Hey Kids, Have You Heard The News? MOSAIC's IN TROUBLE!!!

[Big Beat Steve]

I doubt that they sent me your tracking number. My item is still listed as being in transit.

My point is that to the best of my knowledge Swiss Post does not do parcel deliveries on German territory. So even if Swiss Post in turn has some sort of cooperation agreement with DHL for cross-border shippings, involving them in this case where they have no point being involved at all because Switzerland is no transit country for US-German shippings can only mean detours and delays. Senseless ....

Edited June 22, 2018 by Big Beat Steve

[king ubu]

8 minutes ago, Big Beat Steve said:

I doubt that they sent me your tracking number. My item is still listed as being in transit.

My point is that to the best of my knowledge Swiss Post does not do parcel deliveries on German territory. So even if Swiss Post in turn has some sort of cooperation agreement with DHL for cross-border shippings, involving them in this case where they have no point being involved at all because Switzerland is no transit country for US-German shippings can only mean detours and delays. Senseless ....

Maybe.... but I've had parcels routed via Prague ... and jazzmessengers uses Dutch post (but the parcels are delivered by Swiss post). I've stopped trying to understand all that.

[mikeweil]

I guess I was lucky as the worst touble I ran into was having to pick up a parcel at the local customs with some kind of invoice or debit note ..... maybe the guys in the shipping company are Trump fans and hate Europe. 

[sidewinder]

On 23/06/2018 at 4:46 AM, mikeweil said:

I guess I was lucky as the worst touble I ran into was having to pick up a parcel at the local customs with some kind of invoice or debit note ..... maybe the guys in the shipping company are Trump fans and hate Europe. 

Are Mosaics on ‘the list’ along with Harleys, Jack Daniels and cranberry juice? 

Edited June 24, 2018 by sidewinder

[Scott Dolan]

???

Is cranberry juice an American thing? 

[Brad]

It’s supposed to be healthy but I’m not crazy about the taste. 

[mikeweil]

3 hours ago, sidewinder said:

Are Mosaics on ‘the list’ along with Harleys, Jack Daniels and cranberry juice? 

???

[sidewinder]

6 minutes ago, mikeweil said:

???

I had a look at the list of items subject to Trump Tax on EC import but no mention of Mosaic Records, Uptown or Resonance fortunately. 

Edited June 24, 2018 by sidewinder

[Brad]

8 minutes ago, sidewinder said:

I had a look at the list of items subject to Trump Tax on EC import but no mention of Mosaic Records, Uptown or Resonance fortunately. 

 Maybe the EC can put a tax on the air that idiot breathes 

[neveronfriday]

On 22.6.2018 at 3:49 PM, Scott Dolan said:

They farmed this out years ago. It’s been a major disfunction ever since. 

I suppose if neveronfriday knew this, he’d not have gone on his xenophobic tirade, since American customers have experienced multiple problems with them as well. 

Didn't expect anything else, really.
So yes, xenophobic it is, just for you.

---

I really don't care if they "farmed this out".

They are the only company that

a) have tried and continue to try to cheat (European) customs constantly (supposedly in the interest of their customers. It's not in my interest. I pay my dues and don't want a company to decide for me if I want to cheat the system or not), 

b) have absolutely no notion how European customs work (and haven't, ever since I started ordering from them ages ago),

c) know they have lots of "fans" who condone the practice.

But since this thread is about, I guess, Mosaic's imminent demise (really [?], strategically-placed mails to get their business going ...?), I thought I'd leave the above thought.

Not once (!) have I gotten a shipment from Mosaic that adhered to anything, legally. Most of you will probably say "good on them for trying", but I would say ... "Thanks, but no thanks!"

Again, I'm a huge fan of their output and I have tons of it, but their business- and shipping practice (no matter who does it) is just totally lame and, yes, completely illegal over here! And, I guess, illegal in most parts of Europe (no idea, what the rest of the world adheres to).

I really don't think that in a globalized world, that's a viable business strategy. And, as I stated above, albeit a bit hotly after x-years [15? 20? No idea] of being pissed off about this practice, it has soured Mosaic for me in a major way. No skin off their nose and no skin off my nose, but a company that just doesn't get how to do international business shouldn't complain about losing business across the board.

So, I decided to abstain, no more, no less.

Cheers!

Edited July 3, 2018 by neveronfriday

[Scott Dolan]

Best part is that I have no idea who you’re arguing with, or what you’re looking to accomplish, and neither do you. 

Not going to order from Mosaic anymore? Good. Noted. 

Though I guess I give you some kind of credit for hanging in an abusive relationship that pissed you off for 15-20 years. 

[AllenLowe]

"Not once (!) have I gotten a shipment from Mosaic that adhered to anything, legally. "

well, like a lot of what you are saying, if you throw it up against the wall it might stick.

[JSngry]

8 minutes ago, Scott Dolan said:

 I give you some kind of credit for hanging in an abusive relationship that pissed you off for 15-20 years. 

There's a dude named Jerry Jones that will be contacting you momentarily. Stand by...

[Big Beat Steve]

Well, looking at the finer print on the shipment sticker I did notice that my Savory box set was shiped with an indicated value of $15. Conveniently overlooked by the customs people here, maybe because more stickers (by the 3rd party shipper and by Swiss Mail that was brought into play for no good reason at all) were stuck on the OTHER side of the parcel.

All in all not better and not worse than how many US shippings fared en route over here. Sometimes you pay customs duties, sometimes the item slips through. And since the set still is not listed with Jazzmessengers and judging from how comparable Mosaic box sets are priced there, I ended up paying maybe 5 euros more (customs fees included) than what a purchase from Jazzmessengers likely would cost me. I guess I will survive that ... 

Yet these Asendia people need to clean up their act and learn something about overseas shippings and about dealing with their counterparts in the ACTUAL country of destination, not some third-party country that only causes detours and delays.

[neveronfriday]

1 hour ago, Big Beat Steve said:

Sometimes you pay customs duties, sometimes the item slips through ... Yet these Asendia people need to clean up their act and learn something about overseas shippings and about dealing with their counterparts in the ACTUAL country of destination, not some third-party country that only causes detours and delays.

And that, exactly, is the problem. I've lived in the vicinity of 6 different customs offices around here, and only one was "sloppy" enough to let shipments slip through.

But, again, this is assuming that everyone on this planet would rather rip off the state/cheat on taxes/save a buck.

As a customer, I have absolutely no problem with a company reacting to mails asking for this kind of cost reduction (you know, make it look like $30 although it cost $300), but for the general populace, they should just stick to the damn laws. And nothing they declared for my shipments ever came even close to the truth (this time, because I ordered two sets, they declared $30 for a value of over $200). Cool if they do so on demand, uncool if they do that by default.

In my case (no car) I have to travel 28km to a customs office in a remote harbor to collect my shipments. Every single damn time. The people at the office always smile and I always tell them that "Yeah, that's the way Mosaic handles things". But, because I order a lot from the States (still, despite sometimes horrendous shipment costs), Mosaic is the only company I know and have known for over 10 years that does this. Nobody else does. That's why I'm surprised about your statement  that "All in all not better and not worse than how many US shippings fared en route over here". In my case (only), it is always worse than any other shipment I receive from the States. Every damn time.

Before I left for the customs office the other day, I received a shipment from Amoeba Music in SF. You would think they don't know better either. Yes, they do. Bill (incl, separately listed postage) affixed to the package. Paid for at the door (see above).

As I said above, Mosaic won't get my business anymore.
Not that they (I tried before, to no avail) or anyone else really cares.

But I hate that kind of behavior out of principle. 

All these hard-nosed people talking about law & order all the time ... unless it concerns their CDs, their stereos, their neighborhood  or whatever. All of those things are, of course, not covered by their principles (P.S.: It's just an experience I've had on many forums ... the state should do this, the state should do that, throw them into the water and let them drown ... but don't make me pay an extra cent for import duties. Screw the system and hope it doesn't notice.... Sign of the times, and all of that).

I rest my case.

I might be back in a couple of months.

Edited July 3, 2018 by neveronfriday

[mikeweil]

I always ask Mosaic to attach copies of the inoice to the package. The tax is calculated by the customs and the postman at the door (or at the office) collects. it. No problems.

[Brad]

Have you emailed Mosaic about their delivery company?

[Hot Ptah]

I ordered the Savory and Teddy Wilson box sets from Mosaic recently. I received them quickly, with no delivery problems whatsoever.

[JSngry]

I was about to bite the bullet and tug on the Teddy, but...not quite yet. Seeing a lot of sessions that look good-to-great, but nothing really "essential" at this point. Pretty sure this one's gonna be a Last-Chancer.

I ordered the Savory, though, hell, how do you not? So far, I've gotten a notice that the order has been sent to the warehouse for processing, or some convoloted sequential, hell, I don't know. It'll get here. The shit, like, what, 80 years old? What's another week or two?

[Brad]

Received my Mingus box yesterday. Unfortunately, the box but not the CDs or book were damaged but I’m sure it will be corrected. 

[Big Beat Steve]

I must admit I cannot quite figure what the bone of contention is to Neveronfriday. Is it OK to be asked to pay the customs fees due or isn't it?
The way I have experienced things it makes no difference if they indicate the ACTUAL value or if no value is indicated at all or if the value indicated is so low that this alone makes things look suspicious. Even in the "worst" case you never pay more than the actual fees due.  And sometimes items just slip through and you are lucky.
I don't know about other regions of this country (though I doubt that the law differs by regions) but I'd HATE to have the carrier (who delivers the parcel) or postman collect my import duties at the door. I have had this happen to me ONCE years ago with a shipment from the US and this meant that in addition to the import duties (applicable VAT on the total purchase price, i.e. item price plus shipping) I had to shell out for a handling fee that was not exactly negligible (not sure if it was as high as the 28.50 EUR I mentioned in the Savory thread but it was a handful). I certainly can do without this because I'd feel like I seriously overpaid in that case. And usually I manage to go to the customs office within the 10-day storage period when I have some business or shopping to do in the same area so it's not that much of a fuss.
As for Neveronfriday doubting my statement that this experience was neither better nor worse than with other shipments form the US - if you have been dealing with US sellers for about 18 years (mostly through eBay which runs the whole gamut from pros to mom and pop affairs to downright clueless characters) you could write a book about it ... Yet strangely what happened on the customs side very often was unrelated to how professionally the seller had handled his part of shipping (and many of thse sellers declared the customs values - e.g. on the green slip - on the low side). I actually remember cases where I received 3 or 4 separate shippings (of identical size etc.) of "bulk" orders from one and the same seller in the US where half of them ended up with me having to go and pay customs duties whereas the others were delivered to my door with no questions asked. It's all part of the game to me so you just have to take it in stride if you want the stuff ...

Anyway .. I am surprised about what Mikeweil said about asking Mosaic specifically to attach copies of the invoice to the package. I'd have figured they have a standard procedure that they adhere to, particularly now that shipping is handled by an outsider. The $15 quoted on my parcel in fact is on a form called "CN23 Customs Declaration". Looks like the kind of paperwork intended for customs processing. I did not ask for that low amount and would not have been surprised if the customs people had doubted that amount. But in fact they seem to have ignored it because the letter I received told me that NO value had been given on the parcel and I therefore had to come collect the parcel at the customs office, invoice in hand.

Some you win, some you lose ...

Edited July 4, 2018 by Big Beat Steve

[erwbol]

8 hours ago, neveronfriday said:

But, again, this is assuming that everyone on this planet would rather rip off the state/cheat on taxes/save a buck.

...

All these hard-nosed people talking about law & order all the time ... unless it concerns their CDs, their stereos, their neighborhood  or whatever. All of those things are, of course, not covered by their principles (P.S.: It's just an experience I've had on many forums ... the state should do this, the state should do that, throw them into the water and let them drown ... but don't make me pay an extra cent for import duties. Screw the system and hope it doesn't notice.... Sign of the times, and all of that).

I rest my case.

I might be back in a couple of months.

I bet when something does slip through unnoticed in whatever part of the EU you live, you confront the mailman with similar indignation demanding to be taxed? Have you considered becoming a professional comedian? Might cover for those monthly customs fees.

Yes, Mosaic should attach the necessary documents to their shipments, but the state gets zero sympathy from me for charging citizens for importing the occasional book or CD. At least increase the threshold from €22 to €50 or so.

If anybody is being ripped off it is certainly not the state.

PS As you said yourself, you are well off and can afford to pay monthly customs duties. If I was charged for every CD I imported it would cripple me, you self-righteous prick!

[Big Beat Steve]

36 minutes ago, erwbol said:

Yes, Mosaic should attach the necessary documents to their shipments, but the state gets zero sympathy from me for charging citizens for importing the occasional book or CD. At least increase the threshold from €22 to €50 or so.

If anybody is being ripped off it is certainly not the state.

An all too well-known situation. Over here the threshold used to be some $25 and shipping  fees were NOT subject to customs fees, just the value of the goods. Then the state decided they needed to "levy more revenue" and abolished the threshold in the sense that once the value exceeded this threshold the ENTIRE amount became subject to duties, not just the amount exceeding the threshold, and on top of this the shipping costs were charged too. Happened a couple of years ago but like you correctly say, it still is a reason to feel that if anybody is being ripped off it is not the state.

[erwbol]

Right. Same here. That's 21% on both the item price and cost of shipping plus a flat €13 administration charge. 

Example: CD worth €22,01 with €6 shipping? That will be €18,88 please. We have every right to feel robbed.

[mikeweil]

6 hours ago, Big Beat Steve said:

......... but I'd HATE to have the carrier (who delivers the parcel) or postman collect my import duties at the door. I have had this happen to me ONCE years ago with a shipment from the US and this meant that in addition to the import duties (applicable VAT on the total purchase price, i.e. item price plus shipping) I had to shell out for a handling fee that was not exactly negligible

....... I am surprised about what Mikeweil said about asking Mosaic specifically to attach copies of the invoice to the package. I'd have figured they have a standard procedure that they adhere to, particularly now that shipping is handled by an outsider

I  never paid for a handling fee, just VAT.

I asked Mosaic to attach invoice copies because they hadn't done so, but I was asked to pick up the parcel at the customs office and bring along a document declaring the actual value of the package (invoice or payment). Once I even had to open the parcel so they could make sure it contained what my billing documents said. I can understand, as right wing nationalist or Nazi people often import their discs from abroad, and they want to catch these. 

But after they learned to attach invoice copies everything was cool.