Best places to order online

[AeroShake]

Yeah, definitely A3U for me. Preorder and pick up. Like Rev, I get my used stuff from boardies or local craigslist sellers if I find anything. If I have to resort to online, I just try and find the retailer with the cheapest shipping option. I'm not partial to any, though I do use TFSource majority of the time.

[brr-icy]

captured prey, slayback's been good so far a3u i have heard nothing but good things about. and tfsource is usually decent. can't recommend anyone else

[Starmaker]

Oh man, thanks guys, this helps a lot!

[Goaliebot]

I've had nothing but great dealings with BBTS (Big Bad Toy Store) from the US, with the caveat that if my packages from them are over $100 (before shipping) then I do get hit with Canada customs fees (13% for HST in Ontario) and the $10 Canada Post fee for that. But every package under $100 I've gotten from them, to date, has been free and clear of fees. So generally I put a few items in my "Pile of Loot" (a service they offer) until it's just under $100 and then ship.

For more expensive items, you may be better off with Canadian sellers and retailers, but if considering BBTS just check the price + shipping + 13% + $10 as what you'll pay. Even after that it can be cheaper from them than from within Canada sometimes.

Example: Fortress Maximus reissue
BBTS Price: $329.99
Shipping to Canada (USPS Air Mail): $54.39
Customs Fees (Ontario) will be 13% of $329.99: $42.90
Canada Post Fee for Customs collection: $10
-------------
=$437.28 to your door

Now, the $329.99 and $54.39 are in US dollars, so there could be a ~2% flux in what you pay in Canadian depending on the exchange rate that day and your bank/credit card rate.

If a Canadian retailer can have it at your door for under $438, go with them (or if you can pick it up in person!). Otherwise, BBTS isn't a bad option.

[Merewyn1066]

Originally Posted by Goaliebot

I've had nothing but great dealings with BBTS (Big Bad Toy Store) from the US, with the caveat that if my packages from them are over $100 (before shipping) then I do get hit with Canada customs fees (13% for HST in Ontario) and the $10 Canada Post fee for that. But every package under $100 I've gotten from them, to date, has been free and clear of fees. So generally I put a few items in my "Pile of Loot" (a service they offer) until it's just under $100 and then ship.

For more expensive items, you may be better off with Canadian sellers and retailers, but if considering BBTS just check the price + shipping + 13% + $10 as what you'll pay. Even after that it can be cheaper from them than from within Canada sometimes.

Example: Fortress Maximus reissue
BBTS Price: $329.99
Shipping to Canada (USPS Air Mail): $54.39
Customs Fees (Ontario) will be 13% of $329.99: $42.90
Canada Post Fee for Customs collection: $10
-------------
=$437.28 to your door

Now, the $329.99 and $54.39 are in US dollars, so there could be a ~2% flux in what you pay in Canadian depending on the exchange rate that day and your bank/credit card rate.

If a Canadian retailer can have it at your door for under $438, go with them (or if you can pick it up in person!). Otherwise, BBTS isn't a bad option.

Huh, very good point GoalieBot, about the HST. I think I'll go back and check my invoice from my last TFSource order and see if they dinged me for those extra charges too. It might be far less expensive for me to pick up at A3U, even with the ferry and transit costs then to keep ordering from the US. Time to go crunch some numbers.

[BigBot79]

Originally Posted by Goaliebot

I've had nothing but great dealings with BBTS (Big Bad Toy Store) from the US, with the caveat that if my packages from them are over $100 (before shipping) then I do get hit with Canada customs fees (13% for HST in Ontario) and the $10 Canada Post fee for that. But every package under $100 I've gotten from them, to date, has been free and clear of fees. So generally I put a few items in my "Pile of Loot" (a service they offer) until it's just under $100 and then ship.

For more expensive items, you may be better off with Canadian sellers and retailers, but if considering BBTS just check the price + shipping + 13% + $10 as what you'll pay. Even after that it can be cheaper from them than from within Canada sometimes.

Example: Fortress Maximus reissue
BBTS Price: $329.99
Shipping to Canada (USPS Air Mail): $54.39
Customs Fees (Ontario) will be 13% of $329.99: $42.90
Canada Post Fee for Customs collection: $10
-------------
=$437.28 to your door

Now, the $329.99 and $54.39 are in US dollars, so there could be a ~2% flux in what you pay in Canadian depending on the exchange rate that day and your bank/credit card rate.

If a Canadian retailer can have it at your door for under $438, go with them (or if you can pick it up in person!). Otherwise, BBTS isn't a bad option.

Automaton has Fort MAX for $399 plus $25 or so to ship and HST included. So about $425, No customs, cheaper shipping and quicker and Canadian, I'd say this is the best deal for us!

[UltraMarknus]

Originally Posted by Merewyn1066

Huh, very good point GoalieBot, about the HST. I think I'll go back and check my invoice from my last TFSource order and see if they dinged me for those extra charges too. It might be far less expensive for me to pick up at A3U, even with the ferry and transit costs then to keep ordering from the US. Time to go crunch some numbers.

The charges are from Canada post, not the retailer. You would know if you paid them because you would've had to pay Canada post before they would release the package to you.

Robot kingdom is great and if you request they mark the item as a gift with a low value, they will. I just recieved a $200 order and didn't have to pay CP anything.

[Mystic Metal]

I've tried to find a one-source e-tailer for my TF's, but clearance and sale usually drive me to other sites. Here is my list of at least once used online retailers...

CANADIAN
agesthreeandup.com
automatontoys.com
kooltoyz.ca

USA
acestoystore.com
alphaprimetoys.com
bbts.com
capturedprey.com
crave.com
tfmarketplace.com
tfsource.com
toyarena.com
yahobby.com

JAPAN
japan-toys.com (wholesale)
robotkingdom.com

I added japan-toys because sometimes they have single items for sale. [If anyone knows of another wholesale site, please pm me].

I find that at some point or another, depending on what you're in the market for and how much you spend, any one of these places is reputable. If for nothing else, the more expensive stores are less likely to sell out of the more popular items you may be looking for.

Hope this helps.

[Goaliebot]

Originally Posted by BigBot79

Automaton has Fort MAX for $399 plus $25 or so to ship and HST included. So about $425, No customs, cheaper shipping and quicker and Canadian, I'd say this is the best deal for us!

Yes, the only reason I left my pre-order with BBTS for him was that I needed the ability to cancel my pre-order if something came up.