Why TigerDirect sucks
On September 11, 2005, I made an online purchase of a refurbished laptop
from tigerdirect.ca. After not getting a UPS tracking number for the order,
I called them asking for it. They claimed they did not get a tracking number
for this item and they told me to wait 10 days and if the laptop had not
arrived to then call them back. So after 10 days go by I give them another
call. Hmmm, they say it's been lost and UPS doesn't know where it is. They
offer to ship another one out to me. I ask if it will be the exact same one;
yes, they say.
Here is the product description line from my printed invoice:
HP Compaq EVO N610c / Pentium 4-M 1.8GHz / 14.1 inch / 256MB / 30GB / CD-RW
/ WiFi / Windows XP Pro Notebook PC Refurbished
Notice the WiFi in the description. Also, the specifications listed
Integrated WiFi as one of the features.
When the laptop finally arrives, it is the correct model and works fine -
except that it has no WiFi, not integrated or otherwise. So, I go back to
check my printed receipt and yup, it is indicated there. I write them an
email asking about the missing WiFi and if they will send me a free WiFi
card or something. I get no reply. I then go check their website again and
notice that the EXACT SAME ITEM no longer has any indication of having WiFi!
So, they basically used false advertising and then switched the item
description afterward. Well, I wasn't about to send the laptop back because
of this one minor thing, as I had waited for it long enough already.
Then I noticed that they also shipped me something called eTrust PestPatrol
Anti-Spyware. Thinking this was a freebie, I ignored it at first. Later, I
checked the packing slip which had some small print as follows:
CA eTrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware Free 30Day - REMINDER THIS IS A 30 DAY
TRIAL AFTER THE TRIAL YOUR CREDIT CARD WILL BE CHARGED $29.99
Naturaly, I was concerned that I might be charged for something which I DID
NOT ORDER and DID NOT KNOW I WOULD BE GETTING. I called them up and told
them I do not want this product. They said "ok just ship it back to us". I
asked if they would pay for the packaging and shipping to send it back and
they said no. What?! I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Now, shipping it
back would not have been that big of a deal or that expensive, it's just
that I was put off by their deception. I told them I would not ship it back
and I would cancel any charges they put on my credit card. They then
forwarded my call to someones voicemail. I left a message. I wrote them 3
separate emails explaining things. I left them another voicemail. No reply.
I waited and waited, called them again, and was forwarded to someones
voicemail once again. No reply.
Luckily, my credit card number happened to change before the 30 day trial
was up, so they couldn't bill me if they tried. I did get a notice from them
in the mail saying they couldn't ship my order until I gave them a valid
credit card number. Ha, seeing as I haven't ordered anything more from them,
I can only assume this was for the Anti-Spyware software sitting unopened on
my shelf.
Whatever. They are not getting any credit card information from me and I am
never buying anything from them again.
from tigerdirect.ca. After not getting a UPS tracking number for the order,
I called them asking for it. They claimed they did not get a tracking number
for this item and they told me to wait 10 days and if the laptop had not
arrived to then call them back. So after 10 days go by I give them another
call. Hmmm, they say it's been lost and UPS doesn't know where it is. They
offer to ship another one out to me. I ask if it will be the exact same one;
yes, they say.
Here is the product description line from my printed invoice:
HP Compaq EVO N610c / Pentium 4-M 1.8GHz / 14.1 inch / 256MB / 30GB / CD-RW
/ WiFi / Windows XP Pro Notebook PC Refurbished
Notice the WiFi in the description. Also, the specifications listed
Integrated WiFi as one of the features.
When the laptop finally arrives, it is the correct model and works fine -
except that it has no WiFi, not integrated or otherwise. So, I go back to
check my printed receipt and yup, it is indicated there. I write them an
email asking about the missing WiFi and if they will send me a free WiFi
card or something. I get no reply. I then go check their website again and
notice that the EXACT SAME ITEM no longer has any indication of having WiFi!
So, they basically used false advertising and then switched the item
description afterward. Well, I wasn't about to send the laptop back because
of this one minor thing, as I had waited for it long enough already.
Then I noticed that they also shipped me something called eTrust PestPatrol
Anti-Spyware. Thinking this was a freebie, I ignored it at first. Later, I
checked the packing slip which had some small print as follows:
CA eTrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware Free 30Day - REMINDER THIS IS A 30 DAY
TRIAL AFTER THE TRIAL YOUR CREDIT CARD WILL BE CHARGED $29.99
Naturaly, I was concerned that I might be charged for something which I DID
NOT ORDER and DID NOT KNOW I WOULD BE GETTING. I called them up and told
them I do not want this product. They said "ok just ship it back to us". I
asked if they would pay for the packaging and shipping to send it back and
they said no. What?! I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Now, shipping it
back would not have been that big of a deal or that expensive, it's just
that I was put off by their deception. I told them I would not ship it back
and I would cancel any charges they put on my credit card. They then
forwarded my call to someones voicemail. I left a message. I wrote them 3
separate emails explaining things. I left them another voicemail. No reply.
I waited and waited, called them again, and was forwarded to someones
voicemail once again. No reply.
Luckily, my credit card number happened to change before the 30 day trial
was up, so they couldn't bill me if they tried. I did get a notice from them
in the mail saying they couldn't ship my order until I gave them a valid
credit card number. Ha, seeing as I haven't ordered anything more from them,
I can only assume this was for the Anti-Spyware software sitting unopened on
my shelf.
Whatever. They are not getting any credit card information from me and I am
never buying anything from them again.