Gadget-Asia

Gullible

Hi Bear,

I didn't buy mine from Gadget Asia because of the 'Great Deal' I bought it because it was different. I don't see that these consoles are any cheaper. May be they aren't all dodgy the fact that some are should be enough. They haven't done the decent thing by me and I didn't go in all guns blazing i've kept it very civil.

Gullible

I appologise for my last post i read it back and it sounds nasty! Gadget Asia assured me that they are no longer including adapters in their packages and hadn't done for a few weeks. I do agree with what you are saying about customs seizing for other reasons too.

chrisw

phatbear wrote: »

or they contained R4DS' DSTT's or dvds full of games, all of which are illegal also, therefore even if the DS was genuine, which by the way a handfull were found to be, the item would still be seized due to the dstt etc being with the package,

the bear

The R4s and DSTTs aren't illegal, but the copied games on them probably are.

phatbear

The R4's and dstt's are illegal because they circumvent the onboard software of the DS.

However feel free to email ELSPA and tell them that you think their usage is legal, im sure they would be very interested in everything you have to say.

all the best

the bear

Gullible

Nintendo told me not to use the R4 I said that I knew it was illegal, he said it wasn't but had to tell me not to use it. I asked if it would damage the console he said that he was supposed to tell me yes,but No! I contacted them to confirm my console was counterfeit they weren,t bothered about that.

Gemini

phatbear wrote: »

See we really are helpful chaps at times.

Some of the issues which people seem to be ignoring are, the vast majority of packages I examined contained dodgy plugs or they contained R4DS' DSTT's or dvds full of games, all of which are illegal also, therefore even if the DS was genuine, which by the way a handfull were found to be, the item would still be seized due to the dstt etc being with the package, add to that the fact that the items are miss declared as "gift" "no commercial value" $45 etc etc then importers are pretty much up poop creek without a paddle to start with.

I wish you all the best with trying to get your money back however this does prove one point, if something does appear to be to good to be true, ie ds and 40 games for £140'ish, then it probably is.

all the best

the bear

I did not forget about the games or the plug. My thread was sent to update people on what my experience was and to provide other with information that may help them. I brought this particular DS because this country does not sell this colour. Research was undertaken before I brought it. You can't win them all. Customs were unable to identify if the consoles were not genuine they had to get Nintendo to examine these themselves. The consoles are not cheap at £145 but it was worth it for the colour. You live and you learn and it is hoped that we won't make the same mistake next time.

New_Martin_Lewis_convert

Can I just add, I think if you buy something at a completely inexplicably knockdown price (such as £40 for a Nintendo DS, etc) then you might expect to be burned by the 'too good to be true' theory. If, however, you buy at a competitive price (as I believe myself and Gemini and numerous others did), in good faith, it is reasonable to feel upset /ripped off when either your console/games prove to be dodgy or you don't receive them in the 1st place.

Let's not blame the victims... Gemini paid a lot of money for her console and games, and I paid a lot of money for my console. Whilst I agree with Bear's point I think we also need to bear in mind the fact that it's Gadget Asia, not the individual consumer, who should be primarily held to account for their actions in such a situation.
Having learned more information about them (thanks in part to other contributors to this thread), it seems there are many times in the past when their integrity over possible counterfeits has been called into question. Once this is all pieced together, (ie reading more about Gadget Asia, which I've done more than I would choose to do in the last 48 hours), I'm afraid what I get is the picture of a generally disreputable organisation who peppers their shady counterfeit dealings with intermittent cocha sales to balance up their feedback and reputation. All I'm saying is, it's easy to point the finger at the consumer. If someone's trying to profit either directly or indirectly from illegal activitites then I for one am well out, not interested... and those who do need to take the rough with the smooth. On the other hand, if someone's trying to profit from exploiting regular people with no hidden agenda other than to secure the most competitive legitimate price for an item then they should be exposed. It seems to me that for over a year, Gadget Asia have been skating over certain irregularities by hiding behind certain evasion techniques (the most recent one was saying that they were using a new supplier and didn't realise the products they were supplying were counterfeit, oh how convenient... it's very difficult to believe this rubbish when it's been peddled as an excuse before).

Whilst I believe it's important to have this debate so we can all examine our consciences (and for the record, mine for one is totally clear) the main point here is surely the dishonesty and predatory nature of the supplier??


The position I now find myself in is that, in spite of my purchase being returned to Gadget Asia, I must still 'prove' to Gadget Asia that the order I placed with them is a counterfeit, by sending them a letter from Customs and Excise before I can expect a refund. This seems, to me, a bizarre way of doing business if you're interested in customer satisfaticion and have just super-annoyed the customer by trying to supplying them with counterfeit goods which are later confiscated days before Xmas...need I go on???). This also means that I have to jump through the hoop of their not-entirely user-friendly method of contact (ie posting a ticket into cyberspace and waiting desperately for a reply)... Quite apart from the fact that, if the console is counterfeit, they are likely to know a lot more about this than I am??! Apologies if this sounds ranty, it is not meant to - I'm just well fed up with it all.

If this forum is all about consumers being empowered, (which was my impression when I gratefully stumbled across it a couple of weeks ago), let's focus on the wronged consumers. I for one have abslutely no sympathy with Gadget Asia being up poop creek without a paddle, and hope they go out of business, both for the sake of their wronged customers, but also the ones who had a positive experience but are unwittingly waiting in the queue for a less positive one...

Sorry if I sound bitter, but there it is. As I said before, my primary motivation for posting here is to help other similarly afflicated, and hopefully get some useful advice along the way. Again, all the best to all who are similarly troubled and/or have joined this discussion.

Hope this post is taken in the spirit of true passionate debate and a collective desire for innocent consumers to avoid being ripped off. Again, the best of luck to all who have been adversely affected by this issue and keep in touch. Bear, if you work for customs and excise (sounds as if you might do from your advice)!??) any further advice about how to resolve our problems given your valuable experience of these issues, very much welcomed. :rudolf:

Gullible

New Martin Lewis Convert.

I totally agree. They are saying they have used new suppliers recently I bought mine Sept 9th. I have been emailing this guy aswell as posting tickets he is senior sales manager georgeyeung@gadget-asia.com. No more helpful, but was quicker than posting a ticket!

phatbear

I feel my comments may have been taken out of context and I will happily clear up what I meant.

In the past week I have had call to examine quite a number of these packages from gadget asia and very few of them did not contain an r4ds or dstt pre-loaded with games, also not one of the packages was correctly declared, which is mentioned on gadget asia website that they will under and miss declare the item to avoid duty etc, therefore you become knowingly concerned with the attempted avoidance of vat and duty on an imported item, not the end of the world I know but another point worth making.

Gadget asia do need to be dealt with but alas the only people who can deal with them is the authorities in the orignal country, in other words nothing will happen to them.

I do have sympathy for any innocent people who have been caught out, feel the need to say innocent because some of the packages seized were blatantly people taking the p!ss, and the process will be dealt with in as quick as possible fashion and hopefully you'll be able to get your cash back.

all the best

the bear

sharries_2

We appear to have a console seized by customs and thought we might make a few points.

The DS was a unique colour and the site was reviewed on CIAO http://www.ciao.co.uk/Reviews/Gadget_Asia__6788625/Start/15 and given glowing ratings

My partner who ordered the game console is not 'gadget literate' and would have had no idea they could be counterfeit or illegal.

These items were seized and then from the 5th Dec a media campaign was launched to warn consumers! The hype is about dangerous adaptors of which there are no comments or complaints on reviews on sites.

I am hoping we have some grounds to appeal if they are confiscated as it is a 5 year olds christmas present, as this was not cheap (£160.00 with postage and insurance), a substantial gift on our budget and in line with high street prices apart from the games bundle and we thought they would be largely discontinued or inferior games anyway.

We will see when we get the letter...