Online shop in Canada

[fotta 0]

There doesn't seem to be anyplace in Canada that one can buy Skydiving gear via the net. Just wondering if you feel that there is a need for that sort of thing....? It's prohibitively (sic?) expensive to buy outside Canada and if a return is necessary then shipping costs start to become pretty significant.

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[Remster 30]

Have you tried talking to the dealer(s) at your DZ?

Remster

[fotta 0]

Dealer? What dealer? I'm trying to determine whther or not it would be worthwhile pursuing the creation of an online, Canadian shop, dealing with Skydiving (and other air-sport) supplies.
Any feedback is appreciated.....

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[174fps 1]

Flying High manufactures the Sidewinder Container in Canada
I also got my cypres and reserve through them.
I believe AL also sells Bonehead helmets.
Lyal at Eden North I Believe is the Canadian dealer for RI (Voodoo, Talon)
With only 2-3000 licenced skydivers in Canada it's
not a very big market.

Andrew

[gale 0]

At North Eden he also is a dealer of Triathalon stuff. (Airodine research I beleive) (According to their website)

Yes, I agree, it's frusterating having to get stuff from the US because of the exchange rate but I don't really think that the market in Canada warrents much more then we have. I don't think an online dealer would be able to buy things in big enough quantities to make the savings worthwhile to the Canadian consumer anyway. Guess we'll just all have to head to the sunny south for gear buying and year-round jumping
Gale

I'm drowning...so come inside
Welcome to my...dirty mind

[AndyMan 7]

Sounds like a great idea to me... you can set up a simple website pretty easily, take payments with paypal, etc. You can make it more complicated later if it prooves to be popular.

that's what's great about the internet, you can try these things out without that much up front investment.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[fotta 0]

<<<that's what's great about the internet, you can try these things out without that much up front investment. >>>
My thoughts too. Flying High is in BC whereas I am in Ontario - the other side of the world (well almost).
Right on about the size of the market but then the intital investment doesn't need to be huge and if it takes off then it might turn into a very rewarding thing to do. My current marketing job, working for someone else isn't doing it for me...

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[skybytch 273]

You might want to put this idea to one or two of the people already selling gear in Canada. Rather than slice the pie even thinner, why not work with one of them?

They likely already have the manufacturer connections you'd need, already have a handle on dealing with customs and already have at least some inventory. You provide (including all updating and maintaining) a nice website that showcases what they have. Sounds like a win win situation to me.

[fotta 0]

Yeah, reading my mind (or what is left of it ). Connections already in place, a motivated partner, could definately be a win/win. Certainly worth looking into in depth.

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[Remster 30]

At 18 jumps (if your profile is exact), my guess is that you dont know that you have dealers right under your nose and dont know about it. Did you ask?

I'd accept the excuse if you lived in Nanisivik or Artic Bay, but Toronto?????

When I jumped at Markham, we had a dealer in PD, Reflex, and others in the person of the local rigger.

At Nouvel Air (aint that far), Daniel will sell you anything you want (as long as he likes it! lol)

I cant imagine Joe at STI doesnt sell gear.

And Burnaby and SWOOP must have a some dealers, or at least know of where to find one locally.

Canada is a VERY small market, there is no full blown shop in the country (to compare with SQ1, SQ2, Sunshine Factory and others)

Most online retailers in Skydiving only use their website for advertizement anyways (try to find the actual end price of a full rig on their website). Right Bytch?.

I personally would not use a pure e-transaction to pruchase a rig; I'd want to have a chat with the guy/gal.

I'm not tring to kill your idea, I just think your making things more complicated then they need to be.

Remster

[skybytch 273]

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try to find the actual end price of a full rig on their website

With some effort you could come up with a price for a complete rig from our website's catalog. But you'll get better prices if you email or call us on canopies and containers, and most people have questions anyway.

Quote

I personally would not use a pure e-transaction to pruchase a rig; I'd want to have a chat with the guy/gal.

I've sold quite a few rigs to people I've never talked to; everything has been handled by email.

[Remster 30]

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With some effort

I rest my case....

Remster

[fotta 0]

Remster: Thanks for the thoughts, as a newcomer to the sport I know that I have great gaps in my knowledge - your response and others are exactly the sort of thing I am hoping to get: feedback and other opinions. Yes I know that it *is* of course possible to buy equipment in Canada. As you say, STI sells equipment and they show a photo on their site, but there does not seem to be any firm from which I can purchase say.... an altimeter... online in Canada. Speaking as a lazy customer.... I want to be able to surf to a site, choose a few products, click for more info, click for color choices (fashion is of course crucial), and have them sent to me. I don't want to have to start making phone calls or driving for hours to pick something up. In the case of something like a rig - yes, for that I would spend a great deal of effort to get the right one. But, I am thinking "accessories" not rigs.

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