Live Sound & Production

[StratGuy22]

Ordered 3 ATA cases.

24"x23"x48" with castors.
A case to fit a Marshall head (top pulls off)
A custom snake case, oh probably 28"x 24" x 33" for ballpark.

It's been 3 months and no cases. Built from scratch. Is this taking pretty long or is this typical? The big trunk is a stock item, the amp heads they do. The snake case is custom. The invoice was paid on Nov 11, On Nov 26 they said "we are getting there" mid dec they said they wouldn't be ready for New Years. Last word I got was they should be ready by the Friday that just passed.

I was stoked because they were in the same province. They have an ad on our Craigslist style website. I think I'll be posting a "don't buy from XXXX because its a scam"

There's more cases I want but I'll be damned if I buy them from those clowns. If they aren't here by the 15th, I'm heading there (5 hours away) to pick up either my cases or a refund.


What the fuck.

God damn I wish you shipped to Canada Audiopyle.

[StratGuy22]

I sent them an email tonight asking WTF and its been 3 months so that's one month per case. I also asked for proof of life, pics of each case and where they are at completion-wise.

[Miko Man]

WTF is right! Five hours away? Calgary? Lethbridge? Medicine Hat? Mark C.

[StratGuy22]

Olds or Didsbury depending on which address. The one on the invoice is different than the one on the website. I can find the olds location on google maps street view and the Didsbury location is an actual location.

[Bobby1Note]

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StratGuy22 wrote:
Ordered 3 ATA cases.

24"x23"x48" with castors.
A case to fit a Marshall head (top pulls off)
A custom snake case, oh probably 28"x 24" x 33" for ballpark.

It's been 3 months and no cases. Built from scratch. Is this taking pretty long or is this typical? The big trunk is a stock item, the amp heads they do. The snake case is custom. The invoice was paid on Nov 11, On Nov 26 they said "we are getting there" mid dec they said they wouldn't be ready for New Years. Last word I got was they should be ready by the Friday that just passed.

I was stoked because they were in the same province. They have an ad on our Craigslist style website. I think I'll be posting a "don't buy from XXXX because its a scam"

There's more cases I want but I'll be damned if I buy them from those clowns. If they aren't here by the 15th, I'm heading there (5 hours away) to pick up either my cases or a refund.


What the fuck.

God damn I wish you shipped to Canada Audiopyle.

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Amen to that.

StratGuy22, did you know that you can buy in the U.S., then have your products shipped to your own "U.S. address"? ( I'll bet THAT got your attention,,,eh?)

There's an outfit called Kinek, and they serve Canadian cross-border shoppers, by providing you with a U.S. shipping address. Kinek has warehouses at or near all the major U.S./Canada border crossings. They'll receive your shipment, and hold it for you until you come to pick it up. The fees are VERY LOW, as little as $5/month to hold it for you. This is a wonderful service, especially when dealing with companies that don't, or can't, ship goods to Canada.

When you're coming back across the border, Canada Custons & Revenue will grant you an exemption, if you've been gone for more than "X" hours, or days. They will convert your purchase to CDN dollars, and charge you GST and PST(if applicable) on that amount. (same as you would if buying locally)

[WynnD]

Sounds like I had better luck with my custom made keyboard cases. On the other hand, a friend ordered a custom made 6 string violin stick and it was delivered 8 months late. Lovely craftsmanship. Doesn't look much like a violin, but boy does it sound sweet. Tuning on the bridge end and the pickups are piezo. He bought a 50 watt tube amp with 5.5" speakers. If you don't look at it, I doubt if you could tell the difference. I can't and I've heard him play a regular acoustic viola. (Very well I would add.) Custom orders are sometimes a crapshoot. Another friend commissioned a hammered dulcimer. Gorgeous workmanship and amazing tone. (Sound holes were cut in a maple leaf shape. Guess they can be just about any shape without affecting tone.) Don't know if that one was delivered on time.

[StratGuy22]

The biggest problem with the kinex solution is that I'm almost 9 hours from the border which is around $600 in fuel for a round trip.

I do have a friend in Vegas and a friend in Texas who forward things to me. Like I said I was happy to find a relatively local solution.

But I definitely won't use them again, I have access to a table saw, and I could get a miter saw easy enough. I should just build my own.

[abzurd]

Did you pay with plastic? Hopefully. I'm guessing you've already paid the bill, but I'd call them anyway and see what options you have for a reversal of the charges.

Do you have a Better Business Bureau up there? If so check them out for complaints.

[StratGuy22]

I can't remember if I used plastic if just Paypal from my account. How much longer do I listen to this song and dance.
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We're going as fast as we can and we are very for real I assure you I do sincerely apologize for the delay its been crazy buys for us and we had some machines go down on us and that put us behind a bit and we getting things back on track again I sincerely apologize for the delay I'll get back to you as quick as I can to give you an up date hang in there for us we want you to have your case as quick as we can get them to you.

[abzurd]

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StratGuy22 wrote:
I can't remember if I used plastic if just Paypal from my account. How much longer do I listen to this song and dance.
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We're going as fast as we can and we are very for real I assure you I do sincerely apologize for the delay its been crazy buys for us and we had some machines go down on us and that put us behind a bit and we getting things back on track again I sincerely apologize for the delay I'll get back to you as quick as I can to give you an up date hang in there for us we want you to have your case as quick as we can get them to you.

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 I don't know, it sounds like either a scam or a very poorly run business that may end up being a scam due to the "company" using your funds to keep afloat and ultimately going under before they can deliver the goods. That would be kiting, and essentially a scam that may ultimately result in you getting your cases..... or not. Properly staffed and equipped they'd be able to turn out product in a reasonable time, otherwise they've already used up your money and not produced the products due to lack of something.

1 - You ordered 3 cases and they've not sent 1. 

2 - They've blown by multiple deadlines that THEY set

3 - It sounds like you paid in full up front

4 - They've not provided any proof that there is a case making shop, let alone pics of your cabinets being built

Do you know anyone near the town that you bought the cases from that could go by the address and see if the place is even there?

[StratGuy22]

I think I do have a buddy that lives near. I can find the place on google maps street view, for what that's worth. That's a good idea, I'll see if I can find someone to pop by.

[dennis a]

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StratGuy22 wrote:
I can't remember if I used plastic if just Paypal from my account. How much longer do I listen to this song and dance.

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If you used PayPal, you are covered. Open a claim and PayPal will will put a freeze on the transaction until the complaint is resolved.

[abzurd]

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dennis a wrote:

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StratGuy22 wrote:
I can't remember if I used plastic if just Paypal from my account. How much longer do I listen to this song and dance.

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If you used PayPal, you are covered. Open a claim and PayPal will will put a freeze on the transaction until the complaint is resolved.

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Except the transaction was made 3 months ago so there's nothing to freeze.

I guess the good thing you have going for you is they are still communicating. If it were a pure scam they would have broken off communication altogether. The exception would be balancing how long they "stay in business" taking in new money and stringing along everyone else until it gets too hot and they shut it down.

It's concerning that they charged you up front for the stock items. I would cancel those immediately and ask for a refund. There's no (legitimate) reason in the world they can't do that. Heck, you're helping them out as they are now "less busy" and have time to get to your custom case :-)

[StratGuy22]

Found a buddy who is going to do a drive by today and take a pic if the building isn't theirs anymore. It's the address listed on their website, but my friend tells me street view is a couple years old. My payment was Nov 23, so I have a couple weeks to open a claim.

[StratGuy22]

Ok. I just got a confirmation pic from my friend. So that's reassuring. And I have til the 23rd. That's when PayPal claims run out. So thats D-Day

The 20th

[dennis a]

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abzurd wrote:

Except the transaction was made 3 months ago so there's nothing to freeze.

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As long as they are still in business and accepting PayPal payments, there is something to freeze.

StratGuy....don't wait until the 23rd, file a claim today and put pressure on them while they are still in business and have cashflow

[Audiopile]

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StratGuy22 wrote:
 I wish you shipped to Canada Audiopyle.

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(Assuming you made a typo... and you meant to spell pile with an "i") I'm working on that... today.

The main reason we've shyed away from shipping to Canada is "the paperwork"... that and effectively servicing customer complaint issues across international boarders can be challenging.

The paperwork thing (mostly customs and duty) might not sound like much, but we're a small company, and we do have limitations when it comes to manpower... or ladypower as the case may be when it comes to dealing with the paperwork "here".

Our UPS rep is meeting with us today, in-part to discuss UPS's somewhat "new" international shipping program.  If I understand the UPS international shipping program correctly, UPS has streamlined the customs and duty portion of international shipping where-in:  The UPS shipping quote includes the duty portion... UPS pays the customs fees which are built into the UPS shipping quote.  If indeed UPS is handling this aspect of international shipping, that could remove the straw that breaks the camel's back for us on shipping to Canada.

I should know more later today.

[Craigv]

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Audiopile wrote:

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StratGuy22 wrote:
 I wish you shipped to Canada Audiopyle.

---

(Assuming you made a typo... and you meant to spell pile with an "i") I'm working on that... today.

The main reason we've shyed away from shipping to Canada is "the paperwork"... that and effectively servicing customer complaint issues across international boarders can be challenging.

The paperwork thing (mostly customs and duty) might not sound like much, but we're a small company, and we do have limitations when it comes to manpower... or ladypower as the case may be when it comes to dealing with the paperwork "here".

Our UPS rep is meeting with us today, in-part to discuss UPS's somewhat "new" international shipping program.  If I understand the UPS international shipping program correctly, UPS has streamlined the customs and duty portion of international shipping where-in:  The UPS shipping quote includes the duty portion... UPS pays the customs fees which are built into the UPS shipping quote.  If indeed UPS is handling this aspect of international shipping, that could remove the straw that breaks the camel's back for us on shipping to Canada.

I should know more later today.

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Mark, you probably already thought of this...but definitely test this with several shipments to different provinces before commiting to advertising it. I used to work for UPS in their IT and though it was years ago I vividly remember how badly they handled Canadian shipments. Hopefully this is truly resolved, as it was a big issue at the time.

[StratGuy22]

Oh yeah. UPS and the other couriers are normally a monumental pain in th ass. Say I buy an item for $100, I pay the $20 shipping via UPS, then I get nailed with a minimum $35 brokerage fee, over and above any shipping already paid.

For whatever reason USPS does not have these fees.

[StratGuy22]

The most I paid in brokerage fees was $130 on a $500 case that I had already paid $170 to ship. But it was too big for USPS. Business expense so not a big deal but it still sucks.