Zappideals.com - for real?

danny_robbo

Some more information on the Kindle situation can be found at the Bragitup blog on tumblr. (It wont let me post links as a new user, but put a dot com at the end of this - bragitup.tumblr and it should get you there).

Bragitup seem to be the people that got the adverts for the Kindle deal into the B3ta newsletter (apols if this is incorrect). The Kindle problem has obviously tarnished their reputation, and they've been trying to get information out of the people that run Zappideals.

Hopefully we'll get a refund soon. I've been trying without success to contact anyone at Zappideals myself.

Bankruptwatcher

Please be careful - these people are the same as Wowbuys, nhsdailydiscount - they supplied £000s in goods that did not turn up, apparently because of 'supplier issues'.

This is the insolvency notice from earlier this year under one of their last trading name, Flash Incentives.

I cannot add a link here - but please google :

'flash incentives liquidation'

jonnyfatman

My girlfriend bought a Kindle off Zappideals and it of course it still hasn't arrived.

What's even more annoying is that they charged her twice, and the credit card company are saying they can only refund her for one of the transactions. Does this sound right?

I can't believe that new deals are still appearing on the Zappideals website. It's time someone put a stop to these scammers.

redpola

See also https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4167111

Chris55_2

Re the previous comment about the B3ta newsletter advert, please see http://robmanuel.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/sorry-about-zappideals-sponsored-link.html

"First an apology: We're sorry that we ever took a sponsored link in the B3ta newsletter that mentioned Zappideals. We're sorry that the good(ish?) name of B3ta is being dragged through the mud and we're sorry if you have given these people your money.

The background? We occasionally run ads via a company called Bragitup - they got in touch suggesting we run one for Zappideals offering a cheap Kindle. We were a little suspicious about it as it was cheaper than Amazon so we asked Bragitup to check them up. They assured us that the Kindle was a loss leader to generate new customers. This seemed reasonable so we ran the ad.

Then the complaints started trickling in. We sent these to Bragitup who worked tirelessly behind the scenes talking to Zappideals getting messages that the Kindles would be sent, will be sent, are being sent etc.

Bragitup wrote a blog detailing these problems but it got taken down. Why? Well Zappideals threatened legal action against Bragitup. They might possibly threaten legal action against this so we're writing it carefully - there's several things we'd like to say about them which we'll refrain from. So imagine the kind of stuff we'd like to say. We bet you can do it.

And still the complaints come. Daily. Opening the B3ta mail is depressing. Going on Twitter is horrible. We're sorry we ever heard of these people. You're sorry. Our dead cat Rocky is sorry.

One thing - we haven't profited from this - on the unlikely chance we ever get paid for the advertising (and the chance would seem slim) the money will go to charity.

Comments are closed on this because we know it'll take minutes before legally actionable stuff will appear from angry people and it'll then be used to close this post down removing our chance to apologise and get a clear message out."

esterill

I can add a little more on this saga.

I also 'fell' for the Zappideals Kindle thing - I don't blame b3ta but it was because the ad appeared on their newsletter that I was trusting of the site. I ordered the Kindle and after 21 days, started chasing them. I got a few illiterate replies which were obvious delaying tactics. When the promised 'refund' letter arrived, I went to my bank with it and they are refunding my debit card. Their fraud dept. said that they *will* recover the money. So, thank you Lloyds Bank.

So, it seems that this is how they operate:
You order the goods and they have no intention of supplying them. They hide behind terms and conditions which allow them to claim that your contract is with their suppliers, then they impose delaying tactics at every stage (21 days delivery, 7 days to email for a refund, 60 days refund time). They basically hope that people will keep on waiting until any dispute is too late. The 'wrong' email address on the letter is another of these delaying tactics. Eventually they will go under and keep any money that is left. And then start again.

The whois entry for zappideals has a false address and phone number. They only respond to 1 in 10 emails if you are lucky. They don't publish any contact details on the website.

I can't really believe I fell for it. But now I want someone to stop them. Action Fraud is my next port of call...

Oh, and I will be more careful when ordering online again (and use a CC)

paulpaul1308

[QUOTE=esterill;56255697The_whois_entry_for_zappideals_has_a_false_address_and_phone_number._[/QUOTE]

No, the details are right, that is the home address of David Phillips and his email at wowbuys, the parent company. I won't post them here as it is personally identifiable information and so may not be allowed, despite being publicly available to anybody who can get to networksolutions.com

I can't vouch for the phone number, however; it looks like a mobile number that has been badly formatted with +7 at the start rather that +44 7.

esterill

Well, it is 'almost' correct - he left the road name out. But using a badly formed address AND mobile number is a bit suspicious in my book.

esterill

I've reported this scam to ActionFraud (www actionfraud police uk) and I would encourage any other victims to do the same. Looking at their companies house information it appears that they are close to being struck off. Of course, this will not make any difference to them - they'll just start up another one. The only way to stop them is to prosecute them.

Kat_Crichton

I ordered the Kindle (as advertised in b3ta.com newsletter) and didn't receive it.

I received a couple of letters (on Oct 1st and 4th) explaining that I need to send an email to mail@zappideals.com with "Claim" as the subject and my full name and voucher code in the email. I don't have a voucher code, so I'm not sure what that's about. The first email had the wrong email address, the second corrected that "mistake".

The address on the letters is "WOWBuys Ltd, 4-6 Canfield Place, London, NW6 3BT" Company number: 7640973

I've followed each letter to the word and am hoping that sending out snail mail is some kind of indication of good-will. Fingers crossed!

Kat