20north.com! Anyone bought anything yet?

[daddycool]

After reading this entire thread and the kind of problems some buyers had, I can see one aspect of their business model that affects buyers.
They save money on shipping by combining multiple orders. This was obvious when they admitted that the consignment with large number of orders was stuck at customs.
How does that affect me the buyer?
20north waits to accumulate a large enough consignment to ship. So if your order was at the start of this consolidation, you will have to wait till they get enough orders. Much like the share-a-taxi or share-an-auto service.
The larger the consignment, the more they save and the longer you wait.

 

[Spidey]

After reading this entire thread and the kind of problems some buyers had, I can see one aspect of their business model that affects buyers.
They save money on shipping by combining multiple orders. This was obvious when they admitted that the consignment with large number of orders was stuck at customs.
How does that affect me the buyer?
20north waits to accumulate a large enough consignment to ship. So if your order was at the start of this consolidation, you will have to wait till they get enough orders. Much like the share-a-taxi or share-an-auto service.
The larger the consignment, the more they save and the longer you wait.

There may be some customs scam too... they take upfront customs from customer in advance but still their lots get "stuck " in customs.. are they negotiating with the customs to release at "lower" duty or no duty??
Obviously this takes time depending on the custom officier and the goods lie at the custom till then.
If i bring a item from abroad and am ready to pay the full official customs duty, will i be held at customs for undefinate time... no.

 

[psychotropic]

good points from daddycool and spidey. My hunch is that the 20north guys will not respond if this is true

 

[Spidey]

These maybe general observations regarding delayed shipping and custom clearing of 20north.com; it is just a mater of luck to each. Well .. not knowing the true causes of delay, we will have to say luck.
So ur shipment may arrive in 20 to 50 days and irrespective of air or ocean shipping.
Whats the rule of total refund.. when and how much is refunded ... is shipping and customs paid already refunded?

 

[grubyhalo]

good points from daddycool and spidey. My hunch is that the 20north guys will not respond if this is true

I wouldn't count on that, especially since I see that the id '20north' is banned here. I wonder why...

 

[HiFiVision]

I wouldn't count on that, especially since I see that the id '20north' is banned here. I wonder why...

Violation of Forum Rule below:

Only a dealer, distributor, manufacturer or service provider who is a sponsor member can directly discuss and promote their products and/or services with other members.

 

[grubyhalo]

Violation of Forum Rule below:

Ah I see, thanks for your clarification.

 

[HiFiVision]

I dunno why they are banned though - could it be their failure to register as a commercial member and continue hawking their services here?

That is correct.

 

[Raghav]

Violation of Forum Rule below:

Better late than never. The member joined way back in May 09. If a service provider / dealer is complained / riled about and he comes across the posts online, he should be allowed to clarify. After all someone else started it.

 

[HiFiVision]

Better late than never. The member joined way back in May 09. If a service provider / dealer is complained / riled about and he comes across the posts online, he should be allowed to clarify. After all someone else started it.

I do not mind that. Therefore I had not banned this member in the past. But this member has been recently soliciting business from other members. And this is against the forum rules.

 

[sandip_d]

I had ordered two products, 1st on 14th August and 2nd on 18th August. The product which I ordered on 18th August is received today in perfect condition and I was informed by 20north that, I would receive the 1st order product by 15th Sept. So delivery time in my case works out to be 24 days and 32 days(if delivered on Tuesday) respectively. It seems that they mean business but were stuck in past by some issues which everybody expects them to sort out quickly.

 

[anilva]

Same story as above. A big and expensive (50K) turntable that I ordered on 18th August got delivered yesterday but simple DVDs and Blurays that I ordered on 8th August have not been delivered yet, but promised for next week.

Not a bad deal so far. Item is in great condition with original packing and sourced from Amazon.

These guys are not bad after all....

 

[panditji]

Guys, these guys probably ship the products via the sea and therefore it will take atleast 15 days for the item to be delivered from the US to India. Also we need to take the amount of time taken by Amazon or the other retailers to ship to 20North's US warehouse which could be approx 4-7 business days. Then comes the department of Indian customs where if you don't bribe they won't inspect your products. Expect another 4-5 days for the shipment to be cleared. Add another 4 days for the item to be shipped to your address from 20North's indian warehouse.
That makes it a total of 7 +15+5+4 = approx 31 days if things go as planned.
So if they are able to deliver within 30 days then I think these guys are good.

However I feel CDs and DVDs should be ordered via air through normal amazon service unless buying more than 5 at a time..

 

[anm]

someone posted ebay globalbuy list. anyone has exp with them?

 

[sandip_d]

but simple DVDs and Blurays that I ordered on 8th August have not been delivered yet, but promised for next week.

Anilva, Have you received them? I am yet to receive the product I ordered on 14th August. 20 north promised me to deliver on 15th Sept but not yet delivered. :sad:

 

[anilva]

Anilva, Have you received them? I am yet to receive the product I ordered on 14th August. 20 north promised me to deliver on 15th Sept but not yet delivered. :sad:

Nope! just received a email saying that now they will deliver on 24th September. I have lost all my patience. They seem to be simply incompetent to handle Indian Customs...and have chosen a wrong business to compound that....

 

[20north]

As mentioned in earlier posts, we did get into complications at customs a few times in the recent months - all our orders in the last 20 days have been processed smoothly and delivered on or before schedule. we did unfortunately experience a set of delayed orders and impacted customers are justifiably upset (please bear with us a little longer on this folks).

We have got customs processes streamlined and working very smoothly and will shortly be offering a 14-day express delivery option on many products.

20North Team

 

[sandip_d]

Today enquired about the status of order made on 14th August. The reply was so casual and definately anyone who wants to deal with 20north should be aware. I was plainly told( by neil on chat) that, the product has not left the US yet. It means even after 40 days of order, 20North is not able to ship a small headphone to India. People judge on your own what this attitute means and what a Customer should understand from it.

 

[idlebrain]

Hi Guys,

After so much of hesitation..Finally ordered Panny BD80 and couple of BD Movies from 20north.com.
Order receipt shows delivery will be between 14 to 20 days i.e around Oct14th.
Hope everything will be as promised.


Regards
Satya

 

[idlebrain]

Heres my 2 cents..

I ordered an electronic product frm 20north on 28th August using air shipping (Max time at purchase was quoted as 20 days). Went ahead and placed order on my card.

Now when i got a receipt of payment to 20north and subsequently i logged into to check my account i was shocked to see that delivery is quoted as 40 days. :sad:

Lets c whn it will actually arrive
will update here accordingly

Hi mumbayite..Did you recvd. your products? If so in 20 or 40 days?