My rant to a vendor

[Kingme2]

As a Canadian, we have to be very selective of who we buy from, as the shipping to Canada can be very prohibitive.

Recently I ordered your shop manual, as a whim. Didn't really need it, but I liked the thought of a coil bound book. Product is very nice, I would heartily recommend it to anyone... who lives in USA.

The book was about $55. Shipping was about $12, or 24% of the product total. Not unreasonable, as it is a heavier book. I get it.

If you had shipped it with USPS, that likely would have been the end of my costs. Occasionally, items shipped by USPS get requested by Canada Post to pay Duty and GST, which I'm certainly ok with.

I've called and spoken several times with your Customer Service, but for some reason, you guys still only use UPS to ship to Canada.

UPS collected the DUTY (I think about $8) and the GST (another $3)... both reasonable. Then they charged a $27 FEE TO COLLECT this $11.

​So my $55 book cost me ​$12 to ship, $11 in duties/tax,...then $27 to collect.

As a supplier, YOU choose who you ship with. I presume UPS offers a steep discount to you for the international shipping, and you can feel ok about it, likely tacking a few dollars for processing on your end. . Unfortunately, UPS has designed their process to make money off the FEES, not the SHIPPING. They WANT cheap shipping for YOU, as they are going to tack on "fees" before they will release to the poor unsuspecting recipient.

I've owned this Fiat 124 for about 5 years. At a guess, I've spent $8000 to $10000 on it. Some were needed repairs, many were upgrades or preventative maintenance.Tonight, when I get home, I'll be placing an order from another vendor for a complete front end rebuild (tie rods, ball joints, brake lines, etc etc etc), total about $1300. It will NOT be from IAP. I've made several purchases from you over the years, and each time told myself that would be the last.

This was my last.

​Fool, me once, shame on you...

[Kingme2]

**no response from them yet, sent over 3 weeks ago. I presume they are sending a reply... by UPS. I'll have a stack of small bills by the front door, in case of robbery/UPS delivery**

I did place my order with other vendor, $1300 worth of stuff, $+200 to ship it here... but fully expected that, as there were two Large, Heavy boxes. No complaints.

[courtenay]

Unfortunately by not naming the vendor involved here a cloud is cast over all vendors. While I can't speak for all vendors, I have had experience with both Auto Ricambi and Allison's Automotive and both have shipped via USPS.

[Jimb]

I simply don't buy from anyone who will not guarantee they will NOT ship UPS.
Jim

[narfire]

Never, Never UPS to Canada. Their costs are prohibitive. I'll have vendors mail (USPS) or for bigger items I'm really fortunate to have a mail drop in Washington State about 40 miles south of me. Even with the bigger packages USPS is the way to go for ones that are not near the boarders.
I believe I have had IAP mail smaller stuff to me in the long ago past.

[4uall]

I hear ya brother



I had a similar experience with them on my very first order after I bought Fiona Ordered a few parts and paid 5 times my orfer on shipping etc after being told explicitly they will send by USPS Their loss, never dealt with them again. I wouldn't hold your breath on their reaction. There are few vendors that we can go to so make the best of it and pick one who does right by you and stay loyal. I am getting my AR tattoo for Christmas and Mark Allison's signature underneath LMFAO!

[toplessexpat]

Unfortunately by not naming the vendor involved here a cloud is cast over all vendors. While I can't speak for all vendors, I have had experience with both Auto Ricambi and Allison's Automotive and both have shipped via USPS.

Didn't it say IAP in the text?

[SoFlaFiat]

It did!!

The cloud is now gone... Wait, it was never actually there!

[SoFlaFiat]

Of course, up until nearly the last line I was assuming the rant was about the guys in Texas!

How's that for a new cloud? Not!!

Everyone knows I'm NOT talking about AutoRicambi!! AR will ship your stuff in a rowboat if that's what you ask for

[courtenay]

Unfortunately by not naming the vendor involved here a cloud is cast over all vendors. While I can't speak for all vendors, I have had experience with both Auto Ricambi and Allison's Automotive and both have shipped via USPS.

Didn't it say IAP in the text?

Oops - sorry, missed that.

That row boat idea might have some merit - I do live on an Island...

[mscafide]

Row boat?
You guys need an ice boat!

[toplessexpat]

That's it - next time I'm requesting avian delivery....

[Jimb]

Row boat?
You guys need an ice boat!

Why? I don't get it.

Jim

[AriK]

Row boat?
You guys need an ice boat!

Why? I don't get it.

Jim

In this case mscafide meant it as a joke. But in any case we Canadians do carry a stigma to have dayjobs as lumberjacks and we live in igloos year round. Our ice boats help us get around In the event we need to go shopping or to get the kids to school

[courtenay]

Row boat?
You guys need an ice boat!

Not today we don't. It's 16ºC (61ºF) here today. While not Florida weather, it's a long way from icy.