BenQ 1620 OEM with software C$78.95:

http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=2437

If you prefer NCIX (deal ended Nov 30 but they will probably match) C$79.00:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...9&promoid=1031

Retail version C$89.99 (C$50 mail in rebate) at (yuck) Future Shop:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...8&WLBS=fsweb22

Update

NCIX now C$76.98 (OEM):

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...0&promoid=1021

Expires Dec 7

The BenQ 1620 Retail is only $74.99 after $20 rebate (expires 12/31/04) at TigerDirect.ca. I picked one up in-store (in Markham) a week ago.

The website only lists the OEM version for some reason though. Their store had 2 full displays of retail-boxed drives. I would contact them to check that it's actually the retail version that they're selling at that price.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...12575&CatId=89

Tiger or Benq rebate? never mind it is Tiger's rebate...anyway I got mine from NCIX during their two days free shipping event $79 plus one tax $84.51 total, not a bad deal.

Tiger Direct has a so-so reputation among people who have bought from them. Their mail-in rebates seem particularly problematic:

http://www.pricenetwork.ca/review.ph...7&show=&page=1

Thanks for the tip, though.

All I know is that I really hate Future Shop

Ouch! Those are horrible ratings of TigerDirect. This is the first time I've ever shopped there, so I'll see if I get my rebate or not.

You could just as easily get your rebate in 5 days, too.

I always take solicited reviews with a grain of salt because if people are merely satisfied they tend not to shout too much about it. I take online forums with an even bigger grain of salt because, again, they attract the dissatisfied more than the ones experiencing no problems.

Please do report back here about whether you got the rebate. If TigerDirect is a shady outfit, enquiring minds wanna (and oughtta) know!

I still have 2 Future shop rebates back in 1998 outstanding (suppose to be free Winnie the Pooh pc game after rebate, $14.99 each and $15 rebate) and 1 Tiger direct rebate on DVD media back in 2003 outstanding.

What I found is that MIR (note: Maufacturer) are ok, good experience with Fuji, Acer, Logictech, Dlink and US Robotics, all back within 2 months.

Bad experience with Retail shop rebates, Future shop and Tiger direct.

Canadian Tire is an exception, their rebates are as good as MIR.

If any of you are in or around Edmonton, Alberta on December 3 and 4, check this one out. Picked one up last week for the same cash price. It had retail firmware B7M9, flashed it to the latest B7P9/B7S9 with no problems.

http://www.bcom.ab.ca/b/ss/surprise.htm

DVD-RW -OEM BENQ DW1620 BEIGE/BLACK 16X +/- DVD REWRITABLE DRIVE W/ SW (DOUBLE LAYER) $70.95 (Regular) $68.88 (Cash)

Wow, that is a great price. Too bad they don't ship.

Goes to show you, though, just how much markup there is on 'puter stuff. NCIX regular price is C$86 and BCom is selling it for C$69, or at least $17 markup - probably at least $20. That translates into a 33% fee to act as go-between from their supplier to you.

Now, that only shows the deep discounters markup. If you go to Max Overclock Computers in BC,

http://www.mocc.ca/catalog/product_i...roducts_id=760

you'll see they're charging C$116, or almost 100% markup.

Future Shop still sucks!

Just to note.

Maxoverclock Computers is not in BC they are in Ontario and do have competitive prices on most items or even less prices.

Plus being in BC you save the Pst tax when buying from MOCC and on orders 500.00 or more before taxes is shipped for FREE.

Many options from this place...they have been around for awhile now.