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OVERCLOCKERS.CO.UK
As a new customer this is my experience with this company:
Saturday 8th March
The only site that showed all items marked as in stock. Placed my order
ITEM 1 Motherboard:
Asus P4G8X Retail 149.00
ITEM 2 Processor:
Intel P4 2.66Ghz Boxed retail 176.00
ITEM 3 Ram:
512Mb Corsair
DDR XMS3200 TwinX Retail 125.50
ITEM 4 Hard Disk:
Maxtor DiamondMax 120Gb OEM 101.00
ITEM 5 Graphics card:
Sapphire Radeon 9700Pro Retail 229.00
Delivery 8.50
TOTAL 927.07 INC vat
Monday 10th March
Checked web site. The Sapphire Radeon 9700Pro was listed as 'Due 4 -7 days'.
Phoned Overclockers and was told that this was not a stock item on Saturday
8th.
Which was untrue as I always double-check everything. I was offered an
alternative product with next day delivery for all items, which I accepted.
Tuesday 11th March
PROBLEM
Despite having an afternoon free to build my new computer, Amtrak failed to
deliver these items.
Wednesday 12th March
Late afternoon I phoned Amtrak and was told the goods would be with me
shortly. They said that the goods had only been dispatched the day before.
So
the promise that they would be dispatched on the Monday was not carried out.
The goods arrived in a sealed box and were signed for.
PROBLEMS
1. ITEM 1 This item was not in its manufacturers shrink wrap and had been
opened
2. ITEM 3 This item had been opened. This is sensitive matched high quality
ram
3. ITEM 5 This item, a Connect3D graphics card, was the equivalent of the
original Sapphire I had requested. However It was not a retail boxed
version.
It came bubble-wrapped and was missing a power cable. I telephoned and was
told that one would be sent to me. I'm still waiting. This item shares the
same stock code as the retail boxed product on the web site. In fact they do
not show a OEM version of this product on their web site. I had paid full
retail price for a product that should have cost far less.
4. The bill. I had been charged an additional 1.05 + vat for changing to
another graphics card. This I would have accepted if I had been told that
there was an additional charge. I had not been told this.
By the way, many internet companies do not charge for delivery. I have
purchase goods over the Internet for may years. For myself and as a network
administrator for a Community College. I have never received goods that had
been unsealed before. Overclockers state that they do this to check items.
In
my experience I've never found problems in this area. I cannot help but feel
that I have received goods that have been rejected elsewhere.
Thursday 13th March
Built new computer and install Windows XP Pro operating system. Had to use
the
floppy drive connector to power the graphics card (identical power. I just
needed the additional cable to power both items).
PROBLEM
20 minutes into using this computer the graphics card failed. On recovery XP
reported that it was this device that was causing the problem. Telephoned
Overclockers and was told that it would have to be discussed with technical
support and that they would phone me back within half an hour.
PROBLEM
No return call that day.
Friday 14th March
Phoned customer service and was told to phone technical support.
PROBLEM
Phoned technical support. Chose option and then the dreadful 'music' hold.
Then line went dead. Phoned again, same thing.
Phoned customer service and was told to phone technical support. I was quite
angry by now and refused. I was told that 'Steve' would call me in 10
minutes.
Three quarters of an hour later, no call. I phoned again and was told that
he
definitely call me back within half an hour.
Steve did phone. I told him that I was rejecting this item and that I wanted
a
full refund. He said that I couldn't have a refund as I had accepted it.
Only
if they found a problem with the card would they replace it. Remember that I
had only had this item for two days, it had cost over 270 and it didn't
work!
I have returned this product and expect a full refund including my postage
and
the 1.05 I was mislead on.
I await the outcome
Why did I choose a different company to my regular one (usually the
excellent
DABS)? Well they had everything in stock, or so I thought. And I was eager
to
build my new computer. They certainly were not the cheapest. Comparison
below:
Overclockers Dabs
ITEM 1 149.00 137.88
ITEM 2 176.00 179.58
ITEM 3 125.50 79.34 (Crucial equivalent)
ITEM 4 101.00 91.92 (Seagate equivalent)
ITEM 5 229.90 (OEM) 227.24 (Retail)
Delivery 8.50 0.00
However Overclockers have done themselves no favours. I spend about a 1000
a
year for myself and tens of thousand for the college not to mention the
proliferation of this message on the net to warn others. There quality
control, telephone system and customer service are appalling. At no time
was
I offered an apology and frankly the support staff sounded disinterested. I'
m
a believer in treating others as you would like to be treated. In this they
have failed miserably.