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What ever happened to shops which sold things?


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#1 Auroraf1

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Posted 11 November 2013 - 13:37

I don't know if any one else is having as much trouble as I am ordering something from the internet.

 

I decided to treat myself to a copy of Monza - A Glorious History for my birthday. 

 

I found it at a reasonable price on Chaters website and ordered it before I went on holiday, only to return to an e-mail saying that they didn't have it and that they could not get hold of it! 

 

So I found it a a slightly higher price at Grand Prix Legends only to wait a fortnight and finally have to e-mail them, to find out what has happend to my order, only to receive the same excuses!

 

Has anyone else come across this?

 

Sorry if this sounds like a private moan, but I think people should be aware that customer service just aint what it used to be!



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#2 Vitesse2

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Posted 11 November 2013 - 14:36

Looking at the Giorgio Nada website, it seems they have reduced the price of that particular title to €26.10 and my guess would be that they have assigned the remaining (small?) stock to Libreria dell'Automobile, who are in effect their mail order divison. However, if you're outside Italy, they have a minimum order of 48 plus postage ...



#3 Auroraf1

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Posted 11 November 2013 - 14:49

Looking at the Giorgio Nada website, it seems they have reduced the price of that particular title to €26.10 and my guess would be that they have assigned the remaining (small?) stock to Libreria dell'Automobile, who are in effect their mail order divison. However, if you're outside Italy, they have a minimum order of 48 plus postage ...

Thanks for the relpies chaps. I had tried Giorgio Nada and yes it wanted a minimum order.

 

The annoying thing is that I went to Monza and could have bought the book at that price, but didn't because I had already ordered it from Chaters!



#4 Auroraf1

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Posted 11 November 2013 - 15:41

Best comment of the day from Grand Prix Legends

 

"When you placed the order, the item was not advertised as 'in stock'. It would have said it was 'Available' with an estimated despatch of 10-14 days."

 

Now where's my dictionary?



#5 ExFlagMan

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Posted 11 November 2013 - 15:51

As Groucho Marx said "We could sell turkey dinners for $2 if we didn't have any!"

#6 Auroraf1

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Posted 11 November 2013 - 16:18

At the risk of getting told off for going off topic, I suppose this frustrates me so much because I come across it a lot.

 I tried to buy a washing machine from a well known retailer, picked the one I wanted in the shop. I was then told that they haven't got any in stock and then when they do come in stock they could be more expensive!

 

I think I should start a campaign. Every time someone comes across this sort of nonsense they should shout "I don't believe it!" at the top of their voice. Or has that already been done?



#7 JacnGille

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Posted 12 November 2013 - 01:58

As Groucho Marx said "We could sell turkey dinners for $2 if we didn't have any!"

Groucho: How much do you change not to practice?
Chico: You couldn't afford us.



#8 Auroraf1

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Posted 12 November 2013 - 10:16

Thanks boys if nothing else this has got people quoting the great Marx Brothers

 

I've a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it!

 

Go and never darken my towels again!



#9 elansprint72

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Posted 12 November 2013 - 11:17

Here is a quote from Harpo:



#10 alansart

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Posted 12 November 2013 - 11:56

Here is a quote from Harpo:

 

Brilliant!  :)

 

Back to the thread. I've ordered several things online over the years only to find that, despite what was claimed on the website, they weren't in stock and delivery would be 3 to 6 weeks. I ordered a lens to use at Cholmondeley 4 weeks before the event. It arrived 3 weeks after!!



#11 Auroraf1

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Posted 12 November 2013 - 12:20

Here is a quote from Harpo:

Good one Pete!

 

I am glad it's not just me Alan.

I had another: I went to order a PC on PC World website, but despite being listed on the site it came up as 'not available for home delivery' and 'not available to pick up in store' which adds up to being NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL!

 

So I went away in a huff or was that a minute and a huff!



#12 elansprint72

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Posted 12 November 2013 - 13:17

One company which it looks like one should avoid at all costs is Simply Electronics.net. Just do a web search on "simply electronics problems" and you get a flavour of their operating practices. Apparently they give the impression that they are UK based but are actually in Hong Kong. According to "a source" their prices are invariably cheaper than everyone else and that is how the attract customers. However, it is believed that they actually make their profits from a combination of holding on to customers money and a premium-rate customer"service" operation.

They have some good "customer" reviews but, as has been pointed out, these seem to be written by their own employees. If one writes a stinker, it does not appear, apparently. So I'm told. :rolleyes:



#13 Stephen W

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Posted 13 November 2013 - 08:50

 

I had another: I went to order a PC on PC World website, but despite being listed on the site it came up as 'not available for home delivery' and 'not available to pick up in store' which adds up to being NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL!

 

So I went away in a huff or was that a minute and a huff!

 

 

I always thought a "Huff" was a small East European car?



#14 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 13 November 2013 - 22:01

Frequently happens to me. It is getting harder to buy things that you actually want.Just last Saturday I decided I needed a new phone. After going to 4 stores I eventually found what I thought I needed for a respectable price. But you are not allowed to open the box and look at the item, yet alone play with it to see if it suits you. It is going back tonight though as it is a lemon!!

I also went looking for some shorts and shoes. My local mall [3 major retailers] had nothing to fit my average size feet and backside. I went to a larger 'mall' with several more and ended up buying shoes that seem ok,,, but will probably end up killing my back in a months time like most cheap shoes. I just wanted a pair of brand name leather joggers for under $50. The last pair I bough seem not to be available and have been really good. As for the shorts, either something an 18 y/o will wear or my size are not available in what I would wear. No storeroom, not even an offer to try other stores.
All of these stores have 3/4 of the floor for womens clothing, shoes and accessories, 10 percent for kids and about 5 percent for mens wear. All retail shopping is so catered for women these days it is ridiculous. A girlfriend made the same comment trying to buy me a decent belt for my birthday.

In recent years trying to buy appliances also can be a hassle, go to the store and they have one on show and either want to take your order or send you somewhere else to pick it up. Of the three local retailers that I have bought from only one has a store on premises, though often still have nil stock.

Many online sellers are very unreliable. Though I do understand that at times as the supposed wholesalers have no stock when they try to replace it. Seemingly literally on a slow boat from China! Or unloaded in the wrong port and then waiting road or train transport to the buyer. Or Customs are holding it for no apparent reason. Then for them it is feast or famine, either little stock or about 8 containers then waiting to be unloaded,,, sometimes to find the items ordered are not in the container. Either that or are damaged.

In my experience do not buy from overseas, electrical that seems so cheap is often not the same as local stock. Books don't arrive. Trying to send something back to OS is quite expensive and time consuming. And on occasion you never see your order. I only buy from known sellers these days, I may pay a little more but it does arrive in a respectable time frame. Though even then can be wrong. If you need some 60s Ford Galaxie balljoints please enquire! I ordered for a 71.

I am a Ebay retailer, I go through this daily. And have the freight hassles daily, in and out. The stuff ordered overnight is arriving later and later. Trying to get freight out is harder and harder. All too often they do not pick up on the day ordered and then it sits for 24 hours awaiting pickup. This 6km from the Adelaide GPO. Though I often recieve stuff from interstate quicker than from metro Adelaide. So called express couriers that take 24 hours.

A wholesaler mate based in the hills often goes to pick it up, or he would never get his orders out.

#15 Terry Walker

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 02:55

What irks me are items you can't get in shops at all--only online.  I don't have a credit card (never had one, and now I'm retired I don't intend to get one) so a vast range of stuff is now unavailable to me. Most software these days is sold online and downloaded; so I'm stuck with freeware or nothing. I was lucky to get a current Photoshop Elements in a box at a store; mostly not available in computer stores now, only occasionally in camera stores.

 

I thought, right, get a pre-pay "credit card", actually a debit card really. What a shambles. Drive to store to get one. Sure, I can get it, but must provide my mobile phone number. Eh? Okay, home again, get mob phone, find number (printed on a label stuck inside the battery lid, because I can't remember it), pay in some cash, take card home. Now, onto computer to fill in a fantastically obscure form which isn't explicit about what I wants. eg, enter number on card. Well, number is, eg 1234 5678 9123 4567 so that's what I enter. Rejected. Only numbers please. Eh? After much thought, try again without the spaces, and it works. Why doesn't it state this above slot? Then it wanted various secret words, passwords, and so on, which I have to make up on the spot. And write down. Then it wants a user name. Insert my name. Rejected. Letters only please. Now I'm right across this... I renter without caps or spaces. Okay. good. Tnen it wants something like a CVV Number. Nowehere on any of the documentation that came with the card, or on the website or entry form, is any clue as to what this is. I study card, find an inkjet number small enough to fit the slot, try this. Nothing much happens.

 

Ring helpline using wall-phone. Local helpline shifts me to a different helpline in Glasgow, judging by accents. As far as I can make out (it's a very dense Glasgow accent) I guessed the right number. Back at my PC, it has been accepted. Gosh. Now I'm ready?

 

Nope. Now I get my mobile phone and have to TEXT a cryptic code to someone. This is the FOURTH piece of apparatus so far (car, PC, landline, now mobile) I've had to employ. Catch is, I've never done a text in my life. Steep learning curve for a newbie. Good thing I kept the manual for my nine-year-old Nokia.  After an endless amount of wearing and errors, i finally get the message away.

 

Two weeks later, no text reply with my PIN number as promised.

 

Clearly, I botched the text. No surprises there. So I've got to gird the loins and tackle Glasgow again.

 

All this to buy a $19.95 software utility!  (Which I still haven't got.)

 

I know, I know; six year old kids can do all this stuff standing on their heads. But I'm not six.



#16 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 06:10

What irks me are items you can't get in shops at all--only online.  I don't have a credit card (never had one, and now I'm retired I don't intend to get one) so a vast range of stuff is now unavailable to me. Most software these days is sold online and downloaded; so I'm stuck with freeware or nothing. I was lucky to get a current Photoshop Elements in a box at a store; mostly not available in computer stores now, only occasionally in camera stores.
 
I thought, right, get a pre-pay "credit card", actually a debit card really. What a shambles. Drive to store to get one. Sure, I can get it, but must provide my mobile phone number. Eh? Okay, home again, get mob phone, find number (printed on a label stuck inside the battery lid, because I can't remember it), pay in some cash, take card home. Now, onto computer to fill in a fantastically obscure form which isn't explicit about what I wants. eg, enter number on card. Well, number is, eg 1234 5678 9123 4567 so that's what I enter. Rejected. Only numbers please. Eh? After much thought, try again without the spaces, and it works. Why doesn't it state this above slot? Then it wanted various secret words, passwords, and so on, which I have to make up on the spot. And write down. Then it wants a user name. Insert my name. Rejected. Letters only please. Now I'm right across this... I renter without caps or spaces. Okay. good. Tnen it wants something like a CVV Number. Nowehere on any of the documentation that came with the card, or on the website or entry form, is any clue as to what this is. I study card, find an inkjet number small enough to fit the slot, try this. Nothing much happens.
 
Ring helpline using wall-phone. Local helpline shifts me to a different helpline in Glasgow, judging by accents. As far as I can make out (it's a very dense Glasgow accent) I guessed the right number. Back at my PC, it has been accepted. Gosh. Now I'm ready?
 
Nope. Now I get my mobile phone and have to TEXT a cryptic code to someone. This is the FOURTH piece of apparatus so far (car, PC, landline, now mobile) I've had to employ. Catch is, I've never done a text in my life. Steep learning curve for a newbie. Good thing I kept the manual for my nine-year-old Nokia.  After an endless amount of wearing and errors, i finally get the message away.
 
Two weeks later, no text reply with my PIN number as promised.
 
Clearly, I botched the text. No surprises there. So I've got to gird the loins and tackle Glasgow again.
 
All this to buy a $19.95 software utility!  (Which I still haven't got.)
 
I know, I know; six year old kids can do all this stuff standing on their heads. But I'm not six.

Another reason I seldom shop online. This idiot fixation with texts,, banks, product sellers, travel agents all wish to text you with idiot security codes. After going through with a major bank once was enough, onto the customer 'service' line. Go crook, eventually get a manager my age and presto no more texting. What do people do that have not got a mobile? Still a lot around.
I am the founder of the Anti Texting Society. I do not wish to partake. It is a kiddie game and it costs me the same to text or talk!
I have met businesses that will only accept orders by email or fax. They don't last very long!! Too a point that can be acceptable if you know exactly what you require. But it falls down even if you do as you do not know if they actually have stock.

As I just come off the ph trying to track down items that should have been here this morning. And yesterday the computerised booking system with my carrier died. An hour and a quarter to book a pick up for 3 items, and more blood pressure!!

#17 Derwent Motorsport

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 09:54

Interestingly at our motor club committee last night we were debating how members pay their membership and event entry fees as quite a number no longer have cheque books and want to do it "on line" in some way. Sadly it seems to create more work for the membership secretary or the entries secretary.



#18 Vitesse2

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 10:01

Interestingly at our motor club committee last night we were debating how members pay their membership and event entry fees as quite a number no longer have cheque books and want to do it "on line" in some way. Sadly it seems to create more work for the membership secretary or the entries secretary.

Did you consider Paypal? Contrary to what a lot of people seem to think it's not just for eBay.



#19 TimRTC

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 10:04

Dodgy tricks from mail order firms... nothing new!

 

I remember one that was pretty common in the 1990s from model railway firms where they would advertise products that were going out of stock at superb prices on their adverts (usually with "limited stock" added), so people would ring up only to find that that particular model was of course out of stock, "but we do have ... in at a good price if you are interested"...



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#20 kayemod

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 10:35

Did you consider Paypal? Contrary to what a lot of people seem to think it's not just for eBay.

 

I agree, I use PayPal a lot, both for business and private stuff, and I've had no problems at all over quite a few years. As payment methods go, it seems to be pretty secure as well, I often have to receive payments from customers outside the UK, and it's far faster and cheaper than most bank transfers. OK, if you type "Problems with PayPal" into Google, an infinite number of bile-filled pages come up, but I can only tell of my own experiences, probably thousands of transactions over the years, and no problems at all, surely I can't just have been lucky can I ?



#21 Tim Murray

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 11:05

Our motor club has had electronic membership renewal and entry fee payments via Paypal for a few years now. After a few teething problems it now seems to work very smoothly. We do have an IT professional running our website, which does help.

#22 Vitesse2

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 11:19

I agree, I use PayPal a lot, both for business and private stuff, and I've had no problems at all over quite a few years. As payment methods go, it seems to be pretty secure as well, I often have to receive payments from customers outside the UK, and it's far faster and cheaper than most bank transfers. OK, if you type "Problems with PayPal" into Google, an infinite number of bile-filled pages come up, but I can only tell of my own experiences, probably thousands of transactions over the years, and no problems at all, surely I can't just have been lucky can I ?

Providing you have a unique and secure Paypal password (and can spot the occasional phishing email - which makes it no different to the banks) it's 100% secure IMO. The mistake many people make is to have an insecure and/or easily cracked password - or even use the same one as their eBay account!



#23 kayemod

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 11:23

As I said, I've found PayPal to work very well. If you look into the pages of complaints on Google, you'll find that many of them aren't really PayPal problems at all, but problems with eBay, and if you typed "eBay problems" into Google, you'd find there are far more of those. I know that eBay can be difficult to contact and resolve complaints with, but once again I've found them OK. I've had troubles in the past, mainly over copyright infringement, and once I managed to get my foot into the correct door, eBay have resolved all these quickly and efficiently, they've even phoned me from California more than once to check that everything was sorted out to my satisfaction. It's almost certainly not a widely held view, but based on my own experiences, I'd give both PayPal and eBay 9+ out of ten for most of what they do.



#24 elansprint72

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 11:35

http://www.dailymail...technology.html

 

 

This story is a few months old but evidently is now becoming a really serious issue; my card stays in the drawer at home... and more importantly, so does my wife's!



#25 Vitesse2

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 12:29

http://www.dailymail...technology.html

 

 

This story is a few months old but evidently is now becoming a really serious issue; my card stays in the drawer at home... and more importantly, so does my wife's!

How to disable contactless payments on your debit card



#26 Glengavel

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 13:06

http://www.dailymail...technology.html

 

 

This story is a few months old but evidently is now becoming a really serious issue; my card stays in the drawer at home... and more importantly, so does my wife's!

 

Haven't you heard about the man who had his wife's credit card returned by police who'd found it in the possession of a burglar? He confirmed it had been stolen six months previously; when asked by the police why he hadn't reported the theft, he told them that the burglar had been spending considerably less than his wife ever would.

 

Think I'll phone MBNA and get them to send me a non-contactless (contactlessless?) card...



#27 RCH

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 14:55

To be honest I've not had too much of a problem with wanting to buy things from online/large store and finding no stock, I guess I don't buy that much these days and am prepared to shop around. However what is a hassle is that it is so difficult if not impossible to buy stock from wholesalers as and when I want it, I have long joked that with manufacturers like Spark you need to order 6 months before they announce an item to be sure of getting it before the cut price ebay merchants from Hong Kong. When selling I try to make it known, should an item not be in stock, when I can get it or I will delete it if I'm not sure I can. Sometimes I forget which leads to the odd embarrassment like having to tell a high profile customer the other day that I couldn't get the Spark model he had ordered.  I think most small businesses operate the same way but we loose out all the time to the "couldn't care less" pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap merchants on ebay.

 

What I do find irritating is that the big "sofa" dealers (whatever happened to settees and 3 piece suites?) who are for ever advertising on TV are now pushing "available by Christmas", it's the middle of November for God's sake, of course they should be available by Christmas! They should be available tomorrow in my view. Thing is they are trying to educate us all in a new way of customer service, a level of service decided by them which would have been laughable years ago, but keep pushing hard enough and eventually all us oldies will die off and the younger generation won't know any better.



#28 uffen

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 16:13

My son had a terrible time with PayPal. They took his money and wouldn't give it back. They cited "customer issues" but ny son had no record of any of them. Then they promised to return the money in 45 days. Well, the 45 days passed and nothing. Then they went into his bank account and took his money - hundreds of $. This lead to a bounced cheque and associated fees. My son complained to the bank manager ad he wsa all too familiar with PayPals shenanigans. Too many of hsi clients had the same issues. So, the bank mananger went to head office and they get his money back. The bank manager told my son to change all his bank accounts (i.e. get new account numbers) and get a new credit card, too. He said PayPal can reach your money if they have any kind of link to your accounts. Scary stuff, but alternatives are limited.



#29 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 14 November 2013 - 23:07

Paypal is a VERY touchy subject to me and most Ebay sellers. In Australia we have been forced to accept it by an incompetent government. Who are too stupid to rectify their mistakes.
It is quite expensive at around 5% and is very insecure.That on both the item and any associated freight/ post charges. It is a means of crooks trying it on, often successfully. And ofcourse people with buyers remorse making crook claims too.
Crooks buy and then say it is damaged and then return their own broken items. This only on used items. I inscribe a mark on this stuff now and have caught them out 3 times!!! That and people buy the wrong item and then want free postage to rectify their mistakes. Ebay too [which owns Paypal] from a sellers point of view has HUGE issues. I have deleted almost a hundred items from there now. No longer viable. The majority of the private sellers have gone, fees too high and the dramas with Paypal. Probably half of my sales are from non Ebay members, often ex Ebay members.

For normal payments never accept it, too costly and insecure. In this day and age IF people do not have a credit or debit card or electronic banking they will have top pay cash or queu at the Post Office for a money order. The banks too need a swift kick but are a LOT more secure and safe than Paypal.

I too bought overseas with Paypal and got shonked, told the wrong info and tore up $500 for the purchase and a lot more on lost profit reselling the item. That has improved to some degree BUT if the money is not in the sellers account and he is no longer active you will not get any restitution.In that scenario the guarantee is worthless. It has happened to others I know in recent times. Paypal is a convenient way to buy from overseas if the seller will accept it. In the US many will not. Buying from a business is safer with a credit card. I have never had a problem except for the wrong items. The items were excellent, just did not fit the vehicle!!

#30 RCH

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Posted 15 November 2013 - 07:52

I've had my share of rows with PayPal and Ebay in the past, largely because of the policy they had that the buyer was always right, even when they were blatant cheats, but that seems to have been smoothed over in the last 2 or 3 years. I resent paying their fees but it is really only the equivalent of, say, a couple of Autosport ads a month and brings in a lot more business.



#31 Stephen W

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Posted 15 November 2013 - 09:21

Interestingly at our motor club committee last night we were debating how members pay their membership and event entry fees as quite a number no longer have cheque books and want to do it "on line" in some way. Sadly it seems to create more work for the membership secretary or the entries secretary.

 

Talk to Ron Hunt at Liverpool Motor Club as they went to on-line payments recently.



#32 john winfield

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Posted 15 November 2013 - 12:01

For what it's worth, I've used Paypal for many years, both buying and selling, and I can't remember ever having a problem.  I usually use it in tandem with Ebay, and also occasionally for independent transactions, and find it very convenient, particularly when selling abroad. Yes, I'd like to pay a lower commission (buyers don't pay fees, just sellers) but I can't imagine life without it. The small mistakes I do remember have always been mine or my customers', and they're very easy to correct.



#33 Charlieman

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Posted 17 November 2013 - 15:40

 

I punched a hole in the rim of a work ID card so that I could fasten it to a braid. It turned out that I punched through an antenna. They aren't always where you expect them to be.

 

To be sure, you can immerse a surplus card in solvent (eg acetone) leaving a framework of copper and silicon. That will provide a broad layout of the card's electronics. But cutting the antenna still needs a keen eye.

 

Nor does it fix the fundamental problem.



#34 RStock

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Posted 17 November 2013 - 16:59

I've had my share of rows with PayPal and Ebay in the past, largely because of the policy they had that the buyer was always right, even when they were blatant cheats, but that seems to have been smoothed over in the last 2 or 3 years.

 

The buyer is not always right it seems. A couple months ago  I purchased two items on Ebay, luckily both were small items , one around $5 US and the other $10. After about three weeks and not receiving my items I began an inquiry. I contacted both sellers and they insisted the packages had been mailed and showed to be delivered. I finally traced the problem myself. While looking over my Paypal records I noticed the address the lost packages were sent to. It was a friend of mine who lives five states away that I had sent something to about two years ago. His address was still on file with my Paypal accout, and somehow it was showing as my default address.

 

I contacted him and sure enough, he had received the packages. He thought someone was trying to pull some sort of scam and had contacted Ebay himself. He had contacted one of the sellers by email and had returned the package, but he had not been able to contact the other seller, and still had that package which he gladly forwarded to me. I opened an "item not received" case with Ebay on the other package, explaining to them what had happened, but they closed the case with no action and I cannot get an explanation from them as to why I am out money over their mistake. It was obviously a computer glitch that somehow changed my default address to one I had never used. When I talked to them by phone they kept calling my friends address as "my former address". I explained that was never my address, it was an address I had mailed something to two years earlier, and the correct address is one I have used my entire time with Ebay and Paypal. I have no idea how my friend's address five states away came to be shown as my default address, I sure as hell didn't do it, but Ebay and Paypal apparently don't care.

 

I decided since it was only $5 I would just drop it. I actually came out ahead as my friend who forwarded the package also sent along a Williams F24 kit. I was lucky however that it was such a small amout I lost, so everyone make sure of the address when using Paypal, they have a glitch somewhere.

 

In several years of using Ebay and Paypal however, that is the only trouble I have had.



#35 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 18 November 2013 - 06:33

Far too many Ebay buyers have wrong addresses, partial names and no contact ph no on their accounts. Or a different address on Paypal! Makes it hard to send the items. Many sellers will not send without a ph no for the freight.Including me!

IF you ever need to send your items to a different address deal direct with the seller. And you may save some freight/ post costs too. I often send to regional centres instead of remote areas. Freight is often half. Though you need a good friend or relative to send too ofcourse.

Word of warning too. A ask seller freight price, don't just order. Freight can be damned expensive.
B Read the add properly. Usually most of what you need to know is in the add. That means use a real computer, not your damned phone. That will save loads of potential grief for all.
In recent times I have had buyers expecting 2 items instead of one, so often free freight, or with multiple choice being what size or side. Twice today alone I have been asked for my ph no,,, which is in the add. READ the add!!

#36 Auroraf1

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Posted 18 November 2013 - 09:51

My saga continues chaps

 

I found an Italian seller with suspiciously low international postage rate, but I went for it anyway.

 

They then claimed that postage rate was a mistake and refunded my money, against all ebay rules!

 

I have now found it on Waterstones website at a reasonable price, but am not holding out much hope (watch this space), that they won't do a Chaters / Grand Prix Legends on me and say they can't get hold of it!



#37 Alan Cox

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Posted 18 November 2013 - 11:52

I found an Italian seller with suspiciously low international postage rate, but I went for it anyway.

 

They then claimed that postage rate was a mistake and refunded my money, against all ebay rules!

 

My experience is to avoid eBay transactions with anyone in Italy. I sent an item, by signed-for international post, and received dreadful feedback to the effect that the item had not been delivered. The package had been signed for (by someone), and eBay/Paypal found in my favour but the negative feedback was never removed. I once secured an item from Italy, which was never received so the lesson I learned was to keep clear of 'em with a very long stick used for guiding barges



#38 Auroraf1

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Posted 18 November 2013 - 11:57

Actually Alan that has just reminded me.

 

The only time I have had a seller tell me an item has not arrived, was something I sent to Italy!



#39 Auroraf1

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Posted 22 November 2013 - 10:10

Suprise Suprise Folks

 

Waterstones did the same.

 

I only find out after trying to contact them 3 times by e-mail and twice by phone the second time of which I got to speak to person who then coame out with the same excuses!

 

I despair!



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#40 Vitesse2

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Posted 22 November 2013 - 10:32

No surprise at all really. Chaters' wholesale operation is very likely the UK distributor for Giorgio Nada, so ultimately all three orders would have ended up in the same place and received the same answer.

 

There are currently seven copies on ABE, with the cheapest - even including postage to Britain - being in Germany at just over £32.



#41 kayemod

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Posted 22 November 2013 - 10:35

Suprise Suprise Folks

 

Waterstones did the same.

 

I only find out after trying to contact them 3 times by e-mail and twice by phone the second time of which I got to speak to person who then coame out with the same excuses!

 

I despair!

 

 

Have you thought of trying W H Smith? I had similar problems getting hold of a limited edition US-published book, I wasn't getting anywhere with a couple of well-known suppliers who were advertising an item they couldn't in fact supply, but by tracking through the books ISBN, I found it hidden away on the WHS website. I e-mailed off an order, and while it took a few weeks, they were able to supply, and at a price that undercut non-suppliers Amazon. It's the only time I've dealt with WHS in this way, but I was impressed, it was Giraffe who recommended them, apparently he's found them OK as well.



#42 D-Type

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Posted 22 November 2013 - 15:57

I'm told that with W H Smith you can arrange to have the book delivered to your local branch and avoid the delivery charge.  But I haven't tried it myself.

 

And I think WHS still own Waterstones.



#43 kayemod

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Posted 22 November 2013 - 16:09

I'm told that with W H Smith you can arrange to have the book delivered to your local branch and avoid the delivery charge.  But I haven't tried it myself.

 

And I think WHS still own Waterstones.

 

WHS do free delivery on all book orders over £15.00, but I think you do have the option to collect from your local branch. Certainly you can return any unwanted items to one of their stores to avoid any charges.

 

Waterstones were once owned by WHS, but they sold out to EMI in 1998, a few years later the chain was sold again to HMV, and after two further sales, they are now owned by some Russian millionaire/billionaire/oligarch/probable crook. I don't think I've ventured into one of their stores since they dropped the apostrophe from their name, one has to maintain certain standards.


Edited by kayemod, 22 November 2013 - 16:16.


#44 retriever

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Posted 22 November 2013 - 16:35

No surprise at all really. Chaters' wholesale operation is very likely the UK distributor for Giorgio Nada, so ultimately all three orders would have ended up in the same place and received the same answer.

 

There are currently seven copies on ABE, with the cheapest - even including postage to Britain - being in Germany at just over £3

Your assumption is wrong. If you look on Giorgio Nada's website you will see that they have three distributors of their books in the UK. Along with Chaters they also name Star Book Sales and Orca Books.



#45 timbo

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Posted 23 November 2013 - 07:03

Went to the HSRCA Summer (English summer) Historic racing at Sydney Motorsport Park today and the bookstall which was set up had all books for sale at 75% off until midday.

Walked away with Graham Howards biography of Lex Davison, titled Larger than Life, and a second hand copy of Monza 1922-1972, Fifty years of History, for $50 total.

No waiting, no postage, no worries. All I need is an Italian girlfriend to read me bedtime stories of the Monza book, as its in Italian text :)



#46 Auroraf1

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Posted 29 November 2013 - 08:36

Mission accomplished folks

 

I got a second hand (not so's you'd notice) copy from an Italian Ebayer at a reasonable price!

 

Timbo must have a different book as this is half Italian half English text. So I may pick up a few useful phrases for my next visit.

 

Ciao

Phil



#47 Vitesse2

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Posted 29 November 2013 - 09:22


Timbo must have a different book as this is half Italian half English text. So I may pick up a few useful phrases for my next visit.

 

Ciao

Phil

Yes, it's a different one: in English (sort of!) I have the later 1922-1992 version, which I got on eBay a few months back for 99p!