Jump to content

My First Online Order? Canadian Here...suggestions?


Recommended Posts

Hey,
Like the title says, I plan on placing my first online order EVER. Yeah, I haven't ever bought any hookah-related items online, the only stuff I've bought were bought locally - hookah, hoses and 3kings from a local shop, shisha from a local member here (wuts up chinamon? biggrin.gif ).

Anyways, I want to pick up a MYA Bambino and was thinking of ordering if from hookahjohn. I also want to grab some tobacco (starbuzz blue mist, and x on the beach, along with AF mint 250g, and a bunch of af 50g's just to get a taste of a bunch of flavors). I also want to grab a box of coco coals, preferably hookahjohn's ch quicklites. Oh, and a small funnel bowl.

Anyways, I'm just wondering if anyone knows any local shops in Toronto where I could possibly find the bambino for a decent price (or any of the above) and then any suggestions you guys have for hopefully avoiding customs. Reason I feel like finding the bambino locally is because the package with all the above might end up pretttttty heavy and there's a good chance customs might take a look and charge me up the arse with taxes =(. Also, feel free to offer up any other advice or suggestions.

Thanks a bunch! cool.gif
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok...at first I was pretty much decided on the Bambino over the QT because of the looks...but now I'm double minded after reading the Bambino vs. QT thread...so yeah, I guess either the Bambino or the QT...if you guys have opinions on those 2, based on which you chose, feel free to share biggrin.gif
Link to comment
Share on other sites

asif! good to see that you're still around.

john is a great vendor to order from. a buddy of mine recently bought a KM omdah with a crapload of tobacco and had it shipped here in canada. no problems with customs at all.

i havent seen many mya's around the toronto area. all stores carry are cheesy chinese hookahs. ive seen some crappy egyptian style ones as well. i will continue to purchase everything online.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (bigasif @ Apr 20 2009, 04:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey,
Like the title says, I plan on placing my first online order EVER. Yeah, I haven't ever bought any hookah-related items online, the only stuff I've bought were bought locally - hookah, hoses and 3kings from a local shop, shisha from a local member here (wuts up chinamon? biggrin.gif ).

Anyways, I want to pick up a MYA Bambino and was thinking of ordering if from hookahjohn. I also want to grab some tobacco (starbuzz blue mist, and x on the beach, along with AF mint 250g, and a bunch of af 50g's just to get a taste of a bunch of flavors). I also want to grab a box of coco coals, preferably hookahjohn's ch quicklites. Oh, and a small funnel bowl.

Anyways, I'm just wondering if anyone knows any local shops in Toronto where I could possibly find the bambino for a decent price (or any of the above) and then any suggestions you guys have for hopefully avoiding customs. Reason I feel like finding the bambino locally is because the package with all the above might end up pretttttty heavy and there's a good chance customs might take a look and charge me up the arse with taxes =(. Also, feel free to offer up any other advice or suggestions.

Thanks a bunch! cool.gif


Ship the pipe in a separate package, and the weight won't trigger any alarm bells. Sure you will pay more for a split shipment, but should slide right through. Especially since from all I've heard John's really good at labeling things as gifts.

'Rani
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (MaxT0 @ Apr 20 2009, 10:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I believe John now charges $10 per order on top of shipping charges for international orders. So make sure you factor that into your cost. Another good vendor for us Canucks is MNH.


I have not experienced that. You just pay the 10.95 then he charges you the difference. Edited by SmokinMoose
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (SmokinMoose @ Apr 21 2009, 04:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (MaxT0 @ Apr 20 2009, 10:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I believe John now charges $10 per order on top of shipping charges for international orders. So make sure you factor that into your cost. Another good vendor for us Canucks is MNH.


I have not experienced that. You just pay the 10.95 then he charges you the difference.


exactly. the shopping cart is set up for flat rate continental u.s.a. shipping which is $10.95 and he emails you to notify you of the difference you owe for international shipping.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, I know the 10.95 is the incorrect shipping charge and that he e-mails you with the correct shipping charge (around $32, so another $21 on top of $10.95). However, this is what I received from him a few days ago...

QUOTE
For international orders shipping needs to be calculated. I have this as $32 shipping and we now add a $10 service charge per order for going to the post office making your total $xxx.xx. Please advise if you would like to proceed. I hope you understand, thanks
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey...

chinamon: Yeah man, i still lurk here a LOT lol...but don't really post...since I pretty much finished all the baccy I got from you so I'm now looking for an online dealer and a better hookah too! and thanks for the info about locally finding mya's...yeah seems like all the places I go have crappy chinese ones or crappy egyptian style ones...

outbreakbp: I ended up deciding on the bambino primarily because I like the way it looks compared to the QT, and I don't see myself using this tiny hookah as a 2-hose anyways, so the option to add the extra piece isn't really a big selling point for me.

Anyways, I ended up placing an order last night for the bambino, phunnel bowl, 1 box of ch instant lites, 2 100g starbuzz tins, and the 10x50g AF pack and it came to around $130. Got the email from John today about the shipping and said it'll be an extra $30 for shipping...plus as noted above another new $10 processing fee for going to the post office.

I just emailed him to see if it would be less if I removed the box of coals, so I'll see how it goes. Do you guys think there's any chance shipping would be cheaper elsewhere? I really want to get my supplies from John though, but shipping is a KILLER :|
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unfortunately, shipping for us Canadians is very expensive. Taking the coals out will reduce the shipping price, but not by as much as you think (I'm guessing maybe $3-4), because USPS has a base price of I think around $27ish, which then goes up bit by bit as more weight is added.

Since you're ordering shisha as well, it's important to choose a vendor who'll play ball.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (MaxT0 @ Apr 21 2009, 11:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yeah, I know the 10.95 is the incorrect shipping charge and that he e-mails you with the correct shipping charge (around $32, so another $21 on top of $10.95). However, this is what I received from him a few days ago...

QUOTE
For international orders shipping needs to be calculated. I have this as $32 shipping and we now add a $10 service charge per order for going to the post office making your total $xxx.xx. Please advise if you would like to proceed. I hope you understand, thanks




damn.. thats unfortunate.
a $10 service fee per international order is a little over-the-top. im gonna have to find another vendor... sucks cuz i wanted to place another order within the next two weeks.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I defintely wont order from him anymore if there is a $10 surcharge I'd rather use MNH or Southsmoke.com

QUOTE (chinamon @ Apr 21 2009, 10:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (MaxT0 @ Apr 21 2009, 11:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yeah, I know the 10.95 is the incorrect shipping charge and that he e-mails you with the correct shipping charge (around $32, so another $21 on top of $10.95). However, this is what I received from him a few days ago...

QUOTE
For international orders shipping needs to be calculated. I have this as $32 shipping and we now add a $10 service charge per order for going to the post office making your total $xxx.xx. Please advise if you would like to proceed. I hope you understand, thanks




damn.. thats unfortunate.
a $10 service fee per international order is a little over-the-top. im gonna have to find another vendor... sucks cuz i wanted to place another order within the next two weeks.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anything that ships USPS usually wont get dinged duties I find
i've ordered hookah-shisha many a time and have found alright shipping and order time (1 1/2 to 2 weeks)
just got my order from thehookah, it took about 3 weeks
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (ZWAN @ Apr 21 2009, 10:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Anything that ships USPS usually wont get dinged duties I find
i've ordered hookah-shisha many a time and have found alright shipping and order time (1 1/2 to 2 weeks)
just got my order from thehookah, it took about 3 weeks


I would be careful with Hookah-shisha I have heard of a lot people getting hit by customs.

I would cut my losses and stop ordering from them before you get hit.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

too bad about the $10 surcharge... that being said I'll just have my orders shipped to a friend in the US from now on. border's close. one thing though, do they check for shisha when you drive back to canada?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (SmokinMoose @ Apr 21 2009, 09:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (ZWAN @ Apr 21 2009, 10:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Anything that ships USPS usually wont get dinged duties I find
i've ordered hookah-shisha many a time and have found alright shipping and order time (1 1/2 to 2 weeks)
just got my order from thehookah, it took about 3 weeks


I would be careful with Hookah-shisha I have heard of a lot people getting hit by customs.

I would cut my losses and stop ordering from them before you get hit.


I think it depends on the size of the package, I may have got hit a few years ago when I made my first ever order of a lot (reallly heavy like 35 lbs) but have made 3 recent ones of just shisha and they cleared customs in no time at all with no charges.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (erufiku @ Apr 22 2009, 05:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
too bad about the $10 surcharge... that being said I'll just have my orders shipped to a friend in the US from now on. border's close. one thing though, do they check for shisha when you drive back to canada?



well, it would classify as tobacco. if you dont declare it and they happen to ask you to pull over to get searched... and they find it.... there is a possibility you would be saying goodbye to your car for smuggling.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...