Computer hardware sellers in Canada

[Mullzy]

Originally posted by: 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.

I bought a Sapphire 9800 Pro for $289 3 months ago from OEMExpress (Edmonton office).

 

[jacktesterson]

Originally posted by: n7
NCIX.com

 

[GfW]

I bought almost all the hardware for my new PC from Canada Computers but they do not sell online. Prices and service are great but they do sell some discontinued stuff and they are not always a registered distributor for some of the stuff they sell. And as somebody else said, they don't appear to be very quick on helping solve problems with stuff bought from them ... I had a speaker problem and had to resolve it myself when they would not assist.

As for the post that said something about how glad he is that he can buy in the US (being an American I assume) where prices are much lower ... when you convert the US price to Canadian and then search the same item out in Canada ... it's not any cheaper to buy in the US. Being American he probably doesn't know anything about exchange rates as the US $ is all he knows.

 

[Gaunt]

Someone already mentioned this, but I get most of my stuff from RB Computing as well. Of course, I live about 5 minutes away, so I have no clue about shipping, but prices and service are usually really good.

 

[simms]

Here's a new one. www.genitechcomputers.com. Lowest prices I've seen along wth Canada Computers. They have NO CHARGES for CC's and actually TAKE 2% OFF if you pay by cash. It's in Mississauga, around Matheson and Hwy 10 (Hurontario).

As for Vancouver, I find ATIC to be pretty good. They were OOS on my 80211b card, but I picked it up the following week. I drove by the NCIX store as well...

 

[imported_jediknight]

Originally posted by: 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!

Canada Computers does not ship, FYI

 

[thorin]

Stores:
www.shoprbc.com/ca
www.tigerdirect.ca
www.pccyber.ca

Handy resources:
www.bbf.ca
www.redflagdeals.ca

Thorin

 

[imported_jediknight]

Originally posted by: 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

Only problem is, if something's out of stock.. it seems to stay that way..
I've been trying to get a Logitech cordless wingman rumble pad for a few months now.. everytime I go into the store, no stock..

(Not that I'm against Canada Computers.. even though my last two posts may seem that way :->)

 

[jacktesterson]

NCIX.com may have higher prices than Canada Computers but there shipping is cheaper and there customer service, pricematching and willingness to help, along with there inventory/layout/procedure on there web page is just uncomparable to the others.

Sure Canada Computers is a little cheaper, but there website sucks (you have to call somebody who barely speaks english to order), and there shipping is expensive.

the answer is simple for me...NCIX.com is simply the way to go for most things.

I do buy something occasionally from Robotnik.com as well, if just ordering a single thing, because they have quick $5 shipping to the maratimes and prices are very competivtive. I've never had any problems with online ordering with NCIX or Robotnik.

Canada Computers and Tiger Direct, ive had many problems with. Mostly shipping/customer service/not much english skills/selling cheap products. Who wants to buy a Nforce 3 on a "MachTurbo" motherboard?

NCIX also promotes Soltek which I like cause they are one of the best underrated motherboard makers out there...always a solid fast board.

Overall the answer is simple....buy from NCIX.com.

My $0.02

 

[simms]

Go local if you want to go to CC. It helps if you know Chinese.

 

[JustMike]

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.

LOGIC is another store where you better be sure what you buy is what you want and that it will not break down. They are NOT friendly to returns (unless you're Asian, of course) or exchanges. I buy cables and such from them, but nothing else.

 

[Shazam]

What's wrong with Memory Express and OEM Depot?

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: GfW

As for the post that said something about how glad he is that he can buy in the US (being an American I assume) where prices are much lower ... when you convert the US price to Canadian and then search the same item out in Canada ... it's not any cheaper to buy in the US. Being American he probably doesn't know anything about exchange rates as the US $ is all he knows.

Wow did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? I live in Canada and I buy computer and other hardware in US because it is cheaper. There is not 1 computer part that I am aware of that is not cheaper to buy in US. I might not have a PHD in exchange rates, but I know that at the current 1 CAD = 0.771651 USD exchange rate and the exemption of paying Michigan taxes when buying components online in US, give you great savings over components in Canada.

For example:

@Canada Computers (much praised by everyone here)
A64 3400+ Retail box = $409cdn = $315US
and cheapest X800Pro = $599 = $462US
Total: $777US

Now I just used this site but as someone mentioned it doesnt ship components, so imagine extra shipping costs? .... and the tax you need to pay for these items (also even if you ordered online in Canada you'd still have to pa a portion of the tax)

now lets search Pricewatch for the cheapest components:
A64 3400+ Retail box = $283
X800Pro = $392
Total: $675

That includes taxes (or the lack thereof) and shipping.

So now imagine buying CPU, Motherboard, Quality ram, psu, etc. and you'll see how a whole system can cost up to 2x less if bought in US (Canadian taxes really make things even worse).

Maybe what you meant was that the purchasing power of the dollar is fairly equal for American citizen to buy goods in US dollars as it is for a Canadian person to buy goods in Canadian dollars. I cant attest to the automotive industry for example (since these depend on other factors like Preset exchange rates at the beginning of the fiscal year, etc.) but MOST electronics are much cheaper to buy for a Canadian in US if the choice is there.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

OEM Express .... oemexpress.com

 

[DougFrippon]

I asked this question here, few years ago. And got about the same answers. I finnally came to the conclusion we pay our hardware parts more expensive in Canada than USA, wherever we buy.

Compare prices let's say from NCIX.com (witch usually have good prices) to pricewatch.com that get the best USA deals, calculate the dollar rate, and you'll get a price often about 30% less espensive in USA.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: DougFrippon
I asked this question here, few years ago. And got about the same answers. I finnally came to the conclusion we pay our hardware parts more expensive in Canada than USA, wherever we buy.

Compare prices let's say from NCIX.com (witch usually have good prices) to pricewatch.com that get the best USA deals, calculate the dollar rate, and you'll get a price often about 30% less espensive in USA.

I completely agree with you. Since I live in Windsor, it makes it very easy for me to buy things in USA and just bring them over across the border. Unfortunately a lot of Canadians do not have this "luxury." On the bright side, the high prices of computer hardware in Canada are offset by other good things in Canada. Still on the bright side, even NCIX or PCCanada are much better than what you can get at Futureshop or BestBuy, so they still arent the ultimate ripoff stores.

 

[Brutuscan]

dealsdirect.ca in Ottawa have good prices, and they are not the cash discounted ones that you see in almost all online stores. Not sure about their shipping costs as I live near them.

Another local Ottawa store with good prices is Orleanscomputers.com although they have a 3% credit card charge. I bought an ATI 9800 pro there for $249.