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The Gadget Company

lokiman
Posts: 129 Forumite

Has anybody heard of these people? I'm not personally even remotely considering buying from them, but they've put a full page advert in my local newspaper today, advertising all manner of electronic goods at improbably low prices (Nintendo Wii, Playstations, etc, mobile phones, etc.) A google search throws up a couple of sites with similar names, but they don't appear to be related and this company that has advertised doesn't list a website or email address (red flag!) There's a sales hotline: 02088815963 and it says that a current price list is available by fax (a bit odd, that). More red flags are that they state that they only accept payment by BACS transfer directly into their bank account, and that they go on to state that call charges on the sales hotline 'may vary' (do they mean that a premium rate number might be involved?)
Anyway, my first instinct was to email the newspaper to suggest that there were a few aspects of the advert that looked a bit dodgy, and that they might want to look into it a bit closer before agreeing to run it again, but I thought that I'd check here to see if anyone had ever heard of them, or dealt with them. I guess that it might be legit, but there's more than enough to make me suspicious.
Cheers.
Anyway, my first instinct was to email the newspaper to suggest that there were a few aspects of the advert that looked a bit dodgy, and that they might want to look into it a bit closer before agreeing to run it again, but I thought that I'd check here to see if anyone had ever heard of them, or dealt with them. I guess that it might be legit, but there's more than enough to make me suspicious.
Cheers.
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Comments
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Has anybody heard of these people? I'm not personally even remotely considering buying from them, but they've put a full page advert in my local newspaper today, advertising all manner of electronic goods at improbably low prices (Nintendo Wii, Playstations, etc, mobile phones, etc.) A google search throws up a couple of sites with similar names, but they don't appear to be related and this company that has advertised doesn't list a website or email address (red flag!) There's a sales hotline: 02088815963 and it says that a current price list is available by fax (a bit odd, that). More red flags are that they state that they only accept payment by BACS transfer directly into their bank account, and that they go on to state that call charges on the sales hotline 'may vary' (do they mean that a premium rate number might be involved?)
Anyway, my first instinct was to email the newspaper to suggest that there were a few aspects of the advert that looked a bit dodgy, and that they might want to look into it a bit closer before agreeing to run it again, but I thought that I'd check here to see if anyone had ever heard of them, or dealt with them. I guess that it might be legit, but there's more than enough to make me suspicious.
Cheers.
Could they be advertising prices that don't include VAT?"You were only supposed to blow the bl**dy doors off!!"0 -
maninthestreet wrote: »Could they be advertising prices that don't include VAT?
The advert says that the prices include VAT. I guess that they might be making money off mandatory insurance/vastly inflated postage and packaging, but there are enough other aspects of the advert that make me suspicious. I mean, when someone advertises that they only accept payment by BACS transfer, that says to me that they either can't get anyone to process credit cards for them, or that they would anticipate an avalanche of credit card disputes, if they were to take payment that way0 -
found this, looks more dodgy
http://www.itproportal.com/portal/news/article/2009/3/27/uk-company-sells-apple-iphone-3g-8gb-262/2/
I then enquired about the manufacturers warranty (which is also advertised in the paper) but was told the 1yr warranty given was not actually a manufacturers warranty but a warranty provided by Arash Ltd.
also seems to be this site
http://www.e-pages.dk/polishdemo/205/52Ex forum ambassador
Long term forum member0 -
then trading using the name of a dissolved comapny
http://forum.whatmobile.net/showthread.php?t=37733
ARASH LTD
SJD ACCOUNTANCY BOWIE HOUSE
20 HIGH STREET
TRING
HERTFORDSHIRE
HP23 5AH
Company No. 06103329
Status: Dissolved 10/03/2009
Date of Incorporation: 14/02/2007Ex forum ambassador
Long term forum member0 -
found this, looks more dodgy
http://www.itproportal.com/portal/news/article/2009/3/27/uk-company-sells-apple-iphone-3g-8gb-262/2/
I then enquired about the manufacturers warranty (which is also advertised in the paper) but was told the 1yr warranty given was not actually a manufacturers warranty but a warranty provided by Arash Ltd.
also seems to be this site
http://www.e-pages.dk/polishdemo/205/52
Ooh, and whadaya know: the advert placed by The Gadget Company in my local newspaper lists an unlocked Apple iPhone for............................£262!
And all the products listed on that polish website are listed in my local advert in exactly the same order, for exactly the same prices.0 -
The advert is in the Oxford Times. 23 April 2009
They are advertising Henry Vacuum cleaners for £45.41 including VAT - about half the proper price. I tried to phone them - no answer or engaged. So, I faxed them asking them to phone me. They called within about 5 minutes. I was told that the price was correct, and that normally you would have to buy 100 to get that price, but that they were on special offer because they were importing them direct from the Far East. I pointed out to them that the Numatic Henry vacuum cleaner is in fact made in the UK, but he was insistent. I said that I would like to see one (curiosity - we sell them). He said I had to pay by direct transfer to their account Natwest 62-30-88 a/c 55977421 account name N Malick. (note not a company name). They did not have the facility to accept credit cards. The person I spoke to said his name was Alfred Marshall. I have forwarded a copy of the advert to the MD of Numatic and I will let you know what he says.0 -
Well looky here .. I googled "N Malick scam" and got a very interesting result. This site won't let me post the link because I'm a newbie. But you can do it. Look for the Wholesale forums link.
Sad tales of people being ripped off by this character under the name of NTM Trading.0 -
The Oxford Times is part of the giant Newsquest Group and a member of The Newspaper Society. It warrants that it will take every care not to publish any advertisement which has as its intent a desire to mislead and misinform.
So the last thing it should be doing is running a display ad that has as lousy a provenance as this.
Worth placing all the facts before:
Group Advertising Manager
Shane Harding
t: 01865 425493
e: [EMAIL="shane.harding@nqo.com"]shane.harding@nqo.com[/EMAIL][EMAIL="tom.mitchell@nqo.com"][/EMAIL]0 -
I see the wholesale forum has its own problems with "one post wonders" coming to Malick's aid, bleating about how he must be genuine because he spends so much on advertising!
http://www.thewholesaleforums.co.uk/forum/bad-supplier-experiences/24690-n-t-m-trading-5.html
But they swiftly become "Banned Members" great idea.....0 -
Looking at the wholesaleforums link, apart from the apparent extent, the thing that struck me is that this previous enterprise was being carried out over 12 months ago, and that the SFO have apparently not managed to nail the people responsible to date. Neither have the advertisers learnt to spot a dud. So, N Malick, Micheal (sic) McDavies Mr NTM Trading, Mr M&M Gadgets, or whatever his real name is, is back in business. Caveat emptor ......0
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