NZXT expands it's BLD service into Canada

This week NZXT announced that their custom PC-building service, BLD, will be expanding into Canada. This is BLD's first step into an international market, and could hopefully signal further international expansion in the future.

For now, Canadian gamers should be somewhat pleased with their inclusion into BLD's services. For those looking to avoid building a new PC themselves, BLD provides a more intuitive approach to building a PC. The customer starts off choosing what games they want to be able to play and what resolution they plan on playing at (1080 or 1440). After that, the service focuses in on the buyer's desired price range. There is a somewhat tiered approach here, allowing the user to bump the price a little higher or lower and see how the build changes. Once you've set yourself on a price point, you'll be able to customize specific hardware, then mix in some add-ons at the end if you so desire.

At checkout, the service breaks down the build into all its components, showing the MSRP being used to determine the final price. I did a quick PC build with the BLD service, and then compared it to the cost of its components on PC Part Picker, and here were the results:

BLD price (with $99 build fee):

PC Part Picker price:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

The price points are nearly identical, with exception of BLD's $99 labor fee for the building of the PC itself. I like the visibility that BLD gives to the buyer on the actual price points involved, and it's even better to see that those prices align with the current cost of building the PC.

Specifically related to Canada, I can't speak to it personally but I've heard a few different places that trying to build a PC in Canada can be a costly affair. I figured I'd take the same build from BLD and get it as close as possible in PC Part Picker with merchants in Canada. Here's how that went:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Even with the additional $100 international shipping fee, it still looks like you'll be saving some money choosing to do a pre-built through BLD. As a long-time fan of NZXT, it's nice to see the BLD service growing and expanding, giving alternatives to those who prefer not to build the PC's themselves.

Los Angeles, CA – September 12, 2018 – NZXT today announced that BLD, the simplest way to get a customized gaming PC, is expanding its service into Canada. With BLD, Canadian gamers can experience a turn-key hassle-free solution to buying an affordable custom built PC that is tailored to the games they want to play with guaranteed performance.

“Expanding into Canada is the obvious next step for BLD,” says Johnny Hou, NZXT’s founder and CEO. “Since we launched BLD, we have received countless questions about when BLD is going to be available internationally. That is why we are excited to bring BLD to Canada. It marks the first step in our goal of making PC gaming easily accessible to gamers around the world.”
How BLD Works:

Choose up to 3 games from a selection of the most popular PC games on the market and set a desired resolution (1080/1440p)
Specify your desired budget range.
Part prices will be listed in United States Dollars and will be converted into Canadian Dollars based on the current exchange rate at checkout.
BLD’s unique recommendation engine provides benchmark data for the performance you can expect from your build.
Customize and upgrade your build, from various NZXT case options and RGB lighting setups, to finalize your build for the perfect DIY feel.
Complete your order and sit back and relax while your custom PC is built within 48 business hours and then shipped.
Blitz Mode: Jump in front of the line for $100 USD for same-day build and shipping. Orders must be in by 11 a.m. PST
BLD’s Unique Recommendation Engine:

Predicts FPS (frames per second) within 10% accuracy to guarantee gaming performance of each custom BLD PC for the games chosen by the user.
FPS is calculated from OVER 10 million, and counting, analyzed gaming hours.
BLD’s Peace of Mind Services:
NZXT has more than 13 years of experience developing award-winning, high-quality PC components. Every custom BLD gaming PC features:

Components made from industry-leading companies with the highest standard of quality
Assembly by highly-trained builders, delivering meticulously crafted gaming PCs.
BLD PC built within 2 business days and then shipped.
Expert Live Chat feature for real-time help and troubleshooting.
Free and easy returns for any systems that do not meet the BLD engine FPS performance guarantee of within 10%.
Comprehensive All-In-One 2-year warranty
Only $99 US to build + flat international shipping fee
Availability:
USA: Now
Canada: Now