Looking for a good online aquarium supplier for Canadian shoppers

What is the best online place, price wise, to get quality aquarium supplies? I've been searching around for a Python No Spill, or Lee's Ultimate Gravel Vac and the best price I can find for 50' is at PetsandPonds.com for Lee's Ultimate at 59.99 CAD plus GST and shipping...comes out to just over $70. Big Al's price for the Python is $34.99 US (equivalent to $43.43 CAD), but at bigalsonline.ca it's 69.99CAD!!! They don't charge for shipping at that price level, but with taxes it's $74.89!!! They say they pass on the duties within the price, but I find it hard to believe the duties raise the price that much for such a large warehouse retailer. In town I've seen prices as high as $90 (Big Al's in town charges the same 69.99)!

I'm so tired of being gouged with everything we buy here, and if I try to buy something through the US, after taxes, duties and brokerage fees (not to mention potential border delays) it ends up being way too expensive! :mad2

mishi8

Harlock said:

Doesn't Big Al's have a low price guarantee?So if you find it cheaper somewhere else, give Big Al's the link and let them give it to you at the lowest price less five percent more.

Subsititute US for Canada on the Big Al's Canadian site.

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Yes, they do have a low price guarantee. Unfortunately, they are the low price. They don't carry Lee's Ultimate Gravel Vac so they won't match that price. Can't change the dollar amount on the Canadian site to US. The best you can do is toggle back and forth from the US and Cdn sites...the prices are vastly different! So, I just need to find a cheaper price somewhere else!

mishi8

spartan said:

Try
http://www.jlaquatics.com/cgi-bin/shopping/jalstore.cgi?user_action=link&link=mainpage

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Thanks! They have a great price on the Lee's Ultimate Gravel Vac. Too bad I don't live in Vancouver anymore. They aren't clear on shipping costs for dry goods, so I'll just have to see what they calc. at the checkout. If their shipping isn't good, then maybe I can work a price match at petsandponds.com

mishi8

Harlock said:

Mishi? Big Al's carries Lee's: http://www.bigalsonline.ca/catalog/product.xml?product_id=28835;category_id=2001;pcid1=3347;pcid2=

That's the link to the 50 footer, same price as the other shop you mentioned, but order on Wednesday afternoon and get double VIP points, plus free shipping.

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Thank you for pointing that out! :bowing: You're a much more savvy shopper than I! I don't know why I didn't see it earlier, but the customer service rep on the phone didn't admit to selling it either! I'll check to see if they'll beat the price at J&L Aquatics.

mishi8

valerie said:

I do most of my shopping online and have found that ordering from www.petsolutions.com is WAY cheaper then ordering from a canadian site,even after converting it to canadian dollars and adding shipping.

I made an order for a bunch of filters and heaters and after paying 20$ in shipping i still saved 80$(comparing to what i would pay at big al's). Here are a few examples of how much cheaper they are

petsolutions.com has AC500 for around 25$(i got mine for 24$us on sale). Thats around 30$ canadian. Big al's has the same filter for 75$can.

I got ebo jager heaters for 13$ at petsolutions and the same heater bought locally would be 50$+.

So if you are buying a bunch of stuff its worth ordering from the states. You jsut have to make sure you order enough to make paying for shipping worth it. When i ordered from petsolutions.com it cost 20$ for shipping but i saved alot so it was worth it.

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Thanks, Valerie! I don't have a large purchase at this point, but I've bookmarked them for future! Just buying the one item from them would save me $2...but I can see how having a large order could add up to good savings. Have you ever run into problems with Canada Customs for your purchases? Any additional fees at time of delivery? Those are my biggest concerns with ordering internationally.

mishi8