I am so dissatisfied with this company, I would never use them again. I ordered a GPS on Nov 10th, didn’t receive any information in regards to shipment or anything in general until; I asked for a cancellation to my order since there is a lack of communication and customer service. I was told that my order has “been processed” which I know to be false because I have recently spoken to Paypal with this matter. I asked for an exchange to a more expensive item, not a refund or anything and was bluntly told NO. I am very disgusted with the lack of customer service and after the 6th day of no informational change to my account I am so frustrated about my order, that I would never wish this headache to anyone!!!

This review was modified by its author, Cceasar, on 11/18/09 8:14 AM.

Product was not as advertised. eCost advertised a new computer monitor but shipped me a refurbished one. I notified them the day it arrived and had lots of trouble getting them to take back the monitor. Ultimately had to dispute the charge to my credit card. Their customer service is horrible. I'll never purchase from eCost again.

I also placed an order and in less than 12 hours decided to call and cancel. I was told that "they would try" but it was "processing"..and I would know if I either receicved and cancellation email or a tracking #.... I wish I had read all these reviews before placing my order...now I am not sure what to expect.

I promised ECOST that I would definitely review them. I am: they are THEE WORST, with customer service...there is none!! I will never purchase there again. 4 days later and three phone calls later I am still waiting for a response to my situation from a supervisor (my request was escalated last thur....today is tues) HA, my MOM is still waiting for her Birthday Gift from me...oh that's right ecost cancelled the order 5 days after the order was placed and wouldn't "replace" the item with something comprable...they told me to look again. I had already spent hours finding the right item at the right price that was "IN STOCK" and ready to ship, which I thought would be from ECOST, since that is what my order read....After this debacle from ECOST I went to Sears who shipped the same item at the same price in under 12 hours. Goodbye Ecost and GOOD RIDDENS.  
 
Oh by the way form reading the reviews it seems like this is ECOSTS common practice. I imagine there will be some ridiculous apology and excuse posted here by the same named customer service person with the standard answer. HOGWASH...this is a new slant on the bait and switch...but they just cancel your order leaving you high and dry...and I am sure they hope you have ordered other items while you were shopping.One thing, at least they supposedly credited me my shipping on the other items. But not until I called!!!!  
 
So here it is over a week later and now the bluetooth I ordered dosnt work...can I wait 3-5 business days for RA? HA!!! what choice do I have. I asked about crediting my shipping while I was requesting a RA, no they haven't done that yet. Oh by the way a supervisor hasn't called me back yet either....If you are thinking of ordering from ECOST good luck...I would use Buy.com they are super reliable.

This review was modified by its author, jagssm26, on 11/7/09 3:12 PM.

Ordered a "Refurbished/Recertified" HP server. The item arrived and the system still had the prior owners password on it, so the hard drives were clearly NOT erased. Within 12 hours, the network connection from the server failed completely. Clearly, the unit was just a reboxed return and was in no way tested or prepared for a new customer. Contacted eCost four times demanding a refund and they refused the first two three times stating that my only recourse was through HP. Each time I contacted them, I was told that my request for a refund would take up to three business days because they need to check with management. I requested to speak with a manager, and was told that was impossible. The last two times I contacted them, they never responded at all, much less within three business days.  
 
In no place in the ordering process was their "no return" policy disclosed. Nor was the fact that "Refurbished/Recertified" in no way referred to the actual product, but only the packing. It is patently unreasonable for me to have to have a "BRAND NEW" [a quote from an email I received from a customer service representative] repaired using my time and energy. How could one possibly trust that any replacement unit from them would not fail equally quickly?  
 
Their customer service is clearly trained to get rid of people as fast as possible in the hopes that they will give up. I encourage anyone else that has had similar issues to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Maybe enough complaints will get them to improve their customer service.  
 
Addendum: After contacting Linda Potter directly, she was able to resolve my situation to my satisfaction.

This review was modified by its author, jlarish, on 11/4/09 12:30 PM.

I ordered a Westinghouse LCD from Ecost. I have ordered from Ecost before but never had had to return an item. This item was refurbished and upon receipt the lcd made a loud humming noise and would turn off after several seconds. I called Ecost and they put me on a 3-way conference call with Westinghouse who diagnosed the unit as defective and instructed my to return it. Ecost sent me an RMA and label to ship the unit back. Ecost scammed me as I was credited back 117.18 dollars for my 141.98 order. I called Ecost and they stated "their" return department said the item was fine. This is not the case, as Westinghouse diagnosed the problem and I actually ordered an exact same replacement from Ecost and it is not having the issue. The Ecost representative said they would "look into the matter and if Westinghouse did say it was defective they would credit." I still have not received the credit for the item. Horrible customer service for a return customer. I plan to dispute this transaction with my CC company if this issue is not resolved.  
 
UPDATE: Mrs. Potter promptly returned my call after I left her a voicemail. Overall she provided outstanding customer service and represents the company well. If you have any issues I recommend you contact Mrs. Potter directly and she will do everything in her power to take care of you.

This review was modified by its author, alschmid, on 11/3/09 1:13 PM.

Easy to order. I've actually had several orders from these guys and each time the thing I order gets delivered. This last time, it was 4 different items and they all arrived before the 5th day.  
 
The only problem with this merchant is that if something goes bad with the product, they won't deal with it, but ask you to contact the manufacturer. It's a minor beef, since the manufacturers are good. Overall quality products. I'll be shopping with them again, too.

After 4 emails and 3 phone calls all dealing with pitiful customer service representatives, it seems writing a review on this website is the quickest way to get a problem sorted out since the Resolutions team seem to be checking this website and responding.  
 
So resolution team I address this to you. I ordered a Compaq notebook computer and paid via funded paypal (ie it was actual money not a credit card transaction) and an authorization of my actual money was sent to ecost. I then receive an email saying the notebook I ordered is back ordered despite the website saying it was in stock. I then called ecost and cancelled the order. That was the easy part. Getting ecost to understand that funded paypal authorizations dont just "drop off" like temporary credit card authorizations and that someone in their credit department needs to physically reject the authorization has been a whole other matter. The people on the phone say I will send a request to the credit department, the people on email say, you have not been charged, the authorization will just drop off and I am still out $331 dollars of my hard earned cash that is sitting in the paypal universe somewhere because apparently ecost have no concept of how paypal works. So I implore you ecost read this review and give my bloody money back!!  
 
My favorite part of this whole experience has been how the day after I have to cancel my order because they dont infact have the notebook they were advertising, the send out their "hot sheet" emailing advertising the exact same computer! Wonder how many other people ordered the non existent computer as a result of this.  
 
CANCEL THE PAYPAL AUTHORIZATION AND GIVE MY FREAKING MONEY BACK YOU SCAMMERS!!!  
 
EDIT:Thanks you Beverly for proving my point with another useless reply. As I stated in my review Paypal authorizations DO NOT CANCEL THEMSELVES! How freaking hard is that to understand? Someone in your office needs to cancel the authorizations physically. Take ote everyone, even the resolutions team is totally inept.

This review was modified by its author, amberweaversmith, on 9/29/09 9:50 PM.

On 7/31/2009 I purchased 12 Thinkpad X41 series tablet computers. These arrived on 8/5/2009 as ordered and I have been very pleased with this purchase. I made another purchase on 8/11/09 for more tablet computers. This time I ordered 2 more Thinkpad X41 series tablets that included docking stations and messenger bags and again, as expected, these arrived on 8/14/09 as ordered. This order also included 2 HP Elitebook 2530p computers which I selected from the same list on the website identified as “TABLETS” and from where I had selected the Thinkpad tablets. I had no indication these were not tablets similar to the Thinkpads. When they arrived, I opened one of the boxes and discovered these are not tablet computers, but notebooks. They do not have pen-enabled touchscreens. I did not expect to have a problem getting them exchanged. I called customer service on 8/17/2009 and explained the situation, hoping from a customer service standpoint that an EXCHANGE could be made. I still need and want 2 more tablet computers. I even found 2 more that would be adequate replacements. I was informed that I would not be issued an RMA because of Ecost's policy of ALL SALES FINAL. I called customer service back on 8/18/2009 to request consideration for an exchange and was informed that my request would be forwarded for consideration. I asked when I could expect to hear back on a decision and was told that it was customary for this process to take 2-3 days. I emailed ecost the morning of  
8/21 and that afternoon received an email from James in the eCOST resolutions department asking me to call. I called twice and left voice mail with no response. On 9/2/09, I sent another email asking James to please consider how much money ecost stands to lose if I terminate my company's relationship. As of 9/16/09, no response. I have offered to exchange for other tablets, pay the shipping of these tablets back to them, and nothing is getting their attention or consideration. I expect better customer service than I have received and DO NOT RECOMMEND SHOPPING ECOST.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY FOR ANYTHING EVER. THEY WILL TRY TO RIP YOU OFF AND DOUBLE BILL YOU.  
 
Erly this month I ordered Fantom Drives 1TB eSATA / USB 2.0 Hard Drive - GF1000EU from eCost.com. I also purchased their extended warranty.  
 
When it arrived, in a timely fashion, I opened the box to find it improperly packaged. There was insufficient packing material from their warehouse to prevent the drive from sliding around. The results was a dead drive out of the box. After fighting with the drive for more then a day in an attempt to format, scan, etc... it was dead.  
 
I called eCost.com to get a RMA due to their bad packaging job. First they wanted to charge me a 2nd time for the replacement drive. This was not going to happen. I am not going to pay for a 2nd drive when I only ordered one and they screwed up.  
 
Once they agreed to send me a call tag from UPS with the promise of sending me a replacement drive once they had it in their warehouse we moved forward. I just checked, again, the UPS tracking number and eCost.com received the drive back on the 18th of August 2009. Yes 9 days ago and they have not sent me my replacement drive yet.  
 
I called their 800 phone number and the lady on the other end was happy to announce that they would NOT be sending me my replacement drive I have paid for and claim to of refunded my money. They have not. At least my credit card has not received the full refund.  
 
I am working with my credit card company to force them to give me the full refund since they refuse to do their job and that is provide working product for good money paid.  
 
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY EVER.  
 
just to add, I am now (typo, not should of been now) having to dispute the charges in order to get my money back.  
 
09/01/2009  
Again according to my credit card company if you had issued a refund/credit it would be instant, not 7 - 10 business days or 2 billing cycles.  
 
So again please do not lie to me. I have been a merchant for over 15 years and know how merchant services work. When a credit or refund is issued by the merchant it is reflected within 12 - 24 hours, not 7 - 10 days or 2 billing cycles.  
 
09/04/2009  
 
I just received a letter from my CC company and they are pursuing the dispute and are going to force eCost to refund my money. Thank God for a strong CC company. eCost is the worst online business company I have had the displeasure of dealing with.  

This review was modified by its author, lleb, on 9/5/09 6:14 PM.

ecost is the worst company to deal with on the internet. Though their deals are at times almost unbelievable the grief they put you through can break your heart in two and destroy any hope you have that retail companies even know what costumer service is. I have had three huge run ins over the years with this New York city style electronic empire. The first happened in 2006 when I ordered a mac book pro laptop for $2000 and I received instead a regular mac book that cost only $1399. When I called to explain that my credit card was charged $2000 for a $1399 laptop they told me to bad because they do not take returns on laptops even though they sent me the obviously wrong product. After continually calling day after day they finally refunded me the difference but still refused to send me the product I ordered and they refused to return the wrong mac that they sent me. I actually called Macintosh about what happened and noticed shortly after that they no longer sell their products ojn ecost. Against better judgment I went back a second time a year later and bought a 22" LCD for my boss. I assured my boss that she would be getting a $50 rebate because I know how to fill these out properly. I was very careful to send everything required and did so the same day I received the product. After three months I never received the rebate. When I called the company that did the rebate they lied and said I didn't send the PLU and they refused to give me my rebate because it was overdue. Of course I did not have the original PLU because I sent it to them so my boss got screwed the $50 rebate that she was suppose to get. ecost refused to help me and continued to sell this companies products after countless people got screwed.I wasn't alone in this scam. This happened in 2007. The most recent screwing happened when I called ecost after buying a digital camera that I bought for my wife for her birthday. The camera was kodak. The lady that I talked to was explained the situation that the camera failed while we were on vacation in Russia. She said that she would exchange the item. I said wow my confidence was restored in the company. I ordered a much better replacement Samsung for $89 that I am still very happy with. I waited for the box with shipping label to come and then with the RA# I would return it and at least get my $52.99./ I boxed it up and was extra careful to make sure I returned it with everything that it originally had. I kept an eye on the UPS tracking number and watched for deleiver and awaited my refund. week after week went by and no refund. Day after day I called nothing. They told me first wait five days and then the next time ten days. One month went by and still nothing. They told me that the money was refunded to my pay pal account and guess what paypal has no record of it. I called them and had them research every refund that they sent out from paypal@ecost.com and still nothing. These scammers then told me they would send me the confirmation number that pay pal sent them that the payment was sent. We all know that would never come and it hasn't to this day. I was so disappointed and will never do business again they screwed me one to many times.The costumer service sucks and the people are liers. This company is a scam plain and simple. BEWARE of doing business with them if they send you the wrong item that in their return policy says that they will not return under any situation they mean it even if it is their fault. When using pay pal you will be screwed if you return an item you can count on it. Oh by the way they deducted a restocking fee for an item that was broken. I am sure they put it back on the shelf and sold a broken item. I hope you didn't order my broken return. I couldn't believe when the lady told me that they restocked the broken item.

The following is an email that I sent to eCost.com. Needless to say, I will never attempt to purchase anything from the site again. I urge everyone to READ THEIR POLICIES before ever ordering anything from this site.  
On July 28th, I was searching the web for a new video card. Google shopping took me to your site for an EVGA 9800 GTX graphics card with a retail of $44.99. I carefully read the website to make sure it was a new retail card and that the item was in stock. I ordered the item and was sent a confimation email that stated the item was awaiting shipment from the warehouse.  
An hour later I received an email stating that my order had been cancelled due to a problem. No reason was given so I called your customer service. I was told that the item was out of stock. I said that can't be true because I was looking at the website and it still said it was in stock. The woman on the phone said that the site isn't updated. I then asked her if they just kept taking orders all day and then sending out cancellations. She had no good answer.  
I kept my eye on the eCost website all that day and the item remained in stock with a price of $44.99. Then at about 11pm or after, it switched to out of stock at the price of $139.99. If it was out of stock, why did it have a price? The nest morning it was back in stock at the price of $139.99.  
I called back customer service and told the woman that since the item was now available they could ship it out to me. She told me to hold and then came back and told me it was out of stock. I told her I had been watching the website and what I had seen and all of a sudden the story changed to they were in stock, but the price had changed. I told her that they still owed me one at the price I had ordered it at and that was all I wanted.  
This is where the story gets even stranger. When I explained to her everything that had happened and that there was no way they magically had a shipment come in between 11pm the previous night and the next morning, she admitted that these were from an affiliated warehouse. I asked her to explain why they would have a different price than those in the other warehouse and couldn't get a very good answer. After all, the website doesn't give me the option of which warehouse I want to order from.  
After asking to talk to a superior and being on hold for a long time, I was of course told that no superior was available. Of course not, that is why they hire these customer service reps to go through the same speil of "we're sorry you were inconvenienced but what do you expect us to do".  
In the end, I just asked her to admit that they made a pricing mistake and there was no way they were ever going to give me that price.  
I certainly can't believe I was the only person that tried to take advantage of that price on that day. Maybe if the company paid a bit more for a website proofreader or had an actual inventory that was updated after each sale (oh, wait they actually do) they wouldn't have to have as many people to handle all the complaints.  
I realise that this is just a business to you and as long as you get the majority of the peoples money you really don't care about retailler ratings or reviews, but I am sure that some of the shareholders in the company would like to believe that you are not an out and out fraud. I would invite them to read your customer service and return policies and then compare them to honest online retaillers such as Amazon and Newegg.com. While both of these companies are in the profit making business, they try not to do it at the expense of their customers. I would honestly like to know how many return customers you actually get.  
I have learned my lesson and will never go near your site again. I will tell everyone I know and tell them to tell everyone they know to never ever buy anything from eCost in their lifetime.  
 
In response to the reply by the company: It was not listed as a clearance item or limited time offer. It was listed with all the other regular priced items. This company is just run poorly. In fact if you go to their site right now you will find an Asus 9600GT graphics card that sells everywhere for about $100 listed for a retail of $1179.99 AFTER $20 mail in rebate. http://www.ecost.com/Detail/VIDEO+CARDS/ASUS/EN9600GTHTDI512M/40893165.aspx?navid=155438364  
Just admit that you have a poorly run company that doesn't care.

This review was modified by its author, tom1960, on 8/2/09 10:50 AM.

I ordered a bluetooth mouse and bluetooth adapter on 7/18/09. I received the mouse on 7/22/09, but not the adapter. I called e-cost and they informed me that the adapter was backordered so they canceled it. I convinced them to send me a different adapter at over twice the price. I received the order confirmation e-mail on 7/22/09 for the replacement adapter. Today, 7/29/09, I called and talked to Ryan in “customer service” and they did't have the adapter in stock at this warehouse so it was canceled. I asked to return the mouse, and Ryan says "we only accept returns if the item doesn't work". Let's see, how does the mouse work if there is no adapter. Ryan says, "I can order you a different adapter, or get the same adapter from another warehouse, but the price will be higher."  
 
Their sales tactics are deceptive and fraudulent. Even if an item is not in stock, their website shows that it is in stock. Even if their customer service rep tells you that an item is in stock and you place the order when them, the item probably isn’t in stock. I’ll be contacting the Iowa Attorney Generals office about my order.  
 
If you order from this place, then you need your head examined.  

This review was modified by its author, ScottH000001, on 7/29/09 9:00 PM.

I guess my luck ran out. I've used and even recommended Ecost.com for several years; for both personal and businesses purchases. For the second time this year, I have had a problem with a personal purchase. I attempted to order a replacement external hard drive case for myself at home at the end of June. As I needed the replacement quick, I paid extra for 2nd day delivery. Ecost left off vital addressing information, so the item was never delivered to me. Instead, it went back to their warehouse. No problem, simply refund me my money, right?  
 
I've e-mailed them, no avail.  
I've called them and was told that it would be refunded. (It hasn't yet)  
I even looked on here and saw both Ms. Dizon and Mr. Baker's extension numbers and tried to call (nobody answered)  
 
I give up with ecost. I've already shared my recent experience with the people I work with and the companies I consult for whom I know had ordered from them before.  
 
Luckily, I do all personal transactions through paypal, so at least I can dispute it through paypal.

I purchased a Belkin Router that did not work. After spending hours on the phone with Belkin’s technical department it was found that the router conflicts with the ISP supplier and nothing can be done about it. I called eCost wishing to return the router for a refund and was told that ALL SALES ARE FINAL. So please note that this internet store will not refund your money if you later find that the item you purchased will not work for you.  
I asked the eCost representative on the phone to se if an exception can be made here as I have no use for the router. He told me that he’ll check and get back to me. If he does get back to me with a positive answer I’ll post again, but for now please be aware THEY DON’T TAKE BACK RETURNS FOR A FULL REFUND.