Need help from Canadians
 

OK. I went out today to get some CD-Rs to back up my HDD before switching it into the PC-50 and to get some potentiometers and a PCB etching kit at Radio Shack. Here is my tale:

CD-Rs are taxed an extra $0.21 per disc for "compensation to Canadian artists". Excuse me but WTF? The only Canadian musicians I can think of offhand worth burning cds of are Rush, and that is more my dad's speed. Is there a way around this (other than stocking up when I go home)?

The only stores open on Sundays are Radio Shacks, and apparently every Radio Shack in this town is just a little mall store with no electronics parts to speak of. I was told I would need to order and it would be a couple of weeks.

Where do you guys get potentiometers, resistors, leds, etc etc? I saw Newark Electronics had an ad in my yellow pages, but I am guessing that means I will invoke PST by ordering from them. Are there any surplus companies in Canada similar to allelectronics.com or bgmicro.com?

Saskatoon is too isolated....going insane!

No thats the compensation for all the good canadian artist fleeing to the US :)

Canadians make music?

I thought they just sent us their hot females and comics...

:shrug:

Sure they do, eh
 

just "Go for Soda"

meh you guys are no help.

Nickelback and Our Lady Peace our Candians aren't they??

Well the cd-r thing is solved: Just ordered a spindle from NCIX along with a 1600+ and a Duron 1.2GHz. No surtax (or even PST).

So now I just need a good cheap place for getting electronics stuff...

Well I'm not exactly that close to Saskatoon or anythign, but I've been to NCIX, and I can't really say I would buy from them, of the local places aroudn here, they are one of the more expensive for like everything, they have a shitty store, but if their shipping stuff is good, go for it! 'Cept if you're looking for low priced cd's definately try a chinese market or somethign I know at the Nightmarket at Lansdowne (Richmond BC) you can pick up 100 for like 35 bux after the levy (I'm not sure that they actually charge it).

For electronics, I would try Active Electronics(http://www.activestores.com/ ), not sure if they have stores in your neck of the woods, but I know they do here, and you can always come vists "Beautiful" British Columbia :P

Hope that helps!

Prices seemed ok to me:

$96 for a 1600+ (supposedly AGOIA) and $17 for a 50pack of 32x cd-rs. (that's Canadian for the US folks) Maybe not stellar deals but far better than anything local.

"AX1600DMT3C AMD ATHLON XP 1600+ 1.4GHZ 256K FSB266 OEM Yes $103 " is what I see on thier website, maybe I'm not looking hard enough, but yeah their prices anit bad but the local stuff here can usually beat them:

www.anitec.ca
www.a-power.com
www.atic.ca

But I have heard NCIX is really good for shipping and stuff, and most of their business is done that way, and I've bought stuff at their store before, they definately have some nice deals, and the customer feedback thing... GOLD baby! Heh, find any electronic stores? And the yellow pages is usually a good source for local stores :P Sorry I can't be of more help, it's the lazy Canadian way :rolleyes:

Active is a very good one. Future Electronics is also canadian based. Other than that, you're pretty much stuck with local suppliers, so check the yellows.

I know your frustration: I'd get used to mail/internet orders real quick...