Where Can You Get Panasonic Burners Cheaply In Canada?

[Teshia]

This is Panasonic's idea of pricing for Canada (that's Canadian funds) in their price lists:

http://www.panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/dvd/index.asp

That's right, that's $2000 for an E80 and $2500 for an E100. Convert that down to American and they're asking $1520 US for the E80 and $1900 for the E100. These sell for $600 and $1000 in the US respectively. How can Panasonic expect anybody to pay this kind of money in Canada when I can drive across the border and pick one up? There has to be some place in Canada that sells these at a reasonable exchange rate, but where? Any ideas? Please don't just say "chinatown" - I need stores and locations - web sites if possible.

[danipet]

There have already been discussions about the huge price difference between the US and Canadian pricing. If you still insist on buying from Canada, your best bet is John Golitsis at Next Best Thing Electronics, but the next E80 stock he will get will be around January, if all goes well. Pricewise, you can talk to him, he'll be helpful.

[oldfart13]

Those Panny prices are BS. I bought my E80 in town for $1,150CAD a month ago, tax included. The E100 would have cost me $1,795 but at the time I couldn't justify it. I could now though as the 4X burning would be a plus. Going to try my hand at authoring using the computer and DVD-RAM discs. No more tape for me...

[ROBERT BLACK]

I agree that the panny prices are Insulting. Does Panasonic actually expect us not to notice the difference with the U.S? On a positive note a manager at Futureshop says they're head office did speak to Panasonic Canada about the unreasonable pricing on they're units. Whatever that will solve, if anything is yet to be seen.

Please don't just say "chinatown"

Why not? It seems the only place to get pricing on these standalone burners cheaper than usual, in Ontario. And I didn't even mention Next Big Ripoff Electronics in my post.

[kzod]

Oldfart,

sounds like good prices, but what store did you get them from??? That would be helpful to the rest of us.

Thx,
Kzod

[kzod]

Please don't just say "chinatown"

Why not? It seems the only place to get pricing on these standalone burners cheaper than usual, in Ontario. And I didn't even mention Next Big Ripoff Electronics in my post.

Rob, I believe his point about not just saying chinatown reffered to the fact that it is too generalized, and not very helpful if you aren't familiar with electronics retailers in the area. I'm quite sure that it is not a snob or racist type request.

[oldfart13]

I bought my E80 from a local retailer. If you pick up any of the Toronto Friday or Saturday newspapers that have the electronics stores ads, a whole slew of them list the Panny, Pioneers, Sony, etc. I just wish Wal-Mart Canada sold them as they do in the US. I actually asked an assistant manager friend of mine to look into that. We'll see what he says...

[bnbhoha]

Many Canadians are buying from ecost.com They are in the US and ship to Canada duty free to Canada. They have some type of agreement w/ Canada. They also have one of the best prices for the E80. Good luck

[webeye]

Many Canadians are buying from ecost.com They are in the US and ship to Canada duty free to Canada. They have some type of agreement w/ Canada. They also have one of the best prices for the E80. Good luck

Do u mean a direct purchase or thru borderfree?

[kzod]

I bought my E80 from a local retailer. If you pick up any of the Toronto Friday or Saturday newspapers that have the electronics stores ads, a whole slew of them list the Panny, Pioneers, Sony, etc. I just wish Wal-Mart Canada sold them as they do in the US. I actually asked an assistant manager friend of mine to look into that. We'll see what he says...

Old fart, how much did you end up paying and where? I think, i've settled on the Pioneer unit, but direct examples will be helpful to others. People need to know that there are alternatives.

For Panny recorders i made a few calls, and found this place g&g electronics. Spoke with someone on the phone who said they have inventory and will sell for $1000 or less (before the $100 rebate). So, that is what I would reccomend for others vs. a best buy store at $1200.

[bnbhoha]

webeye, I just looked and it says "border free" I'm not sure exactly what that it. I noticed some Canadians on other forums were praising ecost because they saved so much money. I believe you just buy directly from their website and they handle everything else. Right now they're showing a price of $519 US, wait a couple of days because their price fluctuates from $504 (around this price) to $519. Some times, you just click the add to cart button and the lower price shows up, but not right now. Good luck

[webeye]

It is 'borderfree'....a partner with Canada Post.

Afew years ago...prior to their partnering with CanPost they had a roster of MANY online retailers. Now they have much fewer.
For CDNS...this is one of the only ways to buy like this.
I have used in the past. ecost appears to be quite reputable.

Go to the borderfree site and see other vendors...

[handyguy]

Maybe you could pay someone in the states to get it for you?
$517.00 today:
Panasonic DMR-E80HS Progressive-Scan DVD Video Recorder with 80GB Hard Disk And Time Slip
For faster service please order online!
DVD Recorders Mfg Part Number: DMRE80HS
Product Details
buydig.com

Hey, I know you would ask this next:
VI. Do you accept international Orders?
Dear Customer,

We will gladly accept your international order, you may pay for the order with an American Express card or wire transfer directly to our bank.

[Teshia]

"Rob, I believe his point about not just saying chinatown reffered to the fact that it is too generalized, and not very helpful if you aren't familiar with electronics retailers in the area. I'm quite sure that it is not a snob or racist type request."

Just to clear up this point, you're exactly right. It wasn't meant as a racist commentary on the Chinatown district, just that the area of Chinatown is too vague. I have no problem going into Chinatown to pick something up, I'm just not from Toronto, so I need names and addresses of stores if people are going to recommend anything in that district.

In other replies, I wanted to thank everybody for their helpful suggestions - most of them were really helpful. Hopefully we'll see pricing take a dive in Canada by the time I'm ready to buy one of these in the summer of 2005. Some of those leads sound like great opportunities. Thanks all.

[kzod]

"Hopefully we'll see pricing take a dive in Canada by the time I'm ready to buy one of these in the summer of 2005.

Summer of 2005? These puppies will be obsolete by then! Sorry no one else came up with prices on these guys, but for now $999 seems like the best deal you can get.
However after the $100 rebate it's close to matching the price of ecost without the hassles and inconvenience of buying via the states.

[SurfinBird]

I went to the "Times Square" on Hwy 7/Leslie, Richmond Hill over the weekend.

There is a shop in there with a lot of DVD recorders. The prices are taped in front of the boxes (up on the shelf top), you do not need to understand Chinese to read them. This is what I noticed:

Pioneer DVR-310S C$699 + tax with $100 rebate
Pioneer DVR-510S C$999 + tax with $100 rebate
Toshiba DR-1 C$699 + tax

I haven't seen any Panny's but will go back and check again since I am interested in a E-80. I hope that as X'mas looms, they may be "motivated" enough to skip the "tax" part of things.....8^)

[kzod]

Just to confirm is times squares the name of the shop? As I posted earlier the e-80 can be had for $999 at g&g electronics www.ggelectronics.com. They also quaoted $1450 on the e-100, but panasonic has no inventory of these guys.

[SurfinBird]

Times Square is the name of the shopping mall. The shop is inside the mall, forgot the name but it's the only electronic shop in there, facing a Bank of Montreal branch. Was in a hurry. But will definitely return again this week to check the Panny's.

[kzod]

Thx, so is this mall on Highway 7? Leslie or Other? Might pop by this week to pick one up.

[webeye]

Just to confirm is times squares the name of the shop? As I posted earlier the e-80 can be had for $999 at g&g electronics www.ggelectronics.com. They also quaoted $1450 on the e-100, but panasonic has no inventory of these guys.

I assume $999 + tx and then send in for the $100 MIR rebate. Also dont forget the 6 free discs.....I think 2 ram and 4 dvd-r?....from the vendor?

[SurfinBird]

Just got back from the shop (again). The name is Golden Electronics. The E-80 should be in the region of C$899 if not lower. They have an E-100 but I did not see any price on it.

Surprisingly, I noticed the Pioneer D-310S is now going for C$599 + tax (but I heard the rebate has expired)? The Toshiba DR-1 is also C$599 + tax (not much interest on this one I guess). D-510S remains as C$999 + tax.

There you go. Good luck.

[kzod]

Surf, thanks for the name but couldn't find a listing in 411.ca Can you please give directions to this mall? The street that it faces, etc? Prices seem great. I still have to decide b/w the panny & pioneer.

[SurfinBird]

Not a problem. It's on the intersection of Hwy 7/Leslie (North of Hwy 7, West of Leslie). If you take the 404 North, exit Hwy 7; turn left onto Hwy 7 West. Keep right. When you see Leslie, there should be a huge 3 floors dark black grey building (mall) with a dome shaped roof. (You can't miss it). Go in and find a parking spot. They have underground parking too.

Golden electronics is on the ground floor inside the mall. There is another shop called HDTV Electronics on the "outside" of the mall, far north west corner. They mainly deal with Sonys (check out the 70" Plasma TV in there, it's worth the trip), my cousin bought a RDR-GX7 from them yesterday for C$1030 tax included, that worked out around C$895 for the unit.

They do strike some pretty good deals around that place.

I wish I can comment future on the Pioneer or Panny issue. But I don't own either of them. But as far as I know, the Pioneer is made in China. That's it. I shut up now.

[kzod]

Thx for all the info and legwork surf, you're a credit to the board. I'll go check it out and report back (probably after the weekend), on what I find / decide.

[SurfinBird]

No problem. Just so happens my office is quite nearby. Did I mention about the food in that place? Canadians should be helping Canadians after all.

I am sure whatever unit you end up with you will like it. And the next thing you would do is to look for some cheap & reliable blank media!

I have just came across www.blankmedia.ca

Have you tried them before? Looks like an honest business, they even let you buy single unit samples....Maxell 2X -R's are just C$1.40 a pop! Ritek 2X -RW C$2.1. And I just bought a TDK 2x -RW for C$9.99 at Radio Shack...@#$%^&

[j_b]

Just to confirm is times squares the name of the shop? As I posted earlier the e-80 can be had for $999 at g&g electronics www.ggelectronics.com. They also quaoted $1450 on the e-100, but panasonic has no inventory of these guys.

I assume $999 + tx and then send in for the $100 MIR rebate. Also dont forget the 6 free discs.....I think 2 ram and 4 dvd-r?....from the vendor?

They quoted me on the phone for an e100, $1550.00. There is a 200 rebate on the 100. YOu can go back til the beg. of Nov. to apply for it. Do not carry pioneer