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Audiogon

76.67.143.105
Posted on July 24, 2014 at 03:24:23
middleground
 Who runs that place?

They now have many ads running with the following mention in a prominent rectangle highlighted in blue: "This listing is open to US buyers only".

I did a spot check of 25 ads and found 12 with that mention.

Cuter still is the fact that Agon still maintains the indication of where the seller accepts to ship to. So why this new warning? Was there really almost half of the sellers crying for such a new warning?

The silly part is that I even saw an ad from a fellow in Europe with the mention that shipping can be worldwide but with the dire exclusionary warning.

BTW I wrote to Agon and, as per their usual practice, never got an answer.

I'm 35 minutes away from the Vermont border, use a well established company there to receive packages, but seems I am excluded from what I estimate to be about a quarter of the ads from US vendors on Agon.

Way to go!

 

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RE: Audiogon , posted on July 24, 2014 at 04:49:48
Dave Pogue
Audiophile

Posts: 11689
Location: DC Area
Joined: October 9, 2001
 Such policies reflect the sad reality of business dealings by US buyers/sellers with our neighbors to the north.

And, not so incidentally, why you felt you needed to set up a relationship with a US company to receive packages.

From experience, I'd rather deal with a Chinese seller (who has unimpeachable feedback) than a Canadian one. That's truly sad. But I know, again from experience, that the transaction will be speedier and at lower cost.

Your beef is with the powers-that-be in Canada, not Audiogon, IMO.

 

"Blame Canada", posted on July 24, 2014 at 05:20:05
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9873
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 I have received a lot of hi-fi equipment and much other stuff from the USA and sent a lot to the USA as well. I've also received a lot of goods from China.

I think Audiogon might deserve some blame for subtly encouraging sellers to specify USA Only. This is unfortunate because there are are no special problems shipping to Canada for the US seller.

We Canadians know perfectly well that the carrier will charge us our GST/HST VAT tax and tariffs on behalf of our government: we don't blame the US seller for this.

OTOH, I do find that US buyers are sometimes ignorant of the fact that they might have to pay state taxes, possibly duties, and brokerage, typically only on items over $200. Incidentally the NAFTA trade agreement removed tariffs on US and Canadian goods but in practical terms this only applies to larger shipments between (e.g.) manufacturer and distributor in the other country.

Chinese sellers seem to be able to offer lower shipping costs in some instance.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: Audiogon , posted on July 24, 2014 at 05:23:01
middleground
 You had to work pretty hard to come up with something as nonsensical for an answer. It's not about importing things from Canada it's about exporting things from the US.

 

RE: Audiogon , posted on July 24, 2014 at 05:26:19
Dave Pogue
Audiophile

Posts: 11689
Location: DC Area
Joined: October 9, 2001
 From the undisputed king of nonsense, that's a compliment.

 

Perhaps that's what the sellers want...., posted on July 24, 2014 at 06:19:44
StephenJK
 I've never had an issue buying items from the US or with asking if the seller would be willing to ship to Canada - even when it was stated as lower 48 only.

I think the "US only" thing is a reaction to other parts of the world, not to Canada directly.

The only stipulation that I have is a request for the shipment to go by USPS rather than by courier - as you know the "brokerage fees" charged by couriers can be ridiculous.

 

Send it as a gift Eh, posted on July 24, 2014 at 06:38:38
Kloss
 Selling to Canada is a bit of a pain as you mentioned. I also have had issues with extremely long shipping times. Buyer sure can get angry with long waits but what can ya do? I also don't enjoy the asking to lie on government forums to ship. And I myself had 2 very poor experiences with canadian buyers doing chargebacks getting caught in lies about deals. Had one buy tweeters say they didn't arrive did charge back but I noticed in audio asylum he was mentioning how great they sounded in his system. This I forwarded to paypal and eventually got my account opened. I know isolated incidents but it does keep me from selling to Canadian buyers unless I know them.

 

RE: Send it as a gift Eh, posted on July 24, 2014 at 07:27:06
middleground
 Unassailable proof!

BTW the issue is not about not wanting to ship to Canada, but about excluding buyers based on where they live. The shipping issue was always covered by Audiogon and sellers have always been free to say I will not ship to X, Y or Z country if they receive an offer so why add that mention and highlight it?

Someone from the US explained it by saying that Audiogon was in South Carolina, but I think too highly of South Carolinians to believe that.

 

Confusing., posted on July 24, 2014 at 09:06:24
-æ-
Bored Member

Posts: 788
Joined: May 9, 2013
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 1999
 >>BTW the issue is not about not wanting to ship to Canada

Then why did you say, in another post (above), "It's not about
importing things from Canada it's about exporting things from
the US ..."?


If you aren't quite noticing or accepting what is really going on in the present,
but are responding based on your thoughts or feelings about what ought to be,
then you are apt to collide with what is really going on.

 

RE: Confusing., posted on July 24, 2014 at 09:10:12
middleground
 Why are you confused?

Try again. Please.

 

I hear you saying Canadians are crooks, posted on July 24, 2014 at 10:45:59
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9873
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 Sorry you feel that way.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

So true, posted on July 24, 2014 at 10:54:28
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9873
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 FedEx and UPS are sharks when it come to charging brokerage. It can amount to a lot when its a relatively expensive item. Canada Post, by contrast, charges a small, flat rate.

I agree that Audigon sellers will often relent and sell into Canada if you ask them nicely. I'm always clear that taxes, duty, and brokerage will be my responsibility.

But the Kloss is convinced that Canadians are crooks: what can you do about that?


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

you didn't hear me, posted on July 24, 2014 at 12:26:27
Kloss



Lame eh? Maybe read my post. I said I had 2 issues. And lots of complaints about slow shipping, requests for gift or under valuing item so less tax. My real experiences sorry if it offends.

 

RE: Audiogon , posted on July 24, 2014 at 12:32:15
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 OP-

I would like to know whom operates the 'Gon as well.
I miss the older version, especially the way the forums were operated.
The 'new' iteration makes it difficult to post useful, helpful, information.

 

OK, that's better, posted on July 24, 2014 at 13:19:39
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9873
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 Slow shipping from the USA is a fact. Canadians who get fair bit of stuff from south of the border know this perfectly well. Incidentally the slowness is the fault of the brokerage/customs process, not the shipping process per se.

I have once or twice been asked to under value items I'm to shipped to the USA: I just refuse. In any case it reduces any possible insurance claim that might need to be made.

In my experience "Gift" doesn't avoid taxes, etc.; the request is ignorance on the part of the prospective buyer and there is no advantage if you comply or don't.



Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: Perhaps that's what the sellers want...., posted on July 24, 2014 at 13:45:47
middleground
 I looked at the info asked for a sale's listing and nowhere does it indicate an option to have this mention boldly shown in the ad.

Like I said, I tried to get in touch with Audiogon but no one has ever had any communication answered if the powers that be at Audiogon feel that, somehow, their modus operandi is being questioned, and no one ever got back to me.

So is this notion that it is requested by the seller based on something?

Does an American vendor who indicates "shipping to the US only" get as an extra added bonus from Audiogon that beautiful blue rectangle that mentions "This listing is open to US buyers only" without requesting it?

Why is a seller in Europe who indicates in an ad presently running "worldwide shipping" get this mention also? Is he actually looking for US buyers but willing to ship to any country of the US buyers choosing?

What if a buyer in another country has a secondary residence in the US where he wants the component delivered is he then a US buyer so that the mention is pure nonsense?

The mention is just as stupid as it is offensive.

 

RE: you didn't hear me, posted on July 25, 2014 at 14:34:19
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46301
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002




 

Whatever, posted on July 26, 2014 at 07:02:19
Kloss
 Am finding out I don't like you but still don't feel canadians are crooks thats all your words not mine and I would appreciate it if you did not associate my name with your BS.

 

Image how little I care whether you like me, posted on July 26, 2014 at 16:17:02
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9873
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 You implied that Canadians were likely to be crooks in your earlier post. It was a stupid thing to say but you said it so live with it


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

RE: Audiogon , posted on July 26, 2014 at 18:45:41
doak
Audiophile

Posts: 636
Location: New Orleans
Joined: June 4, 2000
 Amen Dave.
You're expressed something quite close to my sentiments on this subject.

I had a series of problems with transaction to and from Canada and subsequently excluded Canada from my trading. Plain and simple.

Doak

 

RE: Audiogon , posted on July 26, 2014 at 19:25:31
middleground
 There you go, all Americans are honest and all Canadians are dishonest!

Louisiana ain't been the same since the French sold it to the US...

 

RE: Audiogon , posted on July 26, 2014 at 19:46:36
doak
Audiophile

Posts: 636
Location: New Orleans
Joined: June 4, 2000
 Please....
Putting words in my mouth.
Nothing to do with "honesty", but other issues.

Doak

 

Original reply to thread show me were I said canadians are crooks?, posted on July 27, 2014 at 06:53:52
Kloss
 Selling to Canada is a bit of a pain as you mentioned. I also have had issues with extremely long shipping times. Buyer sure can get angry with long waits but what can ya do? I also don't enjoy the asking to lie on government forums to ship. And I myself had 2 very poor experiences with canadian buyers doing chargebacks getting caught in lies about deals. Had one buy tweeters say they didn't arrive did charge back but I noticed in audio asylum he was mentioning how great they sounded in his system. This I forwarded to paypal and eventually got my account opened. I know isolated incidents but it does keep me from selling to Canadian buyers unless I know them.

 

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