trtogether
canada
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Joined: 10/06/2004
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I have had problems sometimes getting information from web sites when your address is necessary and they have a list of states but no Canadian provinces.
It bothers me when this happens. Do Americans not realize how often Canadians travel into the USA and spend money.
Any idea what can be done to improve the problem?
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joe b.
Florida
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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It must be a "white out" as I can't see you for all the snow. LOL. There doesn't seem to be a problem when we each are in the other's country as credit cards are very welcome in both countries when the spender is present physically. The problem seems to arise when ordering across the borders. There are probably not two other countries in the world that are so tied together economically, culturally and historically. We ship food, medicines, petroleum products (at least you guys send them to us) share auto manufacturing, buy each others recreational vehicles, airplanes, etc. But to order is a major problem. Just yesterday I was ordering a cell phone battery and it clearly stated on the web site that they only shipped to USA addresses. That makes no business sense to me at all. When they accept your credit card it is automatically converted over to the home currency so it has to be some sort of government paperwork bureaucracy keeping it from happening.
Keep trying to spend your money here as our economy needs the boost. We currently have about 650,000 Canadians living in Florida as "snowbirds" at this time and we love the boost they give to the economy of Florida in the winter time.
I used to run into a similar problem when we lived in Alaska. There I was told "we don't ship to foreign countries" by numerous vendors when I tried to order from their catalogs.
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Driving a Dodge/Cummins/Lance
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Alaska 2004/2006/2009 - Colorado photos
"Without challenge, adventure is impossible".
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Timber Camper
Iowa/USA
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Joined: 11/19/2004
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I don't know why there is a problem, but do want to say. That as an American I like our friends to the North and hope that these issues will be resolved.
Ford F250 V10 Crew Cab Short Box
2005 Cardinal LE 31-2BH
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relaxin
Fenwick, Ontario
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Joined: 03/12/2003
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I ran into this just recently myself as well in the past, what I have done (specifically when requesting info or a catolog) I put in a zip code for niagara falls NY (just accros the border from me) and then in the comments section put my full address and postal code when something is to be sent by mail, or if its just email info I tell where I am located and make polite mention about the problem letting them know that its imposible to shop with them online untill they can resolve that problem, most of the time I get a polite responce that either they overlooked that when they set up their website, and are going to get it changed, or that they prefer not to take "online" orders for out of country clients, and last but not least a few won't respond at all, (guess those ones are making to much money)> Anyways I have managed to reletively easily do business with and purchase from American companies
Relaxin, hikin, canoin, enjoyin life
headin down the road with a 25 foot starcraft, canoe, camera & fishing rod,'86 gmc 1 ton crew cab 454 "Sheila"
a few pics from 2004
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Little Kopit
TheMaritimes.ca
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Joined: 12/23/2003
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I have made it a practice to call for catalog information or to place and order and give a credit card number.
99% of the time this is best, especially for tourist information. Places are almost always delighted to give you that bit extra for you specific interests.
I keep saying almost because, Iowa proved itself the exception last year. I called and was told they were not permitted to send information out of the country. I posted over in ATC and a number of Iowa residents did what I asked for and contacted appropriate decision makers about this. But if one can think that way, then others can too.
Still, calling is usually the polite way to call attention to an oversite. I also find that few U.S. outfits have revised their postal code. Ours became NL three years ago.
& I, I took the road less travelled by.
My Photo Album, featuring Labrador 2006
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AlfGulford
Central Oregon
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Joined: 07/07/2004
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I've had the same problem on occasion in reverse.
I tried 4 times to order tourist information online from the Yukon Territory and was notified each time that my message wouldn't go through. When I phoned them they told me (with a polite laugh) that they had received all 4 requests.
Another time I tried repeatedly to order a B.C. Atlas from a Canadian publisher and never did get a response. Probably out of business.
Who knows why these things happen?
[b]Alf
2001 Ford F-250SD, V-10, 4x4, 3.73
Coachman Catalina 285RK
Note: Due to invalid formatting, all formatting has been ignored.
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Glenn Adams
Heading down the road without end and now I'm lost
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trtogether, I have no idea why the US business community operates the way it does. I operated a motel and fishing camp in northern NY just 5 miles from the Canadian border. I not only accepted US currency but the Canadian money as well. Any idea what can be done to improve the problem? None whatsoever.
But as a born and raised US citizen, I do have a problem the way the citizens of the US have taken the words "America" & "American" as their own. It is the United States of "America". The "America" comes from the fact that the US is in North America and so is Canada and Mexico and let's not leave out Central America or South America. We all live in "America" and in my book we are all "Americans".
Glenn and Lorraine, FullTimers
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2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4x4 Extended Cab Short Bed Duramax/Allison
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2007 Montana 3485SA 38' 5th Wheel
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CANEY
Midland, MI,USA
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Joined: 09/21/2004
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Being a transplant myself, I have run into this problem on both sides. It's that darn little import/export tax and contraban stuff. You as a business must buy and import/export license and collect the appropriate tax. Some overseas stuff imported to Canada is not allowed in the US because of import laws and visa/versa. (cars not meeting US emission laws for example) Find a buddy in the other country and have it shipped to his address and pick it up on your way through, as long as it is not contraban.
Dennis & Melody
2004 27 FT HR Savoy
2000 GMC 1/2t Std Cab short box
NOMADS
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billb1
Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
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I am a Canadian presently in South Texas.
WalMart will not sell to me over the internet as I have a Canadian Creidt Card. They accept the Cdn. Card in their stores but not the internet. Makes no sense to me.
Some 'pay at the pump' gasoline stations require you enter your zip code at the pump. My alphameric postal code does not work. Have to go inside and give them my card to hold before I can pump gas. Darn nuisance.
BillB
2000 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 1 Ton Diesel, 4.10 axle w/limited slip, auto trans.
1999 Jayco Designer 3310 5th Wheel
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JeffersonCampervan
Toronto, ON
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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>I used to run into a similar problem when we lived in Alaska. There I was told "we don't ship to foreign countries" by numerous vendors when I tried to order from their catalogs
They likely don't want to deal with the extra handling involved with filling in customs forms and calculating different shipping rates for what they perceive as a fractional part of their business.
In addition, there is more credit card fraud with international orders.
>WalMart will not sell to me over the internet as I have a Canadian Creidt Card. They accept the Cdn. Card in their stores but not the internet. Makes no sense to me.
Where are you having it shipped? Most vendors will only ship to an address registered with the credit card company, again to avoid fraud. You can register a second ship-to address - I have both my Toronto billing address and a Buffalo address attached to one of my Canadian credit cards.
Frank in Toronto
formerly:
2 Westfalia campers (in Europe)
2 VW/Winnebago Eurovan campers
Now: 2004 Rialta HD : the "Jefferson Campervan" - Now in Europe
The Jefferson Campervan in Europe
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