Anyone bought from Elite Savings?

sbaishya

I've been looking into buying a couple of electrical products, and whilst Googling for the best prices, I came across this website:

www dot elitesavings.co.uk

The prices for the items I am interested in are very low, which is great, however their business model is unusual, and I am concerned that I would be leaving myself open to problems with little comeback.

From their website:

Elite Savings are the first company to negotiate exclusive contractual rights with a select few of the largest global electronic suppliers around the world. We endeavour to change the way the process of buying electronics is done online, now, and in the future! We have proposed a way for our customers to purchase items legitimately and at rock bottom wholesale prices without the requirement to be in business or taking trips out to the Far East! Effectively, this works by us acting as 'brokers' by bringing trade free of charge to our partners who in turn for this, relax their policy of selling items in bulk quantity only.
Since we're bringing our partners new custom at no marketing and advertising cost to themselves, then this has put Elite Savings in a strong negotiating position which cannot be ignored. After some hard negotiation with the suppliers, a deal was struck allowing them to supply customers referred from us with items priced at discounted bulk wholesale rates providing that the customers referred, are willing to accept their order being sent as low priority to benefit from the wholesale savings. After conducting customer research, we found that a staggering 88% of people surveyed said that the most important thing to them when buying online is to find the lowest priced item!


The Brokering Process

Step 1- The customer places an order via Elite Savings.

Step 2- After placing your order & making payment, in 5 days you will be contacted by a member of our staff who will inform your that a supplier has accepted your order and will take responsibility of shipping it out to you. We will provide you with an ETA (usually 30-45 business). If you're unhappy then a full refund can be claimed 7 days after making payment.

Step 3- If you’re happy to proceed after step 2, then we will email you with a contract that requires your signature. The contract is in place to confirm that the supplier we've located for you is willing to accept your order and will be responsible for dispatching it out to you. You are required to sign the contract and either fax it or scan and email it back to us. Please note, the contract is in place to safeguard all 3 parties involved, you, the customer, us as a broker, and the supplier who will take responsibility for shipping the item.

Step 4- Once we have received the signed contract, then we will notify the customer of who the supplier responsible for dispatching their order out to them is. From now on, the supplier that Elite Savings has sourced for you, will happily answer any questions in relation to your order and will also provide you with a tracking number once the item has been shipped.

Has anyone dealt with this kind of company before (or this particular one)?

I suspect that this one should be filed under "too good to be true", but I thought it would be good to see if anyone else had any experiences they could share.

Coopdivi

Delivery times are between 30 and 45 business days. So you'll wait at least 6 weeks for your goodies.

Goods are coming direct from the manufacturers, like Apple and Bose, who are somehow going to make just as much profit from individuals in the UK as they do with bulk buyers like Argos, Play etc. Conveniently for Elite when you receive your goods your contract is then with the manufacturer. No need to worry about Distance Selling Regulations then.

The website is registered with a Ms. R Kaur at 1st Floor, 442 Woodberry Grove Finchley. See link

http://whois.domaintools.com/elitesavings.co.uk

However the website address is 1st Floor 2 Woodberry Grove.

The prices on that website are unfeasibly low. An I-Pod Touch 3rd Generation 64Gb machine is less than £200. No reputable wesite gets near that price. Marks and Sparks are selling a 32Gb one for £225.

This site reeks of scam. Use it at your peril.

sbaishya

Thanks for the reply. I thought it sounded a bit dodgy.

thfc_johno

I've been looking at a purchasing an iMac recently and have held off buying whilst I compare prices.

The site mentioned in the above posts was one that came up in my search - briefly. Another similar kind of site, offering again large discounts also caught my attention, for perhaps the wrong reasons.

Has anyone used or heard of "tech-center.eu" ?

£604.72 for a 27" iMAC smacks of a scam.

Coopdivi

thfc_johno wrote: »

I've been looking at a purchasing an iMac recently and have held off buying whilst I compare prices.

The site mentioned in the above posts was one that came up in my search - briefly. Another similar kind of site, offering again large discounts also caught my attention, for perhaps the wrong reasons.

Has anyone used or heard of "tech-center.eu" ?

£604.72 for a 27" iMAC smacks of a scam.

See this thread and my reply.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2513613

maninthestreet

Notice that you send (full?) payment before any contract has been signed. Even if you do get the goods you paid for, maybe they won't be models designed for the UK or European marketplace.

Pete=]_2-2

You just want it to be true, but probably isn't. £269.99 for an HTC Desire?! I've emailed HTC but I doubt they'll know tbh.
Even a google search doesn't come up with much so I presume their new and people have stayed well clear, but on various tech using shopbot the website keeps popping up... so I presume someone will get caught out sooner than later if they are a scam.

stevienbain2

Found these details at Companies House.... Not sure if it helps.... Name & Registered Office:
GADGET BROKERS LTD
1ST FLOOR
2 WOODBERRY GROVE
NORTH FINCHLEY

LONDON

ENGLAND
N12 0DR
Company No. 07192771
Status: Active
Date of Incorporation : 17/03/2010
Country of Origin : United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)) :
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 31/03
Last Accounts Made Up To : (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due : 17/12/2011
Last Return Made Up To :
Next Return Due : 14/04/2011

dealer_wins

All these 1 post wonders promoting their SCAM WEBSITE.

Only order if you like being scammed for your hard earned dosh guys and gals.

Scaz04

I'm new here and have been reading this thread with interest as I have been looking to buy a Nexus One and found the phone through Google shopping at Elite Savings for just £324.99, I was skeptical about this price and by Googling the site found this discussion.

What I am wondering is whether anyone has tried this site since the thread was opened? because although people are suggesting it is a scam it seems nobody has actually bought anything yet. . . .

Any comments of good or bad experience would be appreciated.

Coopdivi

In that case then Scaz, your best bet is to buy it then in 2 months time when you receive it you can come back on here and give a gushing review of how Elite are possibly the greatest company ever to advertise on the internet and you have no connection with them whatsoever. Honest.