"I ordered two items for a custom PC build on 08/10/12 because they were the cheapest prices around and the website appeared to have good ratings on Google and other review websites - I have since found out why this is, of course...
On 17/10/12 (the latest possible delivery date) one half of my order was delivered by UPS, the other was nowhere to be seen. After telephoning WAE+ and speaking to their customer service advisor after a long delay I was advised the second item was out of stock (despite STILL showing as “in stock” on the website) and would be with me in 3 weeks.
By this point I had read enough legitimate reviews to know this was likely to be ambitious at best and misleading at worst and so I cancelled the second part of the order.
After going through another retailer and receiving the missing part within two working days (for no extra delivery cost) it was time to put my PC together, but lo-and-behold the part WAE+ had sent out to me was faulty. Fantastic. I had been slightly suspicious of the dog-eared manual and the unsealed packaging when it had arrived, but the motherboard itself had looked new enough upon closer inspection. However, I do fear someone else had been through the same process.
So it was back to the telephone, where WAE+ were actually pretty prompt in sorting things out for me. They advised I fill in a return form and arrange a collection with UPS, all of which took place in a very swift timescale, but of course when it came to getting a replacement item more problems arose.
Firstly, I was specifically told by one of their two customer service representatives that there were “many motherboards in stock” and so getting a replacement would not be a problem. Three weeks and three frustrating calls later ("it WILL be with you by next week") though, and I was still empty-handed. At the completion of the third week (now five weeks after I had made my initial order) I asked for a refund for this part of the order – although the first still had not arrived.
Weeks came and went with no money appearing in my bank account until finally the 30 days expired and I took things further. I felt I had no choice but to report WAE+ to the Police (Action Fraud), Trading Standards (Birmingham), Internet Shopping Is Safe (via their own website) and BBC Watchdog.
I forwarded as many of the negative reviews I found on this review website and others to all concerned parties, I dug-up issues related to their previous company which went very much the same way and began robbing customers by asking for bank transfers as payment (WAE without the +), I informed them of the Guardian articles about both companies and finally about the investigations into their use of fake positive reviews (paid-for) to offset the truthful ones which seemed to prove conclusive. All of this is available to find easily enough with an online search engine, should you be so inclined.
After two months I have just got my money back thanks to pushing a chargeback through my bank (with the help of a crime reference number from the police) and I’m now here to share my experiences of this awful company.
I could forgive it if it was just incompetence, but I think my experiences allied with the hundreds of others I have found related to the people who run this company show that this goes far deeper than that. They appear to be untrustworthy, unscrupulous and quite possibly criminal. I would not advise that you shop with them at any cost and if you have the time, I would urge you to do whatever you can to ensure that they are shut-down and prevented from trading again in the future."
"No product recieved. No communication to the customer regarding unable to fulfill the order, never answer the phone or reply to emails, and still awaiting refund 1 month on - avoid buying from here!"
"Breathtakingly poor service punctuated by contradictory statements at one-week intervals - (1) your order has been shipped (2) the item has been discontinued (3) your payment has been refunded (4) we never received your payment.
Obviously not possible for all of these things to be true, and anyway the item is still showing as in stock on their website. My payment is now being reclaimed by my bank."
"Shocking and they say they pride in costumer services asiff
I waited two weeks before I was frustrated to call and say cancel my exchange and issue me a refund still not received it
I wish I listened to the reviews on and about wae+"
"I have just lost £150. After trying to contact customer services by phone for over 3 1/2 hours and failing, and sending several emails, I have finally had this email reply from WAE+ customer service:
We are contacting you regarding technical issues that we experienced in processing your order that you placed on [13th Nov 2012] at [1:15 PM]. We never received your funds from our merchant providers, and after investigation have been unable to reverse this transaction also. Therefore, we would request that you contact your bank or credit card provider and dispute the transaction as a chargeback for \"goods and services not provided\". We appreciate that this is not ideal, but after researching this issue, we have concluded this will be the quickest and easiest means whereby you can receive your funds back into your account.
Shoddy and not acceptable.
"
"WORST COMPANY I HAVE DEALT WITH EVER!!!
Ordered a Samsung 46 inch TV on the 8th October and waited 2 weeks for delivery , nothing came through !not even an email saying the delivery had been delayed.
Rung up customer support and they eventually answered (after half an hour) said it would be coming the week after, surprise surprise!! Nothing
Rung up customer support again and they said it would be a further 3 weeks due to logistical problems. By this time enough was enough i decided to cancel and get a refund.
3 weeks later i receive an email saying, there was a problem with my refund and if i dint receive it in 3 working days, please find attached charge back letter for your bank and you can claim your refund back in its entirety.
Went to my bank with chargeback letter and apparently it’s up to wae + to initiate the charge back.
Worst of all the customer services has recorded message saying use the fast response link as we are extremely busy and can’t take your call at this time .
ABSOLUTE SCAMSTERS!! STILL WAITING FOR REFUND AFTER NEARLY 2 MONTHS DONT BE FOOLED BY THERE CHEAP PRICES. THERE IS A REASON WHY THEY ARE CHEAP!!! THEY ARE USELESS!!!!
"
"Very poor company - waiting since september for an item, now having to go through my credit card company to get a refund (£160)as wae+ either have no customer support, or when they do they transfer you to a dead line or just fob you off with a refund will be issued in 4 weeks.
Very very poor, shop elsewhere."
"I do not recommend the WAE + cheat. Goods purchased by me was never in stock even though they remain on their website. Pulled money out of my bank angle within 24hrs. I waited for the return of more than 4 weeks.I suggest not also call them the connection is waiting for more than an hour"
"DO NOT USE!
Ordered a NAS from them for 218 pounds, after I ordered I then read all the bad reviews, so I emailed them to say I was concerned about my order, they confirmed it was in stock and that they have lots of good reviews so not to worry.
One day before I expect delivery I contact them again by telephone only to be told the product is out of stock and they tried to sell me a more expensive version of the same product, I said no I did not want, I then got cut off!
Could not get back through, no response to emal, luckily I paid by credit card, and raised a dispute, 40 days later they refund.
Terrible experience, do not use, pay extra with a retalier you can trust!"
"Absolute Scam!!!!!!! Same experience as people in other reviews! Money taken from my account straight away and obviously never received my item! Can't get through to customer service, if there is any at all!!!
DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM!!!
DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM!!!
DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM!!!
DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM!!!
DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM!!!"
"I made a payment online to WAE+ on Tuesday 20th November 2012. This was for the sum of £366.88. I was ordering a television on behalf of a friend, for his birthday.
I made the order, then immediately paid the bill with my debit card, intending to get the money back from my friend in the next few days to reimburse my bank account.
Two days later, the order had no further notifications. My friend managed to get through to WAE+ by telephone, only to be informed that the item was out of stock, despite the site saying to the contrary. He then had the order cancelled.
He has since re-ordered the item from another supplier, but in doing so, means I am now not getting the cash back from him to reimburse my bank account.
I telephoned my credit card today at around 12:30pm and spoke to an advisor. He said that it can take up to 30 days for a company to refund money to the credit card.
However I have since found this site, and it is inundated with hundreds of bad reviews. Why my friend, who is normally very security-conscious, didn't check this beforehand, is beyond me. As he is a smart individual I took it as read that the information given to me was legal and correct. Some people have waited over the thirty day period - one review is from someone who has waited TEN WEEKS and is still awaiting their refund - so I am now becoming more and more worried that I will not see my money again.
I have contacted trading standards and BBC Watchdog, giving the link to this website to both. All I want id for WAE+ to reimburse my credit card, then I can get the money from them back to my bank.
I have never, EVER experienced such shoddy customer service in my life. Telling me on the phone that the lines are busy (with angry customers, no doubt!) and not even having a queuing system??! Then to use the "fast response" option, TWICE today, to return home from a funeral to find NOTHING in my inbox? They had the WHOLE AFTERNOON to reply!!!!!!!
This is only the tip of the iceberg. My credit card company are aware of this and will be taking steps to reclaim the money. Any other public organisations that i can report them to, I will do so. I WANT MY REFUND."
"I ordered PC components from these crooks, that were clearly shown as being in stock, and payment was taken immediately. They missed the delivery date (1 week) and when I finally got through, the soonest delivery they could offer was another week so I cancelled the order. 30 days later and it finally says I've been refunded but there's nothing in my account! I shall be iniating a chargeback and reporting them to trading standards. Their operation seems to be a scam, for your own financial wellbeing, avoid!"
"Avoid like the plague. I ordered an ipad that the site said was in stock on 12/11/12. supposed to arfie by 20/11/12 and guess what no parcel. I've emailed them but no response and tried to phone but cant get through.
I have asked for a full refund, which in the terms and conditions says you can do this.
If I don't get a favourable response I'll be gong to trading standards.
This has got to be one of the worst on-line companies. they should not be allowed to be trading."
"What a shambles! I ordered something that was shown on their website as "in stock" 20 days ago. Later I received an e-mail saying that delivery will be in 5-8 business days. That was slower than I expected but not a major issue. When the deadline arrived I checked their website and it said my order had not been dispatched. I e-mailed WAE and they sent a reply that was meaningless nonsense. A couple of days later their website said that my order had been cancelled and that I had been refunded. After several more days a partial refund arrived. I have ended up waiting for three weeks for no product to arrive and after many e-mails I received a partial refund. What a shambles. DO NOT USE WAE+"
"Rating -2 I ordered 7th October 2012, delivery supposed to be 8-10 days, 2 weeks later i emailed Whereis my delivery, got a reply should just be 3 working days.. No Printer, I rang up, sorry it'll be 3-4 WEEKS!! Is that ok - er no refund please over 2 weeks later I'm still waiting for my refund and can't get through on the phone. Lodging claim with credit card company."