Buying from Canada a hassle for you too?


I have had 3 nightmare transactions from Canada.
This ,I hope is not a reflection on Canadian Agon members,however, issues exist like never before.
I had a CD PLAYER held up at customs for 1 month by the FDA claiming it contained consumable goods.
I know the US does not want our senior citizens getting discounts on prescription drugs they need,therefore,everything must be getting delayed.

I can ship/get shipments from/to China,Russia and the Middle East easier and faster than Canada.

I guess it shows where our security priority is.

It's okay to mess with us just don't mess with those Pharmaceutical companies.

There is one common thing that does seem to occur with shipments fronm Canada.

And that is, they definately take their time shipping things to us.

I think most US Agon members try to ship the item as soon as they are paid or maybe a day or 2 later.

Canadian members like to take a week or so and then ship the item in a different manner than arranged.

These have been my experiences anyway.

I need to hear other stories,as I soon may not deal with Canada if this is the new norm
darealjaydee

Showing 3 responses by sonicbeauty

I have been a member since 2001. Being Canadian myself, my feedbak is amost 100% US transactions, all with great A-gon members. Never an Issue. Same with transactions on canuckaudiomart.com, mostly with canadians.

You have all of something like 26 month's of experience and you dare put up such an accusing and arrogant statement in your title line. Most of the times, ''nightmare'' transactions, as you call them, are the result of inexperience and just not doing your homework. And for those bad transactions, we only have your version of it - not that you did anything wrong, but the way you are going about this suggest that you have been frustrated in some way, which probably has nothing to do with canadians. This is not a banana republic here. Just like everywhere else, get your info and procedures straight before bashing on a certain group of people.

And to set the record straight - if the buyer (make that a canadian buyer) sends you an international postal money order IN US FUNDS via FedEx next day delivery, it basically means that you are getting cash the next day. No 10 day wait because the order is PREPAID meaning if you loose the slip, you lost the cash (no big deal since you still have the equipment) but a big deal for the buyer who will probably get his money back in 3-4 months or so. All of the risk is on the shoulders of the buyer, as his bank account has already been debited, while your amp (or whatever it is you are selling) waits patiently in it's box (or in your audio rack) in your living room. I have done this myself a number of times - pay with an international order, NEVER an issue.

Last time I checked, Audiogon was still a friendly group of people with a passion for music and toys, open to both US and Canada, and more.

I also feel that many canadians contributed to discussion forums and the like in a constructive manner.

I hope your remarks do not discourage other fellow canucks from enjoying this Audiogon experience, as this is a most enjoyable and exceptionnal site.

Fortunately, you seem to be pretty much the only one in accordance with yourself on this. Someone suggested you shop locally, maybe not a bad idea.

Thanks for the warning Darealjaydee. A real class act.
Audiofeil you state that ''In a vaguely related issue, in August of 2007 I sent payment to a supplier via first class mail from western New York to Montreal, Quebec.
It took 16 business days from departure to arrival.''

Next time, for payment, try FedEx next day delivery. If it does not get there in MAX 48 hours, let me know.

To them, shipping a letter to Canada or Japan is just business as usual.

I had the same problem you had once, but it was my fault as part of the zip code was entered incorrectly by me.

These things happen rarely, but when it does, it can be for a number of reasons, destination Canada not being one of them if both the shipper and carrier do things right.