I was shipped a used item instead of factory refurbished as stated on the site, item came in a zip Lock bag with no software CD nor install guide, item does not have any re certified/reconditioned stickers and is in very poor condition  
 
Item also does not function after I got the software from the web Logitech software says item is defective need to contact customer service, I have wasted 3 hours dealing with this used item and if this is what Logitech considers refurbished I no longer wish to receive any replacements as I do not trust eCOST nor Logitech.  
 
I have called ecost this morning spent 12-minutes online only to find out that they will not provide me with an RA number to return item but did encourage me to deal with the mfg.  
 
I think this is a very shady operation, it may be a SCAM!

My Dell Dimension 4550 is seven years old, and been acting up lately, with keyboard failures and mouse constantly freezing.  
 
I needed a low cost replacement, but something decent, not a piece of junk.  
 
I am very happy with my eCOST purchase of refurbished 260 Dell Optiplex.  
 
In fact, I received more than was advertised !!!  
 
The ad stated a 20 G hard drive, with mouse and keyboard.  
 
Well, I received my computer with a 40 G hard drive, plus there were sound speakers included in the box with the keyboard and mouse.  
 
Add the fact that after doing a rather extensive comparison search, including overstock.com, newegg, several similar bargain sites, and extensive google searching, this was at least 50% or maybe even 75% less expensive than any other similar package I came across for a similar refurbished Dell.  
 
Not to mention the fact that I am sure it would have cost at least two or three times more money to try and have my old Dell repaired.  
 
I plugged the computer in, plugged in my monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers, and turned it on and was ready to go, with the Windows XP already installed.  
 
All I needed to do was install a few updates from Microsoft Updates, which took very little time, and now I am rolling along, surfing the internet, and playing games.  
 
I will recommend eCOST to all my acquaintances and have bookmarked it on my Internet browser, and will always consider eCOST as an option for future purchases.

I ordered a Buffalo 500gb external HD which I thought was new. I found out it was refurbished when I received the product and read the paper. The eCost website says the products are refurbished in small text in parenthesis which I did not even see. Why not put refurb in the title? It's obviously misleading on purpose. The product was dead on arrival and when I called to return they told me to call Buffalo. Buffalo has an hour wait time to reach customer service and I'm not waiting that long. The product is dead on arrival, there is nothing to talk about. I can't get a return until I get a number from Buffalo after waiting an hour on the phone and even then it sounds like eCost won't cover shipping and charges a 20% restocking fee. So now I'm stuck with a $60 paper weight.

I ordered an LCD television, and did not receive a remote control or an operating manual. As everyone knows, a television without a remote control is barely usable. We have called every other day, and at first were told that sales were "as is". Then they said we must go to the manufacturer (Westinghouse) who were quite confused to hear from us. Now they say that they will send us a remote any time. That was over a week ago, and still we have not received it.

Don't let the sites prices fool you; however, to not sound like a broken record (though I absolutely understand the important of underscoring the absurd way this website handles returns), do not buy anything expensive or refurbished from ecost.com. I do not even know how one can go about and actually be able to even, as their terms state in regards to LCD monitors specifically, get a repair or exchange; there are no refunds for TVs and the like.  
 
Even if you did somehow make your way around the loop of calls they will force you to make to the distributor of your product, you will have to pay for shipping to the ecost.com warehouse--a shipping cost that will double if they reject (deem it "functioning").  
 
Please, save yourself the trouble and just do not buy from this site period.  
 
Resellerratings, I implore you to remove this site from your "actively participating" list as they (and by they I mean, ostensibly, 2-3 "sales representatives") simply copy and past generic responses to people's legitimate complaints.

Wrong brand and model of headphones were delivered.  
 
On the 3 occasions I've contacted customer service they have been friendly, but I have not yet received the return instructions via e-mail. On Saturday I was told I would receive return instructions by e-mail on Monday, which did not arrive. On Tuesday I was told this e-mail would arrive on Wednesday, but it did not. On Wednesday I was told it would be another 24-48 hours.  
 
I will update this review through the return process.  
 
--- Update 06/22/2009  
9 days after my first call I received an e-mail letting me know they would be e-mailing me a return label immediately... within 72 hours.

This review was modified by its author, evan.despault, on 6/22/09 8:36 PM.

Ambigious Advertisement: Be Aware  
Purchased a Dyson DC17 Upright Vacuum cleaner Item #11643-06 and recieved it but it did not include the attachments that were pictured and completly described in the beginning "Product Details" paragraphs. Then is addition, each of the attachments were listed with a Picture and under the Features section they were listed. When I called eCost they informed me that there was a Footnote indicating that since this was a recertified unit that it did not include the accessories. The eCost customer service rep agreed that the listing was not clear but that there was nothing that he could do. Would strongly recommend that eCost clean up this advertisement and remove the addition paragraph under the "Product Details" and also indicate what accessories are not included in a recertified unit. As this listing is very unclear as to what is and is not included.  
regards, Bruce

After reading the negative reviews I felt compelled to write a review about my experience today.  
 
Ecost.com came recommended by our tech person at my school. I was immediately pleased at the prices and was looking for a higher grade camera. I purchased a Coolpix S600 10 Megapixel Digital Camera - Black w/ leather Carrying case. My shipment arrived packed securely and but for a verey small dent in the outer case, appeared in perfect condition.  
 
I took my new camera on vacation. Once in Denver I began setting it up. There were several problems with the camera but I eventually got it working and it took 87 beautiful shots. Fortunately I had my other camera because the Nikon would not charge.  
 
I am home now and today called E.cost for a new camera. The first customer service rep. did not have a solid grasp of english enough to communicate back and forth with me. I had to repeat answers to questions she had already asked me. I asked for another customer service agent and told her I didnt think we were communicating well. The supervisor who came on explained it was her first day.  
 
I explained the problem with my camera and rather than sending me a new camera they wanted to send me a battery. I insisted on a new camera because I am not a service technician and felt my brief description did not capture the several things wrong I had found. My husband concurred that sending me a replacement battery will not put this new camera in a new camera condition. Less than two weeks old, I want another camera.  
 
I was told to call Nikon to obtain a case number and E.cost could proceed with correcting the faulty product. I called Nikon, got a case number and called E.cost back.  
 
I spoke to the same supervisor who told me he had to get approval from his supervisor before sending me a replacement camera and would call me back in an hour. Two hours passed, no return call. I called and left a detailed message along with my number. Two hours later no call.  
 
I called again and left a message with him but decided to try customer service again. I got a different agent who walked me through the process of replacing my camera. ( the supervisor had authorized replacing the camera). Unforunately there were no other Nikons like mine were available. The representative searched and found a suitable replacement and I was told I had to purchase the new camera, it will be shipped to me 3-5 days. My old camera will receive a UPS return slip emailed and I will print it out. Once it is shipped and received by Ecost, my account will be credited.  
 
I found the representative helpful and sincere.  
I also know that as a consumer, it is wise to keep detailed notes of conversations, name, time, date, extension number so all parties are clear.  
 
I will follow-up on the conclusion of my transaction with my new camera. I am hopeful I will be satisfied with the next camera.

This review was modified by its author, Patty_Reeves, on 6/15/09 4:36 PM.

These poeple are a buch of scam artists. They can make money off you with things they didn't even sell you. Just cancel over half of your order but don't adjust the shipping to reflect what they actually shipped.  
 
Their "In Stock" claims are meaningless. Two weeks after having items cancelled from my order they are still listed as in stock. The last item said in the email they had been backordered over 60 days. So here it is two months along and they still haven't updated the inventory listing.  
 
Read their TOS. Ahead of time you are agreeing to let them screw you over. And anything that appears in the customer's favor, they won't honor anyway.  
 
You'll see here they claim 99.7% satisfaction. But what does that mean? It's clear from their extremely low rating here that they have many more problems than a lot of other stores. Do you really want to risk it just in hope of saving a few dollars? I was going to save $4 on two hard drives, instead I paid more than that in shipping and have nothing to show for it, except a lot of wasted time calling customer service.  
 
I called after ordering and was assured the drives where in stock, hah. I also called and asked to have the shipping adjusted to match what it would have been if I hadn't ordered the things they didn't send. They refused.

DO NOT ORDER FROM THIS STORE!!!  
Shady, shady, shame, shame.  
Ordered an HP desktop from them, then a few days later they cancelled my order for no reason.  
Turns out that, although the item was showing in stock, they raised the price over $200...overnight! So just camcelled my order. Even after previously sending and email stating:  
"eCOST.com would like to sincerely thank you for your patronage and we want to assure your satisfaction on this and every order you place with us."  
 
I talked to a customer service rep and asked them to honor the original price, but she kept asking me to repeat "What was your question again?"  
She was not even listening, and said that she doubted that they would honor the original price.  
I said I would email the president directly and she just sort of trailed off: "okayyyyy..." and made no attempt to make the customer happy or resolve the issue.  
I am the owner of a store and go out of my way to make customers happy even if it means I lose money.  
Just avoid this business please.

ITEM: Xfx GeForce 9800 GT Graphics Card - PVT98GYDLU Availability: In Stock  
 
E-mail Confirmation: GeForce 9800 GT Graphics Card part # XFXG PVT98GYDLH Availability: Items on Backorder  
 
Then an e-mail on June 5, 2009: We have encountered a problem in processing your order E8638967 and have had to CANCEL the item(s) listed below for the following reason: CCD - Unable to process Credit Card  
 
This item was paid for with secured funds from PayPal.  
 
The funds have still not been returned to my account after 2 phone calls. They claim the item could not be drop shipped to the state of Pennsylvania, and this was the reason for the cancellation.  
 
It is VERY disappointing the way this transaction is being handled. I surely will never shop at this e-store again.  
 
-------------------------------------------------  
 
UPDATE: I received my refund only after contacting PayPal, who seemed more than happy to cancel this transaction.  
 
Don't let their prices draw you in. It isn't worth the hassle. The old adage states: If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.  
 

This review was modified by its author, radio18301, on 6/10/09 10:55 AM.

Made a purchase on 4/08/2009. I used to buy stuff from them regularly a few years ago, but I had a bad experience and stopped buying from them. I figured since they are still in business a few years later, perhaps things had gotten better. Boy was I wrong! Before placing my order for an item they had on sale (nuvi 250 GPS unit) I called to verify they had the quantity I wanted to order, and that they were brand new in the retail box, not OEM or refurbished units. They confirmed via email and phone (as I contacted via both methods,) that they were new and they had the quantity I needed to order for my company (80). So I proceeded to place the order and pay for it. $8054.68 was the total. Within a few days they still had not shipped the item and continually called me to confirm my order, which I did during each call, but of course they would call back the next day to confirm the order. Finally they shipped the item but not before emailing me that they did not have 80, they only had 53. (So my calls and emails confirming availability were just misinformation.) The items seemed to be a good price so I was okay with just receiving 53 units, and they had already sent them so not much I could do anyways. Well after a little while the packages arrived, and I opened them up only to find that they were not NEW, they were in fact refurbished units, arriving in OEM packaging. I called Garmin to confirm, and then called to return the items. It took 4 calls just to get thru to someone who would actually pass my information onto someone who would provide me with an RA#. This took over 1 week just to get an RA#!!! They wanted me to open the packages, then send them pictures of the units, to confirm I was telling the truth, as if I had any reason to lie about them sending me 53 units I specifically told them I did not want, USED, REFURBISHED, OR OEM. WHEN I BOUGHT THEM THE SITE SAID NEW, AND SO DID THE PERSON ON THE PHONE, AND THE EMAIL THEY SENT ME. Well I figured this hassle would be over soon enough, I took all of the units they had shipped me and put them back in the box, and took it to UPS. The hassle was just beginning. I finally received my refund, but it was $500.00 short. So I called up and they claimed to have only received 48 of the 53 back, well for one I never went thru the packaging to confirm they even sent me the correct amount, and for two I sent them every single unit back, as refurbs were no use to me. They told me okay they will get the other $500.00 refunded to me. A week went by, nothing. I called again, and they went thru the same thing, they only received 48 of the 53 back. I told them again, I sent exactly what you sent me, I put every unit in the big package that they used to send me the items and they were all sent, if they were taken by UPS, or lost or never sent I do not know, but I don't have them so I wanted my full refund. They told me okay they will do a UPS investigation, and call me back tomorrow. Tomorrow came, no call. The next day, no call. I called back, same thing "we only got 48/53", had to go thru everything again. They refused to let me speak to a supervisor, that is against their policy you must speak to their first level agents who often struggle to communicate well enough to be comprehendable, and struggle to understand you. Anyways this went on for the past 2 months. Them telling me they only received 48 and have a UPS investigation going, and they will refund me when they hear back from it etc. During the time I have dealt with this 7 times I have been promised to be called back when they got more information (I received 0 calls) 6 times I've been promised e-mails back when they get more information (i've received 0 emails.) I finally got to a supposed resolution specilaist today named James, he will supposedly be calling me back tomorrow (over 2 months since this began, and might have a resolution, I will keep you updated)  
 
My recommendation, NEVER EVER SHOP ECOST. They do not have new products if they are advertised as such, they do not honor their mistakes and they have thus far stolen $500 from me (for those of you thinking it, yes I have contested the charges with the credit card, but still the principle is that they are stealing from customers and they really dont care about it)  
ADDED 6/10/2009  
THE PHONE CALL I WAS PROMISED YESTERDAY? YOU GUESSED IT, IT NEVER CAME. SO FOR THE 8TH TIME NOW THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME BACK AFTER PROMISING TO REVIEW THE ISSUE AND CALL ME BACK...  
 
ADDED 6/18/2009  
 
STILL NO RESOLUTION AND JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS I CALLED JACKYLN WHO LEFT THIS NICE FORM LETTER EMAIL BELOW..AND IT DIRECTS YOU STRAIGHT TO A PHONE WITHOUT AN ANSWERING SYSTEM THAT JUST RINGS AND IS NEVER PICKED UP. THAT IS HOW MUCH ECOST CARES!!!!

This review was modified by its author, pthome61, on 6/18/09 4:45 PM.

I got stuck in eCost's bait and switch warranty scheme. Their pages of "manufacturer recertified" are not what they claim. I bought an 80GB iPod that was supposedly refurbed by Apple. No worries here, I've got refurbs from Apple before, and I know they come with the same a warranty as new.  
 
When it arrived in a plain brown box it had a sticker saying "refurbed by 3rd party, manufacturer warranty doesn't apply" or something similar. I emailed back the same day asking about it and was told there was only a 60 day warranty ( no idea through who ). I re-checked the page and it still says "Factory Recertified Model" ( still does today ). The very bottom of the page, after the order button, after all the specs ( and list of accessories Apple includes but eCost doesn't ) it says "90 day warranty". So when I complained about the lack of a 1 year Apple warranty the person responding thought they'd shave another 30 days off the warranty!  
Several emails back and forth, a few they ignored and finally I got a "please call us". While I was out of state on a trip what should happen to my "Factory Recertified Model" iPod? Dead. It only lasted as long as the battery charge did, appears the battery never charges.  
Another email to eCost yesterday, no response. Foolishly I paid with Paypal and not a credit card. Paypal says "after 45 days, nothing we can do".  
 
I was nervous when they didn't send what they advertise, more so when I saw they still advertise the same bogus information after I told them of their "mistake", and now I have a dead iPod.  
 
Been telling friends for weeks not to deal with eCost. Now I'm adding "pay with credit card, don't be lazy and use Paypal just to avoid filling out forms?. If I'd paid with the credit card I'd have my money back.

This review was modified by its author, idearat, on 6/9/09 5:52 PM.

Received five Logitech "recertified" cordless rechargeable mouse/keyboard desktops in pitiful condition. All were missing the rechargeable batteries. All were not in original packing and were tossed in a box. Contacted Logitech as instructed by ECost in order to get an RMA, Logitech confirmed that if these actualy were "recertified" by Logitech they would have been shipped in logitech packaging throughout and not just the outer box being logitech. They also stated that Logitech would not be shipping without cd's batteries (rechargeable and regular) and would have included the interior packaging. Got Case number 090610-001437 from Logitech and called ECost back and was told I would receive an email with the RMA number in 24 to 72 hours. After repeated requests I finally got a ECost case # 3042947. To summarize: All day to return 5 keyboard/mouse combos and It still isn't over. ECost states that these were reconditioned from Logitech yet what I received clearly by Logitech standards could not have possibly been from Logitech. A return policy at ECost that clearly is designed to wear down the customer till he finds his time is being wasted as a tactic to discourage the return practice. Last time ever buying anything from ECost. Incompetence and deceptive advertising is policy.

In short, eCost has jumped the shark. Just look at the only response people here get; canned, useless and hollow answers. The way they run their RMA and service department is simply inefficient and appauling.  
 
I work as a System Administrator managing a computer lab. The companies I deal with professionally live and die by service, not just sales. eCost has lost both my personal and professional solicitation over their service or lack thereof.  
 
I ordered a refurbished MP3 and it failed. As the product page specified, I called eCost to see who the warranty was thru. I was told the manufacturer. That was not true. The manufacturer only provided support to verify that the MP3 had failed. I had to contact eCost again, give them the tech support incident number and was told to wait for an RMA to be emailed to me.  
 
Over two weeks later, I received an email stating my RAM request had been authorized but I had to contact them again to get an RMA. I call back and go thu their inefficient customer service for the fifth or six time having to give them all the same info over and over again. This is a waste of time since once you give them all the information in total again (order#, name, telephone, address, item, problem), they read off the history of the problem call so far illustrating that they had all of this information to begin with.  
 
For this item, eCost only offers and advanced exchange. This mean I have to pay for yet another MP3 player and send the defective one back. While they do pay for the shipping of the exchange item to you and the return shipping , I was lied to again by being told that the shipping was ground. The item is shipped to you thru USPS via UPS in a process that takes up to fourteen days I am now told (latest call, #6 or 7.). The shipping back to them of course is standard ground.  
 
So here it is, on month after the MP3 player has failed, I have paid for a new unit and I am still facing another week just to get the replacement MP3. This doesn’t include the three to four weeks getting the item back to them and waiting for a refund for the returned unit. And all the while, this extra charge is sitting on my CC while I wait for them to get one inefficient department to talk to and act on the information from another inefficient department.  
 
I recommend companies to others for their professional and personal use based upon my professional and personal experience with these companies. As far as I am concerned, eCost just lost both, but judging by the support I have received so far and the replies here from them, that will matter little.  
 
I’ll post an update once the RMA clears, if it clears.  
 
Update 06/18/09 – According to UPS, the unit JUST SHIPPED on 17th! Close to two months now, I have been charged for an additional unit and still nothing to show for it.

This review was modified by its author, Datahaunt, on 6/18/09 7:27 PM.