Hi everyone, I am happy to report that Canada Drones store has just completed its first year of business! YEAH!
I must say it was a very nice and fun year. Lots of things to learn and do but do you know what?
I would do it again in a flash and that’s all because of you, this great community that we have here.
I really want to say a BIG Thank you to the 350+ returning customers. You make me work hard but I like it a lot!
Almost all customers are coming back more than once so that is why I don’t like to count the one timer as I strive to build the best service possible and to me it really show that it works when a customer comes back.
It wasn’t clear if there was a possible way to do business north of the border when the main hardware supplier has its own store in the USA and offer shipping to Canada...
But it was a good gamble and overall I am really pleased with the response I got from customers. With shipping cost, duty fees and brokerage fees in the mix for Canadians buying something from USA having their own store located right beside them proved to be just want they needed. Adding the super customer service in that mix (so I am told) and we have a very powerful recipe for success.
The store has grown from an initial 100 products inventory to now offer more than 300 products.
It quickly evolved from helping to source hardware to offer all you need for beginners to get in the air and have fun. (still work to be done there for sure... need more money to achieve!)
It all started with 1 frame (the Amazing Original Arducopter Quad) with its required nuts, bolts, spacers in M3 format that used to be pretty hard to get in Canada.
To now selling many different Frames from different vendors, LiPo, chargers, reliable Radio TX/RX systems and a lot more. I have a list of things I would like to carry but I need to move with the budget at hands and this is driven by the sales. So I am glad to be where I am now.
So how did I manage to differentiate myself from the thousands of other world wide web store offering such hardware? I think its part chance (right place at the right time), part effort (not always easy to manage 2 full time jobs but I have the best customers that I can wish for) and again the people, YOU guys (not many girls around here... need to change that... Pink products coming soon!)
I really want to thank (no particular order, let your ego at the door please)
ALL FORUM MEMBERS, yes YOU! But specifically Jani (jDrones.com), Martin (buildyourowndrone.co.uk), Chris (DIYDrones.com), Jordi, Lorenzo, Craig, Carmen, Yvett (3DR) and of course all the dev team that has produced such a stable platform for us to build on top.
Looking back just a year ago I was stocking APM 1.4 board and we were flying Pirate code while Jason was doing a major overhaul in the code and structure. Now we are flying with APM 2.5 and a super stable firmware 2.8.1 and from what I can see the future hardware and software evolution will be pretty great, hard to say where we will be in a year from now but I intend to still be here and doing business.
So what’s in it for you? Why did I force you to read all that “Oscar winning” type of speech?
Would a promo code be a nice thing? It sure does sound good right?
How about Free Shipping on Canadian orders above $250?
Use promo code “PROMO502” at checkout and please share with your friends!
Comments
Congrats on the one year anniversary. Your customer service is fantastic.
Looking forward to doing business with you for many years come.
David
Thanks guys! :)
Sleep? what is that? ... Canada Drones is a one man operation, I do it all....
See when an order comes in, I can only work on it after 8-9pm because before that I am at work (the "real" job) and then it's family time (very important for me) so when the kids are in bed and all is done I can start the "next" job, that is taking care of you guys.
I would do most of my support at that time, get some people in the basement (some clients comes see me in the evening!) talk to suppliers, order inventory, clean up storage, a bit of book keeping for the accountant, work on new products, maintain the website, talk to Jani... (hehe I talk to him almost daily we developed a great relationship)
Then and only then (it's most of the time around midnight) I would do shipping.
Depending on the order it can take 10 minutes to 30 minutes... making sure all the parts are there, taking pictures of the order, boxing it, processing payment, printing shipping label... bubble wrap, tape, tape, tape
Then it's bed time... I really like the "time shift" that the time zone gives me! If only I could not have to wake up at 6am to start it over! :)
I am a pretty active type of guy so watching TV is just not for me, we watch shows in a burst, many episodes at a time to optimize the experience... When it's vacation time I find it so BORING having to do nothing!
So please use that discount code and flood me with orders so I can do like Chris and leave my "real" job!
Dany CanadaDrones.com
Congratulations Dany. Goes to show what great service will do.
p.s. Do you ever sleep? Seems like a place an order in the evening then the next morning I see the shipping notice from after midnight.
Congratulations Dany!
Congratulations Dany
It has always been a positive experience dealing with you. It's great to have a supplier on this side of the 49th.
Emile L.