Impressive service, disappointing prices (dvdstreet.co.uk)

Member Name: GroundZero

Product:	dvdstreet.co.uk
Date:	18/03/01 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good customer service, decent range of titles, good website design

Disadvantages: Average prices

In this age of internet shopping, it’s nice to see that some companies still remember the value of customer service. With so many companies offering broadly similar prices, good service from a company means I am far more likely to return, even if the pricing is not as good as elsewhere.

DVDStreet are the perfect example of this. I have used them a number of times in the past year, and have always been impressed with the service I have received. DVDs are one of those items that are almost always cheaper to buy over the web, and DVDStreet offer a good selection of the latest titles and some older ones as well.

DVDs are listed with a graphical key, which allows you to tell if a disc has any of the following: Dolby 5.1, DTS, Anamorphic transfer, extras and/or trailers (not all information is correct though). A brief description of each disc is given, along with a selection of customer reviews. General trivia related to the film is also displayed.

In the same style as Amazon’s, the website welcomes you back by name, and allows you to view the details of any orders you have in progress. Another comparison with Amazon’s site is the series of recommendations, based on your previous orders. You can sign up for email updates on new releases if you wish.

One significant plus point over Amazon is the free shipping. It is nice to be able to instantly see the price you will pay, rather than having to worry about how much additional postage charges need be applied. Most DVDs are sent within a day of ordering.

If an item you buy is faulty, or needs to be replaced for any reason, DVDStreet offer a Freepost returns address. It’s a simple case of peeling off the return address sticker and attaching it to the package, you don’t have to worry about having to get to the post office to pay for the return postage charges.

The biggest problem with DVDStreet is the high prices. In many cases it wi
ll be cheaper to buy your DVDs elsewhere. Another annoyance is that, unlike some other online retailers, you cannot cancel items from pending orders yourself, you have to contact a customer service representative to do it for you. They do respond quickly though, especially if you just phone their customer service hotline.

Overall, DVDStreet is definitely worth a look if you want to buy your discs online. Their impressive level of service helps them stand out from some other e-tailers I have used in the past.

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