The most reliable source I’ve ever used is Amazon. The product ships from Amazons fulfilment warehouse which is owned by Amazon and is prime eligible (2-day free shipping). They offer no questions asked returns/refunds/exchanges and they’ll cover all return shipping costs for refunds/exchanges.
Also: if you return to Amazon: they send you the waybill for shipping and you typically have 30 days time limit for them to receive the return or at least confirmation it’s been shipped. I’ve many times returned something to Amazon about 18 days after I ordered and received the replacement.
I’m also a vaper which means I did some pretty intensive research regarding batteries due to the potential catastrophic failure that can occur in a vape if used incorrectly. I found quite a bit of info on how frequently even vape shops will sell knock off batteries labelled as premium.
Two weeks ago I bough 4x 18650 flat top Samsung 30Q from Amazon. Arrived in 2 days:
-The batteries came in clear 18650/18350 plastic battery cases (2x18650 or 4x16340 cases)
-Plastic carriers were inside a 3.5”x3.5”x1” flip lid cardboard box
-The 3.5” cardboard box was shipped alone inside a 12”x4.5”x8” cardboard shipping box with a huge 6”x4” LI-ION DANGER blah blah blah warning label
Amazon is consistently less than any vape shop I’ve checked (at least a half dozen) but more expensive than BG or GB (which won’t ship to Canada).
Amazon doesn’t however offer ANY button top batteries as from what I’ve read, these are modified in house by the seller which Amazon isn’t offering.
I’ve also just placed an order over the CNY that hasn’t shipped yet from Nealsgadgest which didn’t restrict me from buying 4x 30Q button tops. Hope it ships! If not Amazon’s got your batteries.
Amazon today: (prime eligible) 30Q 6 pack $62.86 or $10.48/ea
Nealsgadgets: 30Q 2 pack $18.09 or $9.05/ea
digitalimports (vape warehouse): 30Q singles (when available) $15.00+ ea
Another potential advantage for using Amazon is that you can purchase an amazon gift card at almost any local retail store which eliminates the need for you to ever give out credit information
LOL well I’ll have to buy them direct from Samsung then! ha ha in my research I found the exact same problem was likely to happen at vape stores, Chinese sellers, alixpress/baba etc.
It looks like if my order is actually allowed to ship to Canada from Nealsgadgets, he’s going to be the #1 BLF recommended source!
I actually know a few Chinese sellers on Aliexpress that I have 100% trust on to buy/put cells in gadgets.
1. Nealsgadgets. I’ve asked him about the shipping method, and he said he has a special shipping forwarder that ships legitimately lithium-ion cells without any problems.
2. Aliya’s battery Store and Lucky’s battery Store. They also use dedicated shipping services to North America for battery shipping to a USPS hub, and I haven’t had a problem with them.
3. Sofirn. If you ask nicely, they’ll put in their cells inside of their lights, which is very nice.
Yeah, but was Neil aware or did he happen to sell the fake 40T's and mention anything about it was what I was trying to find out. I'd rather hear from a decent outfit like Neil or Jack that they did something about it if that is the case than to file a paypal dispute personally.
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned is what I’ve do — use a US parcel receiving service. If you live near the US border or don’t mind a weekend day trip to Niagara Falls or some such for some sightseeing and a quick trip across the border, then you can have US retailers send your package of cells to the parcel service. The service will call/email you when the package arrives, and you then go pay the receiving fee and pick up the package.
It’s especially nice if you can take advantage of “free shipping within the US” deals, since you then just have to cough up a few bucks to the parcel service, and if your bill isn’t too outrageous, the nice Canadian customs officers will likely just roll their eyes at “flashlight batteries” and wave you through.
Google “niagara falls parcel pickup” or whichever US border city you’ll be near, and you should get a nice list of parcel services.
Obvious hint for Amazon US if you order a bunch of stuff: if it’s an option, choose fewer packages but possibly delayed delivery over quicker delivery but more packages, since you’ll be paying the parcel service per box received.
My experience is that you get decent price but decent probability fakes trying to buy original mfr 18650s from Amazon. OK to buy branded Thrunite or Olight or the sort from Amazon but paying the brand rewrap premium in that case.
Mtn Electronics has genuine stuff at a fair price, and you can use the credit card/paypal option where you do not need an actual Paypal account.
I use this method but it can be pricey. Five to seven bucks each instance. They charge for receiving and holding. Ok for a 100 buck item but a waste for 10 buck items.
Or cheap items, cheaper to risk the postal service and play the “get through” lottery.
The place I use in Port Huron is US$3 (canamparcel.com). The first place listed when I Googled for Niagara Falls (247parcel.com) is also $3 for <35lbs, with 24-hour secure locker access, no less.
If you’re getting charged a “holding fee”, I’d find a better place.
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For $10 items, no, I wouldn’t bother — but then I wouldn’t order $10 of stuff anywhere off the ’net anyway since shipping will be so high of a percentage (well, except Chinese sites with free international shipping). Usually $10 items just get wishlisted until I have a decent order to put through.
For items shipped free within the US, I usually just count the parcel pickup as the “shipping fee” — and for Amazon, just hope the bundle gets all packed into the same box. US$3 for US$35 or more of fulfilled-by-Amazon stuff shipped free to the parcel service seems okay to me — especially since I probably won’t have to pay tax on it, like I would if purchased locally or shipped from within Canada. Or shipped internationally into Canada, and then “randomly” chosen for inspection and customs fees and tax.
Anyway, it may not be for everyone, but it did get me a load of 18650s from mtnelectronics.com a couple years ago, when I couldn’t find anyone in China to ship cells to Canada.
I’m really appreciatetive of your creative ways of finding a place to get your stuff to be shipped to.
So my last order from Illumination Supply was $78.52usd for 12 Samsung 30Q plus a battery terminal protectors, that translated into about $105.15Cad at the time of the sale so that’s about $8.75Cad per battery. No need for a trip over the border or explaining myself to customs.
Than again I am too lazy to drive to Buffalo so I pay more,however that is still a fair price in my book for an authentic Samsung 30Q.
I’m not sure to whom you are directing the comment.
The cost may not be that big for batteries but it’s pretty nasty for other things. Currently, I have a choice between free shipping to US and $70 USD to Canada via UPS. That’s for $120 USD item. This is not an unusual charge.
Where is my choice?
I wont go just for one item. I’m waiting for the item to come into the US, meanwhile, I plan on buying something else, I’ll time the two. Or three. Currently I have two week windows and then charged nominally to hold it.
Plus it’s a day out for two retired people who have time on their hands.
In the summer, I’ll take the van, throw the bikes in the back and if it doesn’t take all day, we’ll go riding in the afternoon around the falls.
O I was just speaking in general abaut Lio-ion battery purchase, but I do see your point and if I was in for a bigger purchase/tax bill more than likely would take a drive to Buffalo.
I contacted Neal over at nealsgadgets regarding my order placed early February that’s still unfulfilled. I asked him for an eta and if there would be any issues with my order given that I ordered 4x 18650 and 1x 21700 batteries.
He messaged me back the same day and advised that he’s found a reliable method for shipping batteries to Canada!
Nealsgadgets will now be my sole source for all Li-Ion batteries moving forwards!
For comparison purposes:
4x Samsung 30Q flat top $8.89 CAD each
2x Samsung 30Q button top $9.34 CAD each
1x Samsung 40T flat top $14.51 CAD each
I definitely trust Neal to provide genuine cells, he offers very competitive pricing and he ships to Canada! My problem is solved
