I am a snap happy journo and recently bought a fab new camera to take even better shots. It has not disappointed me.
My moan is about a new memory card I ordered yesterday so I can take dozens of pics. I ordered it from Amazon and delivery was promised within 1-2 days. I need it by next Thursday as I am off on a 2 week trip the day after.
Later in the day, I had an email from their distributor called Purely Gadgets saying delivery would not be made until 2-5 working days. Feeling concerned it would not arrive in time, I called their customer helpline to explain my circumstances, that the only reason I ordered it with them was because I was assured of an early delivery. It seems their man on the phone, Rammy, could only repeat that it would take 2-5 working days starting from Monday, not even Friday. And he could not even find my order on his computer, even though I gave him the order number. As you can imagine, I was not very impressed and he advised me to cancel by email as he could not ensure my delivery would arrive in time.
Surely this is breach of contract if I have it in writing from Amazon that delivery would be made within 1-2 days. And surely companies like Purely Gadgets work weekends too if they are taking hundreds of orders online. Or do they just operate between 9-5 on a Monday – Friday, which is not very efficient in this digital day and age.
I shall obviously report this to Amazon. My belief is that PG lure people into placing orders by promising a prompt delivery, then change the date to suit themselves. It may seem petty to some, but it has really annoyed me.
Can anyone suggest a reputable online dealer for memory cards? Or should I just pop into Jessops?
Kingston Memory Cards – cheap and it finds just the right memory for your specific camera or device.
As for the delivery times, I expect there is something in the terms and conditions (which nobody reads) or the small print that says something about circumstances beyond their control or that the times are a minimum not a guarantee.
Hi Ellee, apparently http://www.picstop.co.uk/ are good. Last time my husband (a pro photographer) used them they were cheapest and got the cards to him the next day.
Try printing out the Amazon specification and price details and trot round to your friendly local Jessops store and I’m sure they will match the price.
I’ve been doing this for a couple of years now and although to start with it was on a somewhat cheeky, tongue in cheek fashion, they now diplay muli-coloured notices across their shop fronts, proclaiming that they “will not be beaten on price.” If you smile, they will probably even push it into the right slot for you, thereby saving further anguish!
P.S A very nice camera you have there.
ebuyer
try http://www.crucial.com/uk/
I ordered camera memory @3pm [on phone, their websote played up] and it arrived by 9 next morning.
If you can wait I would order from 7dayshop.com (no VAT as based in the Channel Isles). If not, print out their price and, as another poster says, take into a Jessops branch for them to price match.
Thank you all for your suggestions, I’m checking them all out. I wanted to give Purely Gadgets a chance to redeem themselves, but I’m afraid they don’t seem to understand much about customer satisfaction, they have not reassured me that my memory card will arrive before next Thursday – it may now take up to six working days to be delivered and I could have left for my hols. Here is the reply from PG’s customer service manager Rachel Liu:
“Regarding your concern of the delivery time, we confirm that as per Amazon’s policy your order will be delivered within 2-6 working days (dispatched within 1-2 working days). Please note that in most cases we exceed this time so that our customers can enjoy their products at the earliest. We would very much appreciate your understanding.
“However, as you request to cancel order we confirm that your cancellation is in process with our account department. Please allow 1-3 working days for complete all paper-works. You will be informed when the money is transferred into your account.
“We would very much appreciate your understanding and re-write your blog about our service as it is not fare for us from the first place.”
I did explain that I was writing from my own personal experience and would not re-write anything. After being charged £4.50 postage, why is it taking up to six working days to deliver a tiny memory card, on top of the 1-2 days in dispatch? Why does it take 1-3 days to return my money?
Hopefully, the recommendations mentioned will be useful to others too. I’ve already signed up with ebuyer.
Good grief, if a manager uses ‘exceed’ and ‘fare’ like so, what are the underlings capable of? If you are travelling abroad, the Dixons shops at the UK airports become rather more the home of the bargain when one factors in the non-charging of VAT at these places
My mate Bob who is a pro photographer sent me this advice via email:
“Hi Ellee.
What a palarva trying to get a card.
Jessop will no doubt be able to help, shame you couldnt get one from where I got mine.
Hope you get it sorted in time and have a great holiday.
The last post on your blog about buying at the airport, I have always found them to be expensive, even though you dont pay vat, but I bought my first little digital camera from Jessop’s and about 2 years later, saw it in Dixons at a so called “reduced” priced for more that I had paid for it, and it had been superseded by later models.
You can buy the cards from anywhere in the world and you might find they sell them on the ship.
Bob.”
Crucial.com/uk.
Just the best online store (in everything from books to booze) that I deal with.
Check out: http://www.timalmond.com/journal/2006/1/13/crucial-memory-suppliers.html for some of my experiences.
High Street – I like Jessops. Knowledgable staff and all that.
If you need it quickly, then I would go to a shop as you are sure to get it. It will be more expensive that way, but worth it considering how much holidays cost!
You could also try dabs – I have been very pleased with them in the past. Here is a link to their memory cards:
http://www.dabs.com/productlist.aspx?&NavigationKey=11151&NavigationKey=4294959558&NavigationKey=42000000&CategorySelectedId=11151&PageMode=1
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