Buying audio online from the USA -- mistake?
Thread Starter
50 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 70
Well, you can all laugh at me now. My sub has not come in the mail. The seller, whom claimed to have sent it USPS on December 10th, sent it UPS instead, and according to the tracking number he gave me, it ended up in North Carolina.
To add insult to injury, he has been suspended by eBay for using the Alpine trademark without authorization.
I have filed a complaint with Paypal to get my money back. Although I am sure that the matter will be resolved in a satisfactory manner, I am totally embarassed.
I think I shall go in a hole and hide now [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]
To add insult to injury, he has been suspended by eBay for using the Alpine trademark without authorization.
I have filed a complaint with Paypal to get my money back. Although I am sure that the matter will be resolved in a satisfactory manner, I am totally embarassed.
I think I shall go in a hole and hide now [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]
50 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 203
I bought my entire system off the net and saved thousands of dollars. For example, My Panasonic DVD brand new retails for probably $2500, I got it for $1000 including shipping and all the duties. My amp, Kicker 700.5 I saw for sale for $600, I bought it for $350 including everything. The same goes for the Mp3 player, speakers, subs, etc. Sometimes if your lucky you will get a good seller who will declare the value really low and mark it as a gift so theres no taxes at all [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
Originally posted by QC:
I bought my entire system off the net and saved thousands of dollars. For example, My Panasonic DVD brand new retails for probably $2500, I got it for $1000 including shipping and all the duties. My amp, Kicker 700.5 I saw for sale for $600, I bought it for $350 including everything. The same goes for the Mp3 player, speakers, subs, etc. Sometimes if your lucky you will get a good seller who will declare the value really low and mark it as a gift so theres no taxes at all [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
I bought my entire system off the net and saved thousands of dollars. For example, My Panasonic DVD brand new retails for probably $2500, I got it for $1000 including shipping and all the duties. My amp, Kicker 700.5 I saw for sale for $600, I bought it for $350 including everything. The same goes for the Mp3 player, speakers, subs, etc. Sometimes if your lucky you will get a good seller who will declare the value really low and mark it as a gift so theres no taxes at all [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
Even at that price, what's the problem with paying brokerage on something that cheap anyways?
There's always some subtle e-sense precautions you can take when buying online like eBay:
-Buy from an internet authorized seller, or someone with consistently good feedback record.
-With ebay, you can print out the auction listing you won and it's completely valid as a proof of purchase in case you're not given a receipt (that's my experience anyways).
-Shipping insurance saves hassle, and gives peace of mind knowing SOME costs can be recouped if there's shipping damage. Common sense tells the wise one to use it.
-Live close to the border. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Ok, maybe not a very valid point, but it helps.
-There are risks: If it's a sub or piece of electronics that you buy and it's damaged, generally you can complain and get covered, and then just recone the sub or get the piece repaired. You must realize you got a deal and that you took a risk in going this route, so really being SOL should be somewhat expected.
[ December 24, 2003, 02:03 PM: Message edited by: Chadxton ]
-Buy from an internet authorized seller, or someone with consistently good feedback record.
-With ebay, you can print out the auction listing you won and it's completely valid as a proof of purchase in case you're not given a receipt (that's my experience anyways).
-Shipping insurance saves hassle, and gives peace of mind knowing SOME costs can be recouped if there's shipping damage. Common sense tells the wise one to use it.
-Live close to the border. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Ok, maybe not a very valid point, but it helps.
-There are risks: If it's a sub or piece of electronics that you buy and it's damaged, generally you can complain and get covered, and then just recone the sub or get the piece repaired. You must realize you got a deal and that you took a risk in going this route, so really being SOL should be somewhat expected.
[ December 24, 2003, 02:03 PM: Message edited by: Chadxton ]
