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Canada. A relativley decent place to visit, although most of it is very much like home, so visiting is kind of pointless.
That, and I apparently attract every idiot and nimrod associated with the country, no matter what I am doing. Even when I am fixing an error by some dimwit(s) in my company, I manage to attract Canadians of lesser intelligence. (That story at a later date, when thinking about it does not tempt me into going on a rampage through our warehouse staff with a tire iron.)
This lady held the idea that is oh so popular on American novelty goods in regards to Canada, they are the same. She called inquiring about an order her parents had placed with us. She was upset that shipping cost as much as it did. (Big item, it was some wheeled cabinet "designed specifically" for grooming or something. Costs alot to ship in the States, let alone into another country.) She also had complaints about having to pay duties and other charges related to cross border transactions. So things went a bit like so:
Me: Stubborn, short tempered mule.
SC: Imperialistic Canadian intent on owning USA.
SC: So why is the shipping so high on this item? It's *only* a cabinet.
Me: It is classified as an oversized item. It is awkward to move, rather heavy, and takes up alot of space on a delivery truck. It costs alot to ship it between states here, let alone between countries.
SC: Well, then what is this foreign order charge? My parents would not have paid for this if they knew about that.
Me: It is a charge that we have deemed necessary to place on smaller orders into foreign countries to make the venture profitable for us. Otherwise, we just would not ship to places such as Canada. Your parents were informed of it before the order was finalized, and it is advertised in both our catalog and our website.
SC: Then why is the shipping charged twice on this invoice from UPS? And it's two different amounts!?
Me: That second charge is likely the duties fee levied by the courier, in this case UPS. This covers the extra work they have to put into shipping items between two countries. Again, your parents would have been advised of these before they finished the order.
And around and around and around we go, until she starts with the craziness.
SC: Well do these charges make sense to you!?
Me: Yes, actually. I would expect extra charges when ordering furniture from another country. It is a big item, and there are charges for international transactions.
SC: But we are right next to each other, we are almost the same place. I don't understand why there are all these other charges.
Me: Again, it is because you ordered a large item from another country. It costs money to get through customs.
SC: But we are the same!
Me: *Audible snap in the back of my brain* I am sorry miss, but last I checked the US was still a seperate sovereign nation from Canada. Not for a lack of effort on the part of the Canadian government I am sure. Out of spite they have raised a customs agency that is meant primarily to reduce the amount of business we recieve from Canadian citizens, in hopes of reducing us and our economy to ruins, so that they can one day assume control. Until then, you will have to suffer under the burden of high shipping and duties charges for really big merchandise.
SC: *stunned silence* I want your manager!
Me: One moment.
Ring up the manager, explain the situation, get her laughing. Get a slap on the wrist myself and cust gets the same response, minus some sarcasm. One of these days I am going to get canned.
That, and I apparently attract every idiot and nimrod associated with the country, no matter what I am doing. Even when I am fixing an error by some dimwit(s) in my company, I manage to attract Canadians of lesser intelligence. (That story at a later date, when thinking about it does not tempt me into going on a rampage through our warehouse staff with a tire iron.)
This lady held the idea that is oh so popular on American novelty goods in regards to Canada, they are the same. She called inquiring about an order her parents had placed with us. She was upset that shipping cost as much as it did. (Big item, it was some wheeled cabinet "designed specifically" for grooming or something. Costs alot to ship in the States, let alone into another country.) She also had complaints about having to pay duties and other charges related to cross border transactions. So things went a bit like so:
Me: Stubborn, short tempered mule.
SC: Imperialistic Canadian intent on owning USA.
SC: So why is the shipping so high on this item? It's *only* a cabinet.
Me: It is classified as an oversized item. It is awkward to move, rather heavy, and takes up alot of space on a delivery truck. It costs alot to ship it between states here, let alone between countries.
SC: Well, then what is this foreign order charge? My parents would not have paid for this if they knew about that.
Me: It is a charge that we have deemed necessary to place on smaller orders into foreign countries to make the venture profitable for us. Otherwise, we just would not ship to places such as Canada. Your parents were informed of it before the order was finalized, and it is advertised in both our catalog and our website.
SC: Then why is the shipping charged twice on this invoice from UPS? And it's two different amounts!?
Me: That second charge is likely the duties fee levied by the courier, in this case UPS. This covers the extra work they have to put into shipping items between two countries. Again, your parents would have been advised of these before they finished the order.
And around and around and around we go, until she starts with the craziness.
SC: Well do these charges make sense to you!?
Me: Yes, actually. I would expect extra charges when ordering furniture from another country. It is a big item, and there are charges for international transactions.
SC: But we are right next to each other, we are almost the same place. I don't understand why there are all these other charges.
Me: Again, it is because you ordered a large item from another country. It costs money to get through customs.
SC: But we are the same!
Me: *Audible snap in the back of my brain* I am sorry miss, but last I checked the US was still a seperate sovereign nation from Canada. Not for a lack of effort on the part of the Canadian government I am sure. Out of spite they have raised a customs agency that is meant primarily to reduce the amount of business we recieve from Canadian citizens, in hopes of reducing us and our economy to ruins, so that they can one day assume control. Until then, you will have to suffer under the burden of high shipping and duties charges for really big merchandise.
SC: *stunned silence* I want your manager!
Me: One moment.
Ring up the manager, explain the situation, get her laughing. Get a slap on the wrist myself and cust gets the same response, minus some sarcasm. One of these days I am going to get canned.
I AM the evil bastard!
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