I bid and won an HP IPAQ 6515 (PDA cell phone) from this company on ebay.
The description of the PDA was that it was 'NEW'. I live in Canada, so I had to pay customs and brokerage fees on top of the unit price and shipping - which I was expecting to pay. When the unit finally arrived, it was quite obviously used. It had scratches, worn areas and a nasty 'gunk' build-up in crevases. They had sent it with a new battery so I did not notice that the charge bay was broken until a little later on. There is no way that this phone was sent out in working order or tested.
At first I assumed they had made a mistake and sent me a refurbished one, as I had seen the same company offering those as well. So I emailed them. Unlike some of the other people I have read with the same complaints, they did actually answer me and sent me a return form. But they apparently only return half of the initial shipping fee - which, although, this is stated in their policy, it should be void if the mistake is on their behalf.
At any rate, I asked that I recieve a new model instead, and never heard back from them. I then went and looked at their feedback (something I will do prior to buying nextime) and they had a high majority of positive feedback for those who were buying refurbished or 'for parts' items - but there were quite a few negative feedback remarks with the same situation as me. Over the course of the last 12 mos there have been about 2700 negative feedbacks - Bascically, I figure their scam is - they send out used and broken items with the intention that they will be sent back - return the unit price and make at least 12 bucks or so off the shipping cost. Thats an extra 30 grand - not even calculating the people who don't bother send the unit back because they have to pay for shipping and it might just not end up worth it.
These people know what they are doing - and it is a SCAM - total Criminal activity.
I have complained to ebay and they said they would 'investigate', but as they are a powerseller - I think ebay will just give them a slap on the wrist.
Over all I will have lost about $100.
V-Rae
Surrey, British Columbia
Canada
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