Best and Worst online shopping for Canadians

Last Updated on December 21, 2023 by Jane

Canadians are said to be behind the times when it comes to online shopping. I have a few theories as to why. Many of our home grown Canadian retailers don’t offer a comprehensive shopping experience, while international retailers are slow to adopt online shopping in the Canadian market. Just look at H & M, we are getting online shopping a few years after they launched in the US.

There are other retailers that really embrace the Canadian market making it easy for Canadians to shop at fair prices. This is the Best and Worst of online shopping for Canadians.

The Worst Online Shopping

Remember years back when JCREW entered the Canadian market and they launched their Canadian website? Everyone was outraged that JCREW was charging shipping and duties as well as Canada pricing Canadians. It made more sense for us to just shop the US website! Well with all the media coverage JCREW doesn’t charge duties any more even though they do not have a Canadian warehouse. Still it makes sense because if you operate stores here, Canadians assume that shopping the CANADIAN website means we are getting the same experience as shopping in store, price wise at least.

While JCREW doesn’t charge Canadians duty anymore, there are other US retailers that still do even though they have stores here! This behaviour gets them to the top of our Worst of Online Shopping for Canadians list.

1. LOFT & Ann Taylor – A couple years back Loft & Ann Taylor entered the Canadian market with stores in some of our larger cities, Toronto included. {UPDATE: Ann Taylor and Loft stores are no longer in Canada} However their online shopping for Canadians is so horrible that it often turns me off shopping their stores all together. The major faux pas they commit is charging duties to their Canadian customers on the so called Canadian website when they have stores in Canada. Their shipping prices aren’t the most competitive either and I don’t know that I have EVER seen a free shipping promotion. In fact we don’t get access to any of the same sales in the US. Loft and Ann Taylor throw AMAZING sales in the US, but once you shop the Canadian website most of these sales disappear.
2. Nordstorm – {UPDATE: Nordstrom has exited Canada and no longer has stores here} There are currently only a few Nordstroms open in Canada and I am hoping that once the next two stores open some improvements for shopping online for Canadians will occur. In fact Nordstrom didn’t charge duty to Canadian customers when they first launched their Canadian shopping but that was a short term thing. Now we get a competitive shipping rate and are charged duties. The other item I hope rolls out to Canadians soon is the Nordstrom credit cards that become super lucrative to use during the Anniversary sale and other points events. Currently these are not available to Canadian shoppers. 2023 UPDATE: Nordstrom has closed all their stores in Canada and no longer has a Canadian website. Last I checked we can’t even shop the US website. 
3. Anthropologie – Anthropologie has been operating in Canada longer than anyone else on this list. Their sister stores do have better shipping options than Anthropologie does with Urban Outfitters being the best of the bunch. Anthropologie however has outrageous $20 shipping!! Anthropologie does not charge duties up front but they will be charged by the shipper so expect extra fees when your package arrives. The only good thing about shopping Anthropologie online is that they do frequently have free shipping promotions for Canadian customers.

The Best Online Shopping

It goes without saying that shopping Canadian based companies makes for a better online shopping experience assuming of course that they actually offer online shopping and that they offer a decent shopping experience. Stores like Aritzia, Joe Fresh and the Bay are all pretty good.  I am leaving them off the best of list because since they are already Canadian.

1. H&M, Arket, Other Stories and COS – You have probably heard of H&M. I love their kids selection and they always have great summer dresses and their premium range is fantastic. You might not know that the H&M sister brands all ship to Canada as well. COS has stores in Canada but the rest do not. Shipping is free over a threshold but duties and taxes will still be due. My favourite is And Other Stories. The quality is higher than H&M and there is a definite European vibe. Arket and COS are more minimal and less girly than & other stories.
2. Urban Outfitters – Unlike sister store Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters has a true Canadian website that offers shopping without duties and competitive flat rate shipping. Not sure why this company doesn’t do that for all its stores considering they are all here to some degree!
3. All Saints – All Saints is relatively new to the Canadian market and still expanding, but I can confirm that they do not charge duties for Canadians if you shop their Canadian website. Shipping is free if you spend more than $350 which is a pretty high thresold but considering their jackets sell for double that shipping will be free for most purchases.
4. Club Monaco – Club Monaco was once Canadian, which might be why they treat us so well. The Canadian website offers shopping without duties and free shipping on purchases over $150. They also through some pretty fantastic sale on sale promotions on the regular.
5. Zara – Zara makes things super easy for Canadians to shop not only their clothing brands but also their home lines. Free shipping over $50, no duties and super fast shipping.
6. Gap, Old Navy & Banana Republic – These guys might have set the standard for online shopping, especially for foreign companies operating in Canada. Free shipping over $50, you can combine your cart between sister stores and no duties.
7. Sezane – one of my favourite European retailers. No stores in Canada yet, but they offer free shipping over $200, they ship super fast and duties are already in the prices.
8. Altitude Sports – if you are looking for sporty or athletic wear this is my favourite retailer. Great brand options and they are Canadian so no duties to worry about, free shipping over a threshold.
9. SSENSE – this is a luxury retailer that is based in Montreal. What I like about is is if I am going to buy something designer it is always a better deal to shop it from SSENSE because they are often charging a competitive Canadian price but with no duties so I feel like most of the time I am coming out ahead.

Other stores that make it easy for Canadians to shop are Joe Fresh, and Indigo. British brands like Boden and Marks and Spencer include any taxes in their prices which means if something is listed as $50 that is all you pay. And they offer free shipping.

If you are looking for where to get essentials online I have been using Instacart with success. Personal hygiene I have been getting at Shoppers or Sephora as both ship.

What are you favourite stores to shop online that are also in Canada? Or do you prefer to shop international stores and take your chances with duties and taxes? Is there a worst option that you think should be added to the list?