canada

[chuwawa]

www.newegg.com is awesome but it doesn't ship to Canada. What's a good reputable company that ships to Canada or is based in Canada itself?

Not sure if this is the right forum for this =/

 

[n7]

NCIX.com

 

[CraigRT]

www.vibecomputers.com
www.ncix.com
www.pccanada.com
www.atic.ca
www.canadacomputers.com
www.bigfootcomputers.com

 

[niall]

NCIX, as mentioned, though it's based in Vancouver and ships Expresspost with prices according to distance from you. I'm in Eastern Ontario, it makes it a leeeetle bit pricier.

TigerDirect.ca is another online store with a Canadian presence.

Beyond that, check to see if you have any local computer stores with a website; many bigger urban centres have a good selection of stores to choose from, and some of those even ship nationally - but not necessarily for cheap.

And this is the perfect forum in which to ask this. You're not alone up here.

Edit: Thanks CraigRT! Some of these even I didn't know about!

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: niall
NCIX, as mentioned, though it's based in Vancouver and ships Expresspose with prices according to distance from you. I'm in Eastern Ontario, it makes it a leeeetle bit pricier.

TigerDirect.ca is another online store with a Canadian presence.

Beyond that, check to see if you have any local computer stores with a website; many bigger urban centres have a good selection of stores to choose from, and some of those even ship nationally - but not necessarily for cheap.

And this is the perfect forum in which to ask this. You're not alone up here.

Edit: Thanks CraigRT! Some of these even I didn't know about!

no problem
i have spent lots of time finding the quality Canadian stores.. and these are definitely them !
I've bought from all of them but ATIC... which is weird cause ATIC has probably the lowest prices.

Premier is good, Vibe is good, NCIX is good, and Canada computers and bigfoot are both good. I'd recommend any of them to anyone.

 

[chuwawa]

Thank you all, I'll check those out. I live here in calgary and there are some good stores but they often have a bad selection or high price.

 

[niall]

Calgary? Then the BC stores (NCIX, ATIC, Vibe) would be of more use to you than the Ontario stores (Canada Computers, Bigfoot, TigerDirect, PC Canada) due to lower shipping costs. Just make sure that once you add taxes and shipping, the item doesn't end up more expensive than something availabel locally!

Good luck!

 

[chuwawa]

Ok thank you! Would you by any chance know the approximate shipping costs per lb from Vanc to Calgary?

What sort of shipping costs have you paid in the past and at what distance?

 

[niall]

I've never used online shopping for computer parts - we have an excellent selection (over a dozen) of good computer stores locally, where I do all my shopping. (It's always been lower than online prices, not counting shipping!)

To estimate shipping, you'll have to check each store's location and shipping method and go on the shipping firm's website to calculate. For NCIX, it's the easy Canada Post Expresspost calculator from postal code to postal code. For ATIC, they actually have a single rate, and change shipping company depending on circumstances. I didn't go too deeply in Vibe's website to figure that out.

As always, do the legwork before shopping.. in this case, the fingerwork.

 

[memories2002]

What, and where, is the best option, CDN $280 or under ?
Please help asap..

 

[LocutusX]

don't forget www.futureshop.ca !

sometimes they have good deals. it's where i picked up my BBA ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128mb 256-bit (retail box) for $300, 2 months before the good mom 'n pop stores started selling them at that price!

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: LocutusX
don't forget www.futureshop.ca !

sometimes they have good deals. it's where i picked up my BBA ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128mb 256-bit (retail box) for $300, 2 months before the good mom 'n pop stores started selling them at that price!

I got my 9800 Pro there too but I walked into the store and bought it

 

[maddogatc]

I know what you mean! I use to live in Saskatchewan and the price for computers and parts were outrageous. I now live in the greater Toronto area and what a selection at much cheaper prices. Isn't competition great. NCIX out of BC is probably your best choice. Good selection and reasonable prices.

 

[GreatBarracuda]

Originally posted by: maddogatc
I know what you mean! I use to live in Saskatchewan and the price for computers and parts were outrageous. I now live in the greater Toronto area and what a selection at much cheaper prices. Isn't competition great. NCIX out of BC is probably your best choice. Good selection and reasonable prices.

Welcome to AnandTech fellow Torontonian I get all my stuff from Canada Computers. They have pretty much the lowest prices. These guys don't speak a word of English...but they know what they're doing

 

[smorehou]

I just stumbled across this forum and I thought I'd put in my 2 cents. I've had some experience dealing with the above mentioned (and those not mentioned) dealers in and around Vancouver. Here's my experience:


NCIX: They are no longer a price leader. Good prices, but consistently higher than the three below. However, excellent (relatively) customer service; they don't charge that stupid (and illegal) 3% charge for credit cards; they will actually accept returns (what a concept). Sign up for their mailings, because they do have specials that are quite good that only members see (carefull not to navigate away after clicking though, because the price reverts to normal once you go back).

PROS: Customer service. Stock.
CONS: Prices keep inching up relative to competitors

ATIC: I used to only shop here, but since I moved to the other side of town they are a bit of a trip for me (I'm always to impatient to wait for deliveries). Used to be the undisputed price leader, but now the two below are both worth checking out for any given product. Customer service really bites though... in-store you can count on an hour wait. REALLY bad at keeping stock of low priced items. Border-line bait-and-switch IMO.

PROS: Price.
CONS: Stock. Customer service. Parking


A-POWER: In Burnaby, these guys have become slightly less competitive in recent months. They used to give ATIC a run for their money on just about everything, now its worth double checking. Customer service is reasonable, although returns are like pulling teeth even on defective items.

PROS: Price (less so lately). Stock.
CONS: Returns. 3% Charge on Credit Cards (I HATE THAT)


A-LINK: My new best friends. I moved to Coquitlam, and they are a 10 minute drive from me. I really wasn't expecting their prices to be so good! They are by far the cheapest west of Vancouver/Burnaby/Richmond. (although they also have stores in Burnaby and Richmond). The three locations are independantly owned, and I've only had dealings with the local guy. They OFTEN beat everyone else on prices, but not always so check. My biggest complaint is that several times the price is not as advertised on their site. BUT, I found out today that if you order from the site (duh) you get that price... but it comes from the Richmond store. I'll stick to the local guy and pay the extra $5 because I like him though.

PROS: Price!!! Customer service. LOCATION (ok, that's just for me :]) directly beside a pub.
CONS: Stock. Mis-priced website. 3% charge on Credit Cards (Grrrrr).

 

[mobiusman]

Dangeo.com in Alberta is great. Really good selection of products. I've ordered there several times and been very happy. I'm in BC so it's nice to save the PST.
Bigfootcomputers.com is my other favorite. Lots of mod stuff.
-Scott

 

[Mokmo418]

NCIX: tends to have the same item listed at 3-4 places (check BenQ FP 737 LCD, you'll see) with 10-20 % price difference

Tigerdirect: Bought a 128 MB Compact Flash Card for my sister's cam (24.97 +tx after mail-in reb.) This price is a little less per MB thant if you'd buy a 512MB card. Had free shipping on orders over 200$ from christmas time to last june.

Edit: Ebay Canada seems to have a few power sellers based in Ontario that sell only refurbished items... Anybody know if there's an factory outlet store somewhere (SE Ontario, Montreal) In the area? I don't go often over there but if it's worth it for my next rig...

 

[maddogatc]

Lately Canada Computers is where i shop for my components. Great selection and nobody in the GTA can beat there prices. I usually shop at the place just off Mavis, north of Hwy 403. I used to shop in the Burlington area but the selection and prices were nowhere near what Canada Computers offers. By the way just bought a ATI 9800 pro about two weeks ago at, of all places, Future Shop for $299.99 Canadian. Lowest price I have seen. Works great

 

[JavaMomma]

I buy all my stuff from NCIX.

I pickout all the parts I want. Then price match like mad from every other canadian place people have listed in this thread plus:
www.anitec.ca

It makes sense to me. When I buy a computer there is no one store that has the lowest price for everything I want...except NCIX after a good price match.
Dangeo as someone else has mentioned also price matches but they won't price match those places that are credit card discounted and NCIX will.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: maddogatc
Lately Canada Computers is where i shop for my components. Great selection and nobody in the GTA can beat there prices. I usually shop at the place just off Mavis, north of Hwy 403. I used to shop in the Burlington area but the selection and prices were nowhere near what Canada Computers offers. By the way just bought a ATI 9800 pro about two weeks ago at, of all places, Future Shop for $299.99 Canadian. Lowest price I have seen. Works great

I bought the same card.

 

[billandopus]

Check www.redflagdeals.com for all your Canadian deals ... the forums are particularly active.

But to sum it up as others have said:

Canada Computers - usually great prices but God/Allah/insert Deity here help you if something goes wrong and you need an RMA or any kind of customer service. Good for pricematching if need be.

NCIX - weekly specials and theme specials have very competitive prices, sometimes really good prices. Huge volume and good product forums for learning. Non sale items are fairly expensive ... but what do you expect? Will pricematch most of the time and customer service is usually pretty good although everyone has a horror story here and there. No one is immune.

Dangeo - never shopped there.

ATIC - used to have the best prices around ... for a reason. Customer service was non-existent and ATIC had many, many BBB complaints ... most went unresolved. Shop at your own risk. Good for pricematching purposes. Can't say how they are lately ... but caveat emptor as per usual.

A-Power - used to have competitive prices but haven't priced them out lately. Seem to have decent customer service and I would buy from them again.

Anitec - some love them. Some hate them. Usually competitive prices.

As for more enthusiast sites theres places like bigfoot.com and so forth

Since i'm in the GVA I know more about Vancouver stores.

Hope that helps.

 

[sparky853]

I tend to disagree with the fact that Canada Computers has the lowest prices. I was able to find the exact same parts, some cheaper, some the same price, at a place called LOGIC Computer House in Markham.

Dropping into the mom'n'pop stores can be good sometime, as you can quite often find good prices.

 

[IKeelU]

I shop almost exclusively as RB Computing. The have a flat rate shipping fee of $9 for regular, and $15 for expedited . Killer prices + pricematching, too.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: sparky853
I tend to disagree with the fact that Canada Computers has the lowest prices. I was able to find the exact same parts, some cheaper, some the same price, at a place called LOGIC Computer House in Markham.

Dropping into the mom'n'pop stores can be good sometime, as you can quite often find good prices.

Is that in the Warden/14th/Denison area? I'm always looking for a better place to shop, and I hate ordering; the shipping charges suck, and it's even worse if something arrives defective (especially when it's a cheap item, making return shipping very expensive; you're screwed).

 

[RussianSensation]

Wow looking at those canadian prices, and after tax, you end up spending way more. I guess i never really realized the benefits of buying hardware across the border. Hmm.....like NCIX has 9600 xt for $238, after taking the online of 8% you get to $257 and divide that by 1.30 exchange rate we get around $198 US - the price of MSI 9800PRO in US. Then consider all components together like RAM, PSU, CPU, MOBO....and i just wanna scream how we Canadians get ripped off.

You can also try www.eglobalonline.com and www.pccanada.com has a list of their competing stores so you can look into all of them but they usually have the cheapest prices even in comparison to NCIX.