opie2
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Post Your Unpacking Pictures
- Thread starter Marc08EX
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Setec Astronomy
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Thanks for pointing that out, and they seem to have a pretty full selection.
chilly
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Wow, great resource Opie, thanks
cheaper than direct from Labo and shipping to Alaska is better as well
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Setec Astronomy
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Is it really cheaper? I didn't actually check but it looked the same to me. Funny about the shipping, I thought it was pretty reasonable IIRC, and of course Labo USA ships from Canada, or at least it did a few months ago when I ordered my little bottle of Idrosave (they don't seem to have that small size at Autoality). OK I looked it up, it was 12.95 for the Idrosave, and 9.50 shipping, they do have free shipping at $100.
Maybe our Canadian members can explain why it's so much cheaper to ship from Canada to the US, vs. shipping from the US to Canada.
Silly Rabbit
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Our dollar sucks compared to yours, lol.
chilly
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OK, either I am senile (quite possible) or stupid (quite probable) or I lied (hope not)
I could have sworn when I did a dummy order direct from Labo on my phone yesterday to see what prices and shipping would be it was going to be $20 shipping but today, sitting with my laptop shipping would be $12.50 so direct from Labo IS CHEAPER
Setec Astronomy
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That's not the whole story, is it? Sometimes we ship stuff up to CAN from work and it's always a nightmare. Which is why all these...what to call them, logistics companies? Have set up shops to ship to just south of the border, and somehow the stuff gets into Canada--as opposed to shipping UPS, etc.
And there were always stories here or at Autopia of Canadian members near the border asking US members or friends in the US near the border to order stuff for them and they would come pick it up. I'm just saying that the Carzilla shipping rates seem very reasonable, as did the Labo US, as opposed to something I was looking at in a UK store that was $100+ to ship to the US. Of course there are no boats or airplanes involved in getting from Canada to the US.
Setec Astronomy
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It's all moot to me, I'm desperately trying not to buy any more detailing stuff.
chilly
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I don't get it either, and shipping is one huge reason I have basically made Carzilla my one stop shopping store (no, I am not affiliated nor do I get a kickback)
They don't have Labo and although it seems to be really good stuff, their product line is enormous and convoluted and I swore when we moved back to Alaska I was going to use KISS as my mantra for rebuilding my arsenal
I have already violated that a few times and I am really trying to streamline things s much as possible
I think I am going to sit here on the sidelines and let you guys wring out the Labo twins before I further complicate my life
YMMV
chilly
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On a separate note, I went into a parts store yesterday for a non detailing item and they had a bunch of the square 5 gallon drums of Meguiar's products including Hyper Dressing and Hyper Wash sitting out in front of the counter
I immediately started formulating a plan to burglarize the joint...
I immediately started formulating a plan to burglarize the joint...
Karl_in_Chicago
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Back when I was actively fishing I used to buy as much gear as I could from Canadian outfitters. Their pricing was usually more aggressive than US outfitters to start with and then the favorable exchange rate would further turbocharge the value. Shipping was reasonable, or even free depending upon outfitter and amount purchased, and I never had any issues. Even back then, though, my friends north of the border related that buying things in US stores to be shipped to CAN was a horrible experience - high prices AND long shipping times/delays.
Setec Astronomy
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Shoot, Chilly, I bought a quart of Hyper Dressing probably almost 20 years ago when ADS (Auto Detailing Solutions) in AZ was splitting gallons into the quart pre-labeled bottles...and I still have about a quart left. So don't look at me to take any of that 5 gallons off your hands.
Setec Astronomy
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Exactly--it must be some customs thing, not that I blame those Canadians for being suspicious of us.
I would laugh though, thinking about those Canucks coming down the US to get their detailing supplies and unpacking them all and putting them in a bucket in the trunk "no, Mr. Customs Officer, I didn't buy those detailing supplies in the US, I carry them around all the time in the trunk in case I need them"
Silly Rabbit
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Buying from the US and getting shipped to the door is generally pretty painfull - $$. Duties, brokerage and fees. I am fairly close to the boarder so always use a US postal service across the boarder and go get it myself. Just pay taxes at the boarder really, save alot. I remember years ago buying a suspension part and getting it shipped to the door, got slapped in the face when the brokerage and fees were more than the part cost. Been driving across ever since.
chilly
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I have never once had a package opened by Customs or had to pay any import duties on ANYTHING I have ever bought from Canada, UK, or even China, and that includes a very expensive carbon fiber bicycle frame set and wheel set from China and lots of expensive bike parts from the UK
I have no clue what makes them go one way or the other on checking out a package or levying import fees
Silly Rabbit
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And since discovering Carzilla years ago, I have used them for 98% of my buys. Bought from Esoteric and the odd other, but mostly Carzilla. Chris and the crew have an amazing company and service. I also take my hats off to Kurt, Todd and guys at Esoteric, but they are my special brand buys 
And have bought direct from PA, even across the ocean they had fast shipping. Guess part of the experience.
But generally with the dollar difference, your American dollar will go farther up here than opposite. And prices are cheaper in the US alot of the time on the same products than here.
..... or that used to be the norm. Now it's more compare before buy. Carzilla is sometimes cheaper, or at least the same, on products even with the exchange. So I have made them my go to for most stuff for years.
And have bought direct from PA, even across the ocean they had fast shipping. Guess part of the experience.But generally with the dollar difference, your American dollar will go farther up here than opposite. And prices are cheaper in the US alot of the time on the same products than here.
..... or that used to be the norm. Now it's more compare before buy. Carzilla is sometimes cheaper, or at least the same, on products even with the exchange. So I have made them my go to for most stuff for years.
Silly Rabbit
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For us it's the friendly big fella, papa government. They want their cash. When it crosses the boarder you pay the tax in the value of the item(s). And if shipped to the door you have shipping and brokerage fees sometimes. The free shipping with alot of US companies ends at the boarder. Then we pay for shipping, lol. Thats why I ship to the boarder, go get it myself and save those charges.
BudgetPlan1
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It seems to depend on the shipping method at times. If I ship a 9x6x4, 2lb box to Canada via USPS it may be $20-$30 and no forms required. If I ship via UPS have to fill out forms, assign each item a value, attach forms to box and I believe recipients pays $$ on pickup/delivery. Never heard of anyone paying anything extra when Postal Service is used.
UPS can be weird when shipping outside of lower 48; same 2lb box to Hawaii can be reasonable (for Hawaii) via USPS but UPS will be 4-5X the cost and not get there any sooner.
Sometimes if someone pays for lower-48 2nd day Air w UPS I can choose Next Day-Early for the same price.
Some days shipping that 9x6x4, 2lb box costs X, the next day Y to the same location.
Sometimes I think UPS & the airlines share the same scheduling/pricing software that has no consistent rhyme/reason. Things always seem to cost more when going to New Hampshire :shrug:
Since going to flat-rate $9.99 shipping for orders under $99 (lower 48) my mental state has improved considerably ‘cuz sometimes trying to explain shipping defies logic
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chilly
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It seems to depend on the shipping method at times. If I ship a 9x6x4, 2lb box to Canada via USPS it may be $20-$30 and no forms required. If I ship via UPS have to fill out forms, assign each item a value, attach forms to box and I believe recipients pays $$ on pickup/delivery. Never heard of anyone paying anything extra when Postal Service is used.
UPS can be weird when shipping outside of lower 48; same 2lb box to Hawaii can be reasonable (for Hawaii) via USPS but UPS will be 4-5X the cost and not get there any sooner.
Sometimes if someone pays for lower-48 2nd day Air w UPS I can choose Next Day-Early for the same price.
Some days shipping that 9x6x4, 2lb box costs X, the next day Y to the same location.
Sometimes I think UPS & the airlines share the same scheduling/pricing software that has no consistent rhyme/reason. Things always seem to cost more when going to New Hampshire :shrug:
Since going to flat-rate $9.99 shipping for orders under $99 my mental state has improved considerably ‘cuz sometimes trying to explain shipping defies logic
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This is something that has always mystified me after living in Alaska and Hawaii
You are trying to order from a company that utilizes USPS Flat Rate Shipping, where a specific size FlatRate box costs the same to send to their next door neighbor or to Barrow Alaska yet they either won’t ship to Alaska or Hawaii period, or they want to use UPS or FedEx at 5 times the price
I guess they don’t understand the concept or don’t understand we are actually part of the USA
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Setec Astronomy
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It always used to amaze me how fast and cheap the shipping was from...um...what was that place in Hawaii that everybody used to love their towels?
I think I would get stuff from there in 2 days here on the east coast...when ordering from ACC in San Diego would take 5.
I think I would get stuff from there in 2 days here on the east coast...when ordering from ACC in San Diego would take 5.