U.S. EBay Seller Refuses Canucks (France, Mexico, Germany too)

wired.com ^ | Mar. 25, 2003 | Charles Mandel

[cdefreese]

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- On eBay, the highest bid wins -- unless the item on sale is a laser printer from CompAtlanta and the bidder happens to be Canadian.

That's what a tax consultant discovered last week when he tried to buy a printer on eBay, but was refused by the vendor when it was discovered he lived in Vancouver.

David Ingram received notification that his winning bid of $24.50 had been canceled, along with this message: "At the present time, we do not ship to, or accept bids from, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany or any other country that does not support the United States in our efforts to rid the world of Saddam Hussein. If you are not with us, you are against us."

Ingram's .ca address sparked the notice from CompAtlanta, based in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Canada is one of a number of countries that said it would not support an American invasion of Iraq without United Nations' approval.

"I've made a winning bid,'' Ingram said. "To discriminate against me because I'm a Canadian is ridiculous."

Sid Mitchell, CompAtlanta's president, could not be reached for comment. However, an e-mail exchange between Ingram and Mitchell clearly laid out the company's policy: "What part of this listing do you not understand?" Mitchell wrote Ingram. "This item will not be shipped outside the USA, and we do not accept bids from Canadians. Both are plainly stated."

That didn't stop Ingram from trying again over the weekend. He bid for the laser printer a second time, offering $107.50 to avoid being outbid and specifying delivery to an American address. In a separate message, he informed Mitchell that he wanted the printer shipped stateside.

Judging by Mitchell's reply, however, Ingram isn't likely to get his printer from CompAtlanta: "You are obviously trying to get around the fact that you are Canadian," Mitchell wrote to Ingram, "and we will not honor your bid or ship to any location for you."

Ingram said Mitchell lacks a good business reason for not shipping to a Canadian who uses an American address. "If they're going to do that,'' Ingram said, "then they shouldn't sell to the 50 percent of Democrats and the 20 percent of Republicans that aren't supporting the war, either."

CompAtlanta is one of a small number of companies boycotting countries opposed to the war. The German newspaper Deutsche Welle reported late last week that a German shoe-supply manufacturer lost a contract with an American firm over Germany's stance on the war. There have also been reports of American consumers boycotting French wine and cheese.

But the boycotts aren't widespread yet. JoAnn Dupont, a customer service representative with eBay vendor IkeSound.com of Florida, said her company's policy of shipping to Canada and other countries has not changed as a result of the war.

And some eBay vendors selling such items as Saddam Hussein "terrorist hunting licenses" and dart boards will ship them anywhere in the world.

Andre Lemay, a spokesman for the Canadian department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa, said he wasn't aware of any reverse boycott. Nor did he believe such a boycott would be an issue, since Canada and the United States remain each others' two largest trading partners. "We still believe our relationship with the U.S. is good -- in fact, enviable,'' he said.

EBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove said CompAtlanta was the only eBay merchant he knew of that is boycotting buyers for reasons related to the war. He said sellers can decide with whom they want to do business, but eBay frowns on posting overtly political messages. Pursglove said eBay ordered CompAtlanta to remove the auction item and to modify its message to bidders from Canada, Mexico, France and Germany.

But CompAtlanta's message is still more or less intact, which incenses Ingram. He says he plans to pursue the matter with eBay.

He may also take it up in person with CompAtlanta. If he doesn't receive his printer before a scheduled trip south of the border later in the fall, Ingram says he'll pay the computer vendor a visit.

"If they don't send it,'' he said, "sometime in September or October I will park outside their store with a sign saying they discriminate against Canadians."

[cdefreese]

I looked for this being posted, and didn't find it anywhere.

Apparently they have gotten alot of hate calls and emails over this. I have used their feedback page here to offer support for them.

Here is some more info about the company:
CompAtlanta
478 Northdale Road
Suite 102
Lawrenceville, GA. 30045
770-513-6250
Fax: 770-513-6252

[billorites]

Free shipping for Estonians?

[Keith]

""If they're going to do that,'' Ingram said, "then they shouldn't sell to the 50 percent of Democrats and the 20 percent of Republicans that aren't supporting the war, either."


Ooooh....good idea...let me make a note of that...

[truthkeeper]

A deserving BUMP!

[Coop]

ROTFLMAO!!!

"I've made a winning bid,'' Ingram said. "To discriminate against me because I'm a Canadian is ridiculous."

I suggest you take it up with the U.N. Security Council, Mr. Ingram.

[jriemer]

Free shipping for Estonians?

What about free shipping for Bulgarians, Englishmen, Spainards, and Poles? 8^)

[Centurion2000]

"If they don't send it,'' he said, "sometime in September or October I will park outside their store with a sign saying they discriminate against Canadians."

Hell, this makes me want to go to that store and buy a brand new system.

[nevergore]

"If they don't send it,'' he said, "sometime in September or October I will park outside their store with a sign saying they discriminate against Canadians."

Oh that will go over well in Atlanta! Why doesn't he just wear a sign that say's "beat me up and take my lunch money"

NeverGore :^)

[CheezyD]

Excellent! I just sent a message of appreciation for them making a stand.

[asformeandformyhouse]

"If they don't send it,'' he said, "sometime in September or October I will park outside their store with a sign saying they discriminate against Canadians."

September or October? Nothing like our Canadian neighbors for quick action.

[RippleFire]

BUMP

[newgeezer]

Sounds good to me.

Besides, most Canucks want us to lie on the shipping manifest, and say it's a "gift" (or something to that effect) to bypass their country's outrageous duty on imports (or some such thing).

At any rate, they want us to lie in order to save them some CDN$.

[Grig]

There are a LOT of Canadians who are FULLY supportive of this war. You Americans should check your aim befor you squeeze off a shot.

[OpusatFR]

Shoot. I just left them a message and forwarded this company's name and number along to people I know who are upgrading and looking for new business equipment .

What is this Canuck going to do? Call the Army of Canuckistan and invade Atlanta?

[dts32041]

Gee Good Canadians have learned that their are consquences to their actions.

[UCANSEE2]

"If they don't send it,'' he said, "sometime in September or October I will park outside their store with a sign saying they discriminate against Canadians."

Thank you for letting us know when you will be there so we can have a surprise ready for you !

[Violette]

Thank you.... I did my part and sent him a "way to go" note.

[Orbiting_Rosie's_Head]

Do they ship to the Republic of Elbonia?

[OpusatFR]

You have a funny way of showing it.

If you support the US then make some noise.

[Naspino]

The canuck will waste his time if he stands outside and protests. Being from here -- this has actually raise CompAtlanta to the top of my list for a new computer I'm looking for.