Restrictive Sales Practices on the Web? 736
"Here are a few examples:
IBM, Apple and Dell operate web stores that sell almost their entire range of kit, they only ship to the USA. Power Notebooks have the same policy but cite different reasons (see below). Some manufacturers have local country websites but these offer a restricted range compared to the main site.
Apple has their new iTunes system. As I am outside the USA they will not let me logon to the system.
Amazon.com are willing to sell me books but nothing else.
The reasons for this policy range from the (almost) reasonable to the downright silly. Amazon cite difficulties with warranty returns as their reason and while most of the rest won't tell me why they don't want my business Power Notebooks told me that recent anti-terrorist legislation stops them from exporting equipment. Quite why they cannot export a notebook originally manufactured in the Far East is beyond me.
Getting the kit to me in Hungary is no problem either. FedEx and UPS have local offices and if that fails there is always the Hungarian Postal Service. Shipping time from the USA can be as short as two working days, I know this because my company obtains spares from the USA for our products."
Hungary is a beautiful country (Score:4, Funny)
Re:"Can't be bothered..." (Score:2, Funny)
From Maine, you say? (Score:2, Funny)
On second thought, I'm from Massachusetts... Ever since you became your own state, we just regard Maine as another country... or worse yet, part of Canadah. j/k
The real reason (Score:5, Funny)
Re:tarrifs, trade restrictions, VAT, etc (Score:3, Funny)
We once dabbled in international commerce (thus the name) but haven't done so in years due to the shipping charges and hassle.
D
Don't Worry, Be Happy (Score:4, Funny)
So, be Happy! Soon, thanks to the efforts of the patriots at the Department of Homeland Security, the entire WORLD-Wide-Web will be safe for you to reliably conduct credit card transactions. More importantly, it will be safe for merchants to collect their payments and banks to earn their interest. (You didn't really think anyone cared about you, did you?)
Re:The real reason (Score:4, Funny)
No you say? Why is this relevant?
Indiana is bigger then Hungary. It's GSP(Gross State Product) is $190 billion compared to Hungary's $134.7 billion. And Indiana has 4 million less people. (just to name 3 reasons)
And it is just a State.
Why is it so important to you for Americans to know where every 2nd and 3rd world country is? I'm sure you couldn't name every country out there, much less point them all out.
*sources*
http://www.in.gov/doc/compare/
http
And the other one is... (Score:3, Funny)
I spoke with Dell regarding this (Score:4, Funny)
Hope this helps!
Re:The real reason (Score:4, Funny)
What?!? 50 states? I thought there were three: California, New York, and Flyover.
Re:A friend in Romaina advised me NOT to send.... (Score:3, Funny)
We had that same problem in New Mexico.