Canadian shopping frustrations!!!

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I'm on the prowl for a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 39. There is no end to the options south of the border. The online northern options are basically non-existent. I can purchase this machine in the US for approx. $975 USD. It only ships by courier, due to the value, hence I will face the brokerage fee(?), courier cost (about $150) and GST (5%). My in-country choice is to purchase from a welding supply store. They feel that this item is worth somewhere between $1700 and $2200 CAD. (Do people actually buy things from Acklands Grainger, or do oil companies cause their existence?!?!?) Is there somebody who might provide me with some wise guidance please. Can I make this purchase in my own country, for less than nearly double the cost? I would like to patronize the locals, but that's a huge difference! Why are there no competitive, Canadian online suppliers of welding supplies. I am aware of Praxair ($1800). The US/CAN differential in welding machines is not this extreme. Thanks.
Reply:My Air Liquide outlet is selling the Hypertherm 30 for $1350. Similar specs to the Cutmaster 38. Acklands catalog prices are a joke.Guys around here either drive to the US and bring back their purchases or have them delivered to a store just across the border which does this for a small fee. Still have to drive across the border though but you save the brokerage and the shipping will be less. Not a solution if you've been caught smoking dope.A man who can't weld is as poorly educated as a woman who can't sew
Reply:You better start calling around your local area as I have been getting better prices where I live than I can get in the US. I bought a new TD cutmaster 38 last year and only paid 1400.00 for including the taxes which were 15%. Now I can buy the same unit a lot cheaper due to the Canadian dollar. I just bought a new Miller DVI2. I only paid 1200.00 Ca for in and the list price on the Miller US site was 1439.00. The DVI was 200.00 - 300.00 more last year. I am also currently looking for a new tig. My Praxair dealer gave me a price of 1950.00 before taxes which included the running gear. I couldn't find a better price in the US with out all the other fee's ( shipping, brokerage, & tax ). My Praxair dealer is working hard to give the best prices and he's doing a great job of it. For us Canadians it a great time to buy welding equipment.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Originally Posted by WET RODI'm on the prowl for a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 39. There is no end to the options south of the border. The online northern options are basically non-existent. I can purchase this machine in the US for approx. $975 USD. It only ships by courier, due to the value, hence I will face the brokerage fee(?), courier cost (about $150) and GST (5%). My in-country choice is to purchase from a welding supply store. They feel that this item is worth somewhere between $1700 and $2200 CAD. (Do people actually buy things from Acklands Grainger, or do oil companies cause their existence?!?!?) Is there somebody who might provide me with some wise guidance please. Can I make this purchase in my own country, for less than nearly double the cost? I would like to patronize the locals, but that's a huge difference! Why are there no competitive, Canadian online suppliers of welding supplies. I am aware of Praxair ($1800). The US/CAN differential in welding machines is not this extreme. Thanks.
Reply:Thanks for the great advice all. Jamlit you have some very informative, unbiased posts. I've enjoyed reading some. A fine Maritimer you are. I will hit the phone, though choices are few. They mostly all deal with the same distributor. Months ago I purchased a welder. I live in a remote oil town with one praxair contact (no stock). I called the next town's dealer first (possible stock), and was given quotes on the line. One day while I was in the shop, the mechanic was on the horn with our (only) local dealer. I called out and asked him to bug her about a particular welding machine. 10 min. later his phone rings. She tells him that she can't give him a quote, since the next town had already given me a quote. She even knew my name. SMALL town. Quite amusing. Now I feel paranoid / guilty for requesting quotes.
Reply:Where are you located WET ROD. If I can find away to help. I will.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Thanks Mr. Little. Truly kind. I'm in northern Alberta. I gave my wish list to the local oilfield supplier, who also represents Arrow welding. He informed me that he is supplied by A-Grainger.(Cringe). Says he'll try his best though. I have also e-mailed Praxair in Edmonton (2 hrs. to the S.E.) So far no word from either. I would like to share something that I discovered today, however. There is a fellow named Bill Hamlyn, who operates a business called reQ-ship.com. He has a warehouse in Niagara Falls, NY, as well as one in Niagara on the Lake, ON. If you find a US vendor who refuses to ship to Canada, such as Cyberweld, he offers to purchase it for you. He then presents you with two options; The first one being him using USPS to ship your item from NY. You pick up the duty/tax at your post office upon arrival. The second being him clearing the border, and shipping to you via Canada Post from ON.(No further expense on arrival). Both amount to a similar cost. For the TD 39, I am looking at approx. $ 183.00 on top of the purchase price.(FedEx would be about $285.00 on top). So the total depletion of personal funds would be about $ 1160 USD, for that cutter. I will wait and see how near the Canadians can come to that figure. I'd be happy with $1300. Any more and I may utilize Mr. Hamlyn. He can be contacted at ([email protected]) or (716)304-6839 ph. and (905) 682-8720. I prefer to support local business, but this might come in handy for items that are not available in Canada, or are just plainly overpriced.
Reply:Good to know WET ROD but I hope your more local dealers can come through for you.For the fun of it  I searched around for prices on the new Miller DVI2 I just bought. Cyberweld.com wanted 1180.00 for it plus shipping, and border costs which would be Taxes, brokerage,& release fees. I called my dealer and got a price for the same welder. My deal is shaving the price so good the the daily dollar affects this price, so he can't guaranty the price so more than I day or so.  Any way the same welder came in at 1253.00 plus tax shipping to the dealer ready for pick up.  Keep looking for a good dealer near you. their must be someone who wants the business.Good Luck.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:Thread hi-jack here.  In the US we complain about cheap chicom products taking away American jobs and money. In Canada you complain about not being able to get cheap American products.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyThread hi-jack here.  In the US we complain about cheap chicom products taking away American jobs and money. In Canada you complain about not being able to get cheap American products.
Reply:The off shore infulance affect both Canada and the US. The trade agreements that Canada and the US share are to help both country's. This isn't true for all thing so I wont get into the politics of this but myself, I try to buy Canadian or US products when possible. I work for a large sawmill which exports all it wood to the US, their for buying US made products makes this a two way street and one that is good for both country's. And lets face it, Miller and Lincoln for welders and TD and Hypo for plasmas are US made and the best the world has to offer.J Little Originally Posted by SandyThread hi-jack here.  In the US we complain about cheap chicom products taking away American jobs and money. In Canada you complain about not being able to get cheap American products.
Reply:Originally Posted by WET RODThanks for the great advice all. Jamlit you have some very informative, unbiased posts. I've enjoyed reading some. A fine Maritimer you are. I will hit the phone, though choices are few. They mostly all deal with the same distributor. Months ago I purchased a welder. I live in a remote oil town with one praxair contact (no stock). I called the next town's dealer first (possible stock), and was given quotes on the line. One day while I was in the shop, the mechanic was on the horn with our (only) local dealer. I called out and asked him to bug her about a particular welding machine. 10 min. later his phone rings. She tells him that she can't give him a quote, since the next town had already given me a quote. She even knew my name. SMALL town. Quite amusing. Now I feel paranoid / guilty for requesting quotes.
Reply:Originally Posted by WET RODThanks Mr. Little. Truly kind. I'm in northern Alberta. I gave my wish list to the local oilfield supplier, who also represents Arrow welding. He informed me that he is supplied by A-Grainger.(Cringe). Says he'll try his best though. I have also e-mailed Praxair in Edmonton (2 hrs. to the S.E.) So far no word from either. I would like to share something that I discovered today, however. There is a fellow named Bill Hamlyn, who operates a business called reQ-ship.com. He has a warehouse in Niagara Falls, NY, as well as one in Niagara on the Lake, ON. If you find a US vendor who refuses to ship to Canada, such as Cyberweld, he offers to purchase it for you. He then presents you with two options; The first one being him using USPS to ship your item from NY. You pick up the duty/tax at your post office upon arrival. The second being him clearing the border, and shipping to you via Canada Post from ON.(No further expense on arrival). Both amount to a similar cost. For the TD 39, I am looking at approx. $ 183.00 on top of the purchase price.(FedEx would be about $285.00 on top). So the total depletion of personal funds would be about $ 1160 USD, for that cutter. I will wait and see how near the Canadians can come to that figure. I'd be happy with $1300. Any more and I may utilize Mr. Hamlyn. He can be contacted at ([email protected]) or (716)304-6839 ph. and (905) 682-8720. I prefer to support local business, but this might come in handy for items that are not available in Canada, or are just plainly overpriced.
Reply:Correct Mangler. The Praxair store in Edmonton didn't even bother to reply to my enquiry. The local connection also has no interest in my money. Too many million dollar oil company accounts I suppose. Moe from Harris Welding sure was interested in my business however. He will be sending me a Hypertherm Powermax 30 c/w 5 extra electrodes and 5 extra nozzles, a free cutoff tool, a ball cap and gloves, and some shade 5 glasses. He even agreed to ship it USPS for $55. I paid $989.00 CAD for this package, plus the shipping and tax when it arrives. Moe went out of his way to answer several questions over several days. He gets my money. He is the king of customer service.
Reply:I do have an account with Grainger and buy only what I have to from them, so far only a pressure switch. They are outrageous. Have you tried Red-d-arc? They service the US and Canada and are a division of Airgas. I have bought one Miller and one Lincoln from them. Would have been two Lincolns, but one was in Canada and 3 phase. The three phase killed it, not the Canada. If you go through your nearest dealer they can have anything they have transferred in to them. They transferred my Lincoln from Mobile to Baton Rouge at no charge, and even offered to deliver it to my yard free of charge if I could wait a couple of days. Told me to try them out and if I wasn't satisfied they would give a full refund no questions asked.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I guess NAFTA only got rid of the border bs with mexico, lol.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.