It is not you or the fact that you live in a foreign country.
Stuller, as any wholesale/retail jeweler in the USA is subject to the
USA Patriot Act, EU Anti-Terrorist Funding Act (if we ship to a
country outside the USA) and the Anti-Money Laundering Act… With
regards to the Credit Card purchase we are also subject to the (USA)
FBI Directive of 2006 pertaining to the purchase of precious metal
jewelry and watches purchased with a credit card. Stuller or any
merchant is liable to the US Treasury Department to prove they have
on file the required and this is enforced by Homeland
Security. As for Stuller asking for invoices to other wholesalers,
they are not licensed to sell retail. Only wholesale. They have to
have on file that you are a merchant and the easiest way is to
provide paid invoices that can be verified through other wholesalers.
In your instance, Stuller has to keep on file your how
you paid, how they verified you were a legitimate customer paying
with authorized funds, if you were a wholesale or retail store. We in
the USA have no way to verify a credit/debit card from another
country is legitimate or being used by the actual card holder. When
we get a ‘charge back’ for one using someone else’s card, it is a
loss of the goods, loss of the funds, loss of shipping, Customs fees
and a $400 fine. Three in one month can be a $10,000 fine. The bank
does not notify you. They monitor your account and wait for you to
have the funds and then sweep it. The money a merchant gets credit
for after a credit card sale, does not belong to them for 180 days.
During that time the bank can revoke those funds for any reason.
Those funds are a loan until it clears and the 2.75-7.5% ‘fees’ are
the interest on the loan. If you are not paying 7.5%, look at your
statement closely and see the total amount for A*X business cards
with miles or government cards. This is only for card not present
transactions. This is why so many merchants are careful.
Now, when I have shipped to Spain, the Spanish government wants me
to supply three copies of the buyers business license if they are
buying wholesale or a copy of their National ID card if it is retail.
It is YOUR country’s requirement, not ours. France has a $200
’Customs Broker Fee’ if we ship by FedEx. This is in addition to the
Customer Customs duty and VAT. It is not as simple as many think.
Each country has their requirements as to what we are allowed to ship
to you and how we may ship it. Some countries require that they have
the ability to track the package. While you think you are tracking
your delivery, so is your government, tax agencies and Customs.
If the customer refuses to pay the customs duty/tax and/or VAT, it
is either returned to me COD for the two shipping charges and two
customs fees. Yes, I pay Customs again to get my own merchandise
back. And for some others that ship international, some countries
began taking 5-9% off the top for bank wires to the USA. The customer
has no idea when they send it as they are also paying to send it. I
pay to receive it. Then I find the amount has been looted for banking
transfer fees by the senders bank. I switched to Western Union only.
Regarding supplying your bank even though you paid with
credit card, your government knows everything you are purchasing
before you receive it. I have had customers that had to meet with
Customs and Customs already had a copy of the bank wire, Western
Union or credit card statement and knew how much was sent to me. If
your banking matches what is on file with your credit
card, it is not a problem and the goods most likely will be shipped
to you.
Stuller has been very good to me. Being an internet only retailer
beginning in 1998, very few companies would have anything to do with
me. It took me five years to quality to be able to buy wholesale from
most of the big names. Some suppliers will sell to anyone. Hobbyists
if you will. Others are required to sell to retail storefronts only.
In 2007 Stuller flew me into their headquarters for three days. They
taught me a lot. In return they asked me for nothing, except to
consider them when I was making a purchase as I grew. They knew how
important the internet would become, wanted to become part of it, and
knew I was growing. I was totally impressed with their operation,
security and shipping. When one of my major suppliers for wedding
rings went out of business, I called my rep at Stuller and told her
what I was looking for. She put me in touch with their wedding ring
buyer. He gave me the name of a manufacturer in Canada who could make
what I was looking for. He called ahead of me and gave a
recommendation and introduction. I have called Stuller looking for a
repair jeweler, jeweler who can set diamonds, a jeweler that could
meet with a customer to CAD or carve a piece or just a retail store
in a customer’s location that I could not help. They have always gone
out of their way to give me a referral that I could pass on to a
customer.
I had a large shipment from Stuller come in one day. Missing were
six diamond engagement rings. I called in a panic as who would
believe me when I told them. I explained the bags were all sealed and
the person that packed them signed them. I had replacement rings,
sized and set the next morning and a pre-paid pick up for the
packaging. I was impressed.
By contrast, one time another company in NY had shipped me four
rings, only there was one missing. I called them and they said it was
my problem as they had packaged four. It was the last time I ordered
from them. They have since gone out of business.
So our friend Peter, do not take it personal. The Anti-Terrorist
Funding Act is worldwide. If you have not encountered it yet, you
will. Just for giggles, go into your local bank and inquire about
wiring $5,000 to the USA for gold jewelry you would like to purchase
for your own use.
Italy, France and Germany make some of the best jewelry tools in the
world. I would think you might have easier access to them with a
supplier over there. I sure wish I could! By the time the company
puts me in touch with my ‘authorized retailer’ the price is usually
triple!
Best of luck and with total respect,
Charlie