Canadaland shipping shenanigans (and other conversations too, eh?)

avecigrec said:
First up from me is Juno.

www.juno.co.uk

Juno: Vinyl, DJ equipment and studio equipment. Low prices and super-fast delivery.

Vinyl records, DJ equipment and studio equipment at low prices. Same-day despatch and free shipping on many products.
www.juno.co.uk

Captainfog hipped me to Juno when I was wanting Khalab & M'Berra Ensemble's M'berra a couple of years back. Everywhere I'd looked was cost-prohibitive to get it to Canada, but Juno wasn't!

Shipping for a single LP runs $10 and change; $14.50 for 2LP - as I'm sure you're already well aware, this is less than shipping within Canada!

The site allows you to set your browsing directly to CAD, which is great for me because I'd rather not have to continuously convert costs.

As far as their pricing goes: some items are insanely cheap while conversely, some items are insanely overpriced. They definitely aren't a go-to for everything, but they have a great selection, and on more than a few occasions I've gotten things from them that have been cheaper with shipping than I've found them for pre-shipping anywhere else.

Juno's packaging is... okay. Their cardboard seems a bit softer than most others, and their single LP mailers, in particular, seem quite thin (hilariously, at the opposite end of the spectrum, the one box set I ever ordered from them was packaged like a tank!) Personally, I've had very few issues beyond an occasional corner ding, which bothers me less than some folks so YMMV.

Only once have I received a record from them with significant warp and when I emailed them with a video they promptly sent a replacement copy without asking for the defective one in return. I've contacted CS on one or two other occasions with minor questions and the response has always been quick and helpful.

They also have a great interface as far as setting watchlists to receive notifications for labels and artists when stock comes in. You can also set notifications for price drops as well, in case anything goes on sale.

They very seldom do discount codes, and when they do they're pretty minimal for one-time use - but all in all, I've been really pleased with these cats and the many orders I've made with them over the past 2+ years.
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JULY2023 will get you 10% off all music today...
 
I just received a package from Intervention Records from UPS without any customs. I don't remember if they did that last time I ordered from them, but this time they put $15 as the declared value.

I also got a DHL from Japan yesterday without customs fees. Not sure what happened there because I've been getting dinged for roughly the last year. There didn't seem to be any customs values showing on the package but I assume they must have declared something with their digital shipping submission.

Anyway, I'll try not to ask too many questions when things are coming up Turbo.
 
it really seems to be hit or miss. My last VMP box had nothing on it for value declaration either, but like you , I assume that in creating the original waybill they have to enter some value.
 
jamieanderson1968 said:
it really seems to be hit or miss. My last VMP box had nothing on it for value declaration either, but like you , I assume that in creating the original waybill they have to enter some value.
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The Intervention Records package is shenanigans from them in my favor. That one makes sense even if I wouldn't expect them to do that all the time. The DHL from Japan was the real surprise for me. It's been clockwork duties for the last while, so I didn't expect it. They used to declare low values in the past so maybe that's what happened via the digital submission.
 
Turbo said:
The Intervention Records package is shenanigans from them in my favor. That one makes sense even if I wouldn't expect them to do that all the time. The DHL from Japan was the real surprise for me. It's been clockwork duties for the last while, so I didn't expect it. They used to declare low values in the past so maybe that's what happened via the digital submission.
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Which JP store? Ella used to clear customs at like $20 declared every time but now I'm getting hit every single time at the same value.
 
Mather said:
Interesting. I wonder if they changed something.
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Same. That's why I was so surprised. Was waiting for the duty email, and instead got a delivery notice. Came through super fast - like Record City Japan fedex fast. I mean, they're usually pretty quick, but not the 2 days that Record City does. But this was 2 days.
 
Turbo said:
Same. That's why I was so surprised. Was waiting for the duty email, and instead got a delivery notice. Came through super fast - like Record City Japan fedex fast. I mean, they're usually pretty quick, but not the 2 days that Record City does. But this was 2 days.
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I keep trying to do a RCJP order, but 3 records is the sweet spot and I often end up with only 2 available in my wantlist.
 
jamieanderson1968 said:
I keep trying to do a RCJP order, but 3 records is the sweet spot and I often end up with only 2 available in my wantlist.
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Oh yeah, that's exactly what happens to me. I add items in my cart hoping other items come up, and I end up losing them. Recycle. Repeat. Though it seems that RJCP has a lot less stock of things I'm looking for than they used to a little over a year ago. It's been that long since I've used them because of that. The last box I got from them was stellar though (Some Girls, Emotional Rescue, Black & Blue and Avalon, all really great to superb sounding and in pristine minty fresh condition).
 
Cross-post from the Online Vinyl Deals thread (with an addendum specific to this one!)...


As many of you know, our dear friend @Ethos99 runs Paladin Vinyl and its N&G offshoot Paladin Buyers Club, but he also runs Apocalypse Vinyl, which is tapped into the same warehouse as Popmarket and Deep Discount, etc. Right now, and for nearly two more weeks everything on the site is deeply discounted - some titles damn near to PBC prices! This includes preorders, leftover RSD stock, indie exclusives, new releases, and catalogue titles.

apocalypsevinyl.com

Home | Apocalypse Vinyl - End of the World Deals 24/7​


apocalypsevinyl.com
apocalypsevinyl.com

Because of the warehouse's database, search functions are a bit clunky but once you get yourself sorted there is plenty of fun mining to be had!

Preorders pay up front, and in my experience ship out as early as the week before release or as late as a week after.

@Ethos99 isn't packing the boxes himself, so they're not as sexy as Paladin packages but he guarantees the product just as fiercely and will make things right if there's an issue (which, in my case has been once out of maybe two dozen orders!)

Anyhoo, have a look, and don't be afraid to dig deep. I found myself a couple of sweet surprises along the way!

CANADALAND PEOPLE:

AV's shipping rates are reasonable (by our standards anyhow) and get increasingly so with additional items. IIRC, it's $16 for the first item and $4 for each additional item (US doll hairs, of course)

As far as duties and whatnot go... I was reminded with my last shipment that the threshold must be $100 CDN, while I was targeting $100 USD. Whoops! That said, they go through ePost Global which will "pretty much always get you the lowest possible fees" (in the words of the postal outlet guy I've been dealing with for the past 3+ years). I've now paid fees on 4 of over 2 dozen packages and the highest has been $13 and change - usually they are $12.something - which has still made the math better or equal to other options I have for getting the same item(s)... usually still better!
 
Hello Canada! My GF and I just booked a trip to Montreal for July 2-8. Neither of us have been before so I'd love any and all suggestions, especially in terms of where to stay (neighborhood) and if it's worth a day trip/overnight to Quebec City.

Thanks!
 
Calling Captain @Turbo

I found it very easy to get around Montreal on the subway. My thing is to take a subway to an area and then walk back towards our hotel. Several good record stores there. 2 of my faves are Atom Heart (on Sherbrooke) and Aux 33 Tours (on Mont-Royal). Lots of stuff to explore around both, especially Aux 33 Tours
 
jamieanderson1968 said:
Calling Captain @Turbo

I found it very easy to get around Montreal on the subway. My thing is to take a subway to an area and then walk back towards our hotel. Several good record stores there. 2 of my faves are Atom Heart (on Sherbrooke) and Aux 33 Tours (on Mont-Royal). Lots of stuff to explore around both, especially Aux 33 Tours
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@tvham

What Jamie said. Those are my two favorite record stores. If you walk between both of them, Beatnick's is on the way (not that far from Atom Heart).

As for a place to stay. Anywhere near the Metro usually works well for us. We often stay quite far from the action at a place called Ruby Foo's, but it's a block away from a metro station on the orange line. Takes us anywhere, it's clean and well, full disclosure we get a rebate because of my wife's connections. There are still some amenities nearby, like a Ukranian grocery. The big orange (a cool looking old landmark, but meh food) is across the street.

If you want to be closer to the action, look near McGill University for very central or near the Old Port for something prettier.

Day trip to Quebec City. Yes! If you stay overnight, splurge for something in the old town, you'll stick around there anyway. It's the only city in north america that preserved its old town like that. The buildings, the fortifications, everything built on the cliffside... really pretty. Nice cafés to sit and soak in the moment too.
 
If you like asian food, I have some suggestions in Chinatown for you too (dumplings, chinese hand-pulled noodle soup, pho).

Edit: Also, if you like old local institutions, you need to drop by Schwartz's for a smoked meat sandwich. It's renowned for a reason. Classic order is a medium-fat sandwich and share an order of fries, an order of pickles, I also like to add hot cherry peppers. And people love the Cherry Cott to go with it although that's too sweet for me.
 
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Here are some highlights from my week in Montreal (first time visit for both me and my girlfriend)

We split our six nights between two hotels, Humaniti (a little corporate feeling but really nice room and pool) and Hotel William Grey (super hip but nice w amazing rooftop bars and a Cafe Olimpico in the lobby)

Dining highlights - Le Vin Papilon, Oncle Lee, Elena, Park (amazing sushi but $$$$) and Nora Gray. I would recommend any and all of these restaurants for a nice dinner, Elena and Oncle Lee are a bit more casual but still had great food.

Bar highlights - Atwater Cocktail Club and Bar Henrietta (we went twice) were easily our favorites. Bisou Bisou was pretty cool but way too brightly lit, and Cold Room was just fine and seemed to be trying a bit too hard. We also really liked grabbing drinks at Terrasse William Gray with their amazing views but we were able to walk right in as guests of the hotel, not sure it's worth a wait otherwise.

Daytime activities, etc - we really enjoyed hiking Mont Royal, exploring the hip Mile End neighborhood, visiting the magnificent Notre Dame Basilica, slurping oysters at Marche Jean-Talon, and cannot recommend enough the Montreal Botanical Garden. It was so beautiful! We also took a happy hour cruise on the St Lawrence River which was a great introduction to the city.

We also had a great spa day at Bota Bota spa, the water circuit was so relaxing and the environment couldn't be any better. Booking the water circuit not only gives you access to the saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs on the boat but also to the garden with their nice pool for four hours. All with views of downtown Montreal! Make sure and book in advance.

We did squeeze in some Euro and Copa America viewing at bars near our hotel, and it was really cool to be there to watch Canada beat Venezuela in the semis.

All in all we had a fantastic trip, despite the fact that I didn't get to try smoked meat, poutine, or go record shopping.
 
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