Online stores I trust (short list)

Neatton · 12-13-2005, 12:08 AM

The best online store that I have run into taking into consideration price, customer service, and past experiance would have to be:

www.clubit.com
(Free shipping orders over 50$!! <--- Awesome)('freeship50' code)

I bet you all thought it would be Newegg right! Well as much as I do love newgg Clubit by far surpasses them in customer service and the overall experience. Newegg has become a large retailer. With this comes the less familiar whatever kind of customer service. Although it is still half descent compared to alot of other retailers Clubit is just on. They are there and they want to help. I want to add a little story here which just doesn't happen often with Etailers. I built a computer with parts mostly from them. I got my parts (quicker then the ones I ordered from Newegg) and slapped everything together. I realized however that my friend needed a floppy and I neglected to purchase one. Realizing my choices were to go online and spend probably 20 bucks after shipping or go to a PC store paying about 15 bucks I wasnt very happy that I was going to have to blow the extra bucks. I called ClubIt I advised of what I had done. The guy offered to send me a floppy with free shipping since I had previously placed an order that was over 50 bucks and just carry it over. Now that sounds simple enough but the guy had to go out of his way to make this happen since the system wouldnt just except that. He did this ONLY for customer service and to make me happy. I got my floppy for 5 bucks in just 2 days. Now how many online joints do you know of that would do that? The only con with this retailer is that they just dont have the massive stock that Newegg does. So when I cannot find what I need there I go to....

www.newegg.com

They are of course the tried and true and by far largest online retailer. They have a huge stock with at least 5 or 6 warehouses around the country. There customer service has been going down hill for sometime now with as large as they are becoming. However after that long hold time there is someone there to assist you (best they can) with whatever you need. Sometimes though even this giant doesn't have what I need. When this happens (rarely) I go to...

www.monarchcomputers.com

This is the last in the list simply because some people have positive experiences and some have very negative ones. I have not had to use them very much but the few times I have they have come through for me.

The bottom line here is price. If they have what you need then www.clubit.com is going to be the cheapest in my experiance partially due to the free shipping.

CLUBIT Pwns you Newegg what happened?

Pirotess · 12-13-2005, 10:24 AM

Havent ever used Clubit, but I'll have to check them out. I have used Newegg, in fact I remember when they were just getting started and usually have good experiences with them though I have gotten bad motherboards from them twice now. This latest computer that Im in the process of purchasing hardware for I've been using Monarch Computers. I'll let you know how it all works out after Im done.

Essential Timing · 12-13-2005, 10:39 AM

www.cyberpowersystem.com is a good one to, it is more of a configurator than anything.

Pirotess · 12-14-2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirotess

This latest computer that Im in the process of purchasing hardware for I've been using Monarch Computers. I'll let you know how it all works out after Im done.

Well that was a short test. Put an order in on Dec 7th, 2005 for 3 items their website showed as in stock. Case, powersupply and RAM. As of Dec 14th, 2005 my gear hasnt shipped and my card was charged on Dec 7th. According to customer service they actually didnt have the case in stock as its a new item for them and it still hasnt come in as of today. So now unless I want to get my credit card company involved I have to wait for them to get the case.

Aredhel · 12-14-2005, 04:40 PM

ouch!

Neatton · 12-14-2005, 06:51 PM

That is really messed up. Did they offer to credit your card back and just send the two items in stock at least so you can go elsewhere?

If you can do that may want to take the chance to check out clubit they will treat you well.

edit: I also wanted to throw up here a website alot dont know about. It is a site masses of ppl visit to rate online retailers kinda of like Ebays feedback and you can tell what your chances are of being railroaded :P

http://www.resellerratings.com/

Pirotess · 12-15-2005, 03:39 PM

So I checked their out of stock page again and the item that has been holding up my order now shows as Jan 5th 2006 ETA. I called up pretty pissed and told them I wanted to cancel my order. They told me I couldnt do that over the phone, I'd need to email them. I say fine and ask how long till I get refunded and he tells me 10-15 days. I nearly exploded his ear drum with the string of foulness that came out of my mouth after that. I find it rather funny they can make a charge to my card in less than an hour but when I want my money back it takes them 2 weeks because "we're really backed up on refunds". Well I wonder why, maybe its because they cant get their act together. The shining moment was when he told me "our sales department is retarded" right after asking me my order number for the 6th time in 3 minutes.

Avoid Monarch Computers. There are better places to shop.