2. misc-audio
  3. 1420090623

Purchasing

Hello all,

I'm Canadian and have in the past noticed Americans are less likely to purchase products I've attempted to sell from Canada. I've never understood this as I've been purchasing from America over ebay and other sites like Audiogon for 20 years. I've sent my money before seeing the actual goods just as everyone does when buying on line. 99.99% of the time everything is as stated and all is good. Such as on-line shopping should be. And now its even better with PayPal making purchasing like full-proof/safe.

Now I live in Thailand (three years now) and have several listings with hundreds of views each but no buyers. I know my pricing is good to great (I just lowered my pricing) but no one will buy. I even have included free shipping.
My question is,,, is it a wast of my time to sell from Thailand on this site? Does anyone know of a service where a firm takes care of selling used or new products on line for others?
I think its clear I'm a little frustrated with no buys,,, especially when I've been the buyer from other countries for 20 years and see little to no risk in it, and have found great buys that could not have been had in my own country at the time.
I'd just like to know what's going on.

Thank you,
thairon
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
One of the problems with buying from Canada is the very slow and expensive shipping via Canada Post, UPS or Fedex with possible customs brokerage fees added on in some cases as well. From Thailand I suspect the concerns are possible scammers and voltage mismatches between US standard and other areas.
markpao
519 posts
 
For me, I have to say that with many transactions here on Audiogon and only maybe 3-4 that didn't go so good, 3 were from Canada. Sorry. Don't know why.
Early on when I first joined this site I bought a (fairly) expensive mono block pair of amps that arrived damaged. The owner didn't want to make good on it. Then a tube tester that arrived damaged from shipping, again the owner didn't want to make good on it. Last, I had a cartridge for sale and wouldn't sell it to someone from Canada, OMG this guy haunted me for weeks sending me emails daily that I need to sell him my cartidge. Good thing I had it listed make offer only.
Also, I see that you have no feedback here. Many, like myself, will only deal with sellers that have excellent feedback.
sid42
302 posts
 
Swampwalker and Markpao both make valid points. My twist is a bit different, in that I sold a McIntosh C39 to someone in your country, who insisted it be sent Canada Post. Even tho shipped in Mac's own double boxes, some idiot dropped it on a corner and shattered the glass completely. The fighting that went on between the USPS and Canada Post took 4 months, each blaming the other. In short, the poor guy only received 2/3 what it would have cost to repair it, and he eventually took the loss and sold it. I vowed then and there, no more dealings with Canada. Others may have great experiences, but the red tape to get resolution is something I refuse to do again.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
For most Americans Canada might as well be Thailand.
Our elites make sure Canada is unknown for fear the masses might get some compare and contrast going.
I think US Customs gives Canadian sales a hard time. Don't know it, but have a hunch. I grew up 4 miles from PQ border.

Personally, I think you have to be mental to buy anything from Asia.
More to discover