EasternCurio.com (also listed as [email protected] and Shanghai Shimu Homeware Co., LTD) of Shanghai, China is an online asian antique and crafts site. I bought 4 antique Chinese dining chairs for $2,000 and payed $300 for shipping/handling. What this business fails to mention is that they only ship to the closest US port, leaving the customer to go through a hellish process of paying agents to maneuver the items through US Customs, warehousing and delivery. I ended up paying an extra $694 to get the chairs to my home in Seattle. When I tried to cancel the deal, Royal Hsu, the online seller, said that my money was not refundable and that I would lose my money as well as my furniture if I refused delivery. Because I had wired the money, I hadn't a leg to stand on. I have since reported them to the US Federal Trade Commission. Lessons learned: 1. Don't order foreign products unless there is an agency in this country. 2. Never wire money unless you know the business extremely well.
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