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Uh, people buy from cattylink?

Snoober

Snoober

Dysthymic
I was perusing another audio forum, and I noted some folks buying audio equipment from 'cattylink.com'. I went to the site, saw something I was interested in, and I sent an email inquiry. Well, I got a rude response stating that they do not accept PayPal nor credit card for orders over $300. I got this email response in CAPS. Lol. The guy didn't volunteer what kind of payment they do accept.

I wrote back to ask what forms of payment they do accept, to which the guy wrote back such a rude and condescending email that I am still taken aback by it. Basically, they accept wire transfer. People give this company money and, worse, do so without any buyer protection? Wow. Anyway, I just found a warning about them re: not an authorized dealer for the product I was interested in. Oh well.

Just wanted to post this as I was a little upset about the exchange. Needless to say, my money goes elsewhere.
 
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That's pretty funny. They must have something nobody else sells and ask pennies on the dollar for it. It's the only way I'd go to a place like that.
 
Thank you for the heads up. Would you mind posting the text of your exchange with them? I think it would be helpful in giving others the info to decide whether or not they'd want to do business with someone like that. Although in my experience no matter how bad a seller is or how many other people have been burned there are some people that still do business with them unless they personally have been burned. These types of people are how bad sellers stay in business.
 
From their website:

"
Welcome to Cattylink Analog Research - a legally set up company in 2002 and the FIRST in Hong Kong that is 100% dedicated to China-made High-end Audio Equipment and granted full member of Federation of Hong Kong Industries.


We are set up by audiophiles, musicians and music lovers but NOT businessmen and our mission is to promote China-made Audio to the world at the lowest possible price but with highest quality assurance standard. Individual music lovers can now enjoy the sound from the East at a cost even lower than ordinary dealer's rate. Also, nightmare of damage to the ordered equipment during transportation is no longer an hindrance thanks to our exclusive"


Funny but on their main page the have the PayPal icon next to the other forms of payment they accept.
 
Mitkraft said:
Thank you for the heads up. Would you mind posting the text of your exchange with them? I think it would be helpful in giving others the info to decide whether or not they'd want to do business with someone like that. Although in my experience no matter how bad a seller is or how many other people have been burned there are some people that still do business with them unless they personally have been burned. These types of people are how bad sellers stay in business.
Click to expand...

Sure thing: here's the exchange leaving out names and addresses:

Me: "I am interested in purchasing the amplifier possibly by next week. I live pretty far away: would you be so kind as to let me know the shipping costs to me in the Caribbean? My address is:....
I would be ordering the amplifier in black, 220V model. I will be paying via PayPal. Thank you kindly for your time and help

Cattlink: "SORRY WE DO NOT ACCEPT PAYPAL OR CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS FOR ORDERS OVER USD 300 REGARDS,"

Me: "Thank you for your response. What other forms of payment do you accept for orders over $300? Are you interested in the sale?"

Cattlink: "BANK WIRE TRANSFER IS THE FORM OF PAYMENT.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION, WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BUSINESS DEALS, WHAT WE ARE INTERESTED IS TO PROVIDE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE FOR HIGHEST QUALITY EQUIPMENT TO AUDIOPHILES AROUND THE WORLD.

SO PLEASE DO NOT TALK SO MUCH ON SALE, MONEY AND DEALS. IF THESE ARE IMPORTANT POINTS, OTHER BUSINESS ORIENTED FIRMS WILL BE MORE SUITABLE FOR YOU.

REGARDS,"

Me: " Thank you for your response. I will buy elsewhere, as you suggested."

Cattylink: "YOU OUGHT TO SIR, MONEY MINDED PERSON BEST BUY FROM MONEY MINDED FIRMS.

REGARDS,"

I've got the emails if anyone wants a copy of that, lol. Yes, I noticed the PayPal on the front page too. :confused:
 
hnash53 said:
Wire transfers as only form of payment. That would be a RED FLAG for me.
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Totally agree with that. I'm also wondering if there aren't a few other things going on here. I'm wondering if English isn't the responders first language and if he has no clue that responding in all caps is considered yelling. I also wonder whether your saying you were from the Caribbean made him get all defensive thinking you might be trying to scam him...lol. Either way I wouldn't do business with them for any reason. WAY too many red flags for me.
 
Have you ever heard that the misspelling and bad writing in spam e-mails is often intentional, as it weeds out those who will realize something is a scam or at least not what it claims? Thus they know those who respond will be much easier targets. That e-mail response and the repeated statements they are not businessmen seems like a similar tactic. The hope is probably that their customers' thought process will be, "Oh, I transferred money for an amp a month ago. Normally I'd worry, but these people are music lovers not businessmen, so you know, I'm sure it'll turn up. And it was such a deal."
 
Well there are two ways to look at it. I agree the language is terse at best, and there isn't protection for the buyer. But terse language is very common when it's a second language, particularly from Asian language speakers.

Also from a sellers perspective we know PayPal is risky. Credit cards too, and when you are dealing with overseas transactions and language differences you are looking at a lot of potential for fraud. So maybe they made the business decision that it wasn't worth the risk even if it costs them sales.
 
I think he knew exactly what he was saying. Yes, 'Caribbean' has that effect on people: doesn't really matter to me; I can't alter people's prejudices. Yes, 'wire transfer' ended the conversation for me.
 
Speaking of "lost in translation". The OP did not give us all the info. The site DOES accept Paypal and other forms of payment, but not over $300 USD. AND if one goes to the site, like I did, and read their mission statement they claim (in rather terse and stilted English) that they care more about catering to audiophiles and establishing Chinese reputation than making a sale. The site's makes perfect sense after reading their site.

All the info sure makes the picture clearer.
 
Seems to me Jolida had some "issues" with certain unnamed parties a while back for selling counterfeit amps ... if memory serves, said party was featured prominently in a warning on the Jolida website. The warning has since disappeared, so who knows who was right or wrong?

Grand Fidelity had a thing or two to say that may have some bearing here. Read into it what you may ...

http://grantfidelity.com/factories/?p=140
 
While I would only buy Jolida FROM Jolida in Maryland, most of the rest of Cattylink's products are among the best Chi-fi available, in my opinion. I'd not have a problem dealing with them, IF I was interested in Chi-fi. And I might be in the not too distant future, if my job situation improves. Regardless, dealing with ANY overseas company is an act of faith. Again, in MY opinion...

BTW, the Grant Fidelity page is more than 5 yrs old. Also, their(Cattylink) current prices are similar to prices from other Chi-fi dealers.
 
That page from Grant Fidelity is almost as poorly written as the mission statement on cattylink.
 
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