This place is cheaper than Tower Hobbies!?!

[backyardbasher]

Guys you got to check this store out. It's East Coast Model Center in PEI, Canada. I've compared prices and seems like they're quite competitive with Tower Hobbies' prices. In some cases, maybe cheaper. Plus it's a Canadian company and for all you US people, this is a good chance to take advantage of the low canadian currency. BTW, anybody bought anything from them before? This is great. Now I don't have to pay any custom's duty if I import from US mail-order companies. And it's a really nice looking web-site too. Check it out:
http://www.ecmc.com/

[This message has been edited by backyardbasher (edited 11-01-2000).]

[BoozzZ]

As if Tower Hobbies is that cheap

[crashnburn]

I bought my nitro rustler from them i ordered it on a thursday and got it on the monday I have since ordered tires, bell gears, spurs... all kinds of stuff and no problems to report..


p.s i live i Canada to.

Crash

[Orange Pedeanaut]

I couldnt even find any tires!!! I want clod and jug 2 tires (clod proline giant trac) and nothing showed. The emaxx though is only 330 or so there... http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I know where im buying next!!!

[backyardbasher]

Originally posted by crashnburn:
I bought my nitro rustler from them i ordered it on a thursday and got it on the monday I have since ordered tires, bell gears, spurs... all kinds of stuff and no problems to report..


p.s i live i Canada to.

Crash

That's REALLY fast delivery crashnburn. So no problems with the service? How much did you have to pay for shipping on that Nitro Rustler? You have to pay at PST too?

[hpiguy]

The only downfall I can think of is that a lot of companies will not warranty their stuff it it isn't bought in the same country.

Such as Tamiya won't warranty anything you buy from California R/C. At least the last time I heard they wouldn't, since California R/C isn't an "approved" Tamiya dealer.

Maybe this isn't the case with these guys. If it isn't the case I'll try and order too.

What kind of customs and import taxes do U.S. residents have to pay for mail order from Canada? If any. I'd hate to buy an E-Maxx from Cananda, and then find out that Bill Clinton is gonna charge me 50 bucks in taxes on it.

[R_C_MAN]

Omnimodels is cheaper than Tower too. There S&H is $5 compared to Tower's $6.99. Plus at Omnimodels orders over $100 have S&H free. Hey a penny saved is a penny earned!

[hpiguy]

FYI:

Omnimodels and Tower are both owned by Great Planes Model Distributing.

[Hellonu]

im in ottawa ontario canada, And i can get stuff here in 2 days to 5 days my choise, and with the lack of PST it comes out quite cheap. Only thing is they do not carry all r/c stuff, i use them when im in a jam or for large orders of spare parts.

Its like a canadian towers,
And ya the lack of bs with customs and brokerage fees is nice

[Hawkeye]

wicked site since i'm canadian that rock's even more. I'm hooked on this place I'll tell my friends.

[R_C_MAN]

Even if Omnimodels and Tower are both owned by Great Planes, you still save with Omnimodels.

[hpiguy]

Tower will usually match any deals and offers (free shipping, etc) if you just ask them.

[backyardbasher]

Ok guys. I'm almost ready to place an order to ECMC. I really need to know from those who have ordered from them, how much does the shipping charges cost. (on top of the $7.00 they charge for oversize package) I'll be ordering a kit and a radio too. I want to know if it's worthwhile to order from them if the shipping costs is not too much.

[Hellonu]

i have only ever ordered parts and little items, the shipping was cheap, about less then what the PST would have been if they charged it, so along with some good prices i could get it to me faster and cheaper then my LHS... but i only do it when im in a jam. 2,3and5 day shipping.

[IDrinkNitroFuel]

The only problem for us in the US is that the spedometer is in KM/Hr!!!

[Bydenso]

Tamiya well service anything bought in the the usa. Including CalIFORNIAR/C. Why should`nt they? because it brought in as gray goods? Thats unlikely. Tamiya stiks by everything they sell. No matter wheres is both Japan HK, etc. As long as is not a fake product, tamiya well service it. Let me ask, where did you get this info?

[hpiguy]

I was told this when I called Tamiya America a year or so ago.

They said since California R/C bought their stuff from a dealer overseas Tamiya would not warranty "third party kits".

In other words kits that didn't go from Tamiya to dealer to customer. These kits go Tamiya overseas, Japan dealer, over the ocean to California R/C, and then the consumer. Hence the third party stuff.

I don't just pull stuff out my rear here Bydenso. I talked to Tamiya and that is what they said.

It makes sense since most full size car dealers won't warranty stuff like that either.

[hpiguy]

Oh and BTW how in the world would you know Tamiya AMERICA'S business practices when you live in Japan?

I'm sure that Tamiya has different policies for different countries.

Have you ever bought a kit in the USA, and then had it warrantied in the USA? I think not.

[crashnburn]

I bought a jug from the states and after i built the truck and took it for it's first run one of the motors burnt up ( iam talking fried) any way when I phoned them they just asked me to send in my proof of purchase (or photocopy) along with the motor and boom two weeks later a new one arived in the mail. They were very good to me.

Oh ya I live in Canada I thought that might cause a prob but no.

Crash

[agalanis]

I've bought some stuff from ECMC. They are ok... not the best though. First off I had to wait forever for them to get this TL01 that I wanted. Funny thing is Borgfeld (Tamiya's Canadaian distributor) is like 5 minutes from my house. So this kit got sent to PEI, just so it can be sent back to me. Kinda funny actually.

I also ordered some HPI engine mounts, and they didn't know they were packaged two to a pack. That was really annyoing, good thing I only ordered one. Or I would have been stuck with an extra set for nothing.

On the most part they are ok. Not the greatest. Although I'm not big on LHS, sometimes you can haggle with them.

[steveb3]

I'd disagree

Parts for the B3 are much more expensive.

[backyardbasher]

Originally posted by agalanis:
I've bought some stuff from ECMC. They are ok... not the best though. First off I had to wait forever for them to get this TL01 that I wanted. Funny thing is Borgfeld (Tamiya's Canadaian distributor) is like 5 minutes from my house. So this kit got sent to PEI, just so it can be sent back to me. Kinda funny actually.

I also ordered some HPI engine mounts, and they didn't know they were packaged two to a pack. That was really annyoing, good thing I only ordered one. Or I would have been stuck with an extra set for nothing.

On the most part they are ok. Not the greatest. Although I'm not big on LHS, sometimes you can haggle with them.

Agalanis, i'm wondering how many Tamiya parts ECMC has in stock, or are they usually back-ordering Tamiya parts. I'm just wondering if they are able to get Tamiya parts easier and faster than say my LHS since Tamiya would probably cater to a bigger company first than a LHS? And it bites that ECMC does not tell you online whether a part is in stock or not

[This message has been edited by backyardbasher (edited 11-07-2000).]

[ecw]

This place is one of the most expensive places ive seen on the web.

[Orange Pedeanaut]

No wrestling man its not expensive!!! Its cheaper than most hobby shops!!! The only problem you have is that you dont know that the prices are in canadian funds.To change them to american you have to do the currency converter 1 at a time. Click at the top of a search page on the change currency, then type how much what you want is, then hit return and you find out!!! http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[LosiMan3456]

Hey guys I just went on ecmc.com and their prices are high. I looked at the XXX buggy and it was 300 big smakaroos. I can get it at my LHS for only $200 and if I buy it I get Silver CVDS for half price! That is a way better deal than ECMC.

[R_C_MAN]

Hpiguy - you said Tower will usually match deals. Well why go through all the trouble. I plan on getting a TC3 Rally. Omnimodels had the conversion kit for like $5 less and I believe the TC3 Racer was $5 less than Tower's price also. A TC3 Racer and the conversion kit will save you $10 plus you dont have to pay any shipping cuz it is over an hundred dollars.That is a saving of like $15. That 15 bucks could be spent on a hop up like steering bearings or aluminum screw kit, tires, wheel, or something else cheap etc. Ya get what I am saying. You think Tower is going to throw in some screws or some wheels. Probably not. I guess it is cuz Tower has to pay for all its publications (speedmart, 2001 catalogue etc).

[hpiguy]

Can you read?

Tower and Omnimodels are the same company.

They will do anything that Omni advertises, and then with Tower you get catalogs, which gives you a reference tool. Omni only has the website.

With Tower they have bigger sales and special offers. i.e. 10 bucks and more off.

I'm just trying to point out facts and options. Tower gives great service and product support. I'd rather go through them.

[This message has been edited by hpiguy (edited 11-21-2000).]

[R_C_MAN]

I see what your saying hpiguy but like i said why go through that when you could just save regularly with Omnimodels. The prices are usually the same, if Omnimodels isn't cheaper, but Tower loses in the higher S&H, unless they are having a special like over $150 or something has free shipping.

[FMX_Redth]

R_C_Man, all ecmc prices are canadian :-)

i have ordered a esc from them, as well as tires, a body, sermos connectors.... umm thats about it... ilive in canada so i like that it is in canadian currency...

i have had no problems and their service is great (ordered online)...

i will be getting a nitro rustler through them this xmas

:-)

[LosiMan3456]

How does the Canadian and U.S. currency work. I would like to order something but i want to know how much I am really paying. Could anyone tell me? http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/confused.gif

[just_dune_it]

Yeah. Go to this sight: www.xe.net/ucc/ (http://www.xe.net/ucc/) They have a link to it on the ecmc sight.

[IDrinkNitroFuel]

Use your credit card when you order from canada when you live in the states and it automatically gives you the best excange rate that is avalable that day. It makes it alot easier...

[backyardbasher]

Okay I ordered my TG10 Rally from ECMC and it finally came this friday. They had to backorder it and in all took 2 1/2 weeks to arrive. Not too bad I guess, considering they had to backorder. And only $12 shipping woo hoo. No PST even better.

[AEcarz2099]

I usually get my stuff here in MI from Larry's Performance RC in Sterling Heights, MI. I actually put a T3 on layaway at the LHS, and then called Larry's and they were almost $30 cheaper than the lhs and Tower on the Factory Team truck, including tax. I figured for $30, I could make the 40 minute trip from work to Larry's...