PLAY.Com - NOT JUST FOR GADGET GEEKS, BUT ALSO FOR DVD FREAKS! (Play.com)

Member Name: totalserenity

Product:	Play.com
Date:	15/04/09 (233 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: VERY COMPETIVELY PRICED ON A HUGE ARRAY OF GOODS, EXCELLENTLY STOCKED AND QUICK DELIVERY TOO.

Disadvantages: NOT FOUND ONE YET!

Now I am probably the last person to be typing advice about an internet site - as I am quite the technophobe, and quite honestly make no bones about it!

If anything I am quite proud that I have had the internet for less than four years, and even then it was only because my daughter needed access to the World Wide Web for her Secondary Education.
Being a staunch believer that in general technology is more 'bad' than 'good'; there has been many a heated debate between myself and various others as to the dangers of becoming ultra-dependent on machines for doing our thinking, spelling, formatting, mathematics, and the like for us.

However, also facing the inevitable fact of computers being 'the future', I have been educated to the most basic, need-to-know degree on how to 'surf' the web for the snippets of information I require.

Also, suffering with osteo-arthritis and associated debilitating conditions, the internet can be a veritable godsend in times of being unwillingly incarcerated at home - thus it can be quite the double-edged sword on occasion, my dependency on a form of technology I both intensely admire/despise.

Which leads me swiftly onto 'Play.com'...the subject of this here review.

For a person such as myself with limited mobility, alternatively just an ordinary busy individual, or even someone who prefers to 'virtual' shop; why then this website is a fantastic option when wanting to purchase DVDs, CDs, games, electronic and computing wares, mobile phones, clothing and even books, and the like.

I joined Play.com late last year on a friend's recommendation and have used it oodles of times since. For me it's so easy to navigate around the site.
I didn't find it too daunting, too difficult, or too overwhelming (although the deluge of 'Sales' newsletters can be baffling to read at times!) to understand the ordering process (think A,B,C for a novice like me and you'll soon get the picture...Oooh they sell cameras too, by the way!), as it is beautifully explained step, by simple step.

As with most sites, you find a search bar in the top right hand side of the window which can take you straight to your item of choice if you manage to key the correct information in. With so many sub-categories it can be baffling for a non-expert like me, but there is a huge section on FAQ's (frequently asked questions), which may well answer any general query you have.

Play.com proudly advertises 'Best Online Retailer', voted by 'Which' Awards 2008, as well as 'Free Delivery On Everything' - a huge plus as far as I'm concerned.
I am also a member of 'eBay', but the free postage tends to undercut most of that site's prices hands down.

The web pages tend to be very colourful and brightly decorated with the blue logo'd Play.com company name in the top left hand corner, with Account log in details plus a shopping trolley on the very top right hand side.
Across the centre of the top are all the major choices to browse, such as DVD, Blue-Ray, Music, Books, Electronics, Computing, Mobile, gadgets, plus Clothing.
There are loads of different options within the site to 'Sell Your Stuff', buy tickets to various shows and concerts, MP3 downloads, purchase software, televisions, the list is endless really, and quite diverse for an internet site I innocently thought at first only sold CDs and DVDs.

The place is quite huge, but don't be put off by that fact. Believe me if I can use it, anyone can!

Options abound to pre-order new releases - especially of music CD's and the latest DVDs; in addition Play.com seem to pride themselves on being able to undercut many, many RRP via their multitude of sales and special offers.

Obviously a plethora of credit cards are acceptable and 'Secure Shopping' is offered by 'Veri-sign' if you so choose.

On joining Play.com, the procedure was very simple and I chose to make my normal bank debit card my preferred payment of choice. This can be altered as can the delivery address of any particular purchase if you wish to have it mailed to an address different to your home.

On browsing a particular item of interest the website will automatically tell you if it's in stock when you add it to your virtual shopping trolley.
If said item is temporarily out of stock you will be informed as to when it is expected back in, and then given the option of whether or not you wish to still add that purchase to your order. I find all this very simple to follow, and upon completing my selection, then paying my balance, a generated confirmation is automatically sent immediately to my chosen email address.

Communication-wise, again, I cannot fault this particular company.

An email again is received from Play.com upon my order being dispatched, containing within an approx date of arrival.
Without exception, even on the frenetic run up to Christmas when I ordered what felt like half their entire stock for spoilt only child's stocking fillers, every single delivery arrived way before the estimated time of receipt.

I have never had a single problem with any item; all have arrived well-packaged in strong cardboard outers - all the DVDS and CDs cellophane sealed, as should be with brand new items.
Not one complaint have I ever had to issue to this company, a great endorsement indeed considering the amount of merchandise I have purchased from here!
In addition I have never had to return an article either; though there is a local rate number if you need any person-to-person advice.

There was even a deal recently on Nestle cereals offering a DVD for £1 from a selection of twelve different titles from Play.com. I ordered the family comedy 'Evan Almighty' and it arrived within a few days, an absolute bargain for a film I had sadly missed at the cinema!

Another great plus for me is the fact I get Nectar points via the website too - usually double points = 4 per pound spent, although direct from my Nectar 'Home' site it can be as much a triple points per purchase. That's a fantastic 6 pence per pound given back via Nectar points, on top of an already great free postage deal!

Recently I have been looking for a special DVD close to my heart - 'What Dreams May Come', starring the inimitable Robin Williams. On eBay I can't find it cheaper than £5.95 plus P&P, on Play.com only £3.99 all in - fantastic stuff!

I shopped around sat on my laptop late last year for quite a few different DVDs, including box sets; plus CD albums around several different sites - including Amazon, but could not find a website that could equal or even undercut Play.com.
Like most I like value for money to make every pound stretch that bit further, not seeing the point of 'paying through the nose' for an item I can find less expensive by going to the bother of logging on another website.

Play.com therefore is, in my opinion, easy, efficient and highly competitive - three commodities I value as a self-taught, non-typing technophobe!

As with most large internet sites, the more you delve, the more there is. But if like me you are a mere novice amongst these places, it can be more a convenient, plus cheaper option for you to buy via cyberspace; well then I can thoroughly recommend you give Play.com a whirl.

Give it a go and see for yourself, no strings attached! Visit: 'http://www.play.com'.

Summary: A MUST-HAVE ON YOUR LIST OF FAVOURITE SITES TO BROWSE IF IN NEED OF NEW MUSIC OR FILMS!