Online game purchases...

[Untamed]

Are there any online shops where I can purchase games without having to jump through some ridiculous hoops to ship to Canada?

I want to buy a game that's sold out around here (checked today), and it's usually cheaper online, so I figured I'd load up my PayPal account and look around online.

I REGISTERED AT 10 SITES. Only to find out what their international shipping policies, or lack thereof, are.


Help?

[JerseyDevil65]

If you know someone in the US, you could have it shipped to their address and then have them ship it to you.

[Sirus]

What is the game you are looking for? It's not available at amazon.ca/futureshop.ca/bestbuy.ca?

In any case, I've ordered from here once with no trouble since I believe they are also based in Canada. "http://www.videogamesplus.ca/" I can't remember the shipping charges, but I don't recall it being too outrageous. It's probably stated somewhere on their site. However, I doubt the price will be cheaper online...

Hope it helps and good luck.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Yeah, some sellers are TOTAL DICKS when it comes to shipping stuff to Canada. Some charge $7 or more for a single CD/DVD game. It doesn't cost that much to ship one item - hell, sometimes it's cheaper to ship stuff to Canada than it is to ship stuff within the US!

Sometimes you're better off getting a friend to buy the items and then resend them to you. :|

Edit:
Tried deepdiscount.com? They charge a flat $6 rate to ship whatever you want to Canada. I used to buy DVDs from them and their prices were pretty decent. Not sure about games, though.

[Mayhem]

You not heard of http://www.videogamesplus.ca then...?

[MrSmiley381]

I usually have no qualms with shipping to Canada. If it's anything insured for less than a hundred bucks, it should get through with no problems.

I'm willing to help a fellow DP member if the need arises. I just need to find a solid shipping calculator.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I usually have no qualms with shipping to Canada. If it's anything insured for less than a hundred bucks, it should get through with no problems.

I'm willing to help a fellow DP member if the need arises. I just need to find a solid shipping calculator.

http://postcalc.usps.gov/

Hasn't failed me once.

[MrSmiley381]

http://postcalc.usps.gov/

Hasn't failed me once.

Hm, now I just need a scale.

I suppose if it's a trusted member, I could just ship the item and scan the receipt, then they could send the exact dollar amount to me. That would work, too.

[MF_Luder]

I always find Amazon.com to be the cheapest and easiest place to buy games... especially used games. Forgot real stores and stick to Amazon is what I say. Games like Gears of War are still like $50 used at GameStops, but only $30 on Amazon. Can't beat that, except maybe through eBay. Now I live in the US, so you're experience may be slightly different... but Amazon is known for offering excellent service to other countries as well, so I don't foresee many problems with that. Plus, you can buy a lot of used classic games on there too (NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, etc).

Now Amazon better send me a nice check for that plug.

[Dave Farquhar]

I always find Amazon.com to be the cheapest and easiest place to buy games...

Except Amazon US from what I can tell limits game sales to US only. So if you're Canadian and Amazon.ca doesn't have it, you're out of luck.

Since most software is licensed for North America, not just the United States, it would be nice if they would open video game sales to Canada and Mexico, but I don't know how you convince them to do that.

[Untamed]

I forgot about this thread! oops.

I have not heard of videogamesplus.ca, but I will look into it for sure.

As for purchasing off futureshop/bestbuy/amazon.ca, if I wanted to pay their prices I would, with the exception of amazon, go into their stores to do so.

I just wanted to purchase some games at amazon.com, with the better exchange rate. Do the conversion of prices, we're getting raped up here. (Although, not as much as Europe, or Australia.) Then, after I signed up and added to my cart, they told me that I can't purchase their American games simply because I'm a damned, dirty Canadian.

After that didn't work, I figured I'd try to get some of those nifty reprints, particularly REZ, off gamequestdirect, and after I signed up and added to cart, same story. I think they wanted 20-30$ US for the first item and 5$ for each additional. Well, fuck that shit.

After that I figured I would try to buy some RAM for my laptop at newegg.com... Well, same thing, I can't purchase their superior American goods because they don't ship to the hovel that is Canada.

I tried a few other sites, but ultimately if I can't buy my games locally (see pawn shop thread), and I can't buy my games off any of the good sites, then what's the point?

Although, on a side note, I did get around 125 new games since I've moved to Edmonton a few days shy of a year ago. But, sadly, I have not gotten one new SNES, NES, SegaCD, Saturn, or Dreamcast game in that entire time, and only *one* new Genesis game. In an entire year. Fuck me.

EDIT: Just did a check of http://www.videogamesplus.ca, and on their front page they're pushing Persona 3 for $59.99, which is 5$ more than the scam artists at EB sells it for. Awesome first impressions.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Except Amazon US from what I can tell limits game sales to US only. So if you're Canadian and Amazon.ca doesn't have it, you're out of luck.

Since most software is licensed for North America, not just the United States, it would be nice if they would open video game sales to Canada and Mexico, but I don't know how you convince them to do that.

Mexico? Forget it. It'll never happen. If you think Canadian import taxes are bad, you should see what we're stuck with. Not to mention our postal service is complete and utter shit, things get lost all the time and nobody will help you, ever. And most of our customs agents are corrupt fuckers.

[Wolfrider31]

Yeah, not to mention that Amazon.ca doesn't believe in using proper exchange rates. We're hitting almost parity with the US dollar and I have to STILL pay an extra 20-30 (WITHOUT shipping) for a game? That's insanity.

[norkusa]

Mexico? Forget it. It'll never happen. If you think Canadian import taxes are bad, you should see what we're stuck with. Not to mention our postal service is complete and utter shit, things get lost all the time and nobody will help you, ever. And most of our customs agents are corrupt fuckers.

Yeah, I only shipped once to Mexico and the package was never delivered. When I went to the post office and told them that an international package I recently sent never arrived, they asked me where I sent it. I said "Mexico" and the then clerk just laughed and rolled his eyes. Said half the stuff they send there never gets delivered. Apparently their postal employees have very sticky fingers.

[Wolfrider31]

Yeah, I only shipped once to Mexico and the package was never delivered. When I went to the post office and told them that an international package I recently sent never arrived, they asked me where I sent it. I said "Mexico" and the then clerk just laughed and rolled his eyes. Said half the stuff they send there never gets delivered. Apparently their postal employees have very sticky fingers.

What happened? Did the guy you shipped it to raise a stink about it?

[norkusa]

What happened? Did the guy you shipped it to raise a stink about it?

Oh yeah. It was only a $15-$20 PC game but the guy was still pretty mad. He said "might not seem like it to you, but that's a lot of money to me and I don't like being ripped off". I really felt bad for the guy but I told him there's nothing I could do about it and even scanned the USPS receipt as proof that I sent it out.

I'll ship a package to any country as long as the other person pays shipping. But Mexico is one of those places that I'll think twice about sending anything to.

[Wolfrider31]

That's good to know. I sympathize with the guy, but yeah if it wasn't your fault he can't expect you to be able to do anything.

I'll remember that if I'm ever in the situation. I imagine the reverse is just as big a problem too.

[gum_drops]

That's good to know. I sympathize with the guy, but yeah if it wasn't your fault he can't expect you to be able to do anything.


Thats why I dont accept paypal on items over $15.00 anymore from outside the usa. EMS shipping in some cases is the only exception. The buyers know airmail can easily get lost, especially in places like mexico and south america, but they can always do a chargeback/dispute so no big deal to them since they will get their payment back.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Oh yeah. It was only a $15-$20 PC game but the guy was still pretty mad. He said "might not seem like it to you, but that's a lot of money to me and I don't like being ripped off". I really felt bad for the guy but I told him there's nothing I could do about it and even scanned the USPS receipt as proof that I sent it out.

I'll ship a package to any country as long as the other person pays shipping. But Mexico is one of those places that I'll think twice about sending anything to.

I live in Mexico and have never, EVER shipped any eBay items down here. If I try to send something that's worth some money, Mexican Customs asks for a purchase receipt that shows its price. And if I didn't buy it in Mexico, they ask me to IMPORT it, which costs quite a bit of money. And on top of that, they charge me taxes for shipping it.

Look, I love Mexico, but I hate the fucking retarded government. >_<

Edit: By the way, $20 USD is $220 pesos, which IS a lot of money down here. Oh and game stores aren't any better, there's Greatest Hits PS1 games going for $60 USD... And people wonder why we pirate so much stuff.