NFR... Can anyone help me with info on on-line shopping...

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susan_calgary

Well-known member
I have always avoided shopping on-line because I am not sure about the security of info. I have started on a set of All-Clad Copper Core cookware and would like to try to buy a few pieces on-line - they seem to be much cheaper that way. Any tips would be greatly appreciated, and what is the best site for such things? I've looked at the Amazon site and they talk about countries outside the U.S. that they ship to -but Canada is not on the list - does that mean they don't ship here - seems strange? Sur La Table apparently doesn't ship to Canada. Does anyone know why? ...or am I missing something? Thanks.

 
I have had good luck with outletsonline.com..........more.....

I have bought several pieces of All Clad seconds and never could find the flaw. I believe if you find one that you are not happy with you can return it. I have also emailed them a question and gotten a quick response so maybe you could try that with your shipping question. As for security, I buy online all the time. I figure it's no worse than handing my credit card to a waiter to take away. I have had my credit card number stolen once in China while I was standing there watching and another time had mysterious charges from Korea, where I have never been. Both times Citibank were very cooperative and the only problem for me was changing all those things that I have charged to my credit card, like my cell phone bill, for instance when they issued me a new card. I go over my statement each month with a fine tooth comb making sure that all charges are mine. I also check recent charges on my account online to catch anything suspicious early.

 
Susan, it's often hard to find retailers that ship to Canada.

I can't say "why" other than that it's a lot of work for them, they have to manually fill out customs forms, and with stricter customs laws post 9/11 they feel it's too much work for just a few customers. That's the kind of reasoning I've gotten when I've questioned retailers before.

That said, I've been shopping online since the inception of e-commerce and have never had a problem with my information being stolen.

FK ships to Canada but unfortunately they don't carry All-Clad.

 
Amazon.ca only sells books, music and video. None of the other products that Amazon.com has.

 
Info for you & a link to Metro Kitchen...

Hi Susan,

>I have always avoided shopping on-line because I am not sure
>about the security of info.

Makes sense but, make sure to look for a “secure site", one that I’d recommend is Metro Kitchen as they do ship to Canada.
http://www.metrokitchen.com
Irregular activity seems to be caught earlier and earlier by credit card companies so I don't think you need to worry anymore that you won't know until your next statement (just shop solely at secure sites - and - especially beware of 'spoof' emails, something I've seen a lot of buying on eBay/PayPal, where someone gets your email address and attempts to impersonate the company in order to get you to reveal your credit card info).

>Any tips would be greatly appreciated, and what is the best site
>for such things?

I bought a few of my last pieces off eBay, with qualified ‘good’ results (4 pots arrived in perfect condition, good/great deals, 1 pot had 2 undisclosed flaws). In the case of the All Clad items though, I’d definitely stick with Sellers who have very high customer ratings.

For my initial purchases, mostly the larger items (roasting pans, stockpots), I bought them at a local restaurant supply store. I'd shopped around, they had excellent prices, and on multiple purchases were willing to deal further (so you might try that as an option).

>I've looked at the Amazon site and they talk about countries
>outside the U.S. that they ship to -but Canada is not on the list –
>does that mean they don't ship here - seems strange?

Amazon ships to Canada but, at present, only limited items (books, music, movies). Someone told me it had to do with NAFTA but I'm not sure why that would be the case.

>Sur La Table apparently doesn't ship to Canada.

Yes, they definitely ship throughout Canada, I’ve sent gifts to my aunt – and – she ended up ordering online from them for herself and for her daughter (both of whom live in Canada and in different provinces: British Columbia and Alberta).

Sometimes the issue is a company’s inability to verify a credit card. I've noticed some qualify it as 'outside the U.S.' while others say 'outside the U.S. and Canada'.

Happy shopping...

http://www.metrokitchen.com

 
When I have inquired about having things shipped "from" Canada, it is also prohibitively

expensive. Is it also vice versa?

 
Often it is, yes, and that's another reason retailers say they won't ship to Canada. But...

if the customer is willing to pay the shipping costs -- as I have often been, since the product I want can't be found at any price within Canada -- I think the retailer should be open to shipping to Canada and leave the decision about whether the shipping costs are too high to the customer.

 
Thank you everyone for all the information and suggestions ...

it seems the on-line shopping prices are not that different from the store prices in Calgary, so I'll just buy from the store for now, but I do feel more confident about trying some on-line shopping for some other things.
Ruth - the e-bay scam is one I have been plagued with and was a real worry. Thank you for your info. very helpful.

 
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