We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

The Gadget Company

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.
«1

Comments

  • lokiman wrote: »
    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!!"
  • lokiman
    lokiman Posts: 129 Forumite
    100 Posts
    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 way
  • Browntoa
    Browntoa Posts: 49,545 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    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
    Ex forum ambassador

    Long term forum member
  • Browntoa
    Browntoa Posts: 49,545 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    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: 14/02/2007
    Ex forum ambassador

    Long term forum member
  • lokiman
    lokiman Posts: 129 Forumite
    100 Posts
    edited 25 April 2009 am30 10:50AM
    Browntoa wrote: »
    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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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]
  • Enfieldian
    Enfieldian Posts: 2,893 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    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.....
  • 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 ......
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.6K Life & Family
  • 254.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.