ValueBasket.com - any experiences?

50Twuncle

Big_Graeme wrote: »

Oooh a first post backing up these crooks, never seen one of those before...

Come on - give him a chance !!

jamesright

I wanted to buy a mobile phone from valuebasket.com . When checked, I have found that the company is not registered in UK and there is no information on about-us page either. I've decided to call and spoke to a customer adviser with Indian accent and he said that Valuebasket.com is based in Hong Kong. Anyway I have decided not to buy from them simply because of bad reviews and dodgy company details. Also manufacturers do not accept warranties if you have bought an item outside the EU. I have also come across the similar kind of website simplyelectronics and same issue. So I would say pay bit more to local company for extra peace of mind.

50Twuncle

jamesright wrote: »

I wanted to buy a mobile phone from valuebasket.com . When checked, I have found that the company is not registered in UK and there is no information on about-us page either. I've decided to call and spoke to a customer adviser with Indian accent and he said that Valuebasket.com is based in Hong Kong. Anyway I have decided not to buy from them simply because of bad reviews and dodgy company details. Also manufacturers do not accept warranties if you have bought an item outside the EU. I have also come across the similar kind of website simplyelectronics and same issue. So I would say pay bit more to local company for extra peace of mind.

An excellent decision....

Adamsr

Fightsback wrote: »

Hmmm, newbie, first post and a company plug. Call me cynic but.....:undecided

Read this thread on slrhut:

You're a cynic!

Yes that was my first post on the money saving expert forums as I was so pee'd off by how value basket handled my order that I felt obliged to have a vent and hopefully save someone else from dealing with the same problems!

As for the nod to SLR hut it was just credit where credit is due. My experience was good, but I'm not saying that everyone's was the same. By the same token I'm sure some people have been pleased with the service by value basket, I definintely wasn't though! I did manage to get the refund in the end, and they did eventually deliver the 2 items I didn't cancel. Just a shame they so royally screwed up my order as a whole.

As for dealing with any of these offshore companies, you have to ask yourself if it's worth it. I still think it was, as the camera I bought was almost £750 cheaper than the UK rrp (Nikon D750 with 24-120mm kit lens), however for the sake of £100 or less I wouldn't bother. I also made sure to buy on credit card as it gives a bit more protection. Some companies off an additional discount if you pay by bank transfer but that was too risky for me, as you have no way of getting the money back if they mess you around.

Fightsback

As for dealing with any of these offshore companies, you have to ask yourself if it's worth it. I still think it was, as the camera I bought was almost £750 cheaper than the UK rrp (Nikon D750 with 24-120mm kit lens), however for the sake of £100 or less I wouldn't bother. I also made sure to buy on credit card as it gives a bit more protection. Some companies off an additional discount if you pay by bank transfer but that was too risky for me, as you have no way of getting the money back if they mess you around.

I'm in a rather fortunate position as I have colleagues who regularly fly back and forth to the US

Ps Where money is concerned, cynicism is a healthy attribute to have

Adamsr

Fightsback wrote: »

Ps Where money is concerned, cynicism is a healthy attribute to have

I fully agree with that. I just had a problem with the inference that I obviously must be an employee of SLR hut because I dared to give them praise. Actually it was more of an advert for UPS (no I don't work for them either!) as they were the ones who shipped it door-to-door in about 45 hours.

Still the experience I had from SLR hut was good, spoke to someone on the phone who confirmed they had the item in stock, plus personally pushed the order through quickly once I had ordered. The order was processed and shipped within a couple of hours, then it was all UPS from there. My only critisism though was the attempted upselling of memory cards and spare batteries by the guy on the phone. I don't like sales tactics like that, but he did drop it after a firm no.

jamesright

Just wanted to give an update on few more companies, who are NOT UK based and it seems that their dealings are not reliable. Manufacturers do not accept warranties from them any item purchased outside EU. Also, its most likely that you wont get your product. Similarly manufacturers will not accept any item purchased vai ebay or amazon (outside EU).

1. Valuebasket.com - Hong Kong (run by someone from India :-o )
2. Simplyelectronics.net - Hong Kong
3. expeditelectronics.com - no Info (most probably hong kong)
4. eglobalcentral.co.uk - no info (probably hong kong)

50Twuncle

Thanks Jamesright.
I would like to add - never buy from a company who do not have an address in UK - and even then, check the address is genuine, using Google maps - even if they apparently have a UK based phone number - especially non-geographic 0844 numbers
Valuebasket and Simplyelectronics are one and the same company
Expediteelectronics and Eglobalcentral would appear to be the same company as well (whether they are linked to the first two is for you to decide)
I, for one, will NOT be buying from any of these companies and I would strongly advise anyone else to stick to known UK based companies..
Funny how valuebasket give THEMSELVES a 5 * rating http://shopperapprovedreviews.com/reviews/valuebasket.com/


And the customer services phone number for Simply Electronics brings up a web page for walk in showers - alarming/worrying/stay away....

GIGI_2

I recently ordered a samsung galaxy s5 for which I paid by credit card. Money was taken and then ingormed that they require two means of ID passport and copy of a bill. This is not right. Keep away

Mr_Drascombe

I placed an order for a Canon camera in January 2015. Valuebasket took payment from my card immediately, appearing on my statement as Valuebasket Gibraltar GI, although I later discovered that they are based in Hong Kong.

The camera arrived late, after promises & much chasing, in sealed manufacturer’s box which said: NOT INTENDED FOR SALE OUTSIDE JAPAN. CONTAINS NO WARRANTY FOR OUTSIDE JAPAN. Everything else is in Japanese, so I have no idea what it said.

The charger had plug pins for Japanese sockets. An adaptor was added to the package but it was a cheap, tacky travel set of very poor quality &, again, without any manufacturer/supplier identification or any CE or similar certification. I asked them to supply the correct item.

After 6 weeks of their ducking & diving, they asked me to send the camera back for a refund but their ‘Returns Policy’ sets out re-stocking fees that make it pretty clear that any refund would fall short of the money paid.

By then, I had googled them (wish I had done that before) & found any number of disgruntled customers so I decided that the cost of replacing the charger was very likely much less than the risk of, at best, a partial refund. The Canon camera itself, is excellent.

My advice: steer well clear of Valuebasket. They are rogue traders.