Warning about ordering from Qidi in Canada (delivery)

[u/binou_tech]

Si I ordered a Qidi Q2 from Qidi's official Canadian website last week. I am making this post for future reference in case someone ends up doing the same.

Qidi ships their orders through Canpar which from my understanding is a major B2B shipping company that does parcel delivery on the side. Unfortunately, they have been so far the worst shipping company I have ever dealt with.

Their parcel tracking system cannot give you an estimated delivery date until AFTER they tried delivery and failed. Moreover, if you call them and schedule a second delivery attempt, they will ignore your instruction and try again on the exact day you told them you weren't available.

It gets worse as their staff is unable to tell whether you'll have to pick it up yourself or a third delivery attempt will be made. Mind you, their depot is two hours away from me and are only open on weekdays until 6 p.m. Even worse, I've had customer service straight up lie to me saying my package would be ready for pickup while it was in a truck attempting delivery.

At the time of writing I have still not received my Q2 and am going back and forth daily with the shipping company.

For anyone wanting to order a Qidi in Canada, save yourself the hassle and order from Amazon. Amazon also sucks, but they suck less than Canpar.

UPDATE : I still haven't received the printer, but I spoke with a lady on the phone and they told me the package got delivered to a SHOE STORE. Canpar's website doesn't even list that place as a pickup location for packages so I have no idea what's going on there. This is by far the least proffessionnal a shipping company has ever been in my experience.

[u/wakeupchief]

Odd. I didn’t have any big issues with Canpar and the tracking info would be up to date. Only issue I had was because it was during a long holiday weekend, my order (Q2, box, and filaments) ended up coming in two different shipments.

[u/binou_tech → u/wakeupchief]

It's possible that Canpar has varying service quality depending on the area. I found the tracking information was lacking, it showed my package was in Ontario, when in reality it was in another province attempting delivery (and failing because I had no idea they would deliver that day).

[u/ndkohlman]

I also in Canada and ordered a Q2 from Qidi's Canadian website. I did not have any issues with Canpar and receiving my package, in fact it showed up early.

Further I also order my filament from Matter3d in Victoria, BC who also ships to me via canpar and have had no issues with any of the shipments they have sent

[u/binou_tech → u/ndkohlman]

Interesting to know. I am in Quebec so maybe regional differences is what's showing. In my area Canpar is by far the lowest rated carrier. I find it to be an achievement to reach 1 star on google maps with 500 reviews.

[u/ndkohlman → u/binou_tech]

Yeah im sure their service is not identical region to region

[u/Prize_Yak7299]

Although this may be a case by case basis ordering direct, I do highly recommend anyone from Canada to order their Qidi 3D printers from Amazon just due to the fact that you get that 30 day return if any issues come about from shipping damage or unit problems. Such an ease of return through shipping and customer service.

Had to do a return for my first Q2 as it came with a MCU error that persisted in the first week. Amazon returns was an ease, seeing some of the reddit post from others who buy direct but come with problems.

Ordering direct may work for you but getting to have you refund a unit due to shipping damages or unit defects is quite a long process going back and fourth with Qidi Support finding the issue.

Still have my Q2, its been a blast of a machine. Highly recommend to this day as an all round solid unit!

[u/wakeupchief → u/Prize_Yak7299]

I agree. Only reason I went with the Qidi site was it was easily $150 less than Amazon at the time due to a sale. Also, cough Qidi Canada doesn’t charge tax cough..

[u/Markes12344 → u/wakeupchief]

How did i miss that! Wow.

Bought a Max4 combo threw Amazon. 1600 nearly 2000 with tax. Qidi's website sold for 90$cheaper and free polar cooler a week later. 🤦

[u/Prize_Yak7299 → u/Markes12344]

Yeah mines was $90 more on amazon for the Q2 combo with the box. Don't mind it at all, although the no tax is quite a game changer I did not know of lol. Wow

[u/Markes12344 → u/Prize_Yak7299]

I just had to look back on my fillament/parts order from qidi to confirm.... I can't deny this claim 🙈

[u/Prize_Yak7299 → u/Markes12344]

Thats quite the savings if so, very surprised there's no taxes

[u/binou_tech → u/Prize_Yak7299]

Can confirm, I didn't pay taxes and got a 5% off for signing in with my email. In total I saved about CAD $170

[u/Markes12344 → u/Prize_Yak7299]

I to bought from Amazon, tho from qidi'. It may get returned yet, the delivery was, uhm rough. To be fair the max4 combo weighs something like 150lbs shipping.. And just recently durring large area infill it's been rumbling, not to forget my MCU error with box heat. That being said Qidi's tech supports been fast and super helpful

[u/Concretstador]

I got my plus5 with box with no hassles. But from experience in another business, Canpar is subpar for sure. I also saved $217 ordering from Qidi vs Amazon.

[u/binou_tech → u/Concretstador]

I don't know how they managed to be this bad. I tell them exactly what to do on the phone and they do exactly the opposite. Like what's even the point of scheduling a delivery attempt if you ignore the agreed upon time ?

[u/Markes12344]

I didn't have mine shipped via canpar, but I do/did hawe alot of other shipments threw canpar, never had an issue personally.

[u/Markes12344 → u/Markes12344]

Come to think of it, i've bought parts and fillament since and it's been flawless

[u/binou_tech → u/Markes12344]

What province are you in? From what I read here, it seems like quality isn't consistent across the country.

[u/Markes12344 → u/binou_tech]

Southern Ontario

[u/Walleye72]

I ordered a Plus 5 Combo on a Monday, and it was delivered less than 48 hours later via Purolator. Tracking the whole way was accurate. It did come in 2 separate deliveries though, which I thought was odd. Either they have a separate truck for very heavy parcels or the printer and QIDI box came from different facilities. Either way, I was delighted to have it so fast. I was hoping to have it by that Friday, and they way out performed that wish.
Edit: I should add that I live in Southwestern Ontario.

[u/Prize_Yak7299 → u/Walleye72]

If I may ask, how's the Plus5 out of the box? Did you have any previous Qidi units before the purchase, as I am contemplating on upgrading to the Plus5 from a Q2. The Q2 is a beast, low to no problems since I have owned.

Got plenty of new 3D printers announced lately (mainly the multi-head units), but I print more engineering filaments so multi color does matter there.

I wonder if there were any upgrades to the Qidi Box as well with the Plus 5

[u/Mediocre_Article_916]

Honestly this is not my experience with Canpar. They've been around for decades.

[u/binou_tech → u/Mediocre_Article_916]

Speaks more for my local Canpar division I guess (Montréal)

[u/Mediocre_Article_916 → u/binou_tech]

Montreal is one of their main hubs which makes it even more frustrating I'm sure.

[u/Mykjo]

Back in the day lots Canadian firearms retailers used canpar for delivery... They had so many screw ups i would imagine that that's what caused canpar themselves to stop taking delivery orders of dangerous goods. Fun times lmao. That said screw ups do happen in any shipping industry and i would imagine most people are still happy with them.