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Audio Eden & Lack of Response - Anyone Else?

I have tried since last weekend to get a response from the Canadian retailer, Audio Eden, who is offering a used Nait Naim UnitiServe. Calling them occasionally got a response to call back later. Their terms were onerous; quoting in Canadian dollars only, refusing to use PayPal and wanting to impose a 6 1/2% tariff to ship into the States. That one really steamed me. Since when were tariffs applied to used goods? Near the end of my frustration when I couldn't get any response to my emails I tried to call them. Apparently they are a 2 man shop. The fellow that I could get on the phone always deferred to the other guy. I tried for three days to reach him but never did. I'd beware of these people. All my other Audiogon experiences have been very positive. This is the lone exception. I'm now glad that I didn't buy from them. Had I had a problem I seriously doubt that it would have ever been resolved.
griffheel
mechans
3,048 posts
 
Perhaps we should start a more focused Audiogon review system for this site. This would allow people to comment on their experiences with vendors of repair anything else audio. I would feel confident sending my precious and loved components to guys doing repairs if I saw they always accurate and quick not to mention economy considerations. . I no we have the review already but I want something more focused about interactions and eventual satisfaction or disgust. Not just a quick blurb with stars. This would hold them to their commitment, as well as accurate or clever repairs. Just a thought - Lets beef up the ratings we are currently sometimes actually using.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Its very easy to lose a lot of money selling back and forth between Canada and the US. The fact that a Canadian seller wanting to get paid in Canadian dollars doesn't seem too strange to me. Not dealing with PayPal is a smart move. I can't say any more about them without using profanity. And I know that in most cases, a tariff can be charged. I haven't done business with anyone in Canada for years, but I think the tariff is like a sales tax.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Tariff is an import/export tax, same as "duty" to cross a country's border.
You've got a point, I don't think I was charged a tariff on used items between Canada/US. It's probably because they're a business.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
A few years ago I was discussing this type of thing with the Classe importer. Any time one of their products has to go back to the factory in Canada for some reason, they send the component(s) to someone who works for them in upstate NY. Once the guy in NY gets it, he drives it into Canada himself. He said if he doesn't do it this way, it can be a nightmare.
mcbuddah
93 posts
 
If you learn the custom/tariff rules you won't get burned. They are primarily set up to be fair about being applied to items only once in regardless how often it crosses the border. If an item was sourced from an American company originally and sent to Canada, it is assumed that the fee was paid then. When the same item is later sold across the border to the US, you declare that on a customs form and pay no fees. In case of Naim gear, which is produced in neither country, I don't know what the rule is because I have never had it come up. As for Paypal, Canada has its own service in that role. I don't blame them either for that. If I can't pay a Canadian brick and mortar dealer with my Visa card, I generally send a Western Union money order. My bank offers them free to good customers and for .99 for others. Most banks in the world treat these like cash and they usually process overnight.
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