20north - Your views on this website.

[jayanta mukherjee]

Does any one has faced any problems regarding accessing their site (I mean 20north.com) recently?

[khan_online]

Though I did not order ammo from 20North but would still like
to share the experience I had with 20North.com (the next
Amazon.com of India)

The story is long but let me just begin by telling you its
end. After 2 months of endless wait, that too after paying exorbitant air
delivery charges nothing has been delivered to me ( or will be delivered ).

The entire story: On 4th July 2009 I came across this site 20North.com
which is suppose to deliver the products to customers from India.
Anything listed on sites like Amazon.com (or any site you can think of)
is promised to be delivered at your doorsteps by 20 North .

For so long such a service was desperately needed for we Indian buyers
as Amazon does not ship its products to India (other than CDs or books).
What made it unbelievable was the fact that 20 north was selling all these
products at very low prices even after paying the custom duty ( too
good to be true) So this 20North company seemed like an oasis to a
deprived Indian customer like me. It took me 2 months to realize that 20North
is a mirage ( rather worse, a quicksand).

Before ordering, I closely examined 20North site. Every information
(including contact address) was provided with minutest detail. A live
chat operator was also available for prompt help. Even the testimonials
from satisfied customers were there to inspire confidence.
Everything seemed (too) perfect and genuine. I did a quick background check
on google and landed on a forum where some posts were there that claimed
whatever they had ordered was delivered well within ETA ( expected date
of arrival). Again everything seemed too good.

So could not wait any longer and on the same day placed my mega order. An
expensive professional microphone (Audio Technica Condenser Microphone ) along
with its accessories. After opting to pay for faster and expensive
air delivery and custom duty, total amount added to Rs.20366 ( yes you read it right, its
20 thousand only). And the deal was still very reasonable (thanks to the discount
they had offered ). The only glitch seemed to be a long delivery time ( 20 Days
by air ). The payment was immediately deducted from my credit card and I
got a nice invoice in my email from 20North saying that my order is confirmed
and would be delivered on 24th July 2009.

I waited in excitement and anticipation for 24th July to arrive. Surely the date
arrived but not the order. Instead I received an email by someone named
Suraj from 20North informing me that order was delayed in transit and would
be now delivered on 27th July instead. Disappointed but still hopeful.

As the 2nd promised date arrived I received another email from 20North (this time
from someone named Alister Stephens ) telling me that my order has been dispatched
from USA but with with a wrong product and thus I would have to wait till 10th August.
He was deeply apologetic and informed me that this has never happened before.

I felt angry and frustrated but had no option to wait for another 2 weeks.

On 10th of August once again received another such email ( this time from a girl named Nidhika)
I quote the content of that email "The shipment containing your order is held up
in customs due to an error in the accompanying paperwork. The paperwork has been
fixed but because of the original error the shipment needs to be cleared by a
special (exception handling) process which could take another two weeks."

My patience ran over this time. I talked over the phone to this girl Nidhika and
asked what was 20 North upto. Once again she repeated the content of her email
verbally and along with sincere apologies and remorse and regret ( as usual ).
She told me that such a thing has never happened before with any of their
customers ( I almost believed that I was their most unfortunate customer to get my
order delayed 3 times in a row). She promised me that on 24th August (that is after
another 2 weeks) my order will be at my doorsteps as it has already arrived in India
and just needs custom clearance . She offered a further 15% Discount to prove that she was
speaking from the heart. Call me an emotional greedy idiot but I once again believed in
her story.

Do I need to tell you what must have happened on 24th August.

Nothing happened. On 25th August once again I received that dreaded email ( this
time from some girl named Vidhya ). I quote her for you "Since its arrival in India over
a month ago the shipment has been in bureaucratic hell bouncing between the customs
departments in Chennai and Bangalore and as of now we have a release date of 10th September'09
from customs which means we would have it delivered to you by 15th September '09 ." She made
it sound as if what I had ordered was not a mike but a missile.

3 more weeks of delay. I was also advised to place my order again as they could not do it
internally. This time along with the usual apology I was offered an E-Gift Card (worth 500)
to show that they meant it from their heart. I had enough of their bullsh_t . This time I had
become too experienced not to fall for it again.
I have asked them for a refund.

It took me 2 months of endless wait and frustration but now I had understood that 20North
was just buying time. Contrary to the impression conveyed through the look of their website,
this company is being run by some guy from his bedroom in his pyjamas. Highly incompetent.

Another lesson learnt was that if something seems too good to be true on the internet, it is a scam.

They blocked my money (20 thousand) for 2 months and I am sure earned interest on it as well
(Perhaps that is their business model and reason for perpetual delay).

Some people online claim that some inexpensive items like games CD or books was
indeed delivered to them. So can this company 20north be trusted for delivering expensive
items as well. What if the product delivered ( that is if delivered ) has some defect
detected later. They claim they will return it or replace it (I have my serious doubts)

After 2 months I neither have my Product nor my money ( and worse still my credit card details
are with them). All I am left with is another false shameless promise of delivery.

Do let me know your comments on my ordeal

S.B Khan
New Delhi

[swordfish123]

I do believe that 20North is a fraud. They delivered a few inexpensive items initially, but now all i hear are their stupid excuses. Make sure you bug them until they refund your money and block your credit card. Its quite sure that your microphone has not been dispatched from US.

If you guys want to get anything from US(apart from guns and accessories) contact one of these guys from a forum called Techenclave. Go to the dealer section. You have to register.

Contact Fizmall or Katmandude. They are reputed dealers. They will get it for you at a much cheaper price than 20North.

[team20n]

First off, we acknowledge that Mr. Khan is correct in that his order was placed on Jul 4, 09 and was canceled on Aug 26 because of non-delivery for which we take full responsibility. We also believe that he is justified in being upset with the repeated delays and completely understand his angst. His allegations about fraud though, are groundless (we have thousands of satisfied customers and hundreds of testimonials to prove the contrary), but given the circumstances, we won't really blame him for jumping to any conclusions. We however hope that he will read this post and perhaps change his mind (or not).

Without trying to make excuses we would like to present the facts and reasons that that led to the unfortunate situation with Mr. Khan's order - we owe this to Mr. Khan and our community of existing and prospective customers.

The Facts:
- Mr. Khan placed an order on Jul 04 that was slated for delivery by Jul 25
- by Aug 25, the order had still not been delivered and along the way multiple delivery dates (Jul 24, Aug 10, Aug 25) conveyed by us had been missed
- On Aug 26 Mr. Khan canceled his order and was processed for a 100% refund.
Not that it would have been of great consolation to Mr. Khan, but we did credit a Rs 500 gift certificate to his account as a token of our appreciation for his patience and also offered a 15% discount on his delayed order (which he did not avail because he chose to cancel).

So why did this happen?

The shipment containing Mr. Khan's order was initially held up in Bangalore customs due to the fact that there was a mismatch between the contents and the accompanying paperwork (which was our fault) and to resolve this the shipment had to be shipped back to the US (and then re-shipped to India with correct paperwork) but before which it needed a re-export authorization letter from Chennai - and this is where we got bogged down. We have received multiple dates for this letter but have not yet received the letter itself.

Why did we project multiple delivery dates that we could not meet?
The dates relayed to the customer were based on the dates we received from customs, which we now realise was a key mistake and won't happen again (see "So, how will you guarantee a service level to your customers?" below).

Can these kind of delays happen again?

Though we have fixed the issues that led to this specific problem we cannot rule out rare occasions where for some minor technical reason or the other, clearance of a shipment is inordinately delayed. However, as described below we will ensure that our customers will not be left in limbo again.
So, how will you guarantee a service level to your customers?
Any order whose delivery is delayed more than a week after the scheduled delivery date will be cancelled for a 100% refund and the customer will have the option to re-order the same product at a 15% discount.

One other point to note:
Mr. Khan evinces a worry about his credit card security - as stated clearly on our website, we do not collect or store any credit card information on 20North.com. Payment processing is handled on our bank's website or on secure 3rd party payment processing websites such as PayPal, Google Checkout and Amazon.

In summary - 20North is committed to offering Indian consumers a useful and valuable service by enabling them to buy anything in the world from anywhere in India. Which, as simple as it may sound is not as easy to achieve (which is why it has not been done before) but we are well on our way to making it a reality, and though we may make mistakes, we will fix them and will continuously improve the value of our offering and the customer experience that goes with it.

Team 20North.

[Rottmeister]

Team 20North, you people are just wasting time. In gun lingo, you're taking an eternity to load the gun and cock it; wonder if you can really shoot.

[asmatpawle]

I want a 12 gaug dbbl shotgun scope with mounts will any one help me

[winnie_the_pooh]

I want a 12 gaug dbbl shotgun scope with mounts will any one help me my email add. is

Do you shoot slugs from your DBBL? If not,why do you need a scope on a shotgun?

[fantumfan2003]

team20north,

Do you have a name ?

Yet another long canned message from you with a few variations thrown in.

Satisfied customers ? Your mention of satisfied customers amongst a score of irate customers here speaks volumes of your ways of doing business.

I initially thought may be I and few others had problems with you because the items ordered were related to guns. This also includes members from another similar site.

But audio equipment ? Thats proof positive of your dubious existence and operation.

I have a book ordered from you from 3rd July 2009 which you still have not delivered, oh.... but the excuses have been...

I also recieved a mail from Nidhika citing an "escalation", after two months by the way...but...no book yet....

20north.......YOU OWE ME MY BOOK AND YOU OUGHT TO DELIVER IT PROMPTLY. IT HAS BEEN PAID FOR....

IFG'ians stay away from 20north. Don't believe anything that they say or write

Manish R. Karnik

[essdee1972]

I ordered a set of X-Acto knives from 20 North (Sep 2010). Was delivered in good condition in about 20 days. Value about 2K (incl duties).

[Frosty]

Guys just give these people(20North) a chance, i had a few transactions with them in past six months, 2 were successful and one was a faliure not once twice, but before you guys jump to any conclusions pls hear me out

1st Transaction, i ordered an 11mm dovetail barrel mount (a gun accessory indeed), although a little expensive than amazon but i recieved it within 20 days

2nd Transaction , ordered a utg flashlight laser combo (also a gun accessory), recieved it with in 20 days and at this also got msg on my cell once it was shipped from US warehouse, and another when it went into local transit in India.

So far so good

But then it got a little messy, i ordered a Schrade X camper (stainless steel 440) knife from them, and within two days they cancelled my order and refunded my money, reason was the person at their end (20 north) read the blade lenght wrong, it s overall lenght is 11.38 " and he thought it was the blade lenght.

after a week i again placed same order, but they repeated the same case with me cancelled my order again within two days, this time i lost my cool and began firing mails to them.
then this Alister guy intrvened and asked me to place the order again and that he will personally see to it that i get it, but i never tried it again.

now the conclusion

are they fake, ........probably no, may be a little dissoriented in there approach but certainly not fake.

some of you including me got some rough deals, but i have recieved some cool goods too, and i am making my mind to order a very cool KA-BAR USMC fighting knife from them (may be god help me with this)

[.32]

I think Indiatimes shopping also links to 20North.

[eljefe]

so what happened to the Ka Bar?

[ssc]

I have ordered a few things in the past & they have been delivered but a month later. in fact American express i & King fisher credit cards are also associated with them. Cons: late delivery

[indiageez]

I emailed them asking for rifle scope, got response as they now restricted item to import. But I wonder how others in this forum got shipment from them.

[kartik8]

I ordered an R/C Nitro truck
it was a redcat racing earthquake 3.5
worth Rs 18000 including shipping and customs .
it was to reach me within 14 days but it took them 1.5 months to deliver it .
no paperwork was done by me.
i also posted a review at mouthshut.com

-- Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:54 pm --

I ordered an R/C Nitro truck
it was a redcat racing earthquake 3.5
worth Rs 18000 including shipping and customs .
it was to reach me within 14 days but it took them 1.5 months to deliver it .
no paperwork was done by me.
i also posted a review at mouthshut.com