When you think of Canadian electronic stores, what comes to mind…Best Buy or Walmart? Well, you may be surprised to find that there are quite a few options outside of your big box retailers. And, if you do a bit of comparison shopping you can snag yourself a deal at many electronic shops by price matching or searching for sales.
It never hurts to have options, so whether you’re on the hunt for computer parts in Canada or hoping to update your home office, here’s a list of 25 electronic stores for you to browse before your next tech purchase.
10 best electronics stores in Canada for tech lovers
If you just want a few more electronics stores to check out while shopping, here are the best of the best:
- NewEgg
- Dell
- The Source
- Memory Express
- Canada Computers
- Amazon Electronics
- Best Buy
- Staples
- Direct Dial
- PC-Canada
1. NewEgg.ca
NewEgg has always been huge in the USA, but they’ve grown equally large in Canada after finally launching in October 2008. People were initially disappointed by the site and the prices when they first launched, but they eventually got their act together.
Now the site is very functional and has a smooth user experience. It’s probably the best place to go for user reviews of computer and electronics parts as well, since they have more than 10 million registered users.
2. Dell
People often associate Dell with computers and laptops, but they actually sell a whole host of electronics.
Dell also became famous on RedFlagDeals for their price errors.
They run regular sales called "Days of Deals" and years ago their staff would often make errors when setting the sale prices where things would be ridiculously cheap by mistake. If you purchased fast enough, often they would ship the product to you before they caught the error and you'd get to keep it.
I think one time I actually bought a memory card for $0. Yup, nothing…they actually had it listed on the site for no money. I still gave them my credit card information but I was never charged and the package showed up at my door without even paying any shipping fees.
It’s still a great place to shop today even with fewer price errors. They offer fast and free standard shipping on all their products, decent prices, and pretty good regular sales.
3. The Source
The Source has been struggling in Canada for a long time to remain relevant, but when you look at their site you see they do have something to offer.
They are less computer focused than some of the other stores and instead offer a wide array of electronics, such as TVs, game consoles, and wearables.
I purchased the Surface Pro 3 there because I was able to get a bit of a discount when no one else had any savings on that model. The purchase went flawlessly.
4. Memory Express
Shopping at Memory Express is an easy experience – they're definitely a customer-first company. Instead of spending a lot on marketing, they spend their money on improving customer experience and making customers happy.
On Boxing Day one year, I lost out on a motherboard and RAM combo deal because their site malfunctioned. There were only supposed to be a few sold at the best price. Even though they sold out, they gave me the discounted price anyway, even though they were most likely selling these package deals under cost.
They also have their Uber Price Beat Guarantee where they'll beat a competitor's price by 10% if you find one of their products cheaper somewhere else.
The only problem is I find their inventory to be quite limited so I often can’t find the exact product or model I’m looking for. If that weren’t the case, I’d probably shop there every time.
5. Canada Computers
There isn’t much to say about Canada Computers other than they have a good and straight forward name. They're very popular but don’t seem to be the top dog in any area. A jack of all trades but master of none.
Still definitely worth a look and I've made a few purchases from them.
6. Amazon Electronics
Everyone has heard of Amazon.
While they’re definitely the elephant in the room, Amazon isn’t necessarily known for their electronics. They have an impressive selection of electronics available, but you’ll want to be careful when checking the reviews – there have been reports that many reviews are fake. This is one of the many dangers of online shopping, but doing your due diligence can go a long way here.
Plus, you’ll get all the other valuable benefits of shopping at Amazon like fast shipping, top notch customer service, easy returns, excellent customer reviews, and a name you can trust.
7. Best Buy
Best Buy isn't at the top of my list for several reasons:
- they don’t have a great return policy for computer parts,
- their prices are often among the highest out there, and
- they're more of an entertainment superstore really – they even sell appliances, after all.
However, they're extremely popular and you can use their price matching to match online competitors. And if you need something that day, you can choose to pick it up in-store.
There’s also an advantage to being able to examine the package and hold the product in your hands before buying.
8. Staples.ca
Staples' focus isn't primarily electronics, so their selection is fairly limited compared to the sites higher up on my list.
That being said, they’re a trusted brand that does have a decent selection, 1-day delivery for many products, and 2-hour pickup for others.
9. DirectDial.com
Though DirectDial markets itself as a business-focused electronics store, they have plenty of selection for the average consumer.
Plus, if you do own a small business and need a point of sale system, they can hook you up.
10. PC-Canada
Proudly calling themselves “Canada’s technology source since 2003” – PC-Canada has been around for a while now.
They boast huge deals on the home page, so PC-Canada may be worth taking a peek at.
Download thisfree PDF of all 25 Canadian stores – PLUS a comparison of their shipping policies.
15 more Canadian computer and electronics stores for uber nerds
Why have 10 electronic stores when you can have 25, right?
Obsessive people like me will have fun clicking all the links and comparing prices, shipping costs, and coupon options across all these sites to hammer out the absolute best deal.
Happy clicking!
| Store | Product selection |
|---|---|
| 1. My Teknology | * Computers * Computer parts * Office supplies |
| 2. ShopRBC | * Custom computers * Notebooks and tablets * Server systems |
| 3. Visions Electronics | * Home video and audio * Cell phones * PCs and laptops |
| 4. PC Canada | * Printers * Home audio * Drones |
| 5. Computer Rack | * Computer racks and accessories * Networking equipment * Point of sale equipment |
| 6. PCV Online | * Gaming PCs * SSD cards * Security cameras |
| 7. Frontier PC | * Projectors * Monitors * PCs and laptops |
| 8. Cendirect Canada | * Webcams * Video conferencing equipment * Cameras |
| 9. Mike’s Computer Shop | * Headphones * Bluetooth speakers * Computer accessories |
| 10. ITFactory | * Software * Drives and storage solutions * Office equipment |
| 11. Ashlin Technology Solutions | * Hard drives * PCs and laptops * Home and office security |
| 12. PC Zone Canada | * Custom computers * Computer parts * Networking devices |
| 13. Apple Store | * PCs and laptops * Mobile devices * Smart watches |
| 14. HP | * Printers and ink * Monitors * Accessories |
| 15. eBay Electronics | * Refurbished electronics * Smart home devices * Car electronics |
Save money while shopping at the best electronics stores in Canada
There’s more to saving money than just finding your favourite electronics store in Canada. Here are 4 ways to make sure you’re always getting the best deal.
1. Always do a price comparison at other electronics stores
One of the easiest ways to save money in an electronic store is to make sure no other store is selling the item you want for a lower price.
There are 2 main ways you can do this:
- Check every store you can think of that might sell the product you’re looking for, either by going to the store or checking their website.
- Use a price comparison website to compare a bunch of stores at once – simplifying the whole process (this might not be as thorough).
Want to try out a few price comparison websites? Check out the best ones in Canada.
2. Check out the price matching policy at each electronics store
Price matching is when a retailer agrees to sell a product at a lower price in order to match their competitor’s pricing.
So say Walmart was having a sale on a TV. You could bring the flyer to Best Buy and have them match the price.
This can help you save both time and money. The best part is that some Canadian retailers will even beat the price by a certain amount.
3. Shop sales events at electronic stores
Many electronic retailers have sales during Black Friday and Boxing Day. Amazon has its own mega-sale known as Prime Day where you can find deals on many tech and electronics items. These sales usually last anywhere from a couple of days to a week.
If you don’t need the product right away, consider waiting for big sales events when you know the prices will be discounted.
4. Earn cash back on your electronics store purchases
One last tip – get a cash back credit card. You’ll be earning cash on everything you buy, which is like constantly getting a deal.
Canadian credit cards can go up to 5% cash back on your purchases – your own exclusive sale, but for everything you buy.
Want the top option for shopping at the best electronics stores in Canada? Check out the Brim World Elite Mastercard.
Learn more about this card here:
The Brim World Elite Mastercard provides simple rewards, high insurance coverage, and no foreign exchange fees in addition to a host of other perks.
- Genius Rating:
- Rewards rate: around 1.3%
- Our credit estimate: Excellent (760-901)
- Welcome bonus: N/A
- Annual fee: $89
- Interest: 19.99% on purchases, 21.50% on cash*
- FX feature: 1.5% FX fee
Want more choices? Check out the best cash back credit cards in Canada.
What are your favourite electronics stores in Canada?
While it’s very likely that you’ve heard of a handful of the above Canadian computer stores, are there any electronics stores we missed that you think should be added?
And what’s your go-to electronics store?
Let us know in the comments below.
FAQ
What electronics stores are in Canada?
There are actually quite a few electronics stores here in Canada. There are recognizable names, such as Best Buy and Amazon, but there are plenty more lesser-known stores with quality products and good prices. For example, Memory Express and Canada Computers are 2 Canadian electronics stores with both an online and brick-and-mortar presence.
What’s the best electronics store in Canada?
The best Canadian computer store is NewEgg.ca. They offer a wide selection of products, both brand new and refurbished. You can see the top 10 electronics stores in Canada here.
What are electronics stores?
An electronic store is a place where you can buy electronics. Some stores specialize in certain types of electronics, while others sell a variety of different technologies. If you’re in the market for a new laptop or cellphone, game console, camera, printer, computer part, etc., you will likely find what you need at an electronics store.
What’s a good computer parts store in Canada?
If you’re looking to pick up parts for a new PC, NewEgg may be your best bet. That said, it’s always a good idea to do a bit of shopping around and compare your options.
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Comments
I can only really guess May - but I'm sure a lot of it has to do with market size. The USA market is always worth going after. Some sellers may just not want to deal with the added complexity and laws of dealing with the smaller Canadian market.
The currency exchange and extra cost of transport is going to make up for a lot of the price difference. There may also be added tariffs or other costs the seller has to incur.
Yup, credit card companies have your back for sure. If someone makes fraudulent charges to your card somehow, they typically deal with it very quickly and you never have to pay for it.
Many of the above stores would fit that profile. Just look through the list and see what they have on sale. You might consider waiting until Boxing Day and checking back then. You'll have to be quick to get the best deals then though.
Unfortunately I'm not that up on the best types of products for that situation Peter. What I would do is make a list of acceptable products and model numbers using any means of searching you can, then open up a list of the top stores mentioned here and just copy/paste the model numbers in until you get some hits. Doing the same in Google will usually produce some half-decent results.
If that doesn't work, then likely you'll have to go outside the country.
I believe they are legit Drauka. Setting up an online store as good as theirs is a difficult process so for that reason alone I would think they are legitimate. That doesn't mean they have good customer service and good business practices, but it's enough for me to believe they are a legitimate online store.
However, I did find some reviews for them and they are mostly positive with a few negatives mixed in, which is what you would expect from almost any business. Here's the link:
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/ITFactory
I think you'll be safe with this one but I couldn't guarantee it because I've never used them myself. You might want to try them with a smaller purchase and see how that goes before you buy something of higher value. Thanks for taking the time to comment!