Responding to people who care about import duties to canada. Even with the duty and sales tax, sometimes it is cheaper but beware, Nikon canada will not respect the warranty which is one of the thing I hate about Nikon. I usually buy at Henry's and they are very reliable.

lauzobe said:
I got my gear through Nikon Canada directly...

You probably have paid a fat premium for this, I find their prices to be pretty bad. As an example, Nikon Canada sells a D3S for $5200 while LL Lauzo does it at $4750, a $450 difference.

Galaxy Camera seems to have good packages. They have a physical store in Ottawa, one block down from Vistek (also a physical store and they have a web site too).

I find Vistek expensive. As for Galaxy camera, they are also an eBay seller and offer a wide range of products.

I got my gear through Nikon Canada directly.

Happy shopping.

PB PM said:
What store? I think it is okay to say as long as you don't post links.

Some stores cheese me off, one of the stores with the best prices charges outrageous shipping charges, even on items over $1000! Any good business (IMO) will absorb shipping on items over a few hundred dollars.

Can't post the name here - one of the moderators already deleted the thread where I explained the whole story even without dropping any names. I'll PM you the name (it's one of the major retailers). They had the best price and free shipping; but their attire was ways beyond good and evil.

What store? I think it is okay to say as long as you don't post links.

Some stores cheese me off, one of the stores with the best prices charges outrageous shipping charges, even on items over $1000! Any good business (IMO) will absorb shipping on items over a few hundred dollars.

PB PM said:
As for saving on taxes, you wont. Now that Ontario has HST, you get charged that across the board, even from items out of province.

The perfect uplifting thought for the start of the weekend - not (*sigh)

Well, so far for the validity of the "great reputation" that particular store has :-(

Sounds like hogwash, don't order from them.

As for saving on taxes, you wont. Now that Ontario has HST, you get charged that across the board, even from items out of province.

spraynpray said:
Maybe that they really would rather not lose the % that the card companies charge?

Unlikely, they seem to accept Visa from pretty much anyone as it's the only option on their online store front (plus it's a large store too, not some mom&pop operation). Besides, the bank transfer think came as a "new development" in my ordering saga. For TWO weeks since placing the order I got told multiple times that they had some sort of administative system problem, have to verify my order, blah blah blah. I believe they try to stall my order in the hopes I will just go away (maybe to avoid any potential legal repercussion by diectly accusing me of being some sort of fraudster, who knows). Suffice to say, I NEVER ever encountered similar behaviour anywhere. They did have the lowest price I got to say in their favaour; but with all the hazzle I am tempted to go with someone else (out of province to save the taxes ;-] ).

Maybe that they really would rather not lose the % that the card companies charge?

Hi there, new member from Canada here.
I just got through a not-so-nice lens buying experience with one of the canadian retailers (so far for buying "local, errr mean in-Country).
Say, how would you proceed, when one of the reputable stores refuses Visa for an online order and demands a bank-transfer instead (we are talking a few thousand $, a couple of lenses basically)? Have you ever heard of such? The store basically explains it that Ontario is the source of lots of Fraud, hence no Visa from Ontario customers. I never heard of any such thing from any retailer anywhere.
I would have liked to tell you the whole story (even got it all written up in storybook tale style, LOL); but one of the moderators appears to have an issue with it and deleted my thread without explanation (didn't violate any forum rules, totally generic with no names dropped, I am scratching my head were it went wrong).

Yup, buy your camera local. Nikon Canada offers a 2 year warranty on the body and 5 year warranty on lenses, so it is a no brainer.

I guess the same applies to a camera body, better getting it locally? But if you do want to purchase one from across the border, it might be better getting a used or refurbished? They're not warranted any way.

With first party lenses, always get them in your own country, to insure warranty support. With third party lenses, I don't think paying double in some cases is worth while, I could buy a new one if something happens, considering the price difference.

I think it's a huge hassle to get warranty service in another country if you have a "grey" item. Just think of the shipping cost back and forth.

You can ship to the US but I think it's just not that convenient. Where as for Canon, you can bring the warranted item in your local headquarter no matter where you bought it from, well, at least from an authorized dealer of course.

lemongrass said:
And Nikon only does local warranty.

So you mean that if the lense I buy across the border breaks, there is no warranty? I thought that as a minimum I would need to ship across the border to get the warrantee respected?

And Nikon only does local warranty.

The price for a D700 and the 24-70 at B&H is $4255 US (with $66 shipping and excluding import duty) and at LL Lozeau is $4309 CA. When you now consider the fact that we need to purchase the US currency (at a cost), the duties, the 2 years vs 1 year guarantee on the body, and the fact that we would need to ship back to the US for every repairs under the guarantee, then I would say it is cheaper in Canada. The prices above do not include sales tax.

I think the issue is more where they order it from. I know there is a Tokina division in Canada, and same with Simga. When I ordered my 12-24mm Tokina I had to wait three weeks. They ordered through Tokina Canada, but Tokina Canada had to order the lens right from Japan!

True, and inversely, Nikon/Canon gear is either equal or cheaper in Canada.

Prices for the Nikon 70-300 are actually cheaper in here than even on Amazon.

I figure its because Nikon Canada exists, who operates and prices things locally, as opposed to Sigma/Tamron, which the store has to import from the states.

Anything over $20 will bit hit with import duties, but the lens will still cost far less than buying here. Third party lens prices seem artificially high here. Example, the Tokina 12-24mm Pro DX, $399 average price in USD, Canada, $600!

So much for great prices in Canada...

My 18-55 broke recently, and now it no longer focuses to infinity...

So i had to move my purchase list forward by a few months.

I've picked the Sigma 17-70 which lozeau sells for 600 CAD.

But B&H has it for $449, no contest.

Anyone know the likelihood of me getting hit with import duties?

Thanks everyone here for the advice.

I just got my D90+35mm f1.8 from henrys local store. I asked them to match the price from mostdigitaldotcom.

PB PM said:
Henrys only price matches in store, which doesn't really help online buyers from BC, like me.

Henrys can price match any Canadian camera store not only locally. But they do not match online only store which means the store must have a physical store some where in Canada. They will also charge whatever the shipping cost the other one charges.

I am so glad I made decision to go with D90 instead of waiting for the new coming body (D7000?).

BTW, Nikon Canada has a rebate until 24th April: Buy D90 + any lens, you have $50 instant rebate. I could include other bodies but I did not ask sales guy in henrys.

Thanks again guys.

PB PM said:
Henrys only price matches in store, which doesn't really help online buyers from BC, like me.

ding!ding!ding! ;]

Henrys ebay sells new, used and open box stock, which they indicate in the auction.