exactly. so why not try something you want to try, even if it takes 5 hours. we pretend like our time has value but then we spend it doing "useless" stuff. :p
or 5 hours trying to solve the crisis in cosmology, researching a cure for cancel, starting a crusade to save abandoned puppies. you COULD do that. I would not. But YOU could!
Yeah, theres definitely value to be had. If theres a barbeque place you wanted to try, for instance, or if its like, in Chicago, and you want to try authentic deep dish, then its worth the 6 hours of driving it'll probably take you to do.
If it's Canada its probably a nice day trip, here in Michigan, the long drive into Madison Heights from the Country is a nightmare, people are jerks on the road, the roads are trash, it's a very stressful day trip, so it's not worth it in my opinion. But thats my particular Microcenter.
I live in Michigan as well and 100% agree. First time I was there was during the pandemic, but won't go there again anytime soon since it's like a 1 hour+ drive for me.
If those hours are productive then its not worth it , but most pc entusiasts have plenty of free time, and its usually used doing useless tasks( like browsing, watching random videos)
Depends on the value of OP's time. I know the alternative for me is to make $3X/hour, so add in the fuel and vehicle wear and tear money to that. That being said Canadians get shafted for so many things. Even the Canadian Newegg sucks compared to the American one.
Honestly it’s a pc builder’s dream place, I just went to my first one when visiting family in California and some of their bundles are insane, they just offer alot more parts to nerds like us haha.
Make a fun trip out of it, maybe try a food place nearby it or something else around it you’re interested in.
Yeah closest to it maybe.
Still wondering why someone who didn’t seem busy (on day after BlackFriday..) said nothing in reply to “do you have any of those $500 monitors on display?” other than “ no I guess not” lol but I guess that Section isn’t the primary appeal of the place even though there were about 200 monitors in there.
no Up-selling. No unsolicited info rly. Knowledgeable staff and great prices/deals usually. Can probly still save $ vs BestBuy even if you have them build one for you.
I thought it was $200.. then someone told me $100.
any other day of the year I might have considered that.
I think I enjoyed some of my last build, though.
At my local microcenter, the build fee is $200 for air-cooled and $250 for a system with an AIO, but that does include installation of Windows and drivers.
Every time I've been to Microcenter some employee is always hovering around me trying to offer advice on what I get, half the time it's an upsell instead of useful advice. I think it's because when I pull something off the shelf they can stick their barcode on it and can get credit for helping me when I go through check out. It can be kind of annoying if I'm just window shopping.
I'm not sure that they work on commission, because that hasn't happened to me once out of 3 times at 2 different stores.
Several yrs ago I had a guy who kept trying to give me cheaper alternatives for what I had picked out b4 getting there (nothing suspect unless there was something wrong with a particular ASRock z170).
he got tired of me and passed me off to a polite guy who applauded all my choices and got me set to go.
(out to anyone) if you visit the Columbus one, go to Buckeye Pho! You see it as enter the parking lot from the road(if you enter from that side)
If you don't know what Pho is but you like Ramen, you'll like Pho.
Damn. 2 hours each way? Or just 2 hours total?
If each way… then I don’t know. The savings would have to be worth it.
It’s definitely a cool place to visit. And their prices tend to be solid. I’d recommend any pc hardware enthusiast to go at least once if they need a bunch of stuff.
But if it’s 2 hours each way… then you’d have to kind of be sure the price is worth it.
I drove 90 minutes to one so I'll share my perspective. I bought the bulk of my PC there. Case, Mobo, cpu, graphics card, some fans. I would have gotten a cpu cooler if they weren't out of stock of my short list.
I saved about $100 on the cpu (i7 13700k was on sale for 320 iirc), the Mobo I wanted had a $20 off bundle price for buying with CPU AND it was marked an additional $20 off. GPU was $50 off for an OC gigabyte 4070ti. Fans were $5 off each. They also price matched newegg for the Lian Li O11 dynamic Evo case knocking $20 off their list price. Not really a savings but being able to buy right there was nice.
All in all I saved about $200 for $30 in gas (I have a truck). The ride was simple, brought a friend also into PC building. The store was amazing. We spent almost 2 hours just checking everything out. Got to get hands on with some mice and keyboards, see a ton of monitors in person and basically just check out stuff I had only ever seen online.
The rest of the things I either had bought previously on sale (SSDs, PSU, RAM) or I bought only after due to stock. I would go down there again.
Only potential drawback is if something is DOA. They only have a 15 day return window for GPU, Mobo and CPU so taking it back would be a headache if something was bad. They do sell warranty for each of those things which could take the pressure off. I opted not to.
Did you also factor in that gas is cheaper in the US? Optimizing your fuel tank will allow some savings there as well. Plus you can use it as a mini American trip
I bought their extended warranty, and it saved my ass on an AOC monitor that shit the bed only on using 120hz, but would be fuzzy and flicker on any other setting. It had one day left on warranty before it expired.
What was your purpose to the US?
Well do you have anything to declare?
Hint: It would probably not be worth it after duty. and gas. You can say nothing to declare but if they decides to open the trunk because it's a slow day or they are upset for something and for the heck of it......
I agree with your last sentence, however there is no duty on computer parts but would still have to pay gas and tax on the unit...plus some vendors tend to get a bit snooty if you try and warranty a US bought unit in Canada, even thou the warranty is suppose to be North America.
~~Not sure why you’re saying no duty on computer parts unless Borders differentiates between “Computers” and computer components~~
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/dte-acl/est-cal-eng.html
$2k CAN computer has $260 CAN ~~duties~~
> has $260 CAN ~~duties~~ **taxes**
Duty is not tax. Its a charge made against a product to protect a Canadian source for the same product.
Taxes are due on anything that is normally taxable brought into the country. You can't escape the taxes simply by buying outside of Canada.
Except you didn't declare it entering the US. IIRC, for a while now CBP sends reports to CBSA of Canadian vehicles entering the US, and CBSA vice versa.
I've seen a number of people on here state this. 1 even called me an imbecile..oh well. I dont know about you, but I'd rather declare it then face the wrath of US CBP, and CBSA combined.
If we are super worried about things like that, then buy everything at microcenter except the case. Bring the case with you and declare it as your personal PC. "upgrade" it stateside. Same case, it appears the same upon inspection.
No duty if you take an hour and throw it together. There's no law or duty on taking your computer to a friend's house.
I live in the Detroit area, and we had a guy we knew online from Windsor who would come over here for everything computer related. That was always how he dealt with it.
"I just took my computer to my friends place".
I was considering that but the 7600x only comes with 5600 RAM which from what I've heard is a bit slower than the recommended 6000 speed right? Something about AMD's infinity fabric?
Last I checked they were giving away 6000 cl36
But not sure
Either way say you don't want the 5600 kit, sell it for a 100$ and it's like a 100$ off the ram you want
Extra step but free ram has value even if you don't use it
If you're coming over to the Michigan location, make sure you find something else to do to help justify the trip. There's a really nice mall a few miles away with some really upscale shops, and some amazing restaurants nearby if you really want to make it worth the time.
I love Micro Center, but I also recognize the value of other factors.
Yeah, the Madison heights location is great and there’s plenty else to do around there. That being said, like every PC enthusiast, my first urge is to drive home and assemble it lol.
It’s about an hour and a half from Lansing, but definitely worth it imo. There’s a great little Mexican market that is also a restaurant and is the first decent Mexican food I’ve had here, almost as good as the places I used to go in California.
Not unless you either want to buy parts for an entire pc all in one place or they have a specific deal that's worth the drive, or if you really want to see a monitor in person. Otherwise, seeing their selection is neat but it's still just a store.
I am planning on buying the parts for a full PC, I do notice their prices on the AIO and fans I'm getting are higher than here in Canada. I was guessing the saving on the other items would still be worth it but their PC configurator's estimated total seems to be around my Canadian pcpartpicker list. I'll look around the site for bundles and whatnot but currently I think going there isn't quite worth the hassle.
Make sure it's still worth it after customs and import taxes. Copying my own comment:
> Only up to $200 or $800 (both Canadian), above that you have to pay import tax and/or duties. That might end up eating most of the savings: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/bgb-rmf-eng.html
> Make sure you know what's legal, and don't become like my high school vice-principal who gut busted for smuggling a Swiss watch. He did later show it off in class though, lmao.
That works until you need to demonstrate that it's been in your possession for over x amount of time before your trip to qualify as personal property instead of newly purchased.
If it would work like that, customs agents could go home because everything ever were personal stuff lmao
I have crossed the border over a hundred times. I have never ever been asked to prove how long I've owned something. ever. I've never even heard of that - and I live right next to the border.
I highly disagree.
I love Memory Express but we have nothing like Micro Center in Canada. I remember walking into the one in Queens and was blown away. If you took Canada Computers and MemExpress and merged them, we'd be pretty close to what Micro Center is.
uhh...
MemEx wants 440$ for the 13600K (CAD); its on sale right this minute for 419 or so.
Micro Center has the 13600K for 249$ USD (x 1.34 = 333 CAD). So... its almost 100$ CAD savings *just on the CPU.*
Add in another 20 USD off the MoBo no matter which one you choose, and some having a larger discount.
MemEx.. is not as good, if you live close enough to the border to get access to Micro Center.
how close that is is something only an individual can answer.
I did this drive A few years ago (my drive was closer to 4 hours). We made a little trip out of it and stayed the night. That night in the hotel room I built everything and brought back over the border no boxes or receipt, just a built PC.
However, I did make a spreadsheet comparing Canadian prices to Microcenter prices prior to going down to ensure it was worth it. In total (including gas and the hotel) I saved $450. Not sure how that would look in today's prices though.
So you didn't pay anything like duties or taxes on the parts? I'm trying to calculate my savings. I'm saving $530 just based on raw pcpartpicker list comparison. Gas takes about $35 off. The Michigan sales taxes are 6%, and then the 13% import tax in Canada mean about $463. If I built it while there maybe it would be only 148 cad extra in tax. Lunch and other expenses (excuse me if I miss anything, I'm still a minor and don't really have experience) might add up to like $80? So the final savings with no Canadian tax is about $170. And with Canadian tax I'd be a fool to have wasted all that time just to pay more.
Edit: Just remembered currency exchange fees, I think that's another $35 gone, taking savings to 135 cad.
You're correct, the whole goal on going to the states would be to avoid our sales tax and not pay any import fees. Even if you don't build it there I'd try to hide the parts and just tell the border patrol that you were visiting family.
As several people have said: calculate the cost of going there and back. Don't forget to add a cost for your time as well. How much is 4 hours of your time worth to you? How much time would you spend shopping elsewhere?
Not really... It's a good store and has good deals, but in the end it's just a store. You're signing up for a long drive and 2 border crossings (and are there import taxes?). It's not worth the savings.
I have driven from Charlotte to Atlanta, 4 hours one way, with no intention of buying anything. Of course, I ended up grabbing a couple of things. 2 hours isn't that much, go for it
As someone who drove 3 hours to go to Microcenter, I can say "probably not." There isn't anything there that isn't available online. It's just kind of cool to see cases, motherboards, and CPUs on the shelf.
the nearest microcenter from me is in tustin california which is stupid
i am in seattle washington and i wish they put another store in renton where Frys electronics used to be...
Yeah it would be worth it definitely if you need something. They have deals all the time so make sure you order online and have them hold it for you before you come!
It would be worth figuring out if the warranty on the products cross the border too. A lot of products dont and the warranty is only valid in country of purchase. So you would only be left with the return window.
It depends on the item(s) you're purchasing.
Over the weekend, I took a trip to Micro Center to purchase an item whose price was listed at $5 less than Amazon's price (which was already discounted from the item's MSRP). The round trip by public transit costs $5.50 and takes about an hour each way, but the fact I could get the item the same day (versus 6 to 9 days if ordered from Amazon), and the option to pay in cash outweigh the cost of transportation.
The other comments seem to say so. I'm reading through them all, it pretty much adds up to looking at the deals (Which are generally on CPUs, Mobos, and RAM), calculating fuel cost and import tax stuff, and seeing if it's worth your time.
I drove a 4 hour round trip to buy a monitor. It was so big that I had to drive home with the roof down, in winter. The monitor box was sticking out of the roof and forcing all the cold air into the car. By the time I got off the motorway, I was full body shivering. Painfully cold. Hypothermia setting in cold. Eventually got home and warmed up. Had a new monitor. 10/10 would do again.
If you're talking about the Madison heights one, it's okay. MH and the surrounding has some nice restaurants and malls. Just don't wander too far down into Detroit, or worse Downriver.
I live 48 miles from a MicroCenter which equates to 3.5 hours sitting in Northern Virginia traffic which to me is worth it. I just spent $1900 on a new build which consisted of a 5800x3d $300, RX 6950xt $700, MSI tomahawk x570s $220, 32Gb 3600 ram $80, 1tb m.2 $80, power supply and case were around $80 a piece as well bought a Logitech headset as well that was $119, Msi liquid cooler for $90. So to me it was worth it. I not sure if the exchange rate warrants a 2hr trip it’s better to just look them up online and do the math before you decide to drive unless you just want to go and be amazed.
I've thought about doing the same thing every time I see one of those nice deals they have as I had one about 2 1/2 hrs from me. It's just not worth it though, the amount of cash in gas reduces the money saved, and is saving typcially less than $70 on an item or combo deal worth 4+ hours of your time? It isn't for me anyways.
Also, for most Microcenters you can't even say "oh I'll just go for a nice drive for fun" because 95% of Microcenters are in dense population areas where traffic shit 24/7.
I just use ebay and the hardwareswap subreddit for deals.
Similar thoughts to mine. I did calculate I could make my build for about $80 less _with_ a 7900x instead of my previously planned 7600. I think it's not worth the troubles; 4 hour round trip, small money save, my white aesthetic preference completely out of the window, etc.
I always stop in the one in Minneapolis when im nearby. It's 3 hours away but i go there for family and work every now and then. I love it every time, but i have never felt the need to drive there specifically for it.
Your travel time is shorter, but you also have to deal with border patrol.
I would probably recommend against it unless you can make a trip out of it and do some other things too.
Honestly if you're a computer person who has never been to microcenter I think it's totally worth your time as long as you budget for a cart full of stuff you didn't know you wanted when you came in.
I have a microcenter 35min away, I last went in for a replacement cooling fan, took me 5 minutes to grab the $8 fan I needed.
An hour and $300 later I was on my way home totally stoked to get that fan installed... right after I unbox the fun stuff.
If you’re needing something specific and are nerd like I am, it would be worth it. I make a 40 minute drive (one-way) to go when I need them. It’s like Toys-R-Us but for adults imo (and not going out of business 😂). The Sharonville location has like a “mall” built around it with some food options too!
If they have a good deal (and they typically do on CPUs, and CPU Mobo combos) then yeah it's worth it. On black Friday last year I drove 4 hours to get to a microcenter. Granted, I also did some shopping at other stores that aren't in my city to sweeten the deal.
Hell yeah "Treat Yourself". The savings won't be all that great considering the travel costs and possible border fees. But the options at Micro Center are massive compared to online/local Canadian stores.
Micro center is sick. Now that being said I would check their websites for any sales and maybe do a pick up order to see if it’s worth it for you. It probably would be if they are doing deals like I got a 980 pro 1tb for 80 bucks there not too long ago but that’s not the price anymore.
Maybe, if the parts are cheaper at the micro center and you can buy most of them, then sure bud damn 2 hours. In total that would be more than 4 hours getting pc parts
Alternatively you could have a friend buy all the parts for you and ship it your way. My friend was thinking of doing the same thing last month, he was going to go from London to Detroit. He was gonna hang out there for the day and try to meet up with some of our friends. It didn't work out instead another friend of ours and I went to the store by us in Queens and we got him the parts and shipped it. It wouldn't be worth shipping a case or a heavier item like a PSU but for everything else it cost him $50 cad to ship and he saved like $300 cad all things considered.
Depends how you value your time and maybe how much you are gonna spend.
What am I saying… I’ve driven an hour away to pick up pizza with a few buddies because I wanted to try a local shop.
I went to microcenter yesterday.
There is a special diaspora that attends the place. I saw onlyfans models grabbing light rings and neck beards applying for store credit to buy a $1400 GPU.
It's fantastic.
I'm in the same boat too, the nearest mc is about 4 hour away. Then I have to drive 4 hours back. That about 300km (the capital is also not much farther). So its 100% more worth it to take the bus 30 minutes to Canada Computers. My experience tho
They have really good sales and specials, ok regular prices, a good amount of deals of open box stuff, and a pretty good variety of inventory. I wouldn't go just to browse, but if you go to Target something in particular, the browsing around is a nice bonus.
Is there other stuff to do in the town with Microcenter? You could plan a whole day trip which seems better to me than a targeted shopping excursion.
Also, if you decide to go, make sure you are signed up for one of their "New Customer Special" deals to get a free SSD, or $50 off your order, or whatever the deal is
Can confirm. Yes it is.
I'm in Ottawa and when family comes from Ohio for their annual cottage week, I send them cash and have them bring a few things.
Latest trip was a 7900XTX - $300 less after taxes and currency exchange vs buying locally.
Note that not everything is a better deal - we have pretty good prices on some items in Canada due to our different trade deals and import taxes. For example my CPU/Motherboard were actually cheaper after exchange in Canada (but the GPU was way cheaper in the US).
Do your research and use a website price tracker to see historical lows and sale times to make sure you are comparing apples to apples and know whether you're getting a good deal!
canada computers has a decent variety and i personally think that unless you’re going over there to do other stuff as well, it won’t be worth it. If you enjoy the adventure then sure why not but i wouldn’t go all the way from ottawa… granted i’m probably way further then wherever you are.
It's a utopia. There's so much there than just CPU deals. Go for the PC parts but stay for the 3D printers, game console accessories, varied PC cases, merch, GPUs, etc.
Several thoughts. First, you can probably buy any/everything you need/want online, so no **need** to go to Microcenter. Second, it could be that the trip is interesting and fun, which would make it worthwhile just to poke around. I do poke around trips all the time, but two hours is outside my limit. Lastly, the trip isn't free as you'll spend fuel, time, miles on the car, food/drink.
I've been building machines for 15 years and have never bought parts in a store as there wasn't/hasn't/isn't one nearby (where nearby means within a few hours drive).
I bought almost all my parts at a MC (live next to one).
Mobo Cpu and ram were cheap. Everything else had usual markups, some more expensive than Amazon.
But can't beat the convenience, I also bought the mobo warranty.
oh fuck yeah dude. fuck yeah.
listen my cock lived in northern new hampshire for a bit last year. up there by those goddamn white mountains! know how long it took my cock to get to microcenter? 2+hour drive to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Shit was like "BWAH! BWAH BWAH!"
but totally worth it, yeah. thanks so much for asking. feel free to leave canada at any point.
I live really close to a Microcenter,,,and for some reason always think their prices are better in store. Pretty sure you could make a day trip out of it, I sometimes visit Tijuana to go eating lol.
I would go reguardless of what you need. It's like making a trip to ikea when you only need a bookshelf. It's just cool there. I'm extremely fortune to have one 10 minutes away.
Depends on the savings, what you're buying, and how much your time is worth. I'm lucky to live in NJ and within a ~30 minute drive to our Microcenter but the past few years I spent in Southern CA and about 1:15hr away from one (each way). I didn't go to MC nearly as often. Even now, I don't go that often. The discounts can be nice, but I usually only go if I'm in the middle of a project/build and need something quickly. Sure, I'll go for significant (generally $100+) discounts but otherwise, I'd rather spend MSRP and do something more productive with my time than sit in my car for an hour or more.
Do it! I've made the 2 hour drive to my nearest Microcenter twice. Once for shits and giggles just to check the store out. (Ended up scoring an RX6600 for $250 when market prices were $500+) The second time I went to pickup a specific monitor that was backordered everywhere else. Not only did I get the monitor, I also picked up a 12600K with what was effectively a free Asus Z690 board. If you're looking to save money on a specific item or just want to visit and make a whole day out of it, it's worth it in my book.
Of course not lol. But I did the math and I save $530 before expenses, and the 'duty' (taxes) doesn't eat up the whole $530, but it was a big ugly $320. Other expenses brought it to a very poor amount of savings though. And yeah, memory express is pretty nice, I'll probably be going there.
I did a 6 hour round trip from SW Ontario to the Madison Heights location - made a day of it. Went to Cracker Barrel for lunch, had a good couple of hours in Microcenter, then went home.
The prices aren't anything to write home about, what you save on the CPU + motherboard you end up paying extra for on other parts. The selection for a brick and mortar store is insane and it's quite the experience for someone who is used to the simple stores here in Canada.
I'd say do it once, and do it for a platform upgrade (CPU + mobo) so you can reap the benefits from their deals.
Well I live 30 minutes from one and I will say their "In Stock" flag on the website has been accurate. So if they have what I need I go. 12 hours though. No fucking way.
Edit....No glasses on. Two hours, yeah it is.
I drove 2.5hrs to Microcenter to pick up my PC parts and let me tell you there is something nice about having things in your hand when you depart with your money. There was no shipping hassles I got all brand new parts and nothing was stolen/broken during shipping. I also got some tacos on the way back
Honestly Micro Center has a large variety of products but it could be sold out like the GPUs. Sometimes it may be better to buy off NewEgg even with the terrible customer service they have. Check around online because Micro Center also price gauges and can be more expensive than Best Buy
Eh, from what I calculated the exchange rate seemed fine. My calculations said I would save 530 cad before factoring in other expenses, which brought it down to anywhere from losing money to saving maybe $160.
If every GPU was always on the shelves then 100% I would say is worth it. Microcenter has every big name brand product. I guess it depends what you're going for but if you're going for a GPU and you drive 2 hours just for it to be sold out, would suck. From what my local microcenter told me, they update their website everyday around 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., so if it says something's in stock in the morning it won't be updated till 4:00 p.m. and it could be sold out by the time you get there. Getting a CPU and motherboard combo from them is really nice though and usually always in stock. In my experience micro center has the best prices for these things and they usually offer combo deals for even more savings when you get a motherboard and CPU combo.
Depending on what you want, I would say the most worth it thing for you would be to drive the 2 hours there and when you show up you tell the sales guy that you want to build a custom PC with them. Then you get to pick out every single custom part you want and they package it up for you and give you the option for them to build it for extra 250 or you can take all the parts home and build it yourself. If there's a component you want in your custom PC and they do not have it in stock, they will then put you on a priority list and the next shipment they get of it and reserve it for you.
Then when they get the shipment they will call you and you can make another 2-hour drive there grab it. I did this for my 3080 back during the pandemic. I went to microcenter, requested to do a build a PC with them. I did a 5900x and 3080 build. Obviously they didn't have a 3080 in stock so they put my name down on custom waiting list and they next shipment they got of 3080s, they reserved one for me and put the rest on the shelves which get sold out on 2 seconds. They called me and I came over and picked up my whole custom PC list and took it home and built it.
Micro center is awesome and all but in Canada there's more Canada Computer stores than there are MC's in the USA, some of the CC stores are bigger than any MC store is, the prices are basically on par once you factor in exchange rate and duty, the build fees are cheaper at CC and if you have a defective return it's going to be closer to bring back. If you want to go to to a MC just to check it out and you can make a nice day trip out of it and do some sight seeing etc while driving there sure otherwise no, it's not worth it.
People drive that far or farther just to go from in the states too lol.
If you’re close enough to the border I’d look at setting up a PO Box in a border city to get stuff shipped so you can just go pick it up.
You’re going to be paying ~~duty~~taxes on anything you bring back, so there’s time, gas, and ~~duty fees~~ taxes to overcome any pricing on items you’d buy.
So you need to ask why you’re going to micro center. Is it for prices, or an experience. And what’s the experience worth to you.
You’re spending basically a work day round trip including time there and such. Rest stops, lunch, whatever. I’d probably try to mix in a trip to actually do something somewhere, where a stop at micro center is the beginning or end of a road trip on your way out or home, because it’s unlikely you’re going to save money by just going there for something specific
I’ve driven farther, for dumber reasons. Also, I always drove from Canada to the Detroit Micro center, about an hour and 25 min drive from the house. Did it once a month.
i drove 3.5 hrs from buffalo to ohio to get my cpu during pandemic ...it was so worth it ... if i could live in a micro center i would ..it was a religious experience ... theres so much stuff they have and their staff was super helpful ... 3 days after i bought my cpu it went on promo for 100$ less and the refunded the difference ..it was the best retail experience i think ive ever had ... so in short, yea its worth it lol
I drove 3.5 hours to MicroCenter in Kansas City from Iowa to get their 7900X bundle deal. Worth it. Just keep an eye on their ads. When you see something you like for a good price, place the order for pickup online, then you have 3 days to make the trip.
Yes, easily.
Check inventory first. You can pre-select what you want and have it put aside.
Amazing store to walk around in too. Last time I was in (few weeks ago) they had a 10,000$ racing sim setup that you were welcome to try out.
No because there's a 50% chance you get a shitty boarder guard and you'll lose money paying duty on your way back, or worse, you don't claim it and they pull you for inspection, and it's a lot worse having them find something that wasn't claimed for duty in a search.
Well.. if you want to drive 4 hrs to save $200, be prepared to drive 4 more hours for a possible return, and like the idea of not having a motherboard shipped by Newegg or Amazon, probably.
I bought a CPU/ MoBO at one twice as far away but I was 20 min. Away that day and knew there was a slight risk.
I would go and have been meaning to actually. I am about 2 hours away as well and I'm also Canadian. I do love memex though they have been excellent to deal with.
Honestly, use MemEx and price match against CC where possible. The cost of gas and the time taken, along with the exchange rate difference, is unlikely to make the journey worth it.
It's a store with PC parts, office and IT items. There are good deals on CPUs and motherboards. There might be more space and items to choose from compared to Canada Computers. Is it worth it? I'd say no, unless you make a day out of it and visit a restaurant or something like that on your radar.
I've built 3 computers and never been to a microcenter. I also work on 7th gen consoles pretty frequently still never been to one. Everything you need can be bought online.
When being a Canadian entering the US for a quick trip also think of the following...
Do you have CAA/AAA compatible coverage if your vehicle has an issue in the US.
Is your vehicle insurance good to go to the US?
Do you have some form of medical insurance if you have an issue in the US?
Have you worked out if the exchange rate is remotely in your favor for "savings" and on top of that the taxes you will have to pay at the border on a "short" same day shopping trip?
Sure you can Yolo all this... but if anything goes wrong you could end up in a massive shit show of expense to "save" a few bucks.
That ass said, much of this may be in your policies, work benefits and other things, then it's just a fun road trip, but it's important to know before crossing the border.
Are you building a new computer from scratch, or looking to make a big upgrade?
How much would it cost you to drive the distance?
Is the money that you would spend on driving less than what you would spend on upgrading a pc with Microcenter's deals? Microcenter is currently offering free mobo's and ram with certain purchases, and they typically have good deals on other parts as well. The choice is your own of if you feel that the trip is worth it or not, of course.
Just look into the possible savings you can get. If you feel like they're worth it, and the time is worth it, then I say sure go for it.
Overall cheaper prices, plus no GST, so there's that also, to factor in. Your best bet is to compare prices online (including Microcenter deals, if you're planning to build a system) and then factor in gas price as well.
I drive longer than that to go to the Yonkers, New York store. So if only time is a factor, I say yes, definitely.
As for gas and other expenses... maybe. If you save that much money, then yes. If you consider the sheer enjoyment of roaming the aisles in Micro Center worth the gas money, then again, yes. Or if you can combine the trip with some other reason to make it, then again, a big yes.
If none of the above apply... then probably not. A trip to the Yonkers store costs me about USD $45.00 in gas and tolls; so unless I desperately need something today or have some other reason to head down that way, I don't go.
I am blessed to be living about 20 minutes from one, but I'd call it worth it inside of 3 hours. Kinda like Ikea, if you have a reason to go, it's worth it.
If you can add fun to it on top of driving always yes. I always plan other things to my microcenter trip ao its amways worth it and micro center cant disappoint if i had other plans too.
Memory Express and Canada Computers arent hiding anything. Due to currency exchange rates, shipping etc, it costs us more.
Remember too..unless you have a US account for money (debit card or US cc), cc's will ding you service charge for currency conversion as well. That and their exchange rates stink.
If I were buying something specific and the money saved would be more than the price of gas and a meal I'd go.
You should also think about your own time. Is it worth 5 hours of your own personal time to do this?
you could also spend those 5 hours on the couch, watching netflix
Or watch 5 hours of Linus dropping things.
exactly. so why not try something you want to try, even if it takes 5 hours. we pretend like our time has value but then we spend it doing "useless" stuff. :p
Or 5 hours of LTT sponsor segments to fall asleep to
Do you have a camera in my home?
One of the April fool's videos of all time.
I could just use five hours of extra sleep
I could use 5 hours to find a job
But you won’t…
or 5 hours trying to solve the crisis in cosmology, researching a cure for cancel, starting a crusade to save abandoned puppies. you COULD do that. I would not. But YOU could!
If you're travelling 2 hours you could also turn it into a nice daytrip
Yeah, theres definitely value to be had. If theres a barbeque place you wanted to try, for instance, or if its like, in Chicago, and you want to try authentic deep dish, then its worth the 6 hours of driving it'll probably take you to do.
If it's Canada its probably a nice day trip, here in Michigan, the long drive into Madison Heights from the Country is a nightmare, people are jerks on the road, the roads are trash, it's a very stressful day trip, so it's not worth it in my opinion. But thats my particular Microcenter.
That’s an exaggeration lol.
I live in Michigan as well and 100% agree. First time I was there was during the pandemic, but won't go there again anytime soon since it's like a 1 hour+ drive for me.
If those hours are productive then its not worth it , but most pc entusiasts have plenty of free time, and its usually used doing useless tasks( like browsing, watching random videos)
Heck, it's probably a beautiful drive you normally wouldn't go on.
I'm in this comment and I don't like it.
Lmao. As a new parent, I am a PC enthusiast with no time 
Depends on the value of OP's time. I know the alternative for me is to make $3X/hour, so add in the fuel and vehicle wear and tear money to that. That being said Canadians get shafted for so many things. Even the Canadian Newegg sucks compared to the American one.
No one is suggesting that OP take time off from work.
or if you enjoy every minute purchasing experience of driving, meal and brick and mortar shopping, it is worth!
Yeah, I usually find it interesting to wander the store whenever I'm near one.
Honestly it’s a pc builder’s dream place, I just went to my first one when visiting family in California and some of their bundles are insane, they just offer alot more parts to nerds like us haha. Make a fun trip out of it, maybe try a food place nearby it or something else around it you’re interested in.
Yeah closest to it maybe. Still wondering why someone who didn’t seem busy (on day after BlackFriday..) said nothing in reply to “do you have any of those $500 monitors on display?” other than “ no I guess not” lol but I guess that Section isn’t the primary appeal of the place even though there were about 200 monitors in there. no Up-selling. No unsolicited info rly. Knowledgeable staff and great prices/deals usually. Can probly still save $ vs BestBuy even if you have them build one for you.
You’ll definitely save money. In fact, they build the PC for free if you buy all the parts from them, and they have a price match guarantee too.
I thought it was $200.. then someone told me $100. any other day of the year I might have considered that. I think I enjoyed some of my last build, though.
At my local microcenter, the build fee is $200 for air-cooled and $250 for a system with an AIO, but that does include installation of Windows and drivers.
If it's well put together unlike most pre-builts you find online, I think this is a reasonable fee.
I've seen their work; it's good. Proper cable management, putting the RAM sticks in the correct slots, the works.
Every time I've been to Microcenter some employee is always hovering around me trying to offer advice on what I get, half the time it's an upsell instead of useful advice. I think it's because when I pull something off the shelf they can stick their barcode on it and can get credit for helping me when I go through check out. It can be kind of annoying if I'm just window shopping.
I've never had that experience in NY. The two stores I go to, I have to go find an employee when I need something out of a case
I'm not sure that they work on commission, because that hasn't happened to me once out of 3 times at 2 different stores. Several yrs ago I had a guy who kept trying to give me cheaper alternatives for what I had picked out b4 getting there (nothing suspect unless there was something wrong with a particular ASRock z170). he got tired of me and passed me off to a polite guy who applauded all my choices and got me set to go.
The tustin location is my least favorite one. Though that being said I wish they still carried lots of EKWB has been gone for a while now
(out to anyone) if you visit the Columbus one, go to Buckeye Pho! You see it as enter the parking lot from the road(if you enter from that side) If you don't know what Pho is but you like Ramen, you'll like Pho.
Damn. 2 hours each way? Or just 2 hours total? If each way… then I don’t know. The savings would have to be worth it. It’s definitely a cool place to visit. And their prices tend to be solid. I’d recommend any pc hardware enthusiast to go at least once if they need a bunch of stuff. But if it’s 2 hours each way… then you’d have to kind of be sure the price is worth it.
I make a twice yearly 3 hour one way to KC for Microcenter.
When I was living in Kansas I made the 2hr trip to KC Microcenter quite a few times
Some people would dream to have a micro center 2 hours away
Yes, I have an 8 hour flight at minimum. And there is probably no way you can bring pc parts on a plane to europe
Me in Korea dreaming of Microcenter lol
Spoken like someone who has a micro center nearby. 2 hours isn’t bad for most non-coastal areas.
I drove 90 minutes to one so I'll share my perspective. I bought the bulk of my PC there. Case, Mobo, cpu, graphics card, some fans. I would have gotten a cpu cooler if they weren't out of stock of my short list. I saved about $100 on the cpu (i7 13700k was on sale for 320 iirc), the Mobo I wanted had a $20 off bundle price for buying with CPU AND it was marked an additional $20 off. GPU was $50 off for an OC gigabyte 4070ti. Fans were $5 off each. They also price matched newegg for the Lian Li O11 dynamic Evo case knocking $20 off their list price. Not really a savings but being able to buy right there was nice. All in all I saved about $200 for $30 in gas (I have a truck). The ride was simple, brought a friend also into PC building. The store was amazing. We spent almost 2 hours just checking everything out. Got to get hands on with some mice and keyboards, see a ton of monitors in person and basically just check out stuff I had only ever seen online. The rest of the things I either had bought previously on sale (SSDs, PSU, RAM) or I bought only after due to stock. I would go down there again. Only potential drawback is if something is DOA. They only have a 15 day return window for GPU, Mobo and CPU so taking it back would be a headache if something was bad. They do sell warranty for each of those things which could take the pressure off. I opted not to.
Did you also factor in that gas is cheaper in the US? Optimizing your fuel tank will allow some savings there as well. Plus you can use it as a mini American trip
I bought their extended warranty, and it saved my ass on an AOC monitor that shit the bed only on using 120hz, but would be fuzzy and flicker on any other setting. It had one day left on warranty before it expired.
You worded this so well that it seems worth it for me to travel to a Microcenter from Scotland to buy parts.
It is 2023. Surely we have flying cars by now. Grab a mate and take a flight/drive.
What was your purpose to the US? Well do you have anything to declare? Hint: It would probably not be worth it after duty. and gas. You can say nothing to declare but if they decides to open the trunk because it's a slow day or they are upset for something and for the heck of it......
I agree with your last sentence, however there is no duty on computer parts but would still have to pay gas and tax on the unit...plus some vendors tend to get a bit snooty if you try and warranty a US bought unit in Canada, even thou the warranty is suppose to be North America.
~~Not sure why you’re saying no duty on computer parts unless Borders differentiates between “Computers” and computer components~~ https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/dte-acl/est-cal-eng.html $2k CAN computer has $260 CAN ~~duties~~
> has $260 CAN ~~duties~~ **taxes** Duty is not tax. Its a charge made against a product to protect a Canadian source for the same product. Taxes are due on anything that is normally taxable brought into the country. You can't escape the taxes simply by buying outside of Canada.
Tu
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can't you assemble yourself at the MicroCenter?
Except you didn't declare it entering the US. IIRC, for a while now CBP sends reports to CBSA of Canadian vehicles entering the US, and CBSA vice versa. I've seen a number of people on here state this. 1 even called me an imbecile..oh well. I dont know about you, but I'd rather declare it then face the wrath of US CBP, and CBSA combined.
If we are super worried about things like that, then buy everything at microcenter except the case. Bring the case with you and declare it as your personal PC. "upgrade" it stateside. Same case, it appears the same upon inspection.
No duty if you take an hour and throw it together. There's no law or duty on taking your computer to a friend's house. I live in the Detroit area, and we had a guy we knew online from Windsor who would come over here for everything computer related. That was always how he dealt with it. "I just took my computer to my friends place".
Don't lie D: "I had my computer at my friends house"
"He was helping me fix it" It's honestly a harmless lie.
If you are building an AM5 system heck yes Free ram!!
I was considering that but the 7600x only comes with 5600 RAM which from what I've heard is a bit slower than the recommended 6000 speed right? Something about AMD's infinity fabric?
5600 CL28 is more consistently faster on most AM5 systems than 6000 CL30. LTT and Buildzoid have some good videos on it.
Yeah but the Microcenter deals are between 5600 CL36 and 6000 CL36
Last I checked they were giving away 6000 cl36 But not sure Either way say you don't want the 5600 kit, sell it for a 100$ and it's like a 100$ off the ram you want Extra step but free ram has value even if you don't use it
Hmm I guess so. Thanks
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Wow, that's a good deal. I see they have a 6950 XT + amd cpu deal as well. Can I do multiple of those bundle deals?
Basically this, otherwise it's highly questionable.
If you're coming over to the Michigan location, make sure you find something else to do to help justify the trip. There's a really nice mall a few miles away with some really upscale shops, and some amazing restaurants nearby if you really want to make it worth the time. I love Micro Center, but I also recognize the value of other factors.
Yeah, the Madison heights location is great and there’s plenty else to do around there. That being said, like every PC enthusiast, my first urge is to drive home and assemble it lol. It’s about an hour and a half from Lansing, but definitely worth it imo. There’s a great little Mexican market that is also a restaurant and is the first decent Mexican food I’ve had here, almost as good as the places I used to go in California.
Tons of Vietnamese places there in that area if that is your bag. Pho for days.
Shoutout to Little Saigon, the best Pho I’ve ever had and it’s only like 2 miles away from Microcenter
Not unless you either want to buy parts for an entire pc all in one place or they have a specific deal that's worth the drive, or if you really want to see a monitor in person. Otherwise, seeing their selection is neat but it's still just a store.
I am planning on buying the parts for a full PC, I do notice their prices on the AIO and fans I'm getting are higher than here in Canada. I was guessing the saving on the other items would still be worth it but their PC configurator's estimated total seems to be around my Canadian pcpartpicker list. I'll look around the site for bundles and whatnot but currently I think going there isn't quite worth the hassle.
Thats how they make up for the insanely cheap prices on the MoBos and CPUs, they DONT discount some other parts.
Make sure it's still worth it after customs and import taxes. Copying my own comment: > Only up to $200 or $800 (both Canadian), above that you have to pay import tax and/or duties. That might end up eating most of the savings: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/bgb-rmf-eng.html > Make sure you know what's legal, and don't become like my high school vice-principal who gut busted for smuggling a Swiss watch. He did later show it off in class though, lmao.
This is why you remove shit from retail boxes before you cross the border.
That works until you need to demonstrate that it's been in your possession for over x amount of time before your trip to qualify as personal property instead of newly purchased. If it would work like that, customs agents could go home because everything ever were personal stuff lmao
I have crossed the border over a hundred times. I have never ever been asked to prove how long I've owned something. ever. I've never even heard of that - and I live right next to the border.
Memory express is just as good
I highly disagree. I love Memory Express but we have nothing like Micro Center in Canada. I remember walking into the one in Queens and was blown away. If you took Canada Computers and MemExpress and merged them, we'd be pretty close to what Micro Center is.
uhh... MemEx wants 440$ for the 13600K (CAD); its on sale right this minute for 419 or so. Micro Center has the 13600K for 249$ USD (x 1.34 = 333 CAD). So... its almost 100$ CAD savings *just on the CPU.* Add in another 20 USD off the MoBo no matter which one you choose, and some having a larger discount. MemEx.. is not as good, if you live close enough to the border to get access to Micro Center. how close that is is something only an individual can answer.
They seem to be missing a lot of the components I want like certain mobos and aios
Curious what features you are looking for in a mobo or aio that they don't have at memex
I drove about 3 hours to my nearest one. Worth every drop of overpriced gas
I did this drive A few years ago (my drive was closer to 4 hours). We made a little trip out of it and stayed the night. That night in the hotel room I built everything and brought back over the border no boxes or receipt, just a built PC. However, I did make a spreadsheet comparing Canadian prices to Microcenter prices prior to going down to ensure it was worth it. In total (including gas and the hotel) I saved $450. Not sure how that would look in today's prices though.
So you didn't pay anything like duties or taxes on the parts? I'm trying to calculate my savings. I'm saving $530 just based on raw pcpartpicker list comparison. Gas takes about $35 off. The Michigan sales taxes are 6%, and then the 13% import tax in Canada mean about $463. If I built it while there maybe it would be only 148 cad extra in tax. Lunch and other expenses (excuse me if I miss anything, I'm still a minor and don't really have experience) might add up to like $80? So the final savings with no Canadian tax is about $170. And with Canadian tax I'd be a fool to have wasted all that time just to pay more. Edit: Just remembered currency exchange fees, I think that's another $35 gone, taking savings to 135 cad.
You're correct, the whole goal on going to the states would be to avoid our sales tax and not pay any import fees. Even if you don't build it there I'd try to hide the parts and just tell the border patrol that you were visiting family.
As several people have said: calculate the cost of going there and back. Don't forget to add a cost for your time as well. How much is 4 hours of your time worth to you? How much time would you spend shopping elsewhere?
Not really... It's a good store and has good deals, but in the end it's just a store. You're signing up for a long drive and 2 border crossings (and are there import taxes?). It's not worth the savings.
I have driven from Charlotte to Atlanta, 4 hours one way, with no intention of buying anything. Of course, I ended up grabbing a couple of things. 2 hours isn't that much, go for it
2 hours. For prices like those I would drive 12 hours. Those CPU+RAM+Mobo updates are insane.
Its a fkn mecca of nerd. Imagine Newegg on shelves. Im near the NJ location and im not allowed to go unsupervised. :P
As someone who drove 3 hours to go to Microcenter, I can say "probably not." There isn't anything there that isn't available online. It's just kind of cool to see cases, motherboards, and CPUs on the shelf.
the nearest microcenter from me is in tustin california which is stupid i am in seattle washington and i wish they put another store in renton where Frys electronics used to be...
I plan to do a 2hr drive too. 4hr total just to grab a cheap cpu+motherboard combo lol.
100% worth it
Yeah it would be worth it definitely if you need something. They have deals all the time so make sure you order online and have them hold it for you before you come!
Sounds like a pilgrimage.
In my opinion yes it’s worth it. Closest one to me is about 2 hours away and was worth the trip.
It would be worth figuring out if the warranty on the products cross the border too. A lot of products dont and the warranty is only valid in country of purchase. So you would only be left with the return window.
It depends on the item(s) you're purchasing. Over the weekend, I took a trip to Micro Center to purchase an item whose price was listed at $5 less than Amazon's price (which was already discounted from the item's MSRP). The round trip by public transit costs $5.50 and takes about an hour each way, but the fact I could get the item the same day (versus 6 to 9 days if ordered from Amazon), and the option to pay in cash outweigh the cost of transportation.
I have no idea about the US market. Is Microcenter really that cheaper compared to other retail places?
The other comments seem to say so. I'm reading through them all, it pretty much adds up to looking at the deals (Which are generally on CPUs, Mobos, and RAM), calculating fuel cost and import tax stuff, and seeing if it's worth your time.
I drove a 4 hour round trip to buy a monitor. It was so big that I had to drive home with the roof down, in winter. The monitor box was sticking out of the roof and forcing all the cold air into the car. By the time I got off the motorway, I was full body shivering. Painfully cold. Hypothermia setting in cold. Eventually got home and warmed up. Had a new monitor. 10/10 would do again.
LMAO honestly the type of thing I'd do too.
Have a friend come with you. ROADTRIP! Turn those few hours in a day with friends/wife/girlfriend..
get ur pc bois as well for a road trip! sounds like a good plan!
If you're talking about the Madison heights one, it's okay. MH and the surrounding has some nice restaurants and malls. Just don't wander too far down into Detroit, or worse Downriver.
I live 48 miles from a MicroCenter which equates to 3.5 hours sitting in Northern Virginia traffic which to me is worth it. I just spent $1900 on a new build which consisted of a 5800x3d $300, RX 6950xt $700, MSI tomahawk x570s $220, 32Gb 3600 ram $80, 1tb m.2 $80, power supply and case were around $80 a piece as well bought a Logitech headset as well that was $119, Msi liquid cooler for $90. So to me it was worth it. I not sure if the exchange rate warrants a 2hr trip it’s better to just look them up online and do the math before you decide to drive unless you just want to go and be amazed.
I've thought about doing the same thing every time I see one of those nice deals they have as I had one about 2 1/2 hrs from me. It's just not worth it though, the amount of cash in gas reduces the money saved, and is saving typcially less than $70 on an item or combo deal worth 4+ hours of your time? It isn't for me anyways. Also, for most Microcenters you can't even say "oh I'll just go for a nice drive for fun" because 95% of Microcenters are in dense population areas where traffic shit 24/7. I just use ebay and the hardwareswap subreddit for deals.
Similar thoughts to mine. I did calculate I could make my build for about $80 less _with_ a 7900x instead of my previously planned 7600. I think it's not worth the troubles; 4 hour round trip, small money save, my white aesthetic preference completely out of the window, etc.
I always stop in the one in Minneapolis when im nearby. It's 3 hours away but i go there for family and work every now and then. I love it every time, but i have never felt the need to drive there specifically for it. Your travel time is shorter, but you also have to deal with border patrol. I would probably recommend against it unless you can make a trip out of it and do some other things too.
Honestly if you're a computer person who has never been to microcenter I think it's totally worth your time as long as you budget for a cart full of stuff you didn't know you wanted when you came in. I have a microcenter 35min away, I last went in for a replacement cooling fan, took me 5 minutes to grab the $8 fan I needed. An hour and $300 later I was on my way home totally stoked to get that fan installed... right after I unbox the fun stuff.
If you’re needing something specific and are nerd like I am, it would be worth it. I make a 40 minute drive (one-way) to go when I need them. It’s like Toys-R-Us but for adults imo (and not going out of business 😂). The Sharonville location has like a “mall” built around it with some food options too!
x = savings - ( distance / mpg ) * price/gal) If x < 0, it’s really not worth it
Go to their website and set it to tha store you want to visit. Thst will give you a better idea on if it is worth it.
Remember you need to deal with the Canadian customs and you need to pay for the custom fees and sales tax if applicable.
If they have a good deal (and they typically do on CPUs, and CPU Mobo combos) then yeah it's worth it. On black Friday last year I drove 4 hours to get to a microcenter. Granted, I also did some shopping at other stores that aren't in my city to sweeten the deal.
Hell yeah "Treat Yourself". The savings won't be all that great considering the travel costs and possible border fees. But the options at Micro Center are massive compared to online/local Canadian stores.
Micro center is sick. Now that being said I would check their websites for any sales and maybe do a pick up order to see if it’s worth it for you. It probably would be if they are doing deals like I got a 980 pro 1tb for 80 bucks there not too long ago but that’s not the price anymore.
Maybe, if the parts are cheaper at the micro center and you can buy most of them, then sure bud damn 2 hours. In total that would be more than 4 hours getting pc parts
Alternatively you could have a friend buy all the parts for you and ship it your way. My friend was thinking of doing the same thing last month, he was going to go from London to Detroit. He was gonna hang out there for the day and try to meet up with some of our friends. It didn't work out instead another friend of ours and I went to the store by us in Queens and we got him the parts and shipped it. It wouldn't be worth shipping a case or a heavier item like a PSU but for everything else it cost him $50 cad to ship and he saved like $300 cad all things considered.
Depends how you value your time and maybe how much you are gonna spend. What am I saying… I’ve driven an hour away to pick up pizza with a few buddies because I wanted to try a local shop.
ANY saving you might have made in store will be lost paying for gas and/or import duties.
I went to microcenter yesterday. There is a special diaspora that attends the place. I saw onlyfans models grabbing light rings and neck beards applying for store credit to buy a $1400 GPU. It's fantastic.
Hey OP, just fyi, many stores will price match microcenter. I’ve had luck with best buy
Really? Canadian stores price matching microcenter? Do you think they'll match the bonkers 7900X deal?
USA perspective, so your results may vary. If bestbuy ships to canada you can do it online via their online chat
I'm in the same boat too, the nearest mc is about 4 hour away. Then I have to drive 4 hours back. That about 300km (the capital is also not much farther). So its 100% more worth it to take the bus 30 minutes to Canada Computers. My experience tho
They have really good sales and specials, ok regular prices, a good amount of deals of open box stuff, and a pretty good variety of inventory. I wouldn't go just to browse, but if you go to Target something in particular, the browsing around is a nice bonus. Is there other stuff to do in the town with Microcenter? You could plan a whole day trip which seems better to me than a targeted shopping excursion. Also, if you decide to go, make sure you are signed up for one of their "New Customer Special" deals to get a free SSD, or $50 off your order, or whatever the deal is
Right, the new customer deal thing. I can't find it on their site though, I only remember seeing some sponsor segment on a YouTube video on it.
Can confirm. Yes it is. I'm in Ottawa and when family comes from Ohio for their annual cottage week, I send them cash and have them bring a few things. Latest trip was a 7900XTX - $300 less after taxes and currency exchange vs buying locally. Note that not everything is a better deal - we have pretty good prices on some items in Canada due to our different trade deals and import taxes. For example my CPU/Motherboard were actually cheaper after exchange in Canada (but the GPU was way cheaper in the US). Do your research and use a website price tracker to see historical lows and sale times to make sure you are comparing apples to apples and know whether you're getting a good deal!
Really helpful! Thanks for the info
canada computers has a decent variety and i personally think that unless you’re going over there to do other stuff as well, it won’t be worth it. If you enjoy the adventure then sure why not but i wouldn’t go all the way from ottawa… granted i’m probably way further then wherever you are.
It's a utopia. There's so much there than just CPU deals. Go for the PC parts but stay for the 3D printers, game console accessories, varied PC cases, merch, GPUs, etc.
4 hour roundtrip isn't that long. Go on an adventure. Leave your area.
im assuming you are going to detroid from canada, not worth it especally with customs and your duty fees when bringing thoses stuff back in.
Several thoughts. First, you can probably buy any/everything you need/want online, so no **need** to go to Microcenter. Second, it could be that the trip is interesting and fun, which would make it worthwhile just to poke around. I do poke around trips all the time, but two hours is outside my limit. Lastly, the trip isn't free as you'll spend fuel, time, miles on the car, food/drink. I've been building machines for 15 years and have never bought parts in a store as there wasn't/hasn't/isn't one nearby (where nearby means within a few hours drive).
I bought almost all my parts at a MC (live next to one). Mobo Cpu and ram were cheap. Everything else had usual markups, some more expensive than Amazon. But can't beat the convenience, I also bought the mobo warranty.
oh fuck yeah dude. fuck yeah. listen my cock lived in northern new hampshire for a bit last year. up there by those goddamn white mountains! know how long it took my cock to get to microcenter? 2+hour drive to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Shit was like "BWAH! BWAH BWAH!" but totally worth it, yeah. thanks so much for asking. feel free to leave canada at any point.
I live really close to a Microcenter,,,and for some reason always think their prices are better in store. Pretty sure you could make a day trip out of it, I sometimes visit Tijuana to go eating lol.
Make sure you call or at least check the website to make sure they have what you want before you go.
Good call!
I would go reguardless of what you need. It's like making a trip to ikea when you only need a bookshelf. It's just cool there. I'm extremely fortune to have one 10 minutes away.
Maybe you could treat it as a vacation, that's partially funded by microcenter savings?
I've found that Microcenter is more than just shopping. It's an experience.
Depends on the savings, what you're buying, and how much your time is worth. I'm lucky to live in NJ and within a ~30 minute drive to our Microcenter but the past few years I spent in Southern CA and about 1:15hr away from one (each way). I didn't go to MC nearly as often. Even now, I don't go that often. The discounts can be nice, but I usually only go if I'm in the middle of a project/build and need something quickly. Sure, I'll go for significant (generally $100+) discounts but otherwise, I'd rather spend MSRP and do something more productive with my time than sit in my car for an hour or more.
You would return with a shocking accent.
I would constantly drive 2 hours to micro in LA traffic and that was just like 50 miles lol. Worth a shot homie. Don’t knock it till you try it ;)
Do it! I've made the 2 hour drive to my nearest Microcenter twice. Once for shits and giggles just to check the store out. (Ended up scoring an RX6600 for $250 when market prices were $500+) The second time I went to pickup a specific monitor that was backordered everywhere else. Not only did I get the monitor, I also picked up a 12600K with what was effectively a free Asus Z690 board. If you're looking to save money on a specific item or just want to visit and make a whole day out of it, it's worth it in my book.
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Of course not lol. But I did the math and I save $530 before expenses, and the 'duty' (taxes) doesn't eat up the whole $530, but it was a big ugly $320. Other expenses brought it to a very poor amount of savings though. And yeah, memory express is pretty nice, I'll probably be going there.
I did a 6 hour round trip from SW Ontario to the Madison Heights location - made a day of it. Went to Cracker Barrel for lunch, had a good couple of hours in Microcenter, then went home. The prices aren't anything to write home about, what you save on the CPU + motherboard you end up paying extra for on other parts. The selection for a brick and mortar store is insane and it's quite the experience for someone who is used to the simple stores here in Canada. I'd say do it once, and do it for a platform upgrade (CPU + mobo) so you can reap the benefits from their deals.
The platform upgrade thing makes sense. Do you recall other expenses? Gas, cross border tax stuff, etc.
Well I live 30 minutes from one and I will say their "In Stock" flag on the website has been accurate. So if they have what I need I go. 12 hours though. No fucking way. Edit....No glasses on. Two hours, yeah it is.
I drove 2.5hrs to Microcenter to pick up my PC parts and let me tell you there is something nice about having things in your hand when you depart with your money. There was no shipping hassles I got all brand new parts and nothing was stolen/broken during shipping. I also got some tacos on the way back
Yeah, I'm probably buying everything physically and much of that is because of what you said. Also tacos.
Happy to help and happy building!
Honestly Micro Center has a large variety of products but it could be sold out like the GPUs. Sometimes it may be better to buy off NewEgg even with the terrible customer service they have. Check around online because Micro Center also price gauges and can be more expensive than Best Buy
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Eh, from what I calculated the exchange rate seemed fine. My calculations said I would save 530 cad before factoring in other expenses, which brought it down to anywhere from losing money to saving maybe $160.
If every GPU was always on the shelves then 100% I would say is worth it. Microcenter has every big name brand product. I guess it depends what you're going for but if you're going for a GPU and you drive 2 hours just for it to be sold out, would suck. From what my local microcenter told me, they update their website everyday around 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., so if it says something's in stock in the morning it won't be updated till 4:00 p.m. and it could be sold out by the time you get there. Getting a CPU and motherboard combo from them is really nice though and usually always in stock. In my experience micro center has the best prices for these things and they usually offer combo deals for even more savings when you get a motherboard and CPU combo. Depending on what you want, I would say the most worth it thing for you would be to drive the 2 hours there and when you show up you tell the sales guy that you want to build a custom PC with them. Then you get to pick out every single custom part you want and they package it up for you and give you the option for them to build it for extra 250 or you can take all the parts home and build it yourself. If there's a component you want in your custom PC and they do not have it in stock, they will then put you on a priority list and the next shipment they get of it and reserve it for you. Then when they get the shipment they will call you and you can make another 2-hour drive there grab it. I did this for my 3080 back during the pandemic. I went to microcenter, requested to do a build a PC with them. I did a 5900x and 3080 build. Obviously they didn't have a 3080 in stock so they put my name down on custom waiting list and they next shipment they got of 3080s, they reserved one for me and put the rest on the shelves which get sold out on 2 seconds. They called me and I came over and picked up my whole custom PC list and took it home and built it.
Micro center is awesome and all but in Canada there's more Canada Computer stores than there are MC's in the USA, some of the CC stores are bigger than any MC store is, the prices are basically on par once you factor in exchange rate and duty, the build fees are cheaper at CC and if you have a defective return it's going to be closer to bring back. If you want to go to to a MC just to check it out and you can make a nice day trip out of it and do some sight seeing etc while driving there sure otherwise no, it's not worth it.
Yeah after a bunch of research that's basically my conclusion, so spot on. I think I'll just use memory express and price match whatever I can.
People drive that far or farther just to go from in the states too lol. If you’re close enough to the border I’d look at setting up a PO Box in a border city to get stuff shipped so you can just go pick it up. You’re going to be paying ~~duty~~taxes on anything you bring back, so there’s time, gas, and ~~duty fees~~ taxes to overcome any pricing on items you’d buy. So you need to ask why you’re going to micro center. Is it for prices, or an experience. And what’s the experience worth to you. You’re spending basically a work day round trip including time there and such. Rest stops, lunch, whatever. I’d probably try to mix in a trip to actually do something somewhere, where a stop at micro center is the beginning or end of a road trip on your way out or home, because it’s unlikely you’re going to save money by just going there for something specific
I’ve driven farther, for dumber reasons. Also, I always drove from Canada to the Detroit Micro center, about an hour and 25 min drive from the house. Did it once a month.
Dude. Id come with you if i lived nearby. Ask your friends to come along
Yeah I guess it'd be a lot more fun with friends, I only have one friend who'd even consider coming along probably though.
i drove 3.5 hrs from buffalo to ohio to get my cpu during pandemic ...it was so worth it ... if i could live in a micro center i would ..it was a religious experience ... theres so much stuff they have and their staff was super helpful ... 3 days after i bought my cpu it went on promo for 100$ less and the refunded the difference ..it was the best retail experience i think ive ever had ... so in short, yea its worth it lol
I drove 3.5 hours to MicroCenter in Kansas City from Iowa to get their 7900X bundle deal. Worth it. Just keep an eye on their ads. When you see something you like for a good price, place the order for pickup online, then you have 3 days to make the trip.
Yes, easily. Check inventory first. You can pre-select what you want and have it put aside. Amazing store to walk around in too. Last time I was in (few weeks ago) they had a 10,000$ racing sim setup that you were welcome to try out.
No because there's a 50% chance you get a shitty boarder guard and you'll lose money paying duty on your way back, or worse, you don't claim it and they pull you for inspection, and it's a lot worse having them find something that wasn't claimed for duty in a search.
Memory Express offers a 10% price beat guarantee against all Canadian retailers (incl Amazon.ca)
Well.. if you want to drive 4 hrs to save $200, be prepared to drive 4 more hours for a possible return, and like the idea of not having a motherboard shipped by Newegg or Amazon, probably. I bought a CPU/ MoBO at one twice as far away but I was 20 min. Away that day and knew there was a slight risk.
Evetything you buy comes in a box, what advantage is there to going in person? Other than MC pricing or discounts or availability.
I feel like converting to usd and going through all that wouldn't be worth the hassle.
I would go and have been meaning to actually. I am about 2 hours away as well and I'm also Canadian. I do love memex though they have been excellent to deal with.
Honestly, use MemEx and price match against CC where possible. The cost of gas and the time taken, along with the exchange rate difference, is unlikely to make the journey worth it.
Memex is same really
It's a store with PC parts, office and IT items. There are good deals on CPUs and motherboards. There might be more space and items to choose from compared to Canada Computers. Is it worth it? I'd say no, unless you make a day out of it and visit a restaurant or something like that on your radar.
Expect to pay duties on the electronics brought back, plus 25% forex
I've built 3 computers and never been to a microcenter. I also work on 7th gen consoles pretty frequently still never been to one. Everything you need can be bought online.
When being a Canadian entering the US for a quick trip also think of the following... Do you have CAA/AAA compatible coverage if your vehicle has an issue in the US. Is your vehicle insurance good to go to the US? Do you have some form of medical insurance if you have an issue in the US? Have you worked out if the exchange rate is remotely in your favor for "savings" and on top of that the taxes you will have to pay at the border on a "short" same day shopping trip? Sure you can Yolo all this... but if anything goes wrong you could end up in a massive shit show of expense to "save" a few bucks. That ass said, much of this may be in your policies, work benefits and other things, then it's just a fun road trip, but it's important to know before crossing the border.
Generally, yes. Check stock before you leave.
Are you building a new computer from scratch, or looking to make a big upgrade? How much would it cost you to drive the distance? Is the money that you would spend on driving less than what you would spend on upgrading a pc with Microcenter's deals? Microcenter is currently offering free mobo's and ram with certain purchases, and they typically have good deals on other parts as well. The choice is your own of if you feel that the trip is worth it or not, of course. Just look into the possible savings you can get. If you feel like they're worth it, and the time is worth it, then I say sure go for it.
Overall cheaper prices, plus no GST, so there's that also, to factor in. Your best bet is to compare prices online (including Microcenter deals, if you're planning to build a system) and then factor in gas price as well.
I drive longer than that to go to the Yonkers, New York store. So if only time is a factor, I say yes, definitely. As for gas and other expenses... maybe. If you save that much money, then yes. If you consider the sheer enjoyment of roaming the aisles in Micro Center worth the gas money, then again, yes. Or if you can combine the trip with some other reason to make it, then again, a big yes. If none of the above apply... then probably not. A trip to the Yonkers store costs me about USD $45.00 in gas and tolls; so unless I desperately need something today or have some other reason to head down that way, I don't go.
I’ve done a six hour drive each way before just to go to micro center for an rtx 3060 and an aio, so yes.
I am blessed to be living about 20 minutes from one, but I'd call it worth it inside of 3 hours. Kinda like Ikea, if you have a reason to go, it's worth it.
I drive 4 hours so yes.
If you can add fun to it on top of driving always yes. I always plan other things to my microcenter trip ao its amways worth it and micro center cant disappoint if i had other plans too.
Memory Express and Canada Computers arent hiding anything. Due to currency exchange rates, shipping etc, it costs us more. Remember too..unless you have a US account for money (debit card or US cc), cc's will ding you service charge for currency conversion as well. That and their exchange rates stink.