BIG BOYS UPDATES & OFFERS

ALL ON-GOING OFFERS IN MARCH

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New Distribution in Canada 

& PRE-ORDERS


About New Distribution in Canada & PRE-ORDERS

On behalf of our Pre-Order Manager, we’d like to provide clarity on what is currently happening in the hobby industry—specifically with Horizon Hobby products—and why some items may be out of stock or subject to extended pre-order timelines.

What Changed in 2025 TO NOW IN MARCH 2026

In April 2025, the U.S. government introduced significant tariffs on overseas imports. Due to uncertainty around the long-term impact of these tariffs, Horizon Hobby made the decision to shift Canadian distribution away from their U.S. warehouse and instead partner with a Canadian-based distributor.

As a result:

  • The Canadian distributor is now the exclusive warehouse for Horizon Hobby products in Canada

  • Canadian hobby stores, including ours, are no longer permitted to order directly from Horizon Hobby’s U.S. warehouse

  • All Canadian retailers must now order exclusively through the Canadian distributor

This change took full effect around mid-summer 2025.

Why This Affects Availability

Horizon Hobby’s U.S. warehouse is massive, with inventory levels 100 times larger than what the Canadian distributor can realistically stock.

The Canadian distributor:

  • Carries only a portion of Horizon’s proprietary brands

  • Stocks significantly smaller quantities of each product

  • Often brings in limited numbers of high-demand items (for example, 5–10 units of an aircraft instead of dozens)

Because of this:

  • Items may appear “in stock” on the U.S. Horizon Hobby website, but be out of stock or special order in Canada

  • Products that previously arrived within 7–10 days may now take several weeks or longer

How This Impacts Your Pre-Order

Here’s a common real-world scenario:

A customer places an order that includes an aircraft and several related parts.

  • Some items may already be available in our store

  • Other items must be sourced from the Canadian distributor

  • If even one item is listed as special order, the entire order may be delayed

Because the Canadian distributor does not stock inventory at the same scale as the U.S. warehouse, special-order items can take multiple weeks to arrive in Canada before being shipped to our store.

Why the U.S. Website Can Be Misleading for Canadians

Canada has a population of approximately 45 million, compared to over 350 million in the United States. Naturally, the U.S. warehouse carries far more inventory.

Previously, Canadian hobby stores could place weekly orders directly from the U.S., allowing fast access to in-stock items. That is no longer possible.

So when customers see a part or model listed as in stock on Horizon Hobby’s U.S. website, it does not reflect Canadian availability. There is now a third party—the Canadian distributor—between U.S. inventory and Canadian hobby stores, which adds time and limits supply.

Ordering Directly from the U.S.

In some cases, customers may still order directly from the U.S.; however:

  • Duties, customs, tariffs, and brokerage fees can increase total cost by 25–50%

  • Some products will not ship directly to Canadian addresses

  • Horizon Hobby is actively encouraging purchases through local hobby stores or Canadian-based websites

Challenges for Canadian Hobby Stores

We sincerely apologize for the delays this has caused. Unfortunately, Canadian hobby stores cannot realistically overstock:

  • Products that may drop in price months later

  • Items that may not sell due to limited demand

This makes it extremely difficult to forecast inventory for such a large brand under a much smaller distribution system. This is not a failure of the Canadian distributor—it is simply a reflection of the smaller Canadian market.

For example:
A gas-powered buggy may have only five units allocated to the entire Canadian distributor. With hundreds of hobby stores across Canada, only a handful will receive inventory. If those sell out, the rest of Canada must wait until the next overseas replenishment—often several weeks or longer.

IT HAS HAPPENED TO TRAXXAS BEFORE

About 8–9 years ago, a similar shift happened with Traxxas. Traxxas USA closed all direct Canadian dealer accounts and moved to a single Canadian distributor model. This significantly reduced the inventory Canadian hobby stores could access, compared to ordering directly from Traxxas’ large U.S. warehouse in Texas.

As a result, many customers began noticing that new vehicles, parts, or upgrades appeared first in U.S. stores and on social media—sometimes weeks before becoming available in Canada. Products that show up quickly in southern states or California can take anywhere from two weeks to a month to reach the Toronto and broader Canadian market.

This same scenario is now unfolding with Horizon Hobby. Canadian hobby retailers can no longer order directly from Horizon Hobby’s massive Illinois warehouse. Instead, all Canadian stores must source inventory from a much smaller Canadian warehouse, which naturally limits availability and extends timelines.

This is an industry-wide change affecting all Canadian hobby retailers, not a single store. Pre-orders may take longer than before—but this is the only compliant way Canadian retailers can continue offering these brands while avoiding significantly higher costs for customers ordering directly from the U.S.

CARRERA SLOT CARS UPDATE :

In the spring of 2025, the same change affected Carrera slot car tracks. Previously, all Canadian hobby stores were able to order directly from Carrera America’s U.S. warehouse (New Jersey / New York area), which allowed for faster access to track pieces and accessories.

Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Canadian hobby stores are now required to order through a Canadian distributor, rather than directly from the U.S. warehouse. This change has slowed down the process of getting products into Canada compared to how quickly they were available before.

If you are currently waiting for Carrera tracks or Accessories, we truly appreciate your patience. The Canadian distributor is actively working through existing backorders, and inventory is being replenished gradually as days and weeks go on.

Please know this is an industry-wide change impacting all Canadian hobby stores, not just ours. We will continue to bring products in as quickly as the system allows and keep customers updated whenever possible.

In Summary

  • These delays are industry-wide and affect all Canadian hobby stores

  • We are no longer able to source Horizon Hobby products & more from the U.S.

  • Extended pre-order timelines are outside of our control

  • We continue to order, monitor, and follow up aggressively on your behalf

We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as the industry adjusts to this new distribution structure. If you have questions about your specific pre-order, our Pre-Order Manager is always happy to provide updates as product status changes.

Thank you for continuing to support your local hobby store.

 

Need an Update on Your Pre-Order?
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please contact our Pre-Order Manager via TEXT LINE support:

Big Boy With Cool Toys -Pre-Order Manager

📱 647-321-1965🕒 Monday–Friday | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Eastern Time)

Please include:

  • Your order number (if already ordered), or
  • The product or part number (if inquiring before placing an order)

The Pre-Order Manager will check directly with the supplier and confirm which of the three categories your product falls under, along with the most accurate timeline available.

More information about Pre-Order items 

and what does Pre-Order mean on our website & in store?

 Pre-Order Categories & Timelines

As you may know, our store has access to over $100 million worth of hobby products across multiple manufacturers. While it’s not possible for us to stock every item at all times, we are able to special order most products within a reasonable timeframe. The information below explains how pre-ordered products are categorized and what timelines you can expect.

All pre-orders placed on our website fall into one of the following three categories:

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1. In-Transit from Supplier

The product is already on its way from the supplier to our store or warehouse.

Estimated arrival: 4–7 business days

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2. Manufacturer In-Stock (Available to Order)

The product is currently in stock at the manufacturer and can be ordered into our store or warehouse.

Estimated arrival: 5–10 business days

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3. Special Order / Manufacturer Backorder

The product is currently out of stock at the manufacturer and is placed as a special order.

Estimated arrival: Several DAYS to several WEEKS

If the product does not arrive at our store or warehouse within 90 DAYS, a full refund will be issued. — no questions asked. If we get notification from supplier that this product is discontinued before the 90 DAYS we will reach out to the customer and issue a refund.

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