Delivery? No Excuses (memorybits.co.uk)

Name: olly374

Hello doyoo user, You have to be logged in to use these functions... Login or register Close window

Send message to member

Product:	memorybits.co.uk
Date:	16/08/07 (138 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well Done Website

Disadvantages: Cannot Deliver, Make Excuses, Difficult About Giving Refunds

I was looking for a place to buy a memory card for my mobile phone and came across this site due to it having a Google Checkout facility.

The site looked like it was owned by a small internet business and as I have brought memory cards, USB sticks and even a PC tower from a small business on the internet all with excellent service I didn’t think I would have a problem. (The PC tower was from a company round the corner from a relation but I could only pay them by buying on the internet.)

Website
-----------
The home page has lots of flash script on it. I only know this because my browser, Firefox, is set up to automatically block flash scripts running. The top of the page has a scrolling banner stating “Same Day Shipping On All Orders, All Products 100% Original, Best Prices Guaranteed, Buy Today.” This is followed by the company’s logo in orange and grey, which has a changing flash graphic of a memory card next to it. The company’s motto is “The one stop flash memory shop” The Company’s order line and opening hours are next to it.

There are various menus over the page. This sounds chaotic but isn’t as the first menu is under the logo and links you to the pages about the company and your account. Next to it a search box so that you can search for the item you want by manufacturer and/or type of card.

The left hand side menu allows you to select an item by type. It is broken down into main type i.e. memory card, mobile accessories, wireless accessories and then subdivided in to a more specific type so under the memory cards you can select SD card, MMC card, etc.

The middle of the page is a pictorial menu. If you click on a picture for example mobile memory you are taken to a page containing links to more items.

On the right hand side is you shopping cart, the various ways you can pay (Paypal, Google Checkout or debit/credit card) and a list of the company’s special offers.

Terms and Conditions
---------------------------
The company has detailed terms and conditions, and delivery information. In short they will deliver only to the card holder's address however if you have a Paypal account or a Google Checkout account they deliver to the registered addresses on there. Items are sent out either by recorded delivery giving you a 3-5 day wait, or special delivery, giving you a one day wait. This means items have to be signed for and should not get lost. If you order after 3pm that day then the item is counted as being ordered the next day.

The site is governed by English law and actually complies with recent legislation by detailing the company’s address on the site.


Shopping
------------
Once you have selected an item you click on the buy button and it’s added to your shopping card. You can then either go to your
Paypal account, Google Checkout account or set up a Memorybits account to pay. I went to my Google Checkout account to pay so I could get the items delivered to my work address as all my internet deliveries go there as there is someone to sign for it.

Delivery
-----------
I ordered a memory card on 11th July at approximately 11am. The memory card didn’t arrive after 5 working days. I contacted the company and asked for a refund. They said they had delays due to the [one] Royal Mail Strike [that would have affected my order] and the floods. I was extremely annoyed I pointed out their website said next day delivery if you ordered before 3pm, the delivery status hadn’t been updated, I wanted a refund and I would contact Trading Standards. They didn’t respond. I then contacted Trading Standards and was informed that under the Distance Selling Regulations you can cancel internet orders within 7 days. I sent this information back to them. They replied that they couldn’t update the status and that I could only be refunded after Royal Mail failed to deliver the item after 15 days on 1st August 2007.

The 1st August came and when, and as the item still hadn’t arrived I asked for a refund. Nothing happened so on 8th August I sent the company an email informing them that I would take further action. On 10th August I received my refund.

(During that time I ordered a memory card from a company based in Germany. The card arrived in within 5 days. )

This has been the ONLY item I have ordered on the internet that has never arrived at my workplace. Memorybits are also the only company who have been difficult about giving refunds when asked for. (It could be worse the item could have arrived damaged- shudders)

Rating
--------
Website: 5 out of 5
Delivery: 0 out of 5
Customer Service: -4 out of 5

Summary
-----------
Many small companies are honest and deliver their goods and services as stated on their websites. While they don’t always contact the customer if there are short delays, if the customer contacts them they simply state that there is a delay getting stock from their suppliers. They don’t make excuses about Royal Mail or the weather. If they have to give a refund they don’t need prompting about doing it and in many cases automatically give a refund if they know they cannot fulfil an order.

Summary: Avoid there are more customer friendly companies out there