Posting Freak
If you've seen TSE's latest video he posted on DFS then you know he reviewed 10 vendors. I thought it was pretty well done and even of some use to the "international" types TSE referred to at the end. Two things about the reviews, first when TSE rates customer service based, obviously, on his own experiences, does he shop these vendors anonymously? I suspect a well known blogger might get premium service in much the same way that the restaurant critic for the NY Times would have premium service at restaurants he visits if the restaurants knew who he was. Don't get me wrong, almost all of my vendor service experiences have been positive but folks like TSE may find they get better service, samples, prototypes to test etc.
Second thing was the shipping times quoted by TSE, in almost all instances it was 2-3 days from pulling the trigger on the order to package on doorstep. Even in the case of Italian Barber and he's located in Canada! I don't get that kind of delivery from IB and I live in Canada. So the reviews were useful but in my Canadian experience - you know Canada? Country to the north of the USA...where "service" goes to die? Yeah, that one. As I was saying, here in Canada the delivery to front door from order is about 2-3 weeks (yes weeks not days) Thats because when you opt for the "free shipping" the package goes by Canada Post, the method preferred by those who just don't care when the package arrives...or even if it arrives. I suspect they have a package aging room where packages are sequestered to ensure that they aren't inadvertently delivered promptly and also to make the intended recipient sufficiently rueful of their decision to opt for free shipping and next time they'll upgrade and pay for premium service. I find it not entirely surprising that IB is able to deliver a package internationally (He's located in the Toronto Canada region) to the US faster than he can domestically - less time spent in the hands of Canada Post means less opportunity for delay. There's also the reality that the US market is more of a priority for any Canada based vendor than any puny domestic market. I get that. A market 10x the size of your home country market is just going to be more important to a business. Yup, 2-3 weeks. I've usually forgotten all about the order that I placed by the time I get it. Good thing I have lots of soap and blades. You know, the Mongols were able to deliver a package the same or greater distance as IB to my doorstep in 2-3 days in the 12th century on horses. It was called the Yam Courier system. I know that all of this is a consequence of having a country with a tiny population and vast size (mostly uninhabitable) so there aren't economies of scale and fortunately we are a patient people
As an aside, I highly recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Genghis-Khan-Makin...dern+world
Thats my rant for the day, I'm not sure if its melodramatic enough for some members but I tried.
Marko
Second thing was the shipping times quoted by TSE, in almost all instances it was 2-3 days from pulling the trigger on the order to package on doorstep. Even in the case of Italian Barber and he's located in Canada! I don't get that kind of delivery from IB and I live in Canada. So the reviews were useful but in my Canadian experience - you know Canada? Country to the north of the USA...where "service" goes to die? Yeah, that one. As I was saying, here in Canada the delivery to front door from order is about 2-3 weeks (yes weeks not days) Thats because when you opt for the "free shipping" the package goes by Canada Post, the method preferred by those who just don't care when the package arrives...or even if it arrives. I suspect they have a package aging room where packages are sequestered to ensure that they aren't inadvertently delivered promptly and also to make the intended recipient sufficiently rueful of their decision to opt for free shipping and next time they'll upgrade and pay for premium service. I find it not entirely surprising that IB is able to deliver a package internationally (He's located in the Toronto Canada region) to the US faster than he can domestically - less time spent in the hands of Canada Post means less opportunity for delay. There's also the reality that the US market is more of a priority for any Canada based vendor than any puny domestic market. I get that. A market 10x the size of your home country market is just going to be more important to a business. Yup, 2-3 weeks. I've usually forgotten all about the order that I placed by the time I get it. Good thing I have lots of soap and blades. You know, the Mongols were able to deliver a package the same or greater distance as IB to my doorstep in 2-3 days in the 12th century on horses. It was called the Yam Courier system. I know that all of this is a consequence of having a country with a tiny population and vast size (mostly uninhabitable) so there aren't economies of scale and fortunately we are a patient people
As an aside, I highly recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Genghis-Khan-Makin...dern+world
Thats my rant for the day, I'm not sure if its melodramatic enough for some members but I tried.
Marko
Well sorry, I can't plow the yard that early in morning since I have to work at 7am, while they start their day at 11am, after all of the trucks have gone by and some people have got their yards done 
