Online shopping - is it worth the Hassle?

[AndrewJ]

Personally I have shopped at various places online, for dvd's and other stuff really, not had much issues myself, but major things like tellys and dvd players etc, I always go to the store to pay for it in full and sort things out, something about havin the paper work and reciept sorted which is better then a e-mail saying its been sent/

[TigaSefi]

u want tellys and dvd's and stuff and good customer services ?

www.empiredirect.co.uk
www.hifibitz.co.uk

Both very very good to me.

In the context of this thread, I'd recommend people take another look at this post for some useful information:

http://cableforum.co.uk/board/showpo...1&postcount=48

Just got home to a huuuge box from Overclockers.Ordered Tuesday evening online about 10 pm and arrived sometime this morning when youngest born was home via Amtrak.

First time I've dealt with Overclockers, 2nd time with Amtrak.First time with Amtrak they knocked on my door so quietly that I,who was expecting them,never heard them.(yeah right)Had to get a strop on to get that order delivered(they never even put a note through the door).

No trouble this time but this was the Portsmouth depot this time so maybe that made a difference.

However most of my orders are with Amazon and they are fine.I can wait for a book for a while and they tell you if it has to be ordered in and the time you will have to wait.

In fact I can't think of one place that I've never received an order from or had any trouble of any kind apart from when I won a prize on a US site but that is another story entirely.

[ntl customer]

Good experiences with delivery (ie. would order again)

Dabs.com
Overclock.co.uk
SVP - Blank Disc Shop
Crucial Technology

Reasonable experiences with delivery (would think twice before ordering)

Choice Stationery Supplies
Overclockers
Ebuyer

Dabs - everything arrives within a few days of ordering in good condition. No real gripes about their couriers, parcelforce. Customer service, however, is another story altogether.

Overclock - again the same with Dabs about their couriers, Business Post and packaging standards. They never seem to have replied to any emails I've sent them, but their RMA process for me had a quick turnaround time, but sort the comms problems via email!

SVP - again same as above with couriers. Emails all responded to fairly quickly so a for them.

Crucial Technology - same with all others for couriers - they use Royal Mail special delivery which isn't too bad around here. Can be a bit slow to respond via email but at least they have a free phone number.

Choice stationery supplies - not too bad up until recently when I have had a few packages go missing or when I've ordered the wrong item. Never had a reply to my missing package emails and when I tried to email them to cancel something to ring some 0845 number - and when I asked the reason as to why they couldn't deal with cancellations via email, they just copied and pasted the text asking me to phone them from the previous reply.

Overclockers - apparently they are legendary for their customer service, or rather, lack of it. Bought a HD from them a while ago and the box that it arrived in was pretty tatty.

Ebuyer - Citylink, their couriers are not much use. Ebuyer's website is nice to browse through and have got good order tracking stuff but they have no phone number and you can't email them directly - you have to use their enotes system, which, thankfully (touch wood) I've never had anything break. Yet.

They also sent via Recorded delivery my graphics card in one of those thinly padded envelopes - generally not a good idea. Granted it only cost about £50 but I believe that if it got nicked in transit or damaged I wouldn't be covered for the max amount and be left out of pocket - IIRC it's a max of £28 compensation for lost or damaged items.

So, a mixed bag really.