Vancouver electronics shops for back-to-school tech gear
Gone are the days of pencil cases and binders. Now back-to-school shopping means stocking up on the latest electronic gear and state-of-the-art tech accessories. Check out these Vancouver specialty shops where you’ll find laptops, tablets, headphones, printers and just about everything you need to make homework a little less work. [Photo credit: iStock.com/Sasa Dinic]
Apple Store
701 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V7Y 1G5There’s no denying that Apple dominates the market when it comes to sleek and simple electronics. The Pacific Centre flagship store is a brightly lit tech mecca where visitors are encouraged to take a hands-on approach and play with all the latest toys. Multi-platform living is made easy when there’s a screen to suit every scenario: shop for pocket-sized iPhones, wafer-thin MacBooks and uber powerful iMac desktops with retina display. The in-store genius bar is staffed with product pros who can solve almost any glitch. And don’t forget to ask about discounted pricing on computers and software for post-secondary students.
Firefly Electronics
11-555 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 4N6Cracked iPad screen? Don’t be a Sad Mac. The electronic experts at Firefly Electronics are troubleshooting specialists who can revive just about any busted tech product. Visit this spot in the Harbour Centre when you need help repairing a device, removing a virus, installing software or upgrading your gadgets. In addition to efficient and affordable repair services, you’ll also find a good selection of electronics in the retail section, including cables, adaptors, robotic toys, external hard drives and even spy tools.
Lee's Electronic Components
4131 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5V 4E9Come back-to-school season, you’ll need to work on your ABCs inside and outside of the classroom; that means stocking up on adaptors, batteries, cables and all those other tech supplies you can’t live without. With locations in Riley Park and Mount Pleasant, Lee’s Electronics is one of the last remaining electronic component shops in the Lower Mainland. The retailer and wholesaler not only carries power adaptors, keyboards, USB cables and a range of specialized equipmen, but the friendly staff will also provide technical support for students. The introductory robotics kits are great for kids who are curious about mechanics.
NCIX
1711 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J 1Y2NCIX has everything you need to set up a top-of-the-line home office or homework station. Friendly sales staff are straightforward and honest when it comes to recommending equipment and they’ll be happy to guide you through the selection of laptops, PCs, speakers, keyboards, wireless routers and more if you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for. For speedier service, order items online ahead of time and pick them up at the store.
Sunny Electronics
5806 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5W 2Z5This independent consumer electronics shop has been serving Vancouver residents for more than 30 years. The store features one main showroom and two additional areas dedicated to home theatre and audio-visual equipment. For back to school, stock up on memory cards, which are great for saving and transferring homework from one computer to another. Budding shutterbugs will find an array of digital cameras (both point-and-shoot and DSLR) as well as lenses, tripods, camera bags and other photographic accessories. Check the clearance centre for great deals on end-of-season stock.
Staples
901 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3M1When it comes to office supplies, Staples has you covered with top-of-the-line gadgets and desk accessories. The busy back-to-school destination stocks everything from electronics to office furniture to coffee and snacks (to keep you fuelled during those lengthy study sessions). You’ll also find those low-tech backpack must-haves like pens, pencils, glue sticks, binders, planners and highlighters. Parents will get nostalgic over the selection of colourful Hilroy notebooks.
Headphone Bar
4534 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3R5Music lovers rejoice! The expert audiophiles at this Broadway Street shop specialize in everything to do with sound. You’ll find high quality earphones and amps to noise-cancelling headphones and Bluetooth speakers from big name audio brands such as Sennheiser, JDS Labs, Shure, Audioquest, Westone and many more. Products are easily accessible in store and ready for visitors to demo. In fact, employees here encourage customers to stop by with their own music selection to try out the products before making a purchase.
Vancouver Battery Corp
2192 Broadway W, Vancouver, BC V6K 2C8Got a problem with power? If you’ve misplaced the battery for your digital camera, the experts at this power supply outpost are happy to help. The specialty shop stocks batteries for just about every gadget you can imagine, including iPods, eBooks, calculators, watches, flashlights and camcorders. Students with busy schedules and extracurricular activities can keep their cellphones juiced up on the go with rechargeable mobile battery packs.
My Twitter
My Instagram
