Gary Barnett's Blog

I ordered something from an on-line retailer on Boxing day, the item was shown as “in stock” and I received an “order confirmation” on the same day. They debited my visa card – and then I waited.

On the 6th January I sent an email to their “customer support” email address asking for an update. I received no response. On the 19th I used their “contact form” to tell them that I was cancelling the order, and requesting a refund. I received the following automated reply -

This is an automated response confirming receipt of your email.

A member of our Sales Team will deal with your query as quickly as possible.

Usually you should receive a reply within 48hrs although this may increase during busy periods such as Christmas.

In the meantime please DO NOT send the same email more than once or to other departments this will only slow down our response times.

Computerwebstore Sales.

 Not a particular promising response…. and it goes without saying that they didn’t respond within 48 hours, or 72… or even 96.

So I did a web search.

Now I feel really stupid – This company has been blogged about, commented on, and complained of many many times…

Complaints about computerwebstore.co.uk - 

“Blagger .com” a website that acts as a forum for feedback on business services

http://www.blagger.com/db4/company_id/7995/companyname/Computerwebstore.co.uk.html

An individual’s web site

http://garry-blog.blogspot.com/2007/08/wwwcomputerwebstorecouk.html

The DVD Forums;

http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=453641

A site with numerous complaints about Computer web store

http://computerwebstore.blogspot.com/2007/06/john-martland-review-from.html

PC Advisor – Consumer Watch

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/forums/index.cfm?action=showthread&threadid=285725&forumid=2

Price Runner Customer reviews

http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/retailer/5075/reviews

Another unhappy client

http://computerwebstoreliverpool.blogspot.com/

Zimbio Scam watchdog

http://www.zimbio.com/Scam+Watchdog/forum/1/Computerwebstore+co+uk

Yahoo Answers on computerwebstore

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071123104929AAau3Wy

therning.org – a blog, extensive reviews

http://therning.org/magnus/archives/66

Complaints from as long ago as 2005…

http://www.shopfinder.co.uk/Detailed/Computerwebstore_1325.html

So what am I going to do?

I’m complaining to the trading standards office.

I’m willing to pursue this at some length, as I believe that the owner of this company is dishonest. I believe he is deliberately running this business in this way, and I believe that there should be consequenses.

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