Hi guys,
I've been buying magic on-line for years and I've spent thousands of dollars on a very select group of dealers (all but one). We don't have many dealers here in South Africa so I've had to order "across the miles" as it were.
Anyway I've had 3 orders go missing in 3 years (not bad!)In the first two cases, the dealers refunded my money or gave me store credits and I was a happy camper. My general rule of thumb is that it hardly ever takes more than 4 weeks to travel from the US to Johannesburg. If its not here in 6 weeks, I start to worry.

Unfortunately the last one that didn't arrive is causing some problems. I can't seem to get this dealer to help me. I ordered something on-line on 4th June 2005. It still hasn't arrived and I've sent over 10 e mails during the 2 month period. The dealer doesn't answer my e mails and will not even send me a copy of the postal/customs documentation. What can I do? I am so frustrated and can't really afford to toss money away.

Someone please help me.
Simon

If you paid by credit card, contact the company that issued the card. Explain that your order never arrived, and ask them to reverse the charge (take it off your bill). That should solve your problem and also give the dealer a wake-up call at the same time. SETH

Thanks Sethb.
Didn't realise that you could do that. I'll get onto the bank asap.
Simon

Simon -- Hope the credit card info helps.

Although it's not widely publicized, most credit companies will permit you to dispute a charge on your card, if you can show that you ordered and paid for merchandise that did not arrive within a reasonable time. You also need to show that you have made a good faith effort to resolve the problem on your own, and have given the merchant an opportunity to correct the situation before contacting the bank.

From your post, it seems that you have met these requirements, and should be able to get some relief. Good Luck! SETH

If it's an Internet charge that means the dealer has no signature from you. If that's the case you can easily charge it back. You will ALWAYS win. I know I was a dealer and found out many times.

Matter of fact you can do this: Let's say you order thousands of dollars in electronic equipment over the Internet and receive the stuff at your home.

A few weeks later you can call the card company and say that you do not recognize the charge on your card. They will all be reversed and the card company will take no part in getting you to return the merchandise. The store where you purchased the stuff will not be able to get it back either. Doesn't matter how much email correspondance they provide to the credit card company. The dealer will always lose if they do not have a signed credit card slip. Period.

John

You don't even have to go thru that much trouble. The burden is on the Vendor. You just tell the card company you are unhappy they send/fax you a form you fill it out and it goes to the Vendor with the chargeback info. The Vendor has to prove that you are wrong. But in the Internet world, like I stated in my post, if the vendor does not have a signed credit card slip they will lose no matter how much info they provide.

John

Exactly two weeks ago I ordered two items from two different companies...one by check and one by credit card human transaction over phone. The former was from the creator and the latter was from a larger company. In the meantime, I've had fun trying to figure out how one of them might work. I have seen no demos on either. Both items are small enough to be easily delivered into my mailbox. Given the holidays, how long should I wait before contacting the companies?

I'm glad I waited...Motivational Force arrived today from its creator. It looks plenty intriguing. I read all the threads and could not deduce this. It is of the same high quality as another Radio Free Atlantis effect I purchased some years ago from Mr. Miller. That product recently generated a useful Café discussion with creative resolution and my own handling benefitted from this forum.

I have never had any problems with a charge back ... although this happens to me rarely. I spend lots of money online for magic.

The only place I buy magic is online. the only place I can actually.
I've had problems where I didn't recieve my magic for around two months and decided to change my online store to one here in canada(edmonton) and the response has been phenominal.

Well, I've been ordering online for about a year now, and I havent had this problem until recently. I've been ordering from a company that had free shipping (6-14 days). Usually my order would come in 3. My last order to them was sent from their warehouse 3 times in a 4 moth period, and one finally got to my house 5 months after I ordered it. I don't deal with them much any more...

Actually I found that sending a U.S.P.S. Money Order can make a difference. I ordered something over 5 years ago and didn't recieve it for a couple of months. I did a check with the Post Office (for a fee) and they sent me a copy of the money order and when it was cashed. I made a copy and sent a letter asking if they sent it. I week later I recieved my package.

I have order most of my magic online. the only problem I have had is with slow shipping. I agree that a postal money order is very good way to pay online.

Always ask your seller how quickly they will ship. This will tell you whether you want to wait. Some sellers are better than others.

Simply go through the proper channels and act accordingly.
Bill is right, have direct communication with the seller FIRST.
This is always a good way to start.