i bought a samsung DLP tv via the digital e-tailer web site on october 18th based on c-net's certification. i paid for fed-ex saver 3-5 day shipping.
after placing the order online i received an email stating that the store would be closed for the next several business days and that my order would be processed when they were back in the office. this was disturbing because the office closures weren't disclosed on the web site.
i waited until the offices were open and called a customer service representative to make sure my order was being processed. i was subjected to 15 minutes of disturbingly hard upsell to additional services -- the fact that i declined additional items half a dozen times had no effect on the person i was speaking to, who finally told me that unless i bought 300.00 worth of additional items (including a bulb replacement plan) that he couldn't guarantee my order would be processed until the following week. at this time i terminated my call.
i received a tracking number in email the next day with instructions to use the fedex site to track my shipment. when i attempted to put the number in the fedex site it was returned as invalid -- so i read the bottom of the email i received which said that if i ordered a television that a different shipping company would be used. this was disclosed at the bottom of the mail as a footnote, after the tracking number and clear instructions to use the fedex site. the name of the alternate shipping compay was not provided, so i called digital e-tailer again and was told that the company name was seko.
i tracked my shipment through the seko site but delivery estimated far exceeded any 3-5 day window -- when i called seko, they said they were unaware of a 3-5 day delivery policy and that it was an issue with the retailer for claiming those dates. when i tried to call digital e-tailer back for a refund of the preimium i paid for 3-5 day fedex service i was put on hold indefinitely and did not get my refund.
my experience with this company was very disturbing across the board -- from the numerous office closures that weren't disclosed to the highly aggressive and threatening "customer service" rep who basically said my order would be held hostage unless i bought additional items to the obvious bait-and-switch on shipping, this company has demonstrated a lack of concern for customer service or honest and up-front business at every turn.
This review was modified by its author, krullulon, on
11/18/05 5:47 PM.