Seidio Ripped Me Off!!!

[jimmyjimmy64]

Hey all,

I just purchased a Innocase and holster from Seidio for $50 +18 (shipping). I live in Canada, so I was comfortable with the fact that shipping might cost more than to anywhere in the states, which was quoted at $3. Anyways, when the package arrived, I discovered that they only paid $1.97 to ship the small box to me.

I wouldn't recommend that any Canadians buy anything from them.

In your response to this, please don't say that the extra money went towards "handling." It doesn't take $16 worth of labor to "handle" a package destine for Canada.

I sent an email to the company, but no response yet.

[Buffy]

I don't really think you can claim that you were "ripped off" when you knew and agreed to pay $18 for shipping. This should have been addressed before and not after the fact if you had an issue with it.

[macgirl]

Originally Posted by Buffy

I don't really think you can claim that you were "ripped off" when you knew and agreed to pay $18 for shipping. This should have been addressed before and not after the fact if you had an issue with it.

i agree, but i can also understand that seeing the actual price of shipping on the package itself can just rub in even more that the shipping charge was so much greater than the actual cost.

companies (and ebay sellers) that charge more than actual shipping cost always bug me and i try not to buy from them. i'm disappointed to hear that seidio is like this (i think i've purchased a treo case from them a while ago, but can't recall if shipping was exorbitant) since i've seen them to be very responsive and friendly on other forums i've visited.

jimmyjimmy64: i hope seidio responds to you with a satisfactory response on the difference between the actual and charged shipping costs...

[jimmyjimmy64]

Originally Posted by Buffy

I don't really think you can claim that you were "ripped off" when you knew and agreed to pay $18 for shipping. This should have been addressed before and not after the fact if you had an issue with it.

I only agreed to pay 18 dollars for shipping because I beleived that they were being honest when they said that it would cost 18 dollars to ship. Because they over charged me, they ripped me off. This is a pretty clear cut case . . . try to put yourself in my shoes. How could i have possibly known that it would only cost 2$ to ship before agreeing to pay 18$. I didn't know what size of box they'd ship it in, etc.

They quite clearly ripped me off, especially since they don't do this to all of their customers (i.e. americans)

[jimmyjimmy64]

i forgot to say that overcharging on shipping is a common and acceptible ebay practice. It's done to reduce the commission that ebay takes, but the final price to the consumer doesn't change because the price of the item is reduced by the increase in shipping.

For an e-commerce company that operates outside of ebay to overcharge on shipping is extremely unethical.

[Buffy]

I'd like to know where you are getting your information that it cost Seidio $1.97 to ship the package. It's not possible to ship a package to Canada for $1.97 once you add duties and customs fees. I hope that when you receive your response from Seidio that you'll be as quick to post it here as you were to cry foul and soil a good company's reputation.

[jimmyjimmy64]

Originally Posted by Buffy

I'd like to know where you are getting your information that it cost Seidio $1.97 to ship the package. It's not possible to ship a package to Canada for $1.97 once you add duties and customs fees. I hope that when you receive your response from Seidio that you'll be as quick to post it here as you were to cry foul and soil a good company's reputation.

how about the big USPS sticker on the side of the box that says "Postage Paid: $1.97" There are no duties or custom fees on an item this small. No offense, but unless you live in Canada, you probably don't know how duty/custom fees work. UPS is really the only carrier that charges custom fees and duty only applies to higher value goods.

I'd like to restate this for the last time. They ripped me off. There is NO explanation for why this did this other than the fact that they want to screw Canadian customers.

P.S. If they send me an email, i'll be more than happy to post it, but since I'm sure that they aware of this unethical behavior, I'm pretty sure that they won't respond.

[Buffy]

No offense, but I have family living in Canada, so I'm well acquainted with the cost of shipping packages to them.

I'm really not trying to debate just for the sake of it. Here's an article which may help you to feel better about your purchase:

Shopping and Shipping Across the Canadian Border

Shipping Charges and Canada Customs Duties

Are you new to online shopping? If you're on the Canadian side of the border and thinking of shopping on U.S. sites, hidden costs may catch you by surprise. There are things you should check before you give out your credit card number.
First, check that the site offers international shipping or at least shipping to Canada. There is nothing more irritating than going through an e-commerce site, filling your shopping cart and then discovering that the vendor does not ship outside the continental United States.

Shipping Charges to Canada

Good sites will list their shipping policies and procedures up front, usually under the customer service section or the help section. Shipping charges are determined by weight, size, distance, speed and number of items. Be sure to read the details carefully. Don't forget to factor in the exchange rate for the shipping charges as well as for the cost of the merchandise. Your credit card company may also add a charge for currency conversion.
The shipping charges and methods of shipment (usually either mail or courier) aren't the total of the costs you'll have to pay to get that package across the Canadian border though. If goods are coming across the border, you will also have to consider, and be ready to pay, Canada customs duties, taxes and custom brokerage fees.

Canada Customs Duties

Because of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadians do not have to pay duty on most American and Mexican manufactured items. But be careful. Just because you buy an item from a U.S. store does not mean it was made in the United States. It's quite possible it was imported into the United States first and, if so, you may be charged duty when it comes into Canada. So check before you buy and if possible get something in writing from the e-store in case the Canada Customs people decide to be particular.
Duties on goods vary widely, depending on the product and the country in which it was manufactured. Other charges and duties may also apply depending on the item, for example excise duty and excise tax on luxury items such as jewelry. In general, on goods ordered from a foreign retailer there is no assessment unless Canada Customs can collect at least $1.00 in duties and taxes. If you have questions about Canada customs and duties, please contact a Canada Border Services Agency office.

Canadian Taxes and Customs Brokers Fees


Canadian Taxes

Just about everything individuals import into Canada is subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) of five percent. The GST is calculated after customs duties have been applied.
You will also have to pay the applicable Canadian Provincial Sales Tax (PST) or Quebec Sales Tax (QST). The provincial retail sales tax rates vary from province to province, as do the goods and services to which the tax is applied and the way the tax is applied.
In Canadian provinces with a Harmonized Sales Tax (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador), you'll be charged a flat 13 percent, rather than separate GST and PST.

Customs Brokers Fees

Fees for customs brokers services are the charges that can really catch you by surprise.

Courier companies and postal services use customs brokers to get packages processed through Canada Customs at the Canadian border. Fees for that service will be passed along to you. Canada Post automatically applies a $5.00 processing fee ($8.00 for Priority Post) for each package to clear Canada Customs.
Customs brokers fees for courier companies vary, but are usually a good deal higher than the Canada Post fee. Some courier companies may absorb the custom brokers fees (including them in the courier service price), depending on the level of courier service you have selected. Others will add the customs brokers fees on top and you will have to pay those before you can get your parcel. If you select a courier service for shipping to Canada, check whether the level of service provided includes customs brokers fees. If it is not mentioned on the shopping site you are using, you can check the service guide on the individual courier company site or call the local number of the courier company to find out their policies.



And here's a website that may explain it in fewer words:

http://www.thefinalcost.com/shipments/calculate/

[jimmyjimmy64]

Originally Posted by Buffy

No offense, but I have family living in Canada, so I'm well acquainted with the cost of shipping packages to them.

I'm really not trying to debate just for the sake of it. Here's an article which may help you to feel better about your purchase:

Shopping and Shipping Across the Canadian Border

Shipping Charges and Canada Customs Duties

Are you new to online shopping? If you're on the Canadian side of the border and thinking of shopping on U.S. sites, hidden costs may catch you by surprise. There are things you should check before you give out your credit card number.
First, check that the site offers international shipping or at least shipping to Canada. There is nothing more irritating than going through an e-commerce site, filling your shopping cart and then discovering that the vendor does not ship outside the continental United States.

Shipping Charges to Canada

Good sites will list their shipping policies and procedures up front, usually under the customer service section or the help section. Shipping charges are determined by weight, size, distance, speed and number of items. Be sure to read the details carefully. Don't forget to factor in the exchange rate for the shipping charges as well as for the cost of the merchandise. Your credit card company may also add a charge for currency conversion.
The shipping charges and methods of shipment (usually either mail or courier) aren't the total of the costs you'll have to pay to get that package across the Canadian border though. If goods are coming across the border, you will also have to consider, and be ready to pay, Canada customs duties, taxes and custom brokerage fees.

Canada Customs Duties

Because of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadians do not have to pay duty on most American and Mexican manufactured items. But be careful. Just because you buy an item from a U.S. store does not mean it was made in the United States. It's quite possible it was imported into the United States first and, if so, you may be charged duty when it comes into Canada. So check before you buy and if possible get something in writing from the e-store in case the Canada Customs people decide to be particular.
Duties on goods vary widely, depending on the product and the country in which it was manufactured. Other charges and duties may also apply depending on the item, for example excise duty and excise tax on luxury items such as jewelry. In general, on goods ordered from a foreign retailer there is no assessment unless Canada Customs can collect at least $1.00 in duties and taxes. If you have questions about Canada customs and duties, please contact a Canada Border Services Agency office.


And here's a website that may explain it in fewer words:

http://www.thefinalcost.com/shipments/calculate/

Thanks for the info. I should let everyone know that I've purchased many things on ebay that have come in similar sized boxes. They too have cost about 2$ for the seller to ship and there were no duty/custom fees on these small packages.

Given the fact that they haven't responded to my email in 2 days, it doesn't make me confident that they have a good reason for why this happened. I should note that in the past they've responded to my questions within hours.

thanks again

[acosmichippo]

well, i know there is a seidio rep that frequents these forums, so i wouldn't be surprised if he contacted you with (at the very least) an explanation of the charges, and probably a partial/full refund. They have been very accommodating for customers so far.