Hello, the following describes my experience ordering CDs from the openbsdstore.com.
As openbsdstore.com is apparently the only source for OpenBSD CDs these days, I ordered two sets of v5.6 a while ago (December 2014). The order ------------ The trouble began immediately. I chose electronic wire transfer as the payment method, but even though I had supplied my VAT-ID and indicated that I wished to avoid paying VAT, there total included VAT and there was no way to remove it. I figured it was simpler to order and ask to have the VAT transferred back. I ordered, and sent a corresponding request. The Ticketing System ------------------------ The store opened a ticket on my behalf (at least there *is* a ticketing system), and I began to receive emails from the ticketing system. They mostly look like this: > /Person's name/ just logged a message to a ticket in which you participate. > > [content of message] > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > /You're getting this email because you are a collaborator on ticket #229757 > <https://support.openbsdstore.com/view.php?auth=c1x2qaqaabxamaaa4o7EuU%2BmlBQAJA%3D%3D>. > To participate, simply reply to this email or click here > <https://support.openbsdstore.com/view.php?auth=c1x2qaqaabxamaaa4o7EuU%2BmlBQAJA%3D%3D> > for a complete archive of the ticket thread./ I cannot, however, "participate" by clicking on the link. The link is only for internal use. So the system can't differentiate between support staff and customers.... Bank Details ---------------- I am requested to provide bank details. Fair enough. I provide my IBAN (int'l bank account number) and BIC/SWIFT (unique bank ID) details. These two items are sufficient to transfer money *anywhere* within the EU (In fact, the IBAN alone is sufficient, as it contains the bank code). This is made possible by SEPA. >From wikipedia: > The *Single Euro Payments Area* (*SEPA*) is a payment-integration initiative > of the European Union <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union> for > simplification of bank transfers denominated in euro > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro>. As of February 2014, SEPA consists of the > 28 EU member states, the 4 members of the EFTA > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Free_Trade_Association> (Iceland, > Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Monaco and San Marino > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Marino> IBAN/BIC Not Enough ---------------------------- The response is: > I'm very sorry but our bank require your bank's address... That the bank demands my bank's address is pure rubbish. Transfer Costs More Than Refund -------------------------------------------- The next missive from openbsdstore.com was: > Hopefully you should have received the â¬15 sent by post - unfortunately we > had > to send it in this way, as our bank wanted to charge us â¬20 to send it to > you > electronically! This can't be happening.... And in fact an envelope containing a 10 and a 5 euro note arrived somewhat later. Maybe OpenBSD should look for a European partner that can tell its bank what to do, instead of the other way round? Rob Urban
