Way did not say it was every order he has ever recieved from Canada. It only takes a few to screw it up for everybody.

Note:

$500.00 in parts

$125.00 shipping up

Buyer refuses to pay the Canadian tax duty

another $125.00 to get the items back

Usually the box is all busted up because the customs idiots have opened it and what is not missing is usually damaged.

Now way has not only the $250.00 shipping charge gone but has to fight UPS or FED EX for the insurance to cover the cost of the items lost or broken. Of course they ain't gonna pay retail if they do decide to pay at all which is rare. If they do pay for all of the items lost or broken he is still out $250.00 plus the time and money he had invested in the parts for the two or three months it took to settle this with the shipping company.

If you think he is wrong to just plain not send to Canada you are really not very well informed on how a business needs to be run.

As I said in my last post. Sending to Canada was the very worst."Peroid"

If I was Way I would still send stuff to Canada if they sent me the total amount in USA CASH before I sent anything at all.

 

Worlds number one hobby is to be offended!

if it offended you then be offended! who are we (or way)to stop you?

 

Way is a stand-up guy.. I have met him on several occasions, and I have bought a few things off of him.. Granted they were at MOTD or AMVIV cause I was going there and didn't want to pay shipping...

We have some club members that live just across the border that have offered to accept packages and you go pick them up at their place.. for just such reasons...

Unfortunately, with NAFTA and after 9/11 it is a nightmare to send/received anything from the US it would seem.. when I ship parts back to the US from work, and it contains metal, I have to fill out 4 extra forms, in triplicate... It's not fun at all...

I can understand his frustration, and I can tell you he is not happy with it.. but unfortunately, I can understand why it's a stance that he took.. (being a small business owner too)

it seems everytime I do a favour for someone at the shop, they turn around and stick it to me... and are not very appreciative of my time and effort that went into whatever I did for them... It is the few that ruin for the many... Do you remember when you could walk into a shop and throw the advisor your keys, say fix it, and come back and it be fixed with an invoice ready for you? Now because so many have been scammed, "I'm not paying for that, or I never said to fix THAT!" there are signatures needed just to drive the vehicle into the shop, and we have to check for scratches, dents, broken lenses, etc..

Maybe I am ranting a bit, but the honest people don't think like that, and don't think that stuff goes on... well it does..

quick example.. I had a car that was towed in, didn't run.. we fixed it, the guy gave us a card over phone, cause he was at work, he picked it up after work, the next day, calls his CC and cancels the charges... I had tow bills, that matched his car, a phone authorization note.. but because the original slip was not signed by him... there was nothing I could do... I was out the $300 + the cost of the part....

So where I may not agree with his stance, I can certainly understand it.. If he is pretty steady with US orders, and does not receive a ton of requests from outside the USA.. then it becomes a business case decision. Why are there no Jack In the Boxes in Canada? or IN/OUT, or only ChickFilA in the south east states? Business decisions.

FYI, if you are ever having ANYTHING shipped to Canada from the USA... NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use UPS... always have it shipped USPS (United States Postal Service) the duties on UPS are astronomical!!!

 

Is your "note" real or imaginary?
First, I ordered from Way a few times, always over the phone since his site was never set up for Canadian orders. Payed by cc over the phone and REQUESTED shipping by US Mail. He did it, and everything was fine. Numerous times. Who ever is sending orders from US to Canada with out investigating the shipping details in full ( is there extra charges on delivery?) is not doing the homework.
I don't know how any vendor in US (dealing with Canadian customers) would not know about what UPS is doing here in Canada? It is not the same service as in US. They are crooks(UPS), period!
Second, I run my own company for Film/Photography and I deal with US companies all the time. I buy and sell far pricier items than pair of springs or set of shocks. I buy and sell cameras, lenses, digital video equipment. Never had an issue. Never. Why? Because I do my homework being a buyer or seller. Paper work needed? Sure! Customs forms? Sure! More paper work, the better if something go wrong...
My rant on this topic is done with this post. I still think Way did a wrong thing to all his good customers in Canada. I hope he is the last vendor doing that. I guess, I"ll have to give my hard earned (Canadian) cash to somebody else... Oh, well...
But Way, after all a note or email to all your "good old" Canadian customers would be a nice gesture. You did make $$ on us after all?

Cheers!

P.S. Battle Performance: here I come!

 

UPS may not be telling the whole story to their US shippers... There are a number of business' that have told me that there are no additional brokerage fees, just as ALTA told you, as they have accounts.. whether it is on their end, not knowing they have import accounts and not export, or maybe it is UPS charging more when they really shouldn't who really knows the answer, and maybe we never will... The seasoned parts buyer, knows this and knows to request USPS.. the new seller, would not have clue about this. Even the seasoned seller may not have a clue. I don't know how many sellers I have had to educate on the woes of buying from out of Canada, and using UPS to ship... It sounds like they are a great company if you are staying in mainland USA to ship things. Fast efficient and economical. Crossing the border is another story.

I had issues with my panoramic photo from the Dragon, I explicitly said NO UPS.. but it was sent that way anyways.. and MOM paid the brokerage fee, before asking.. so I was stuck with it.. when I faxed him the paperwork showing him this.. He had never heard of such a thing. But the next few years I ordered from him, he knew, and remembered not to send to Canada UPS.. and made a special trip for me to USPS. And whenever I buy from EBAY.. if they are not willing to send USPS, then I don't buy from them.. Or ship to my friends near the border.

Did he go about it the most perfect way? probably not. do people make mistakes.. sure they do. Have you contacted him to purchase parts recently and has he said F* no? I am sure he would be more inclined to continue a business relationship with existing customers that he knows to be upstanding customers.

I will cup him up side the head at MOTD when I see him, and maybe not bring him the maple cookies I do every year.

You being a buyer and seller, you know the extra hassle that you have to go through then.. Back to business decisions... Without knowing his sales, profit margins, or anything about his business... lets say he received 2 inquiries per month from Canada, at a generous 30% profit on parts. Is 30% of say $200, worth that to him when it represents 1-5% of his business? I would, if it were me, have to think long and hard about if it was worth it... I will quote "alexander keith"?? I think... (some beer company anyways) "we do one thing, really really well, instead of 10 things just ok"

Spending all of that time on 1-5% of his sales, can in fact lower his quality on the 95-99% of his sales.

I hate to turn business away at my shop, but sometimes you just have to, sometimes it's just not worth the hassle to do it.

I am sure that you have turned down work for many various reasons, cost to profit ratio, and what not.

Does it suck for us in Canada, hell ya it does.

 

Taking this a little personally aren't you? Way never said it was Canada that caused the problem, only that it was international. The world is bigger than Canada, so it could have been anyplace.

Having lived in various countries myself, I have had issues with various companies not willing to ship to me but I understand the circumstances behind it.

 

Hi, Way. Slightly off topic from the original post, but I just thought you'd like to know I'm one of those customers you spent time with to make sure I got the right products from you to suit my needs - in fact each of the mods I have listed (save the hula girl) I purchased from you. I truly appreciated your patience and guidance!

 

This is a stupid argument. If you can't purchase from Way or from anyone for that matter then find another vendor. Problem solved.

It really doesn't matter the reason, everyone has the right to do business with whom ever they want.

-later.

 

Way has to make the decisions that keep his business running. Unfortunately it is very expensive for Canadians to mod MINI's. I haven't ordered anything from Way (and I guess I can't, now.) but I have got parts from the NAM marketplace, OutMotoring, Alta, EuroSportDesign, TireRack, DiscountTireDirect, and TheSuspensionSource. I have paid a ridiculous amount in shipping, brokerage, duty, customs, what have you. Shipping is especially offensive (with the exception of TSS who got me an amazing deal on my coilover shipping )

I love my MINI but when I reflect on how much I've spent not on parts, but just on getting them to my door, I wonder if I should seek therapy. Fortunately I am more or less "done" modding now.

 

Sounds like a realitive in the US would help...just ship to them...and pick up arround the holidays when you/they visit. Having my wife's side of the family being french canadian we get various items for eachother when we visit....
i bet if vendor's had a 35% or 50% international item fee to cover the time it takes to do paperwork, and cover the risks, the prices might be comparible....kinda makes sense...the items cost more from a local vendor in Canada due to higher expenses (mostly taxes a duties), and import fees are a way to level the playing field, and recoup taxes for the government agencies that are being avoided, and the taxes saved/avoided.
A note to all in Canada with sour grapes over this whole thing...since mini folks do mod their cars in canada, why not open a shop selling mini parts in the great white north?! Sounds like an opportunity!!

 

Way,
thanks you for contacting me directly and clarifying the "issue". I understand and apologize if my comments offended anybody. I will continue to be WMW happy customer.
Over and out!

 

Way,

Thank you for responded to my two posts. I can understand your reasoning however I remain disappointed. You have a strong following here
and I too read carefully your opinions (posts) and listen to your advice.

To date I have spent $$$$K. with Helix, Outmotoring and Detroit Tuned.

For me its just one less excellent potential source of Mini parts with whom I can't do business.
Cheers
Ed

 

I should take this opportunity to plug a local business. I'm not sure if he's shipping outside of my local area or not, but I did find a guy in town who hooked me up with H&R Spacers and my H-Sport LCA's for a good price, Bryan @ Vancouver Island Auto Parts. Nice guy, good experience. My fellow Canadians might want to give him a shout.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanco...80235832058628

 

Hey, everybody knows people in Canada only drink and fu....erm, scam vendors.

BINGO!!! This is so true. I work in the computer field. I'm a network admin and run the network for a medium sized company. My work is in servers and network equipment. Does this mean I know how to and on occasion, work on desktop equipment too? Heck yea!

However, I will 100% of the time turn down anyone offering me money to work on their home PC. Sure I could use the extra cash to buy stuff for my MINI but it's never worth the trouble. Dealing with whatever they've done to screw up their computer over the last few years, and then have them complain because they lost stuff (pictures, etc) that they said they had backed up before I had to reformat the drive....NOT worth the hassle.

I'm willing to send them to geek squad for sure, but by turning them down it's not a matter of bad customer service, it's just not where I want to invest my personal time. For this reason I can totally understand someone like Way not selling outside the US if most of the time it's more hassle than it is worth.

 

Have not spent a dime at Way. Called once and got prompt, helpful advice. US customers should not be put off by this snafu with neighbors to the north - these guys at Way have a great reputation and I am looking forward to running down there and spending a few bucks.

Best wishes to Canadian folks, perhaps it is time that some Canadian steps up to the plate and sets up a business that is their equivalent of WMW.

Go for it... some work, perhaps hard work and you might have a successful business up there.

 

I have sent Way a couple of PM's via NAM. No response yet. Tried sending him a note via the Contact Us section of his website. We will see if he responds back. Last will be calling him.

He can be difficult to get in touch with at times, but he knows Minis and will give his expert opinion if you ask.

I hope he gets back with me. If not, I will use Detroit Tuned.

 

I've never had a issue getting him or one of his employees....
As the boss, he is busy....has a life, and still finds time to race mini's and go to various mini events that are local in nature around the country....so keep that in mind. Tracking him down might take a day or two, but for a big sale, it is worth it. He also has very good folks working for him.....

 

Unfortunately this is what I've had to do. Luckily, Outmotoring ships worldwide with no hassles and same great service

 

Way responded to my contact form on his website promptly. He doesn't check PM's often. Try his website or work phone and you will reach him quick.

 

I've asked Way if he ships to Canada (perhaps twice now) via PM and he's answered within a few days. I can understand why he doesn't ship to Canada, but of course wish he would. I would assume it would be fairly easy for the major Mini sites to contact each other and create a list of approved international customers, but the effort of compiling such a list may not be worth the profit.

I have to be approaching $2000 spent at OutMotoring in the past three months and I can't really imagine how they could question sending me another order. Perhaps if Way could see the past orders and that most of us know of the additional expenses and just deal with it, he would reconsider orders from those people.

In the meantime, I'll continue mimicking Way's various maintenance packages through a certain "specialist" OEM parts site. I don't know if I can mention the site by name.

 

I have the great fortune of living in the same city where WMW is located. His shop is one exit north of my office, so if I need something I just drive over. On the rare occasion when the shop is open and Way isn’t there I talk to his trusty sidekick – Jason.

I have called a couple of times and when I left a voicemail he called me back.

 

Sorry to dust off an old thread, but bloody hell all i want is a rebuilt supercharger posted to either myself or if they wont post "internationally", il provide a p.o.box state side and pick it up. JUST take my effen canadian credit card! im the one losing out with the exchange rate atm, and NO-ONE sells rebuilt units apart from OEM here for $2500 + 12% tax!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Could always use it as an excuse to buy this guy.

Have you tried http://autoxcooper.com/mini_cooper_s...ld_service.php? It doesn't say that don't deal with Canada.

 

AHHH i wish on the sprintex! awesome bit of kit.
Im awaiting on a reply from SuperCharger Technologies to see if they'll do it.
I really just wanted the sc with the 15% reduction pulley fitted from way with the pulley maintenance kit. Having moved here from Australia, where it seems anyone world wide will ship, this is a pretty **** effort on the suppliers front. I have a 15 year background in retail and international logistics, nuf said.

 

He has said many times....
He would love to do international....but the fraud rate is huge...the choice not to do international shipping, and thus not take international credit cards as an extra level of protection to prevent costly chargebacks is simply a calculated business move....
Bet if you really want it...send the funds PREPAID (call first)...maybe bank transfer or money order... Maybe an extra fee for customs documents (extra work does mean extra $$)...then a heafty shipping charge with full insurance......
So possible...maybe...
But you have better options...
Like various other sellers...try eBay in Canada yet? Or the above vendor?
Drive to the border...and drop into a mini dealer and get one?! Call a couple days ahead of time....