Canadians don't shop online

By Fred Derf
in Back Page News

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Nathanael

Posted
Posted

I live in a very small country (2 million people) and I buy almost everything online. It's just that it's near impossible to get some stuff and online is the only way to get it. For example, it's impossible to buy an Antec P150 at the moment, when I got it, only one online shop had it.

Experienced

Cyber Dog

Posted
Posted

Not Canadian, but FWIW did most of my shopping online this year. No crowds. Let me emphasize that again: no crowds. There's no such thing as "getting it now" when you're trying to shop around the holidays. You have crowds of loud obnoxious people, stores constantly selling out of what you want, crammed parking lots, and log waits in lines. I can shop online without even going out into the cold. And anyone who comparison shops at all will realize complaints about prices (again, at least within the same country) are completely unfounded. I can find 80-90% of goods cheaper, or at least the same, online as in store...often with no tax...and around the holidays, usually with free shipping (or shipping that ultimately doesn't go more than in-store cost). Not to mention no store can match the internet's selection. Finally, I rarely have ever had a problem with damaged/DOA goods purchasing online...no more frequently than you would get in a store...and if you buy from reputable companies, you rarely have problems with exchanges.

Mentor

XIII

Posted
Posted

I don't find it cheaper or easier. You have to wait and hope that it arrives correctly. It's a bit like gambling.

Plus, you have to pay for shipping (even when they offer "free" shipping, the shipping cost is just bundled into the item price).

I just like getting the item the same day and knowing that if it doesn't work correctly I can get it exchanged easily.

Well, you have to pay shipping but at least you don't have to pay tax

Grand Master

jamend

Posted
Posted

Most of my purchases are computer parts and I make almost all of them online. Online shops/eBay simply have more variety and better prices (especially considering 7% tax) than what I can find here... even when I was working at a local computer store where I could buy stuff at cost, I still found that prices were cheaper at online stores. I avoid buying stuff from the States though because customs sucks really hard and shipping is too expensive and slow (USPS sucks pretty hard too).

Mentor

noPCtoday

Posted
Posted

90% American online stores dont ship to Canada, including Newegg :c(

Well I do shop online, from ebay only, sometimes Apple or Dell online store, but never from those nice deal stores like Newegg :c(. Its not because we don't want to buy from the states, its they don't willing to ship to us :c*(

Grand Master

zivan56

Posted
Posted

All the high priced items that I bought recently were web only orders from Futureshop/Bestbuy. Saved a bundle, and plan to do the same on boxing day. However, for most lower priced items I buy them in store (unless there is a huge difference in price)

Grand Master

GNRambo

Posted
Posted

Just a note off topic:

Thhere has been a few funny posts joking about canada .. all in good fun and its nice to see its not offending, imagine though if this was bout muslims :/

any how..back to canada online ordering....

I really dont see the point of you bringing that up... :huh:

Grand Master

Fred Derf Veteran

Posted
  • Author
  • Veteran
Posted

I really dont see the point of you bringing that up... :huh:

He had another thread about irish jokes vs muslim jokes suggesting that muslims were easily offended.

It all got merged here:

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=501504

Essentially the western-style sense of humour is not universal. Just because it isn't offensive to cartoonize Jesus doesn't mean that it's okay to cartoonize the Prophet Mohammad.

You might as well take replies to the above thread however...

Grand Master

ShaneSparky_YYZ

Posted
Posted

Why buy something and wait for it to come when you can get up off your lazy a*s and buy it and bring it home.

Exactly, however I do use ebay for a few things.

If I can save $10 or more (inc shipping) i'll buy it online :)

Unless I need the product asap.

I wish Newegg.com shipped to Canada, they got great deals :( lol

Grand Master

Elliot B.

Posted
Posted

Why buy something and wait for it to come when you can get up off your lazy a*s and buy it and bring it home.

1) Cost. The Internet is usually cheaper, even inc. P&P.

2) Choice. Most models etc. are available for each category, whereas shops offer x amount of toasters, x amount of washing machines, x amount of CDs etc.

Grand Master

Kreuger

Posted
Posted (edited)
But when it comes to snapping up a kettle or a cardigan, they've been slow to embrace virtual shopping. They tend to do the research on the Web and then head to the mall to make the purchase.
Yep, that's me. But i've purchased stuff from ebay and NCIX Edited by Kreuger
Veteran

Ash

Posted
Posted

30 Min walk up the street and I can usually buy anything I'm usually looking for (movies, books etc...)

Amazon.ca for the most parts has real CRAPPY prices, tho I can order through Amazon.com and it shops from within Canada if they have it in stock so thats ok.

Problem is like Futureshop/Best Buy the charge the same online and offline, but costs to ship. So I pay more to wait longer for it, when I can easily take an hour of my time and have it right away. Though I did oreder a couple things this Christmas online, 1 item they didn't have in stock anywhere around here and the other was a great price.

Veteran

C++

Posted
Posted

I hate ###### on other people's work but this article is crap. I'd prefer a few numbers in there instead of the giant, useless, virtually figureless babble.

How many, or what percentage of Canadians pay their bills online? How many research products online? How many actually purchase things? How about Americans? I really don't feel that "about one half of about two thirds" is an adequate answer considering the size of this article.

Less blab, more information.

Proficient

Sn4k36

Posted
Posted

That's right...our orders are sent via dog sled.

An it's also hard to tell one igloo from another.. :)

But soon i'll be start shopping online from only two places of couse and they are ncix and tigerdirect just because the computer shops in my area are just way to slow...

Mentor

Deactivated Account

Posted
Posted

Well if the price of shipping to Canada was lower and if the fear of customs kicking you in the arse when they charge you 30% more wasn't there, I'd buy off ebay more often.

And as to buying off retailer's e-stores, it's not as advanced (or not even existent) as the American counterparts, so no one really cares.

If you ask the Seller to say "Demo" "Sample" on your package Because you dont have to pay customs when the package says "Demo" or "Sample" on it..

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