Approve the Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and our Privacy Policy.
OK
Forums  •   • New posts  •   • RTAT  •   • 'Best of'  •   • Gallery  •   • Gear
Guest
Forums  •   • New posts  •   • RTAT  •   • 'Best of'  •   • Gallery  •   • Gear
Register to forums    Log in

 
FORUMS Marketplace & Market Info Market Watch 
Thread started 02 Mar 2021 (Tuesday) 11:04
Search threadPrev/next
sponsored links (only for non-logged)

Alienbees Petition to Stop Gouging Canadians on Shipping

 
ThatTorontoStudio
I just had to ask
Avatar
101 posts
Likes: 6
Joined Nov 2010
Location: Toronto
     
Mar 02, 2021 11:04 |  #1

I hope this is the right section..

I want to call on all my photographers who shoot ALIENBEES and are tired of paying OUTRAGEOUS shipping fees, to please sign the petition so we can get lights shipped more affordably via the United States Parcel Service.

It should not cost $500 in total shipping fees with the shipping fee itself, brokerage and then duty fees to receive an item worth $500. And then there's the HST we have to pay once we receive it.

http://chng.it/MR9MRGQ​VXD (external link)

And if you know anyone else who has Alienbees, please send the petition to them as well and ask them to share it too!


Daniel Camer, Photographer
THAT Toronto Studio (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Tom ­ Reichner
"That's what I do."
Avatar
17,636 posts
Gallery: 213 photos
Best ofs: 2
Likes: 8386
Joined Dec 2008
Location: from Pennsylvania, USA, now in Washington state, USA, road trip back and forth a lot
     
Mar 02, 2021 11:16 |  #2

ThatTorontoStudio wrote in post #19202905 (external link)
.
I want to call on all my photographers who shoot ALIENBEES and are tired of paying OUTRAGEOUS shipping fees, to please sign the petition so we can get lights shipped more affordably via the United States Parcel Service.

It should not cost $500 in total shipping fees with the shipping fee itself, brokerage and then duty fees to receive an item worth $500. And then there's the HST we have to pay once we receive it.
.

.
I was incredulous over what you said about $500 total shipping fees for a $500 item ..... so much so that I looked up AlienBees to see what they are. . Looks like they're flash units ..... is that so?

When you mention $500 total shipping & fees for a $500 item, are you talking about buying them directly from the manufacturer?

I see them for sale from highly rated, reputable sellers on eBay (brand new) and also on B&H. . Are you sure that if you buy them from these retailers that the shipping will be so much? I cannot imagine that B&H or eBay retailers would charge so much for the shipping and fees for shipment to Canada.

So I wonder, why would you ever buy from the manufacturer who gouges you, when you have so many other options for the same products?

Please explain this whole thing to me. . I would like to know more about AlienBees - what they are and why one would buy from a manufacturer instead of a retailer? (if that is indeed the case)


.


"Your" and "you're" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one.
"They're", "their", and "there" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one.
"Fare" and "fair" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one. The proper expression is "moot point", NOT "mute point".

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
ThatTorontoStudio
THREAD ­ STARTER
I just had to ask
Avatar
101 posts
Likes: 6
Joined Nov 2010
Location: Toronto
     
Mar 02, 2021 11:28 as a reply to  @ Tom Reichner's post |  #3

Hey Tom!

Yeah they're flash units, and they're AWESOME. Super durable and great quality. Literally my go-to brand. BUT they just don't seem to care about the prices we Canadians incurr on shipping. In USD it's something like, $200+ to ship, $100+ brokerage/duty, and then we still have to pay the HST on it. And $300 USD is $400 CAD. And that's if we are lucky and the big private shipping companies don't decide they wanna charge $200 to broker the package. It's happened before to many of us. You never quite know what you're going to get on the brokerage / duty fees which costs only $5 with USPS to Canada Post.

As for availability elsewhere, I just tried to find them on B&H as well but can't seem to open the link. Do you have a working link?

I'm unfamiliar with any other retailers of Alienbee products, as it all seems to be direct through Paul C Buff's website. And not many people seem to be selling Digibees on Kijiji or Craigslist, probably because they're AWESOME! I still prefer them new though since I baby my gear and would rather pay the new price and make sure it lasts and is covered by warranty.


Daniel Camer, Photographer
THAT Toronto Studio (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Tom ­ Reichner
"That's what I do."
Avatar
17,636 posts
Gallery: 213 photos
Best ofs: 2
Likes: 8386
Joined Dec 2008
Location: from Pennsylvania, USA, now in Washington state, USA, road trip back and forth a lot
     
Mar 02, 2021 11:41 |  #4

ThatTorontoStudio wrote in post #19202921 (external link)
.
As for availability elsewhere, I just tried to find them on B&H as well but can't seem to open the link. Do you have a working link?

I still prefer them new though since I baby my gear and would rather pay the new price and make sure it lasts and is covered by warranty..

.
Thanks for explaining this to me. . I stand corrected - looks like the B&H offerings that came up were not actually for AlienBees products - even though they were at the top of my search results for "AlienBees".

Here are a couple links to new ones from 3rd party sellers, who I presume would have very reasonable shipping. If the links don't open for you, but you are interested, let me know and I can send you screenshots so that you know what keywords to search for so you can find them on your own.

https://www.ebay.com …Y-O&LH_ItemCondition=100​0 (external link)

https://www.ebay.com …652113:g:ZNAAAO​SwVx5gMyuP (external link)

.


"Your" and "you're" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one.
"They're", "their", and "there" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one.
"Fare" and "fair" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one. The proper expression is "moot point", NOT "mute point".

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Wilt
Reader's Digest Condensed version of War and Peace [POTN Vol 1]
Avatar
46,463 posts
Gallery: 1 photo
Likes: 4552
Joined Aug 2005
Location: Belmont, CA
Post edited over 2 years ago by Wilt. (2 edits in all)
     
Mar 02, 2021 19:41 |  #5

The issue of Buff cost to International end users was discussed back in 2012.

Here is what I learned about the issue back then, regarding customer in Australia...
https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=14722202

It also appears that Buff products are available thru some Canadian sources, such as
https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=14722202


You need to give me OK to edit your image and repost! Keep POTN alive and well with member support https://photography-on-the.net/forum/donate.p​hp
Canon dSLR system, Olympus OM 35mm system, Bronica ETRSi 645 system, Horseman LS 4x5 system, Metz flashes, Dynalite studio lighting, and too many accessories to mention

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Tom ­ Reichner
"That's what I do."
Avatar
17,636 posts
Gallery: 213 photos
Best ofs: 2
Likes: 8386
Joined Dec 2008
Location: from Pennsylvania, USA, now in Washington state, USA, road trip back and forth a lot
     
Mar 02, 2021 22:49 |  #6

Wilt wrote in post #19203138 (external link)
.
The issue of Buff cost to International end users was discussed back in 2012.

Here is what I learned about the issue back then, regarding customer in Australia...
https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=14722202

It also appears that Buff products are available thru some Canadian sources, such as
https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=14722202
.

.
I think it would behoove the OP to read what you quoted in that first link.

After reading that, I now have a much deeper understanding of why cross-border shipping is so expensive, and it makes sense. . In order for AlienBees to charge much less for shipping & import fees, they would have to change their entire business model, which would necessarily raise the base price of the items significantly ..... which of course would then offset any reduction in the shipping & import fees.

For one to sign that petition would kind of be showing an ignorance of the way the entire corporation is set up to market, sell, and distribute their products. . They would have to change EVERYTHING about their entire business in order to charge less for shipping & import fees. . Do the people signing this petition really have a full understanding of that?

.


"Your" and "you're" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one.
"They're", "their", and "there" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one.
"Fare" and "fair" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one. The proper expression is "moot point", NOT "mute point".

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
ThatTorontoStudio
THREAD ­ STARTER
I just had to ask
Avatar
101 posts
Likes: 6
Joined Nov 2010
Location: Toronto
     
Mar 03, 2021 08:49 |  #7

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19202933 (external link)
.
Thanks for explaining this to me. .
Here are a couple links to new ones from 3rd party sellers, who I presume would have very reasonable shipping. If the links don't open for you, but you are interested, let me know and I can send you screenshots so that you know what keywords to search for so you can find them on your own.
.

Thanks for this! But as I mentioned I was interested in buying it new.

Wilt wrote in post #19203138 (external link)
It also appears that Buff products are available thru some Canadian sources, such as
https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=14722202

Thanks for sharing. Couldn't find any Canadian source on that thread. Only that Paul C Buff ships to Canada, am I missing something?

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19203190 (external link)
.
I think it would behoove the OP to read what you quoted in that first link.
For one to sign that petition would kind of be showing an ignorance of the way the entire corporation is set up to market, sell, and distribute their products. . They would have to change EVERYTHING about their entire business in order to charge less for shipping & import fees. . Do the people signing this petition really have a full understanding of that?

.

They would not have to restructure their business in any way whatsoever except for to offer shipping through USPS. That's literally the title of the petition. Offer shipping through a reasonable shipper, aka USPS.

USPS charges $5 at the border to clear customs VS the price gouged amount you can typically expect from a private shipper. I've NEVER paid $5 or anything under $30 to broker anything with a private shipper.

-

Anyways, thanks to posting this petition in multiple spots, someone actually made a recommendation for me. To sign up to Shippsy and ship to the border, then have these guys broker the packages for me and deliver it to either the Mississauga or Markham location in the GTA (Toronto area).

So something good did come out of this petition because I just signed up and I'm excited to see what the experience is like.

And they gave me a referral code where if I refer someone we each get $10 in credits so I'm pumped to use that too!
https://portal.shippsy​.com/register/P2Qa3C (external link)


Daniel Camer, Photographer
THAT Toronto Studio (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Tom ­ Reichner
"That's what I do."
Avatar
17,636 posts
Gallery: 213 photos
Best ofs: 2
Likes: 8386
Joined Dec 2008
Location: from Pennsylvania, USA, now in Washington state, USA, road trip back and forth a lot
     
Mar 03, 2021 08:53 |  #8

ThatTorontoStudio wrote in post #19203312 (external link)
.
Thanks for this! But as I mentioned I was interested in buying it new.
.

.
Those two links I gave you are to new items. . There were many dozens of used items, but I only gave you links to new ones because that is what you said you wanted.


.


"Your" and "you're" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one.
"They're", "their", and "there" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one.
"Fare" and "fair" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one. The proper expression is "moot point", NOT "mute point".

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
ThatTorontoStudio
THREAD ­ STARTER
I just had to ask
Avatar
101 posts
Likes: 6
Joined Nov 2010
Location: Toronto
     
Mar 03, 2021 11:42 |  #9

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19203314 (external link)
.
Those two links I gave you are to new items. . There were many dozens of used items, but I only gave you links to new ones because that is what you said you wanted.

.

My mistake, busy day - I glanced over it rather than reading the entire ad in depth. Thanks again for your help, looks like I've got it figured out with Shippsy thank goodness!


Daniel Camer, Photographer
THAT Toronto Studio (external link)

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
Tom ­ Reichner
"That's what I do."
Avatar
17,636 posts
Gallery: 213 photos
Best ofs: 2
Likes: 8386
Joined Dec 2008
Location: from Pennsylvania, USA, now in Washington state, USA, road trip back and forth a lot
     
Mar 03, 2021 17:43 |  #10

ThatTorontoStudio wrote in post #19203368 (external link)
.
..... looks like I've got it figured out with Shippsy thank goodness!
.

.
I really hope that works out for you as well as it seems like it will.

Please keep us posted - I'm interested in how things go.


.


"Your" and "you're" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one.
"They're", "their", and "there" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one.
"Fare" and "fair" are different words with completely different meanings - please use the correct one. The proper expression is "moot point", NOT "mute point".

  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
sponsored links (only for non-logged)

1,075 views & 2 likes for this thread, 3 members have posted to it and it is followed by 2 members.
Alienbees Petition to Stop Gouging Canadians on Shipping
FORUMS Marketplace & Market Info Market Watch 
AAA
x 1600
y 1600

Jump to forum...   •  Rules   •  Forums   •  New posts   •  RTAT   •  'Best of'   •  Gallery   •  Gear   •  Reviews   •  Member list   •  Polls   •  Image rules   •  Search   •  Password reset   •  Home

Not a member yet?
Register to forums
Registered members may log in to forums and access all the features: full search, image upload, follow forums, own gear list and ratings, likes, more forums, private messaging, thread follow, notifications, own gallery, all settings, view hosted photos, own reviews, see more and do more... and all is free. Don't be a stranger - register now and start posting!


COOKIES DISCLAIMER: This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and to our privacy policy.
Privacy policy and cookie usage info.


POWERED BY AMASS forum software 2.58forum software
version 2.58 /
code and design
by Pekka Saarinen ©
for photography-on-the.net

Latest registered member is semonsters
1487 guests, 132 members online
Simultaneous users record so far is 15,144, that happened on Nov 22, 2018

Photography-on-the.net Digital Photography Forums is the website for photographers and all who love great photos, camera and post processing techniques, gear talk, discussion and sharing. Professionals, hobbyists, newbies and those who don't even own a camera -- all are welcome regardless of skill, favourite brand, gear, gender or age. Registering and usage is free.