A call out to all Canadians

str8edg · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 02:50 AM

So I am working on a custom set and am trying to figure out where to get them made. So I was wondering if any of you fellow Canadians have ordered custom ceramics from ABC or HomePokerChips (Chipcos) in the past? What I really want to know is what did you pay for shipping, duty, customs? I am trying to figure what to allow for cost here, I need to know how many chips I can order.

Any help here will be great, thanks in advance

youngin57 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 06:05 AM

With www.straightflush.ca using sun-fly blanks and offering free shipping and no duty in Canada you may want to contact them. I don't want to step on Joe or Gene's toes as I do know the work they are putting out is top notch but the duties and shipping can be a deal killer to us canadians.

young...

str8edg · #3 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 06:11 AM

Thank you sir, I found out that straightflush is doing custom chips last night I have sample on the way..

jdunford · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 08:42 AM

I've ordered samples and sets as gifts from StraightFlush.ca. They're the best retailer I've found in Canada. Not paying brokerage fees definitely offsets their (slightly) inflated prices (as compared to US companies). I was recently surprised to find StraightFlush.ca sells "Faux Clay" chips, which everybody on ChipTalk loves. At 15c each, they're 3X more expensive than from US sellers, but you're saving on shipping and brokerage, so for a set of 1000 or less, it would probably be the best bang for your buck... err... loonie. (For more than 1500 chips or so, it might be cheaper to buy them from a US company at 4.5c per chip).

Another Canadian company is homepoker.com. Well, they're based in Canada, but ship from the US, so you'd still have to pay brokerage fees. And their store doesn't have much... But they have pretty good resources online, and I won cash through a contest on their site once!

I've ordered lots of stuff from 5stardeal.com, although on an order of $30-50, expect the brokerage+taxes to be comparable to the price! It's only worth it if your order is well over $100... but I can easily fill a shopping cart at that site for $100! Oh, and they have sales all the time (typically 20% off, sometimes more), so I'd wait for a sale before making a major purchase.

I recently ordered 750 "Samurai Palace" chips during a sale from HoldemPokerChips.com (HPC). Brokerage+taxes hurt, though. Mike claimed the "cost" value for customs, and I still got hit with $150 in brokerage fees. The chips are AMAZING though! Worth it, in my opinion, but it depends on your budget.

Oops... just re-read your post and noticed you're looking for custom ceramics. I'm afraid I can't help you there... I prefer clay myself, but expect to pay ~ 25-30% at the border on orders over $100.

palmimports · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngin57

With www.straightflush.ca using sun-fly blanks and offering free shipping and no duty in Canada you may want to contact them. I don't want to step on Joe or Gene's toes as I do know the work they are putting out is top notch but the duties and shipping can be a deal killer to us canadians.

young...

Not stepping on my toes

Ivan at straightflush is a good friend of ours- and probably one of the most stand-up people we have ever had the pleasure to meet.

TheDuke · #6 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 10:03 AM

I've ordered from Straightflush several times. Ivan provides top notch service! Items have always been shipped promptly. Prices may be higher than US retailers but with faster shipping and no brokerage to worry about, Straightflush is definitely a retailer to consider.

scatcher · #7 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 11:03 AM

I wholeheartedly agree.

I had abandoned the idea of custom chips because of the costs of bringing them into Canada. So I completed a promo for a 300-set of Nevada Jacks, and ordered 300 more from straightflush.

Two weeks later I see that straightflush has branched into custom chips...

Oh well. At least I've got some good chips to use while I wait for the artist to complete the design!

UnkyPerv · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 11:31 AM

I too have ordered from Ivan and he is a top-notch guy. I live not too far from Calgary and he met me at the city limits for payment and product delivery. (probably looked like a shady deal was going on in the parking lot. lol)

He also donates product for some of our forum tournaments that are held at local casinos. He definatley supports the local community.

UnkyPerv · #9 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngin57

With www.straightflush.ca using sun-fly blanks and offering free shipping and no duty in Canada you may want to contact them. I don't want to step on Joe or Gene's toes as I do know the work they are putting out is top notch but the duties and shipping can be a deal killer to us canadians.

young...

http://www.straightflush.ca -- Fixed the link

str8edg · #10 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 06:42 PM

I am still unsure as to who I am going with it all comes down to the samples that are in the mail. But I think either of these companies would be fine to deal with. Man, I have never known getting customs would be so much work.