[Tipstaff]

Ok, maybe someone here can answer this question. How come a company in the United States is NOW unable to sell me software if I live outside of the US? What new law is it that these companies keep referring to? I've looked everywhere for information on this, with little to no results (just a bunch of possible laws). Here's an example right off Amazon.com (this is just 1 listing from 5 different companies I tried, including the manufacturer directly):
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[color=#cc6600]Product Restrictions[/color]

Please note: Buyers outside the U.S. cannot purchase the following items via Amazon Marketplace:

Video Games, Electronics, Camera & Photo, Tools & Hardware, Kitchen & Housewares, Software, and Computers.


and

[color=#cc6600]Geographical Shipping Restrictions[/color]

Warranty issues and manufacturer restrictions prevent us from shipping certain products to all geographical locations. Below are some general guidelines for items shipped by Amazon.com. If you are purchasing an item from Amazon Marketplace, click here for more information about Marketplace shipping restrictions.

Please also check the product detail pages for any other item-specific shipping restrictions.

Toys, games, and video games can be shipped only to locations within the U.S., U.S. protectorates, and APO/FPO addresses.

Electronics, camera and photo items, kitchen and housewares items, outdoor living items, [color=red]software (including games)[/color], jewelry, and tools and hardware can be shipped within the U.S. only. Some can also be shipped to U.S. protectorates and APO/FPO addresses. You'll be notified while placing your order if we're unable to ship specific items to the address you've selected.

Cell phones and service, computers, magazines, and items from the Target at Amazon.com store can be shipped only to locations within the U.S. and cannot currently be shipped to APO/FPO addresses or Puerto Rico.
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WTF??

The piece of software I'm trying to get is the TMPGEnc DVD Author for a client of mine. Buying it online, and downloading it is not an option. I have to purchase it, and have it sent to me, box and all otherwise I cannot get reimbursed for it. Last year I bought this exact software right from the manufacturer with no problems at all. Zero, zilch, not a problem at all, however now I'm being told off.

For the life of me I cannot get a straight answer out of any retailer, online or otherwise, to tell me why they are unable to sell software outside of the United States. As soon as I mention it, "Sorry, we're unable to ship our software to Canada." I've even asked, "What if the sister company in the US buys the software, and ships it here?" The reply, "If you do that you will be in breach of US law, and would probably have the software confiscated when customs receives it." OK, why? "I'm sorry; I don't make our shipping policies. I only know that I can't ship to Canada." F'ing beautiful.

The only thing I could find is a ruling by the Canadian Government including a 15% surtax against all US imports as retaliation for the Byrd Amendment deal. This doesn't affect products of this nature though, and, since this is coming from the US it's a US imposed law (at least I was able to get that much out of 5 different sales people, from 4 different companies).

Does anyone here have a clue why this is? What this new law is?

[Dark Lord]

i ship stuff quite a bit and ive never heard of this one yet.

you would think something like this would be all over the news, but this is the first time ive heard of not being able to ship software and what not to canada.

what if you just have them mark it as America JR.? will they ship it ot you then?

[Tipstaff]

I wish it were that simple. I'm still trying to figure a way around this, but I have to be careful. The company I'm buying this software for is Proctor & Gamble (guys that do Tide, Pert, Pampers, ect.) If buying this software breaks the law in any way the company will not be held responsible for it, and so, will not buy it. If P&G in the US buys it, and is breaking the law by shipping it here? Forget it. Same deal. They could be fined heavily by the US Gov, and these guys won't let that happen.

The problem is that as soon as I mention that I live in Canada I get the same respones, "Sorry, we can't ship this to Canada." All I can get out of these bafoons is that this is a "new" law, but what f'ing law it is? Obviously, they have no clue.

Funny thing is, Amazon.ca doesn't have this software for sale. In fact, Amazon.com and Amazon.jp are the only 2 of their sites that do. Why? Well, my guess is that maybe it has something to do with some new inforcement on copywrite laws. Yet still, what exactly is it? I really want to know what this law is especially if Amazon.com has included a substantial list of items they can ship.

It's just so f'ing annoying.

[Dark Lord]

i think ebay has a canadian thing set up.

you could see about buying a brand new, still sealed copy of the software that way.

[Tipstaff]

Funny you should say that. I tried egay too. Egay Canada.. no luck, but Egay.com? Sure enough, someone was selling TMPGEnc DVD Author 1.6.. pretty cheap too. Only problem is (and the seller was adament on this), it's only shippable in the "US Only". No explination why (doesn't need one really since it's pretty self explanitory).

I am so tempted to run across the border, and smuggle the damn thing back. If it were me I would have no trouble downloading it, and paying for it that way. But I can't.. and that's what's so annoying about this.

<sigh> You know, if this was coming from China, or Japan, they would put on the customs label something like "Condoms", and it'd go through customs quicker than snot through a tube. But nooo.. US to Canada.. "That'll be $100 tax.. NOW!"

[Ubergrendle]

too much fraud on an international level. canada gets tarred with the same brush.

there's also other problems:
- companies only licensed to sell products domestically
- warranties only valid for country of purchase
- increased costs for shipping
- package tracking across international borders can be alot more tricky, especially if it comes to dispute resolution
- small claims court on an international basis is a biatch
- arguments with stupid customers "I thought that was in Canadian $!!!"

lots of reasons not to sell internationally if you're a small ma'n'pa shop. Canada is 1/10 the size of the US...most of these businesses won't care if they lose that segment of the population as a prospective buyer.

I'd be fairly certain you could by TMGenc online at their own website, couldn't you?

[Tipstaff]

For download, yes, but for a boxed product it's restricted to "US Market Only". They have never had this restriction until this last month or so. Right now they only offer 2 programs for download, which you can buy later. To get the Media Editor (which is a basic MPEG1/2 editor) you have to purchase the Retail Boxed set that includes 3 programs. Hence the problem. Like I said, if it was me I would have no problem downloading it. The person I'm selling this too, the one that is buying this for the company, it doesn't matter to him either. It's the company. "Oh, we have to have a boxed version so that we can prove we purchased it. Plus, we need to know who has what software for internal tracking and auditing purposes." Bleh!

I see your points, btw, and the one that stuck out at me (also because it was one of the possible reasons) was the licensing. Since they don't hold a copywrite, or a license in other countries then I could see them not wanting to sell outside the US.

This is just my month...

[The_Neon_Cowboy]

"Please note that Shipping to Canada is susceptible to Canadian taxes, duties, and brokerage fees."

They slap you with pretty nasty duties last i did bussiness with canada I used to hear
customers whine about it as if customs had chopped of thier right arm.

The you have fraud etc... most people such as my self just don't like shipiing else where

[BiGBrOwNPimpsta]

this is why i WISH i lived in america (nothing more)

[daedal]

Yeah, I learned that the hard way. Anything worth more than 20$ will be favored to extra charges because they basically have to "verify" the package. A 120$ PSU ended up costing me 190$ because of that..

[Tipstaff]

I just wish these guys would be straight up with me. I can see there being problems with duties and taxes, but that would be on my side, not theirs. As you said, Neon, customers complain about stuff like that to the seller, so, if that's the reason they don't want to sell outside of the US, then I can see it. Only problem is, they aren't saying that. Just that due to some new law they can't sell it outside of the US. Which, btw, makes no sense, cuz if I can buy it online, and download it from TMPGEnc/Tsunami legitimately, then they ARE selling it to someone outside of the US, right?

At any rate, I've tried all the dealers that sell this software, and each has said the same thing. However, I did manage to get a little tid bit from one online retailer, "The manufacturer, in this case, has specifically told us to not sell this to forgien customers. Unfortunately we have to sign an agreement with them to sell their product as an official retailer, so if I do this we could lose their business." At least she was honest about it... sounded cute too.

Oh well.. their loss (big one too). Guess I'll spend my.. er... P&Gs money somewhere else.

Thanks for the replies guys. Much appreciated.

[The_Neon_Cowboy]

there are other resons too.... not so nice ones

most of the people I dealt with after the fact were verry rude and many
actually rivaled the worst knowledeable areas of US regarding DIY pc's.

I don't stero type canadians but that experiance alone would compel me
to not ship there. To much hassle..... then you factor in duties, taxes,
customs etc.. another big hassle

I looked an was uble to see any legal reson they can't ship up there.
Alot of things are coverd you can get some stuff under "NFDA" terms.
If items are made in the USA they likely won't be dutied.

But those imported, built in the US or out side the US are dutied at
like an extra rate. Most electrontics parts are made fully or partiall
over seas. Even those made in the use are useing imported parts..
I'm sure it a big monkey f***

[Judas]

i beleive i saw this had something related to the new US to canada ambasador. Apparently the States are very unhappy with canadian borders not really careing what comes or goes. So the States are piling up a pile of bills related to shipping and whatnot.

Hardware wise, generally if it's available in the states, and not in canada (through shipping or buy checking the US vs the Canadian official websites), it's due to set of canadian guidelines that refuse the product.

I had the same issues way back when the first IBM deskstar GXP75 Hardrives should up. Was trying so damn hard to get one but ran into the similare issues, but i didn't get anything about a law. They simply would/could not ship to canada.

Later i found out that the hardrives did not pass the Canadian guidelines. And then later, i found out they are now referred to DeathStars

But as for software, being able to get the product any other way other then via a retail box legally, and then finding out that there is a law the prevents you from getting a physical retail product. That simply doesn't make any sence.