5/5

posted Jul-03-2010

Dynamic Forces was a stumbled-upon seller found during a spastic search for specific, superb lithographs. *cough*

They aren't the sellers I'd turn to for regular, individual issue purchases--unless it's a discounted binge buy, but for new trades and collector's items, they are top notch. (NOTE: These guys aren't like the beloved-though-defunct AnotherUniverse/Fandom with wide-ranging assortment of paraphernalia--in fact, I don't think anyone has been able to fill the gigantic void they left, but they are comparable if you're looking for specific quality goods. I just wish they had so much more...)

The prices you pay are a little cheaper than what you'd find in walk-in comic shops (even when including the fair S&H rate), and you're guaranteed the item when it's in stock--anything *not* sports a huge, bold red "SOLD OUT" on the page. (Pre-orders are not something I've looked into just yet.) A very nice thing about Dynamic Forces is that they're more on the ball than others when it comes to listing inventory/product updates, and it doesn't hurt that they post (generally) well-informed reviews on particular works.

My only gripe with them is regarding their site layout; although "functional", it's clunky and a bit archaic... which is problematic when you want to get to an item--without knowledge of the product ID or other exact specifics--without wading through too much.

But processing was easy and fast; they accept Paypal and shipped (with tracking) the day after my order was placed. (This same information is available in your online account.) There's no unwarranted spam, and you can request to be on their mailing list.

Dynamic Forces is a rock-solid niche seller that seems to deliver the goods.

This post will be updated if there's ever another transaction.

Highly recommended.

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2/5

posted Jul-02-2010

This entry will cover my experiences with Steam, and a direct order from Valve.

First, Steam... As much as I love Valve's games, I still can't really take to Steam as a method of accessing/purchasing games. It's convenient for organizing online matches/details/communities and the relevant amount of games you have installed (to a point), but that's about it. From the time I started gaming, I was usually more comfortable with having purchased something in a box, with manual, goodies, whatever else. (You have the codes/registration keys and physical discs with you, so unless someone steals it all, you're relatively safe.) While it's not very practical to have mountainous stacks to take with you on moves, I do get the appeal of having it all reduced to an installation on your HD.

Steam keeps your info accessible, all in one place. But their setup isn't ideal for games you obtain secondhand, or in relevant situations.

I learned the hard way (a while ago) with a purchase of a collector's edition via eBay, and discovered that I could never get the game to run since it was already registered to the seller--that first purchased and played/tested it. I had the box, the physical discs, and even the registration key, but even after installation, I couldn't get anything to play since it required Steam access for validation. WTF.

After dealing with Steam support and even creating a new account--only to find that registration/game ownership could not be exchanged or swapped, it was very clear that I had spent money on a useless POS with awesome physical box and trappings. The seller could not give me his personal Steam account, so in a sense, he "owns" that game forever--with the mere association of a registration key in a server database, even though he's sold the physical stuff. Such BS...

Fortunately, I got a refund, but the ordeal has since soured me to *any* Steam purchases, even direct download buys. Their advertised plethora of game sales/discounts is nice--if I cared enough to make those purchases, but in this aftermath, I still prefer to get a physical copy of X... just in case there's no broadband internet connection and you *must* play X. (And for people that have limited drive space on portable comps, it's not always ideal or practical to fill up so much of it with humongous games.)

The original method of owning a game (in the non-digital distribution age) was so much better for buyers, but was an obvious, gigantic loophole exploited for unauthorized product circulation. What Steam provides is a way for the company to cover their asses without any regard to legitimate customers; screw the buyers, who cares, they get to control distribution. If only they could devise some method of letting customers prove authentic ownership in product transfers--such as mine, that would make their system much more tolerable. (It's not unheard of in other commercial industries.) The only conclusion one can draw from this is that Valve/Steam's customer-base is soooo absurdly large that they won't deign to deal with the other, more paltry half of customer game "ownership", i.e., the *actual* customers. Why? Oh yeah, it's just more convenient to focus on their delightful ass-coverage.

Now with Valve (primarily store.valvesoftware.com)... they have some of the best-looking swag you could ever want for a game. However, don't expect everything to be made of the finest material, or be offered cheap--even when discounted. There *is* free economy shipping... whatever that's worth.

But economy or not, it seems as though if the shipping method isn't nearly as slow as them getting around to processing/packing the order; just getting it out. I must have checked my acct two dozen times just to see when it would be shipped, and was frequently disappointed. (RE: the apparent OCD, there was a deadline involved.) After too long, my order arrived, and when I looked at the status again, the "actual" shipping date was listed as the same day the order was placed. I didn't see this update ever during the myriad checks, and considering the overall proximity, the timestamp could *not* have been accurate...

Bottom line: Steam support and flexibility aren't exactly great for all instances of paid games, and if you're going to order anything directly from the company, don't expect shipping expediency, or discounts.

If you avoid both situations where money is blown, your nerves may thank you.

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on July 02 2010 01:23:55 PM

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5/5

posted Jul-02-2010

Having ordered from eBags several times already with zero issues, I can only recommend them to anyone in search of quality bags for (sometimes) great prices.

Although they aren't always the lowest around--you really have to hit them up when they have those regular discounts + free S&H (but find the *right* combo), they are still excellent in that their selections are huge, and they make every effort to make the buying process as easy as possible. Just the way the goods are arranged, you have a whole slew of search angles at your disposal, and they'll keep out of their listings the out-of-stock/discontinued items. (I discovered this when I revisited a bunch of bookmarked items.)

A nice thing about these sellers with vast inventories is that you can use them for price-checks while shopping around. But be warned, a permanent price is rarely ever found at eBags considering the vicissitude of frequent deals.

I can't say much about their customer service since I've never had any questions or issues, but their shipping is both expedient, and super fast--even if you get it for *free*, and tracking numbers are provided (usually for UPS).

One thing I don't understand (as a site feature) is the individual review rating. While it's a boon to see copious amounts of product reviews, the ranking of it all in terms of helpfulness makes no sense to me. (It's as though if someone is going around skewing the stats for fun.) But a plus for submitting a review is getting a discount for future purchases; how's that for incentive?

Highly recommended!

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on July 02 2010 12:41:08 PM

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4/5

posted Jul-02-2010

My first purchase via Walmart's site turned out to be a boon.

I was hesitant about placing an order with them mainly because I'd never ever think to order from them online. (With so many locations, it makes more sense to pick things up in person, if at all.) But the thing I sought was available only on their site--for an incredibly low price, so that forced my hand.

Fortunately, there were no issues whatsoever.

The shipping was only 97 cents, but add to that the "surprise tax" I had to pay and the amount was... still a fair, typical shipping fee. Not low, but fair, so I was getting a discount--less of one--regardless of the charges.

Paypal was allowed, and I think there was tracking included.

In the end, I got what I wanted in due time, and it was friggin' magnificent; the item, not the process.

Walmart doesn't harass you with much anything, but they do like buyers to fill out surveys. And regardless of this one success, I'm not yet inclined to use them for regular internet purchases, although if I *must*, I probably won't hesitate to do so.

Recommended.

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on July 02 2010 12:45:27 PM

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3/5

posted Jul-02-2010

Although this company is currently defunct, I figured the entry here should get a proper burial/explanation; some closure considering the amount of customer outrage.

I've ordered from them twice: the first time via Amazon.com, and the second time via their site (where I used Paypal). In both instances, I've never had any problems, so I might consider myself lucky. With sales "via Amazon", I heard from a different vendor that they never know the customer's email address when orders are placed, so I'm guessing that they never find out your CC number either. And with Paypal, you'll always have some semblance of security with any transaction.

The items from ClassicCloseouts were sometimes on the cheap end for materials used, but it was usually a hit or miss. (I never had any reason to return stuff, and am still making good use of my purchases--albeit not exactly in their intended ways.)

Nevertheless, I was considering ordering from them again late 2009 to hit up their "secret 20% off for the 20th" deal, but when I got around to checking their website, I found the server's empty Plesk cpanel, i.e., "this domain doesn't exist".

I rechecked my email logs and found that they stopped sending out their sales mail after the 27th of July. I thought, "How odd that I didn't even receive any information about this."

After poking around, I found these bits at the Federal Trade Commission's site:

______________________
July 1, 2009

Federal Trade Commission v. Classic Closeouts, LLC, a limited liability company, also d/b/a Classiccloseouts.com, Daniel J. Greenberg, individually, as an officer of Classic Closeouts, LLC, and d/b/a Thirdfree.com
(United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York)

Civil Action No. 09-CV-02692
FTC File No. 082 3236

______________________
For Release: 07/01/2009

FTC Cracks Down on Scammers Trying to Take Advantage of the Economic Downturn
New Public Education Video Helps Consumers Steer Clear of Business Opportunity Fraud

The Federal Trade Commission today announced a law enforcement crackdown on scammers trying to take advantage of the economic downturn to bilk vulnerable consumers through a variety of schemes, such as promising non-existent jobs; promoting overhyped get-rich-quick plans, bogus government grants, and phony debt-reduction services; or putting unauthorized charges on consumers’ credit or debit cards.

Dubbed “Operation Short Change,” the law enforcement sweep announced today includes 15 FTC cases, 44 law enforcement actions by the Department of Justice, and actions by at least 13 states and the District of Columbia.
.
.
.
Operation Short Change: FTC’s Law Enforcement Actions

The FTC today announced that it has brought eight new cases against companies that have conned consumers who are struggling to make a living and pay their bills during these difficult economic times. The Commission brought seven additional cases challenging similar conduct earlier this year.

In each new case, the FTC alleged that the defendants’ practices were deceptive or unfair. In some of the cases, the FTC also charged the defendants with making illegal electronic funds transfers or violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule.
.
.
.

In the law enforcement actions announced today, the Commission charged:

John Beck/Mentoring of America ...

Wagner Ramos Borges, through a host of front companies, including “Job Safety USA,”...

Grants For You Now and its affiliates and principals operated Web sites such as grantsforyounow.com, grantoneday.org, and easygrantaccess.com...

Cash Grant Institute...

Mutual Consolidated Savings...

Google Money Tree...

Penbrook Productions...

Classic Closeouts, illegally made unauthorized charges and debits to the consumers’ accounts months or years after they bought low-cost clothing or household goods from classiccloseouts.com, the FTC charged. The charges usually ranged from $59.99 to $79.99, and Classic Closeouts charged some consumers’ accounts multiple times. Consumers’ efforts to contact the defendants to contest the charges were unsuccessful. Many consumers also disputed the charges with their financial institutions. After the financial institutions reversed the unauthorized charges, the defendants contested these disputes, falsely claiming that consumers had chosen to join the Classic Closeouts “frequent shopper club.” This case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
__________________

There's no mystery as to what happened, but just a tad unnerving that they were still gung-ho about scamming at the end of July, even with a filed complaint.

FTR, I know this company was horrible, but my rating only reflects my own experiences with them, while ignorant about the illegal activity. I guess they didn't mind being lawful on occasional if only to prove to themselves this: "you win some (with successful scamming), you lose some (because you need to keep up the façade of a legit business--if only to get people to spread good news)."

Fortunately, ResellerRatings wasn't on my mind at the time of the purchases, and if anything, the third-order-that-never-happened may have determined a great deal.

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on July 02 2010 10:07:05 AM

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5/5

posted Jul-02-2010

At the time of the purchase, I was looking everywhere for discounted gear and found it (entirely by chance) at Jafrum.

At the time, only a few vendors sold the gear, but only at obscene prices. At Jafrum, it was decently priced, and although I had never done any business with the company--or even heard of their existence, their site and ordering process inspired confidence. (Paypal is accepted.)

My order was fulfilled and shipped the next day, via FedEx Home Delivery so a tracking number was provided. The gear was excellent, and I'm happy the risk paid off.

If there's ever a second order with them, this post gets an update.

Recommended.

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5/5

posted Jul-01-2010

A sweet, stumbled-upon dealer that happened to carry exactly what I wanted.

I was looking everywhere for a single item (with or without a set), and everywhere that it was being sold was made by an unknown company (cheap), overpriced, or out of stock/discontinued.

FRP Games had it--still has it, but in limited supply--as a very well-priced set, so I picked up two. The ordering process was easy, and paypal was allowed; I received an immediate confirmation that stated my order would ship three days from the time of purchase. They shipped two days later, provided tracking, and due to proximity to the source, I received it in record time.

The items were well packaged and there were no problems whatsoever.

The product notification on the site seems to be working, too, so a second buy might be in order. (This post will be updated if there are any issues.)

Highly recommended.

__________________________________
Addendum:

No issues, just more praise in light of a second successful order for a newly restocked item; quick email notification, easy purchase, and solid shipping (even with the holiday delay).

If there is another addendum, it will actually cover something not so positive--if there is such a case.

Props again for a good experience!

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on July 09 2010 08:26:50 AM

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4/5

posted Jul-01-2010

While on a paper/office supply hunt, I was starting to get a little distraught with the whole slew of too-expensive, namebrand pads and refills out there--stuff that would satisfy posh-item aficionados and are oh so far away from practical pricing or long-term usage... until I came across USA Custom Pad Corp.

Technically, NotepadRefills.com, but explanations anon.

It was a breath of fresh air being able to get what I wanted:

1) Obtaining the right-sized items, and...

2) No scalping for bulk purchases.

Both of these requirements are incredibly difficult to fulfill considering how saturated the paper market is with trendy crap. Moleskines, Rhodia products, or even Mead's Cambridge line items are of wonderful quality--and there are many less mainstream brands that offer unique quality goods, but none of that stuff is disposable without consequence.

What about refills for the wares that *require* them? For the trendy stuff, they rip you off if your primary concern is retaining paper quality. If paper quality is negligible, the issue becomes one of obtaining the *correct* pad size--usually unavailable for cheap, so you splurge or (for the insane) cut and bind your own.

If you don't have money to burn, USA Custom Pad Corp/NotepadRefills.com gives you a large enough selection of sizes (in bulk) that should fit your needs. If not, they even offer custom notepads, but I haven't yet looked into them.

The only disconcerting thing is how the company is organized. Stumbling upon NotepadRefills.com was great, but a little hard to find. I first encountered their LeatherandVinylDirect.com site, which presented a lovely assortment of leather and vinyl desk/office-type items (expected), but found it unhelpful. From there, I checked out Deskpads.com, found nothing that I needed--just more in the vein of Leather and Vinyl (excessive), and decided to visit USApad.com since it was the only consistent facet of the sites as a listed email. But... I discovered that they had no options to order refills online without first talking to a human. (Can you say "tedious"?)

FINALLY, a tangential search called up NotepadRefills.com in a too isolated, random way. Seeing how this site was tied to USA Custom Pad was weird because there was no *obvious* way of accessing the NotepadRefills site through the main one, or any other. How would anyone know to use NotepadRefills.com without first finding it on their own? (This goes for JournalsDirect.net, too, although that has no online purchasing options without direct human contact.)

Albeit shady, NotepadRefills.com had prices that were tempting enough for me to take the plunge. (There's no paypal option, but not a bad thing in retrospect since my CC wasn't charged extra.) The flat shipping rate was fair--much less than expected, and thus, no tracking. I got the order in a timely fashion, and there were no frills whatsovever. (Apart from the order confirmation, I've never received another email from them regarding sales or anything trivial; draw your own conclusions about this.)

The whole process of figuring out what site/company belonged to what, and in what capacity, was perplexing at first, but is perhaps pardonable--given that I got what I wanted without issue. So, if there is a second purchase later, this post gets an update.

For now... recommended.

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on July 01 2010 09:07:41 AM

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5/5

posted Jul-01-2010

While in search of discounted office supplies that would *not* require bulk purchases, I was lucky to come across this seller. Mostly a random find, but one that's ostensibly reliable.

With most bulk sellers, you're often restricted from buying just one, or several, so the 10/50/100+ options aren't accommodating in the least. (Sometimes, if they do offer single items, there's a tendency to commit highway robbery via shipping to cover other losses, or to treat the disinterested-in-bulk customers in an asinine fashion--even if it's just a query...) But with BulkOfficeSupply, you have the option to get one of whatever, or go crazy for decent rates. No muss, no fuss.

At the time, the use of payment via credit card was a slight turn off given the lack of reviews on the site, but they were very quick with shipping and had a huge variety of office... everything. (You might wind up buying unintended items "just in case" because there is sooo much.) There was no tracking information provided, but I wasn't too concerned since their site, item presentation, check-out ease, and email confirmations were coherent, prompt, and very organized.

Even today, they are still keen on my return business (even though I only placed the one order), and send the occasional email for free products.

They don't always offer the lowest prices, so if you don't make any purchases, you can still use their site as a pricing guide.

This post will get an update if there's a second transaction.

Recommended.

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on July 01 2010 07:31:24 AM

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4/5

posted Jun-27-2010

Having ordered from Abebooks since 2003, I have not yet encountered any problems (small or large), but of course, I've never used them for anything apart from making intermittent purchases--as there are many other ways to obtain books for much better prices and shipping. (There are also other venues for selling stuff.)

My most recent orders required across-the-border/pond materials, so it was noted that shipping could take a while. Fortunately, they arrived earlier than expected.

Shipping is rarely cheap with Abebooks, but when they're listing hard-to-locate copies, rare finds, or stuff you want with the lowest comparable rates, I find it difficult to ignore them. So without any negative issues over the years, I've continued using them primarily as an alternate source for research and purchases. (One major plus is that they don't harass you with ridiculous amounts of spam, e.g., Alibris's too frequent, craptastic, paltry discounts featuring some of the most uninspired or obnoxious, personalized subject headers ever.)

If you are concerned about the reliability of any (re)seller at Abebooks, it might be best to stick with systems that allow customer ratings/feedback to matter. Doing a cursory review of my account options doesn't show me any obvious way of leaving feedback, so I'm guessing that it's not something the service makes a priority. (I don't think the sellers request feedback, but then again, if you do enough online book browsing, you'll notice that a lot of high volume sellers don't put their eggs all in one basket either.) Some might construe this as "shady", but really... it's all relative; what you consider a priority will always dictate what service/site is utilized.

Subsequently, if Abebooks has It, is the only place listing It, and Exacting Need gives more impetus than a Hankering... taking a chance is a no-brainer.

Recommended (for purchases).

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on June 27 2010 08:20:13 PM

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4/5

posted Jun-26-2010

I came to know of Adagio Tea's existence through the widespread advertisement of IngenuiTEA, and wow, what a sweet product. (It's so much more accessible, practical--in both design and price--than a lot of the infusers out there.)

I was eyeballing the IngenuiTEA for a good while--and didn't care much for Adagio's wide assortment of teas at the time, but couldn't exactly take the plunge. The listed price in so many places didn't make it all that attractive a purchase; overpriced or used, most just sell the infuser by its lonesome.

So, it wasn't until I poked around Adagio's site out of curiosity that I discovered they were offering a packaged deal, featuring that item; Sold.

The price of the whole was/is less than what you generally find out there for the standalone item, so everything *not* the infuser is a bundled lagniappe of sorts. I really appreciated the various four-tin sampler pack *options* (although I may not have "chosen wisely" with the whole slew of conflicting user opinions), the bonus horoscope sampler tin, and small discount.

Shipping was probably the only sore spot; I kept receiving too many inconsequential updates so it felt as though if I was being forced to track every step of a slow-moving target. Without a satellite feed, it's both excessive and boring. But had there been no imposed monitoring (something less in-your-face and tedious), I would classify their shipping as "solid".

I still haven't made a second purchase from Adagio Teas, although I've thought about it. The teas and their tastes are too subjective, and thus don't make much of an impact on the whole of this entry unless they're on opposite ends of the spectrum, i.e., utter s*** vs. choice flavoring, but I haven't yet come across either. (Being a tea gourmet means making the time, or having the inclination to sample a lot of variety, and experiment...and that's a luxury, not so much a practical investment, unless you take it further.) It should be obvious why (and how) the IngenuiTEA package is such a great pecuniary hook for the company.

If there's anything else of substance, this post will get an update.

Recommended.

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on June 26 2010 12:10:30 PM

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5/5

posted Jun-26-2010

This stumbled-upon seller was *quite* the find...

As any pen aficionado knows, buying from pen shops in-person can be very expensive, and depressing if you can't find what you need, or want.

JetPens is pure awesomeness in that they give you access to the better, cooler, popular brand variants (and more!) without ever having to set foot in a physical shop. And at great prices. (A tech equivalent would be if Nokia's more comprehensive, advanced line of phones and gadgets--accessible outside of North America--were made available/functional for all, worldwide, at consistent, lower prices. Okay, maybe that's hyperbolic, but we can all dream.)

But with this vendor bookmarked, I find that I no longer have to request favors of people going overseas. If JetPens sells it, I just check the site to see if it's in stock: if so, it's a quick ordering process, if not, they offer product notifications via email. Their consistent pricing gives peace of mind so you never have to worry about conversion rates, and retardo import fees. (I haven't yet seen anything that's inflated as much as the items in those "oh so urbane and exotic" retail shops.)

Icing on the cake would be their Amazon.com-like free shipping deal, and impressive selection of supplies meant for calligraphy, sketching, watercolor, inking, etc. Sweet sundry stuff, too, including refills, highlighters/markers, erasers, some Moleskine-type notebooks, sketchbooks/paper, and specialty office/art supplies. If you can't find exactly what you want, you just might find something comparable, if not better; so no more being depressed.

Some things are cheap--given their disposable nature, but the majority of the products are of very good quality. Shipping is fast, and they provide you with a tracking number.

All in all, it's so hard not to buy more, or browse at length whenever you hit them up.

Highly recommended.

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on June 26 2010 07:56:50 AM

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4/5

posted Jun-26-2010

My experience with this stumbled-upon seller was mostly positive.

The first and only order with them was for a hard-to-find item slowly fading from the shelves and stock. The few sellers I found prior to ToyTokyo had jacked up prices for a very similar item, but not the one I wanted. So a phone call to ToyTokyo put me in touch with a friendly customer service guy who informed me of the item's details: it was the one I wanted--with the correct features, and it was the lowest price available.

Placing the order was simple enough, but the lack of the S&H fee in the initial summary was not ideal. In retrospect, if they could integrate shipping details with their normal ordering process, that would do wonders in facilitating smart purchases. (Not knowing a final total is somewhat like being ganked, or just disconcerting--especially if you're not given any delivery options apart from the one the seller picks. But, at least they give you tracking info.)

Bottom line: Until there are more purchases made, it seems as though if ToyTokyo is a straightforward, reliable seller with a plethora of well-priced stuff.

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on June 26 2010 06:29:50 AM

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3/5

posted Jun-26-2010

Business card printing praise, from a very biased source, drew me to PrintsMadeEasy.

When I first discovered this company, I thought perhaps they'd be a hundred times better than Vistaprint, but it wasn't until several progressively problematic transactions in that I realized two things:

1) they *can* provide better quality cards than Vistaprint (simply by offering the standard, i.e., "normal and professional-looking", size and weight), and...

2) their customer service/tech support isn't nearly as competent or as helpful as I had hoped.

Vistaprint's outsourced customer service reps (in India) made simple inquiries and transactions a horrendous mess with both communication and attitude problems; the sheer amount of headaches they can induce is something you'll only wish on people you hate.

You'll get native English-speakers with PrintsMadeEasy, but clarity in communication is not always available. That is, in *my* experiences with the person(s) that was assigned to my last order.

One Key Point: If you don't use your own designs, going with most any printing company's template selection, or purchased/personalized designs will probably give you very few, or zero issues.

In my case, both with Vistaprint and PrintsMadeEasy, the biggest problems were trying to match color standards (without seeing a physical card), and specific communication with the person (or persons) adjusting your work without letting you know exactly what they're doing, e.g., application, percentage of tweaks, hardware, etc.

These points are much too comprehensive (and technical) in nature to expound on in ResellerRatings, but the majority of the problems I had with PrintsMadeEasy stemmed from dissatisfaction with initial order/prints. The initial print was just straight up wrong, but the "corrections" further exacerbated this "wrong" print with each redo. (NOTE: A then-approaching deadline aggravated the whole situation at the time, so the waits for reprints, and endless ping-pong emails/phone conversations ate away at patience, amongst other things.)

Basically, no matter how articulate and precise I was in communicating what I desired for my own designs, words just Failed. Shared vocabulary/design vernacular mean only so much when there's technician-based ineptitude, and the random belief that they somehow know how to make a design (not of their own) "look better" without consulting the customer/creator.

In short, three progressively worse reprints and an entire month wasted resulted in hundreds of unusable cards (that can only serve as fodder for impromptu bonfires) and... a refund!

That was surprising, and cool.

Thankfully, someone higher up decided to end the torment and cycle of inanity; whether it was the angst on my end, or production-based confusion on theirs, the concession to print failure was wonderful. Vistaprint would have persisted with the issue until the customer was happ(ier)--which translates into mountains upon mountains of misprinted refuse, but PrintsMadeEasy had some standards. (All the more respect for them, for knowing *when* to stop wasting both of our times, and their resources; I was able to find a much better printer in time for my deadline.)

In summary, this company is recommended ONLY if you're not going to use your own designs. They don't give you the absolute best cards out there, but with the great prices and print/shipping speeds, they are easily one of the better "value" printers around.

This review was modified by Bi0NicSQUiD on June 26 2010 05:43:45 AM

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5/5

posted Jun-26-2010

Another stumbled-upon seller with great results.

At the time of the purchase, I was looking everywhere for the lowest possible price and desired item color. Everyone seemed to carry the item (in the wrong color) for inflated prices, and even on eBay, the color I wanted was still too expensive. I was about to give up when Bellacor popped up in a tangential search, and showed me the item as something that was discounted, tax free, and included free shipping.

It was almost too good to be true since no other place was offering a discount, so I took a gamble... and won!

It was just a little disconcerting that they didn't provide me with tracking/delivery information, but a couple of calls to Bellacor customer service resulted in successful status checks. (The woman that assisted me over the phone was patient, very on the ball, and courteous, so at no point did I ever think ill of the company, their employees, or the shipping process.) Apart from carrier details, the most info that could be imparted (from the customer service end) was the item's date/time of departure from their Minnesota warehouse.

In retrospect, the order arrived at around the estimated time, and there were no problems whatsoever.

It's so bizarre how these random, seemingly unknown, sellers can deliver quality goods while popular others, e.g., Frys, Overstock, Newegg, etc., will more than occasionally deliver total duds.

Recommended!

(This post gets an update if another purchase is made.)

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