I've just had an EXTREMELY bad experience with PC BOOST/SMK/Allstar Components (all one in the same company). You should all be aware of this and DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY. The email that I just sent to them is self-explainatory, so here it is...
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My name is Michael John. I ordered an iWill XP333 motherboard from you, which I received today. When I ordered it over the phone from Julie, it was very clear that I only wanted this motherboard if it was version 2.1. She assured me that it would be checked to make sure it was that version before shipping. Well, the one that I received is version 1.0, a very old version. PLUS, and this is what REALLY makes me mad ... it's USED! The manual has obviously been in the hands of a frustrated previous owner for days, and he's even written in it in pencil! The CD has a lot of scratches in it, and the cables have obviously seen more than their share of installation and reinstallation.
Due to your gross negligence, I expect to be able to return this item to you, overnite, COD, and to have you ship me a NEW iWill XP333 motherboard, version 2.1, by overnight delivery, at no expense to me, since you are completely responsible for these problems. If you are unwilling to do this, then I expect to be able to return the motherboard COD and receive a COMPLETE refund of $99. In no way should I have to pay for your mistakes.
I tried calling all of your phone numbers at 3:15 Pacific time, but all that I got was recordings, saying that phone support was supposed to be until 3:30.
I appologize if this email comes-off as being rather rude, but you must understand that I am furious. The fact that my original order was supposed to be canceled and wasn't, and was charged to my credit card, the fact that I was assured my motherboard would be version 2.1, and wasn't, the fact that you sent me a used motherboard, and the fact that your phone support was not available when you claimed it was supposed to be, all add up to a very bad customer experience on my part. I will send you this email, but I'll also be on the phone to you, first thing in the morning, to get this matter resolved.
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See what I mean? I don't think I need to say any more...
Comments
LOL ... this place had a better price ... such a DEAL ... got wh
LOL ... this place had a better price ... such a DEAL ... got what I paid for. This internet purchasing is wearing very thin on my nerves. First a DOA, now this. When there's any kind of problem, it takes FOREVER to get it solved. I guess I'm in the process of learning another valuable lesson. ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUT
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
ONLY DO BUSINESS ONLINE WITH COMPANIES THAT YOU KNOW TO BE REPUTABLE!
It is a shame that you had to go through all that SOS...I have r
It is a shame that you had to go through all that SOS...I have realized the same thing as you have, and I now go to Pricewatch, and compare like everyone else, but I usually end up buying from a place called MicroXPress that is here is town. It is usually within a few dollars of the lowest price, and sometimes I pay as much as $10 more for the same part...but ya know, I can get it the same day (it is about a 40 minute drive from my house), and if there is a problem, I know who to hunt down and kill. It is worth the extra $10 to know *what* you are getting, and *who* you are dealing with IMHO.
Now I don't know how many computer dealers there are in and around Pahrump :) but it would be worth the drive if you had something within a hour or so...once again, just my opinion!
Best of luck getting things sorted out!
SOS, that sucks. I had a similar problem once with Directron.com
SOS, that sucks. I had a similar problem once with Directron.com, another company that knowingly ships 'B" grade or used stuff as new. Even had a salesman in a New York City camera store try and sell me old dusty stuff. Thats when I usually let the animal outta the cage ( in a peaceful, calm way :roll: ).
newegg.com, buy.com, dell.com, gateway.com, computers4sure.com, azzo.com, staples.com
I've personally had great service from these peeps so far.
Man, you've sure been pay'in your dues over this computer build.... :confused:
Tommy P.
LOL ... when I first started frequenting the blues clubs in Chic
LOL ... when I first started frequenting the blues clubs in Chicago, a guy told me "You gotta pay your dues before you can play the blues", and he was right. It took years to earn respect, even with good chops.
Anyway ... after leaving 2 messages for the manager, Juli, to call me back, I got this email:
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Thank you for ordering from SMK Internet Components. In our
conversation, I told you that we purchase our motherboards directly from Iwill.
Your response was, if we purchase them from Iwill, then they should be the new
version. And then you agreed for us to send the motherboard off to you. Before
we shipped out your motherboard, we did in fact physically look at the
motherboard to make sure it was the 2.1version you requested. (Which we usually
do not do). We apologize if for some reason you were sent the older version.
For any future purchases we cannot guarantee any specific version. We checked
the version for you on this order as a courtsey gesture due to the problem and
miscommunication when your order was supposed to be cancelled.
Our Fedex Account # is XXXXXXXXXX. You may call Fedex @
800-463-3339, and schedule a pick up or drop off at your own convenience. Please
make sure to send the motherboard back with a copy of the blue and white invoice
stating if you would like an exchange, or a refund. If you request a refund, we
will refund you in full including your original freight. Again, please keep in
mind if you are returning for an exchange, we cannot guarantee a specific
version. Thank you for your understanding
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Can you believe that crap? Saying that they physically checked the motherboard version! The damn thing says "version 1.0" as plain as day! They didn't even address the "USED" issue!
So, I called FEDEX and scheduled the pickup for tomorrow, to be shipped by "2-day". Now the damn money won't be back into my bank account til the end of next week. What a pain in the ass!
Oh, and OPUS, I remembered that the reason I didn't order from MWAVE was because they wouldn't check or guarantee a version number! So, it's going to be a real trick trying to find a reputable company that will take the time to make sure I get the product that I want. You would think that these companies would be more customer service oriented, especially since their customers aren't walking into their store to be able to physically check the products for themselves. I mean, really, how hard can it be to open a damn box, verify that it's what the customer wants, and ship it to them? IMHO, it just sounds like a scam to dump their old stock over the internet.
Hey SOS, Check out these guys... http://www.advanceddesignky.co
Hey SOS,
Check out these guys... http://www.advanceddesignky.com/
(Sorry I'm too dumb to make it a link!)
Anyway, they,ve got your board. Says ver2.1 $128.00 (is that a lot more than you paid?-too lazy to look...)I bought virtually all my pieces parts from these guys and I'm real happy. I didn't have any problems either and I guess that's where the rubber meets the road BUT...they shipped me what I ordered, and they were cool on the phone.
Good Luck
lou
All right one more post and I'll stop. I went back and looked at
All right one more post and I'll stop. I went back and looked at what you paid. $128 is 28% more than you paid (duh) and I guess that is a lot but we're not talking about a thousand bucks here. Sometimes I have more money than brains about these things (and I ain't rich believe me!)but for less than thirty bucks I wouldn't be dickin around with the lowest price guy. Anybody can have the lowest price. They do it by hiring morons for $6.00 an hour and providing zip for customer support. I hope like hell you get your money back...
My first post about Advanced Design stands. Good People, very helpful. I didn't mind paying them extra.
lou
Hmmm...if I'm "Grasshopper", that must mean that you are Master,
Hmmm...if I'm "Grasshopper", that must mean that you are Master, and I've been accepted into the temple...kewl!
Well, I found a place selling the XP333 rev2.1! It's $88 (Pricewatch price) plus $13.95 for 2-day air. The place is called hardcorecooling.com, out of Connecticut. Cruising their site, they don't have a lot of selection, but it's all high-end stuff, no crapola. Hmmm ... but do I dare trust em? Opinions? Votes? Advice? Anyone done business with them?
I sent them an email to verify that it's the rev2.1, new, Retail box, not refurb or "b"-stock, and that they'll honor the Pricewatch price.
Does anyone have any info on OCZ memory? Their PC3000 is supposedly recommended for the XP333. (?)
Be careful, SOS. The OCZ ram has has a spotty reputation. They e
Be careful, SOS. The OCZ ram has has a spotty reputation. They essentially just speed test regular ram, then put a higher rating sticker on it. Some people have reported dead sticks of ram, after pulling thier teeth out troubleshooting a build. You don't need that(unless your blues playing needs a boost! ;)
Tommy P.
The only 4 online computer parts vendors I shop with are: 1)
The only 4 online computer parts vendors I shop with are:
1) newegg.com
2) googlegear.com
3) mwave.com
4) mushkin.com (memory)
I've had 100% good dealings with these. I used to shop only with mwave until newegg started beating the pants off mwave's prices. Newegg and googlegear consistantly have prices near or within a very small margin of the best on pricewatch. The only bad thing I can say about googlegear is that once you've bought something from them, they'll begin spamming you with advertising even when you tell them NO when you register with them. No big deal since they do have great prices, wide selection (very similar to newegg) and prompt service. Newegg sometimes packs the shipments sloppily, not so good, looks like they are in a hurry, but everything I've bought from them made it here undamaged, but a couple boxes were about to fall apart. Googlegear packs their stuff to survive a tumble down several flights of stairs. Mwave is somewhere in between.
Mushkin is an absolutely 1st class place to buy memory from. Everytime I buy from them, someone always emails me personally a few days later to make sure I got the shipment OK and that all the parts are in good working order. I was stunned and amazed when I first bought from them, did not expect this level of attention to customer care this day and age. Their prices are not the cheapest in the world, but they often do have good special deals on commodity memory and their premium high performance memory rates right up there with Corsair and is competitively priced. You certainly get what you pay for with these folks and one thing I've learned is to not skimp on memory.
SOS...I guess you dont listen to us do ya!!! lol Mwave...Newegg
SOS...I guess you dont listen to us do ya!!! lol
Mwave...Newegg...nexthardwareshop...beatprice...
I use Mwave all the time now..yes, I can just drive right down there..pay a $5 will call fee and be done with it..and yes, if you want order the thing, if they fuck it up I'll go down there and give em what they deserve!!! LMAO!!
I cant stress enough how good Mwave is...
Opus
Opus, if you scroll up, you'll find that I tried to deal with Mw
Opus, if you scroll up, you'll find that I tried to deal with Mwave, but they honestly didn't seem to give a shit if I get what I need. I told them I want the iWill XP333, but I MUST have rev2.1. They absolutely refused to take 30 seconds to look inside the box to check the revision number. IMHO, that's poor customer service, and throws a red flag up. The way I see it, if I'm buying something sight-unseen, then the seller shouldn't have a problem with such a trivial little thing as a quick peek inside the box to make sure that I'm getting the product that I want to buy. This whole "you'll take what we give you" attitude that so many of these internet computer retailers have doesn't fly with me, and they can stick it up their collective, proverbial ass! If they can't give one minute of customer service before the sale, then what will they be like to deal with if there's a problem after the sale?
See, I called iWill. The tech told me that if I'm gonna buy the XP333 to make sure that I get rev2.1, because of many improvements. So, I'm going to do as recommended by the manufacturer. If a retailer has a problem with that, then they've lost a sale.
Wow!! That's pretty shitty...how does a company mistake a new bo
Wow!! That's pretty shitty...how does a company mistake a new box from an old one? Doh!
Sorry to hear it man..Mwave.com......all I have to say!
Opus