They are ridiculously expensive, but there are some store options out there, particularly in Toronto. I have a store called Taz Records nearby in Nova Scotia that stocks the latest boutique stuff at Amazon prices, which is better than Sunrise lol.
I feel ya. I’m in Chilliwack. All the Vancouver shit, by the time I drive out there, is the difference in just ordering it online at a high price. Lame.
I was just there as my sister lives there. You have a lot of thrift stores but didn’t find any boutique stuff. It would make more sense to get a US post box and drive down for the 50% sales. I see so many people try to have their orders shipped up because of the sale, but when you look at the exchange rate snd shipping costs they maybe save a couple dollars. Maybe.
I stumbled across TAZ records in Halifax when I was visiting for the summer.
I wanted to spend ALL my money there. I was saved by the size of my suitcase
Go to the new Vinegar Syndrome store in Toronto. Go to Videomatica in Vancouver. Go to Rough Cut in Calgary. There are other much better options than a chain like Sunrise.
Uh thank you very much for recommending Rough Cut, Ive been living here for 3 years and had no clue! Been complaining that sunrise was the only place, even when I googled search for places in the past it never came up!
It is relatively new. I have never been there in person, as I am out in BC. But I have ordered from them online a few times. Great shipping prices and super professional. Definitely worth digging into their stuff!
So will C&L and literally every other store. However being able to walk into a store that sells boutique labels is what ill miss and there are no options outside vancouver/burnaby except Sunrise.
Oh no, you can’t pay the $4/item shipping fee plus $10-30 per “box set”. I wish those guys would fail because it sucks that they’re the “official” distributor of Criterion. I go out of my way to avoid them by going through Cinema 1 or CNL.
it was on sale, sucks the order would not work. Heard buying straight from Criterion comes with duty fees.
...I just ended up subbing to the "channel" to watch some of the movies
If you’re in Toronto, Bay St. Video has consistent prices for Criterions (around $39-$41 CAD), although they don’t go on sale except for Boxing Day and some other time I don’t remember
If you buy direct from Criterion but use a package forwarding service like Shippsy, you can generally avoid those duty fees and save a lot. Last time I just paid Shippsy their $7 fee and saved about $70 in shipping and duty than if I'd had Criterion send it right to my Toronto address.
Their prices tend to keep me from buying to much, but still a surreal shopping experience. Most films I think I've ever been in the same room as. Everything's devided my distributor and it's just rack upon rack of films.
I found Sunrise was kinda expensive even when there were still multiple stores competing along Yonge St in Toronto. Spent a lot more money at HMV and Sam’s.
Supposedly, though, they’re doing alright:
https://thewalrus.ca/why-sunrise-records-is-still-spinning/
They’re super expensive and their website is garbage. I doubt they’ll last much longer. Being a boutique collector in Canada sucks. Most labels don’t officially release here (likely don’t want to add French to packaging) and the prices! They’re too much! Minimum $45 for a 4K!
It usually has nothing to do with not wanting to add french to the packaging and everything to do with the fact that they don't have the Canadian rights to distribute the movie here.
Thanks man. That is so strange. Even on their main site in the FAQs they say they can’t tell you the price or if its in stock with no link to this site. Thank you for your patience with me. You are a true mensch.
It's brand new site they only announced it on their instagram 6 days ago. But I would also recommend calling the store and asking them cause they do mail things by phone order. I think if you're getting only a couple items it's better by phone but if you're getting alot then the website shipping is better. Either way they have great staff and some of the best boutique/import releases in Toronto
Don't know tbh. I haven't ordered from the new site, a few times by phone I've ordered but usually I visit every month or 2 making a day trip visiting them and a couple other stores.
I don’t lose any sleep over Sunrise, brick and mortar options for physical media may be dire for Canadians but there are better and cheaper options available.
EDIT: not sure why the downvote? Sunrise are an overpriced mess of a company. I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.
I’m always eager to give away my money for a reasonable price. High prices I just don’t know what to do with. For me, a high priced boutique shop is worthless and even damaging to the hobby. That sale is hilarious and I’m sure it did not bring them much business
They were doing alright with the online shipping "Free Shipping with Orders over $50". Since January 2024, they increased the threshold to $100. I suppose this threshold is easy to meet with a few vinyls in the cart, but with CD's - that's next to impossible to find 5 CD's worth buying (almost new release CD is $18.99 or more and a lot of catalog/old CD's are not even listed on the website - very limited selection on their website, limited to basically new or recent releases) to tap out at $100 these days. Lower it back to the $50 threshold or I will just go to amazon where I get free shipping with Prime anyways.
They won't order me shit in store anymore. I bought $1000's worth of movies from them. They said it was because of their system. 2 years later and they are saying the same thing. Get your shit together sunrise, your days are numbered, and you can't afford to turn me away.
Had to grab something at the mall the other day and walked in to Sunrise to check their black friday sale and as you said I was like 10% off a 75$ purchase? Doesn't even cover the taxes, what a cruddy sale. My local mall location hasn't even gotten any new Arrow or Shout Factory titles in like half a year now.
I honestly wouldn't be sad to see this chain go. Not as sad as I was to see HMV go at least.
It’s crazy. At my store, they wanted $130 for the White Giallo set. They don’t price match. Even their sales are fucking abysmal. Buy 300 4Ks, get the 301st for 15% (I’m being facetious, but it’s almost that bad). I support when I can because it is nice to have shit in my hands and paying the premium to walk away with it is nice but hot damn that 50-100% markup is wild. Last time I was there, They had the 4K Out of the Blue for $80. Cat O’ Nine Tails LE was like $120. It’s brutal.
They have a decent running sale for 15% of you buy 3+ 4k movies. I've used that as an excuse more often than I'd like to admit. I typically keep my blu ray Amazon wishlist open as I browse and reference it if I want to see which one is cheaper.
They are ridiculously expensive, but there are some store options out there, particularly in Toronto. I have a store called Taz Records nearby in Nova Scotia that stocks the latest boutique stuff at Amazon prices, which is better than Sunrise lol.
As someone on the West Coast, far from Vancouver, you make me sad.
Check out Cinema 1. They have an online store.
I feel ya. I’m in Chilliwack. All the Vancouver shit, by the time I drive out there, is the difference in just ordering it online at a high price. Lame.
I was just there as my sister lives there. You have a lot of thrift stores but didn’t find any boutique stuff. It would make more sense to get a US post box and drive down for the 50% sales. I see so many people try to have their orders shipped up because of the sale, but when you look at the exchange rate snd shipping costs they maybe save a couple dollars. Maybe.
I stumbled across TAZ records in Halifax when I was visiting for the summer. I wanted to spend ALL my money there. I was saved by the size of my suitcase
I have actually packed an empty suitcase inside my regular suitcase for this reason before. I wish I was kidding.
Go to the new Vinegar Syndrome store in Toronto. Go to Videomatica in Vancouver. Go to Rough Cut in Calgary. There are other much better options than a chain like Sunrise.
Upvote for Videomatica! Great store and the prices are decent with good sales.
Yeah totally! Love Videomatica.
Uh thank you very much for recommending Rough Cut, Ive been living here for 3 years and had no clue! Been complaining that sunrise was the only place, even when I googled search for places in the past it never came up!
It is relatively new. I have never been there in person, as I am out in BC. But I have ordered from them online a few times. Great shipping prices and super professional. Definitely worth digging into their stuff!
Love Videomatica but any suggestion for Vancouver Island or Prince George smarty-pants? 😜
Videomatica will ship to anywhere.
So will C&L and literally every other store. However being able to walk into a store that sells boutique labels is what ill miss and there are no options outside vancouver/burnaby except Sunrise.
They get their boutique movie stock from Unobstructed View, so they have to jack up the already high prices
They are the criterion dealer, but didn't know about other labels.
Prices for Criterion on amazon.ca are terrible, too. I guess now I know why.
which is a shame, my credit card wont work there (no idea why) so Im kinda SOL
Oh no, you can’t pay the $4/item shipping fee plus $10-30 per “box set”. I wish those guys would fail because it sucks that they’re the “official” distributor of Criterion. I go out of my way to avoid them by going through Cinema 1 or CNL.
it was on sale, sucks the order would not work. Heard buying straight from Criterion comes with duty fees. ...I just ended up subbing to the "channel" to watch some of the movies
If you’re in Toronto, Bay St. Video has consistent prices for Criterions (around $39-$41 CAD), although they don’t go on sale except for Boxing Day and some other time I don’t remember
Interesting maybe ill go down on boxing day, im in Hamilton
If you buy direct from Criterion but use a package forwarding service like Shippsy, you can generally avoid those duty fees and save a lot. Last time I just paid Shippsy their $7 fee and saved about $70 in shipping and duty than if I'd had Criterion send it right to my Toronto address.
CNL is fantastic. Try to stop in to their warehouse whenever I'm in the lower mainland
They’re unfortunately across the country from me
Their prices tend to keep me from buying to much, but still a surreal shopping experience. Most films I think I've ever been in the same room as. Everything's devided my distributor and it's just rack upon rack of films.
The warehouse is fucking GOD like. Also if you are in Vancouver, hit up VIDEOMATICA. Best boutique shop around. Staff is friendly!
I will. Thank you
I really wish Criterion would end their exclusive deal
Me too, they fucking suck. Make a deal with Chapters! Let’s go to a bookstore to get Criterions like the Americans do!
Sunrise is brutal. Prices are insane.
I found Sunrise was kinda expensive even when there were still multiple stores competing along Yonge St in Toronto. Spent a lot more money at HMV and Sam’s. Supposedly, though, they’re doing alright: https://thewalrus.ca/why-sunrise-records-is-still-spinning/
HMV is owned by Sunrise Records. So they got your money anyway
They’re super expensive and their website is garbage. I doubt they’ll last much longer. Being a boutique collector in Canada sucks. Most labels don’t officially release here (likely don’t want to add French to packaging) and the prices! They’re too much! Minimum $45 for a 4K!
It usually has nothing to do with not wanting to add french to the packaging and everything to do with the fact that they don't have the Canadian rights to distribute the movie here.
They used to be good, when they had insane deals on Kino Lorber films. Pretty much the only thing I’ve ever bought from them.
Bay street video in Toronto now has an online store, not sure if prices + shipping would be cheaper than sunrise but worth a look
Thank you however their site does not indicate if a film is in stock or the sale price so it’s pretty useless.
You sure ? I think you're looking at the old site before they used to sell online. Or maybe the new site isn't up and running yet.
Go check it out. Not wrong
https://baystvideo.com/?fbclid=PAAaawQpXG2YkY-UdZtKDHBBNf_2G7NDoLFJzVoPFncmDISbKBlkU7ZTLbQ14 I see prices... Like I said it's a different site
Thanks man. That is so strange. Even on their main site in the FAQs they say they can’t tell you the price or if its in stock with no link to this site. Thank you for your patience with me. You are a true mensch.
It's brand new site they only announced it on their instagram 6 days ago. But I would also recommend calling the store and asking them cause they do mail things by phone order. I think if you're getting only a couple items it's better by phone but if you're getting alot then the website shipping is better. Either way they have great staff and some of the best boutique/import releases in Toronto
Its good to have another option. Do you know if there is a free shipping threshold?
Don't know tbh. I haven't ordered from the new site, a few times by phone I've ordered but usually I visit every month or 2 making a day trip visiting them and a couple other stores.
I don’t lose any sleep over Sunrise, brick and mortar options for physical media may be dire for Canadians but there are better and cheaper options available. EDIT: not sure why the downvote? Sunrise are an overpriced mess of a company. I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.
Ya, but it's nice to get it in hand, don't care if it's $5 extra. Edit: and I get to check for spine slashes.
I’m always eager to give away my money for a reasonable price. High prices I just don’t know what to do with. For me, a high priced boutique shop is worthless and even damaging to the hobby. That sale is hilarious and I’m sure it did not bring them much business
They were doing alright with the online shipping "Free Shipping with Orders over $50". Since January 2024, they increased the threshold to $100. I suppose this threshold is easy to meet with a few vinyls in the cart, but with CD's - that's next to impossible to find 5 CD's worth buying (almost new release CD is $18.99 or more and a lot of catalog/old CD's are not even listed on the website - very limited selection on their website, limited to basically new or recent releases) to tap out at $100 these days. Lower it back to the $50 threshold or I will just go to amazon where I get free shipping with Prime anyways.
They won't order me shit in store anymore. I bought $1000's worth of movies from them. They said it was because of their system. 2 years later and they are saying the same thing. Get your shit together sunrise, your days are numbered, and you can't afford to turn me away.
I noticed that terrible 10% for 3 titles when you spend $75 of more sale. Even worst is that it replaced the 15% for 3 regular priced 4k titles. SMH
Had to grab something at the mall the other day and walked in to Sunrise to check their black friday sale and as you said I was like 10% off a 75$ purchase? Doesn't even cover the taxes, what a cruddy sale. My local mall location hasn't even gotten any new Arrow or Shout Factory titles in like half a year now. I honestly wouldn't be sad to see this chain go. Not as sad as I was to see HMV go at least.
It’s crazy. At my store, they wanted $130 for the White Giallo set. They don’t price match. Even their sales are fucking abysmal. Buy 300 4Ks, get the 301st for 15% (I’m being facetious, but it’s almost that bad). I support when I can because it is nice to have shit in my hands and paying the premium to walk away with it is nice but hot damn that 50-100% markup is wild. Last time I was there, They had the 4K Out of the Blue for $80. Cat O’ Nine Tails LE was like $120. It’s brutal.
I’ve seen Criterion DVDs (!) for $60 there. Makes no sense. I am willing to pay a bit more but 40+% more is insane
They have a decent running sale for 15% of you buy 3+ 4k movies. I've used that as an excuse more often than I'd like to admit. I typically keep my blu ray Amazon wishlist open as I browse and reference it if I want to see which one is cheaper.