Just wondering if any of you north of the border order dvd's from Amazon?

I mean the US version NOT Amazon.CA

I dont know what is up with the pricing but HD-DVD titles are significantly higher at the .CA site. What is up with that??

The .com site has almost BLOW OUT pricing, yet at the .ca site I dont think I saw anything lower than $ 28, and most still look like they are at prices they were selling for prior to Toshibas bow-out announcement.

I think that the .com site has no problem taking orders from Canada, but I am just wondering what I can expect in the form of duties/fees??
They mention something along the lines of "pre" charging you for anticipated taxes, duties, brokerage fees, etc.

I purchase a lot of items (from other sources) for shipment over the border and generally request USPS as the preferred shipping method as small items usually come through without any delay and hitch, and many times without ANY additional charges.

Just wondering what I can expect from Amazon.COM ??

I do it all the time. So far, I've only ever paid shipping charges (which usually are equivalent to GST/PST, so it's often a wash). I've ordered books, CDs, SACDs, DVD-As, SD DVDs and HD DVDs (I'm not "blu" yet, but I will be later this year). Lately I've gotten free shipping by having things sent to my mailbox at the school where I teach in Vermont, but I did not work there, I'd still order stuff from Amazon.com. Before having a US address that I could use, I would look up each item on .ca and .com and compare prices and taxes vs. shipping. Most items were cheaper via .com, but some every category except HD DVD has had some items be cheaper (sometimes significantly so) with .ca--so it's worth comparing.

P.S. Select the "standard" shipping (it's by USPS and it avoids the brokerage fees that faster delivery can tack on--especially if it's by UPS)

Thanks for the reply Ovation.

I was specifically thinking about UPS when I posted. I have been burned by them many times with outrageous "brokerage" fees. For my money they are the worst courier I have ever dealt with and avoid them like the plague.

You cant go wrong with the regular Postal Service. "Snail" mail still has it good points sometime.

I just may take advantage of some deals. Lots of titles in the $ 13 to $ 15 range worth picking up.

Amazon.com is pretty much the best way to go for most high def stuff... I get all my HD's and Blu-rays using it... shipping is a factor, but without taxes, it usually balances out...and no duty either...regular shipping comes very fast. Amazon.com rules.

Thanks for the reply Ovation.

I was specifically thinking about UPS when I posted. I have been burned by them many times with outrageous "brokerage" fees. For my money they are the worst courier I have ever dealt with and avoid them like the plague.

You cant go wrong with the regular Postal Service. "Snail" mail still has it good points sometime.

I just may take advantage of some deals. Lots of titles in the $ 13 to $ 15 range worth picking up.

CanadaPhil, I keep a steady stream of HD-DVD and now Blu-Ray, coming from Amazon.com and they've been great. Orders arrive in three business days and as per their policy, they price match almost immediately, when I send in an e-mail or call them.

Additionally, all orders from Amazon.com are sent from their Mississauga warehouse, if it's in stock there (which is why it's three business days). Your packages will arrive via Canada Post and if for some reason, they must come from the states, they are shipped via DHL. I just received a Mahler classical HD DVD that arrived from down south and I had no problems with brokerage fees, but your own personal experience may differ.

-Stephen

I have ordered from amazon.com and had great service. You may also want to try deepdiscount.com. There delivery is a couple of weeks, but there is only a flat rate for shipping of about 6$ (there were no customs fees either, although I may have just been lucky). Either way ordering from the states seems to be the way to go.

Many of my HDDVD titles were ordered from Amazon (in fact another box of HDDVDs arrived today). I need to slow down because I've been spending waaaay too much money on these blowout prices they have. Now they're even heavily discounting new release BD titles. You have to order those early because they quickly go up in price afterwards.

Eric

Amazon.com has ridiculous rate for their shipping to Canada.

I now either use HD Movie Source, Deep Discount or HD Addicts.

I've ordered from .COM not too long ago and my order was shipped from Mississauga and came in xpresspost

edit: I've also ordered from amazon.de, it was sent from Germany to Mississauga and forwarded xpresspost to me.