Kidson Talks | The E-commerce Chemist

28 responses so far ↓

• 1 denise // Jun 22, 2009 at 11:40 pm

  I bought a acer laptop from them on the 20 of june 2009. they took the money out of my bank account then telling me that my payment could’nt go through their security checks and my order was cancelled…. and i should send them my passport and driving license and utility bill and bank statement and copy of my bank card!!!

• 2 Quyen // Jun 25, 2009 at 4:30 pm

  Thanks for the review. I was going to buy from these people but have now gone with Tesco even though they are 10% more expensive.

• 3 Liz // Jun 26, 2009 at 8:08 am

  Tesco is great, you can go in a see a person if there is a problem also….I got another Acer from Tesco in 2 days.

• 4 Adam // Jun 30, 2009 at 5:30 pm

  Bugger! I wished I’d read this before I bought an AC unit from them. They’re also known as AirCon Direct. Guess the clues’ in the title.

  Oh well, I’ll sit with fingers crossed until it arrives.. or maybe I’ll start sharpening the knives.

• 5 Liz // Jun 30, 2009 at 9:00 pm

  Ha ha! That’s funny! What they decided to call themselves, not that you brought from them. Hope it arrives for you.

• 6 Haroldas // Jul 8, 2009 at 4:49 pm

  Hi, I am also very disappointed by that company
  buyitdirect.co.uk
  laptopsdirect.co.uk
  serversdirect.co.uk
  projectorsdirect.co.uk
  iviewcamerasdirect.co.uk
  appliancesdirect.co.uk

  I have bought an ACER aspire one A150 ab

  and what I received was a wrong model laptop. Acer Aspire one A110 ab. The difference in configuration is huge. and the one I received is obviously the worst one.
  So I arranged the return and they collected it from my work. after a 2 days of examining my laptop they came to a conclusion that it was actually the correct model they send me. I did not even had any prove that it was not true. I have just kept arguing and besides they charged me administration fee for return and return postage fee.
  After finally speaking to a manager I have got my irrelevant charges removed and the correct laptop posted. I came to the post office with my camera this time to photograph everything detail of the laptop to have prove in case it is incorrect again.
  The laptop appeared to be Correct model, but the battery was missing. It came without the battery, and even with my camera on my neck I cannot prove that the battery wasn’t there when I opened the box. I called them again and they did not argued, just arranged the battery to be delivered. After abut 4 hours I have called to double double check if that’s been properly arranged and I’ve been confirmed that it is on it’s way. BUT IT WASN’T!!!! after the expected delivery day I called them again and they confirmed that nothing was arranged. my battery is still there with them even by this very moment. I am so very disappointed with this company that II would not recommend anybody to buy from them EVER. I want them busted!

  NEVER BUY FROM buyitdirect.co.uk !!!!!!

• 7 Jason // Jul 11, 2009 at 3:50 pm

  I’m trying to get my money back from Aircon direct. They are the shoddiest on-line company I have had the displeasure of dealing with. I ordered 6 air con units on the 29th June and paid for 24 hour delivery. The order was processed on the 30th June and I waited. I received a phone call on Friday 3rd July to say that there was a payment problem as they couldnt find me on the electoral register. Funny that they actually took payment on the 1st July for the full amount. I said that this was the first time this had ever happened and I buy plenty of stuff on-line. The lady told me I would get the air con units on Tuesday as it was too late to dispatch on the Friday. I asked if she would guarantee this and she said yes. Next on the 8th July I get an email from them to say that they are having trouble taking payment and a voice message to say that there is an extra delivery charge which has been explained to me. Nothing of the sort had been explained to me so I emailed them to say that if they cannot honour the price I bought the goods at I want to cancel my order. The same day, 8th July, I get an automated email saying that my order has been cancelled and now it’s the 11th July and I’m still waiting for a refund. DO NOT TOUCH THIS COMPANY WITH A BARGE POLE.

• 8 Unhappy Customer // Jul 14, 2009 at 11:39 am

  This company is unbelievable, I also ordered a pink acer one, a refurb. The first one turned up pretty quickly which was great.
  But when I tried to charge it, it wouldn’t charge, I managed to get through to a real live person who told me I just needed to do some jiggery pokery with the bios, I tried to explain that the contacts on the battery were physically broken but she ignored this and told me to follow the instructions in the email she would send, I did this, it didn’t work, I phoned back and spoke to a different person, who said it would be fine to send it back and get a new battery.

  After 2 weeks of sorting out pick up dates they decided they wanted the whole netbook back rather than just the battery so I did as I was told. They received and processed it and decided I was allowed a replacement and sent me an email saying that they would get in touch with the tracking details. I also got an email saying they didn’t have one in stock so someone would call me to discuss an alternative. They did call but I was in work so I had to call them back, I picked out a slightly different model and got the guy to send it out with next day delivery, this was last Thursday.

  So Monday morning came and went, no emails, no sign of the replacement, I phoned them again, someone messed up this order apparently, the replacement has been given to someone else, wonderful. I picked out another one, it was a graded refurb, so not exactly new but its been nearly a month, anything would come in handy. I get another phone call later on to say they wont send this one out to me, its not good enough, this guy doesn’t see why I didn’t just send back the battery “we’ve got loads of spares”. That’s what I wanted to do in the first place but I was told I had to send back the whole thing, they obviously don’t bother to communicate with each other. He very kindly has sent me out a new one, the same model as I ordered to begin with, we shall see if it turns up.

  At one point I mentioned getting some form of compensation and was told they only make £10 on each laptop they sell, I guess that explains a lot.
  I will not be recommending them to anyone.

• 9 Mary // Aug 1, 2009 at 5:37 pm

  Thanks for this. I was all set to buy a laptop from AcerDirect but I wanted to check some details first and was googling them looking for a geographical phone number (they only have 0844 and 0871 numbers listed on their site).

  Instead I found this, and a load of similar horror stories. Unsurprisingly I decided *against* giving my custom to AcerDirect/BuyitDirect, and with a bit more googling managed to find exactly the same laptop at exactly the same spec with a different company – cheaper!

• 10 Joel // Aug 3, 2009 at 4:57 pm

  I bought some good from this company, becareful theydo not have an ethical trading policy. I neither have the goods or my money. I ordered in business credit card and be warned you have no rights when doing it this way and these guys know it. Customer service is the worst I have ever dealt with.

  Thanks

  Joel

• 11 Sickened Customer // Sep 8, 2009 at 12:06 pm

  Bought an Acer laptop with extended warranty from laptopsdirect aka buyitdirect on 22nd april 09. I paid for next day delivery and was not delivered next day, received no refund or apology.
  In June i noticed a small hairline crack on the inner screen bezel were the manufacturers screws are fitted. I thought nothing of it until several days later further cracks were clearly showing around ALL of the screw areas. I sent them a so called ‘E-Message’ via their website on 21st June after contacting Acer support directly, and surprised they referred me back to acer. Acer said they would be happy to repair it for me however i would incur all repair and delivery charges. After several emessages over several weeks they final gave in on 17th july and arranged to collect my laptop on 20th july. I was informed that the repair would take roughly 10 days, however depending on parts to please allow up to 28 days. As of Tue 8th September, multiple e-messages to Katie Halsall and Lesley Pollard, two calls to trading standards (for which laptopsdirect are aware of) and two hand written letters letters later to (Management apparantly) Lisa Deveney, Buy It Direct, Unit A Trident Business Park, Leeds Road, Huddersfield, HD2 1UA, I still Have no Laptop!!! In the meantime, I am receiving emails to say “Thank you for your recent order with one of the buyitdirect brands. I hope everything arrived as expected and that you are enjoying the use of your new product.” I’ve given them several deadlines to sort things out as advised by Trading Standards and they just dont seem to care!!! I would like to advise anyone and everyone to, DO NOT BUY LAPTOPS DIRECT / BUYITDIRECT or any of its other trading names. You’ve been warned!

  Wish me luck!

• 12 Patrick // Sep 10, 2009 at 2:59 pm

  I bought a laptop based on a recommendation from a work colleague. Needed it quickly and ordered 2 days before.
  They waited until end of business the next day, then cancelled my order by email (no phone call).

  When I called through, Josie (speaking through an intermediary) said I needed to post(!) them photo ID, bank statements and utility bills before they would process my debit card transaction.
  Am going back to PC World Business – so much better.

  These guys are stone-age. I hope they go they way of the dinosaur. And soon.

  Avoid like the plague!

• 13 Lame // Sep 24, 2009 at 9:13 pm

  Was going to buy, now decided not to, reading these comments.

• 14 Bulat // Oct 30, 2009 at 5:38 pm

  I have bought a Laptop from acerdirect.co.uk (accerdirect.co.uk) and did not receive the product code the Microsoft Office software that I have payed for.
  I have sent an email to Katie Hal**** and she asked me for my details, then more details. And then she just stopped replying to my emails. I have called them after a month and was told that they have to investigate this issue and will call me back. They obviously did not after two weeks.

  So now I have opened a dispute in Pay Pal but that still does not help.

  I wish I could complain to Microsoft directly.

  Don’t buy from them! They will lie to your face!

• 15 philip // Nov 4, 2009 at 11:16 am

  Really helpful when taking your money
  but if something goes wrong watch out they don’t
  want to know my advice KEEP WELL AWAY

• 16 s r woods // Nov 5, 2009 at 11:09 am

  I bought my first acer from buyitdirect in august 2009. it did not work, was picked up two days later, was advised that it had probably nbeen dropped by the delivery co. Another was available but more expensive. They took my money, this early in September 2009 this also did not work, though promised a new laptop Acer told us it was two years old and password protected, so had tobe returned. THIS WAS DONE ON THE 11th September I AM STILL TRYING TO GET ALL MY MONEY RFEFUNDED. It iis now November. Quick enough to take your money very slow to refund it. It is coming back a few pounds at a time, usually after ‘phone calls. We also found out that if they tell you itis a factory outlet, itis second hand.

• 17 Kumari // Dec 3, 2009 at 12:12 pm

  I have waited 3 months for my refund they need to be reported to trading standards!

• 18 Tom Armstrong // Feb 2, 2010 at 1:29 pm

  I bought a monitor from them, needed to return it in 7 days. They would not let me return it. I’m stuck with either legal battle or an unwanted product. Do not use this company people.

• 19 Anne Wilde // Feb 15, 2010 at 6:21 pm

  I paid £500 for an Aspire Timeline on 5th February. It arrived on the 9th and worked fine all day. I couldn’t log in on the 10th as the mouse didn’t seem to be responding. I contacted Acer who re-set everything to the factory settings but still no joy. They told me I could return it to them for repair but they would have to charge £68 if it turned out to be a software problem. I realised then that the retailer, Acer Direct, has nothing to do with Acer.
  I contacted Acer Direct who told me to complete a returns form on-line. I did that and it told me I would receive a response within 24 hours. I didn’t, so called them. I was told they hadn’t received my form so I would have to complete another one. I did this immediately and waited.
  I was contacted by a technical guy on the 11th February who tried everything that Acer had already done. I waited again and when I asked what was happening, I was told to fill in another returns form! Finally they told me to pack the laptop in the original, undamaged packaging and they would send a courier to collect it on the 12th.
  I waited at home all day on the 12th and called them at 4pm as there was still no sign of a courier. I was told it was definitely booked for collection that day but it could be as late as 6pm. I waited until 6.40 then contacted them again. I received a reply on Saturday 13th to say that there are no collections at the weekend, so it would be Tuesday as only those things booked on Friday can be collected on a Monday. I protested that this had been booked on Thursday and was told on Sunday that it would be collected on Monday after all. I will then be told within 7 days from receipt of the returned laptop what they plan to do. Very good of them, I thought!
  It is now 16:50 on Monday and still no courier. I have contacted them again to check that someone is coming today. No reply.
  In short – paid £500 10 days ago; wasted a day on work which was wiped when the faulty laptop was re-set; wasted 2 more days waiting for a courier that hasn’t yet showed up; spent hours being spoken to like a child on the phone, writing emails, filling in returns forms; can expect at least another 10 days until my laptop is replaced or repaired.
  I am a self-employed consultant and cannot afford to be without a laptop. Time is money for me and Acer Direct have cost me a fortune already.
  Will I ever deal with them again? NEVER!!!

• 20 John // Feb 17, 2010 at 10:14 am

  We bought a 55 inch LCD TV on behalf of a client, they couldnt accept the credit card transaction so I had to BACs the money direct ot them. On the day the TV was supposed to be delivered we recieved an email telling us the product was no longer available.

  The customer services people basically refused to accept any responsibilty for this trying to pass the buck to their supplier!! So much for having it in physical stock!!

  Will never deal wit these people again.

  The main director and only shareholder in the business is Mr Nicholas Glynn and their number is 01484 319816 or 01484 319805
  if you want to try and get him to listen to your complaints.

• 21 Liz // Feb 17, 2010 at 12:44 pm

  Oh my! You are not covered with BACS so it is very hard to get your money back!

• 22 Loopy // Feb 23, 2010 at 1:19 pm

  I have bought 2 laptops 4 my kids 4 xmas and have being trying to reolve the matter that they dont work, ever since we received them, and still no satisfaction, they are the worse people I have ever dealt with and I 2 will go to Huddersfield if i have 2, it is only a 20min drive. DO NOT USE THIS FRAUDULENT COMPANY.

• 23 ripped off // Mar 18, 2010 at 6:44 pm

  I bought a laptop from their website, acerdirect.co.uk. After ordering, I received an email asking if I’d like a pre delivery check so that I didn’t receive a faulty machine (the main reason being dead pixels and that they cannot be repaired – something I know to be untrue). I did not reply to that email, and the laptop arrived the next week.

  Upon arrival I found that while the website had stated it came with Windows 7, the laptop came with Windows Vista. I contacted Acer and confirmed that the model is supposed to come with Windows Vista and not Windows 7 as the website had advertised.

  I sent an ‘eMessage’ to buyitdirect regarding this, first they directed me to their returns page. When attempting to fill in the returns form, I got a message saying there were no goods under that order number.

  After asking for them to give further information on how to return the laptop, 3 days after I had initially informed them of the problem, they changed the website to show that the laptop comes with Vista, did not apologise, and acted as though it had always been that way.

  Of course I took screenshots of the website before the changes and will be pursuing this further.

  This is, of course, my fault for not checking up on the website before making a purchase having, from the name, assumed I was buying directly from the manufacturer. Simply googling could have saved me all this trouble.

• 24 neil munro // Mar 31, 2010 at 10:16 am

  acer direct are the worst company i have ever had dealings with ,poor customer service to say the least , avoid at all costs

• 25 Alan // Apr 7, 2010 at 6:49 am

  Appalling; absolutely the worst web company I have ever experienced.

  Goods never received. Customer Service useless. Wish I had checked these forums before making the mistake of buying from Buyitdirect.

• 26 Phil // Apr 17, 2010 at 8:41 pm

  Words (almost) fail me. We’ve been working on a project with tight deadlines and tight budgets and they seemed to have the right equipment at the right price.

  Four days later and nothing has shown up, despite telling me they’ll deliver it in three. I go to track my order to be told “Sorry, this order could not be fulfilled.” No contact by phone or email, I presume they were just going to hang on to the money?

  I called them. The number quoted gave me a recorded mssage saying that due to new standards set by OFCOM they now had to have another number, which sounds a little dodgy for a customer support line…

  Second number, then. I got through to a woman who told me the item is not in stock. Although the website said was in stock it when I ordered, what “must” have happened is that someone bought all their stock of said items in the time it took for me to fill in the payment details. Funny, since their website continues to list the items as in stock, despite with the woman on the phone telling me they’d all been bought four days ago.

  They continue to be listed as available even a week later. Said lady claimed their database was ‘slow’, which – unless it’s a filing cabinet full of index cards administrated by a single, barely numerate sloth – is frankly unbelievable.

  So, we’ve lost around 7 days to these idiots… Anne Wilde, I feel your pain.

• 27 Roddy // May 18, 2010 at 2:59 pm

  Bought an Acer computer (I thought from Acer) but it turns out their online sales are run by these chimps. Paid £17 extra to get it delivered on a Saturday, didn’t turn up. Phoned and told them if the computer was as good as the service they could keep it. Was eventually refunded £31 less than the cost for something I never received! Kicked up stink on the phone and was assured of full refund. Check bank acct a week lated and have only been refunded a further £19.97, still £11.76 short. Phoned again and am assured of balance – I live in hope. Do not buy anything from these chimps!

• 28 Chantelle // Aug 20, 2010 at 11:30 am

  Okay….So I purchased my refurbished A1 Acer Aspire from Acer direct.co.uk with an extended warranty….Never again.

  My first net book arrived covered in chocolate, dirt & nail polish. I understand that refurbished means second hand, but that before sold to a new user it is made virtually new. Cleaned up & the overall system checked. I requested that I either be sent a replacement (because no body wants to pay for that kind of service) or be given some sort of goodwill gesture.
  I was offered a replacement & sent to the website to fill out the relevant forms….A week later I’m still waiting for someone to contact me to arrange collection….Apparently it got stuck on their system, so it’s a good thing I chased them.

  They eventually send me a replacement, which when I switch on has the previous owners Mcafee subscription instead of the 30 day trial its supposed to have. So I uninstall it & put my subscription on instead. Within 5 mins this finds a number of trojans & virus’ on the computers hard drive. I haven’t even had the thing switched on 5 mins & haven’t downloaded anything other than mcafee….
  I again contact customer service as I’ve decided I want a refund if no one can be bothered to check the condition of the machines before sending them out.

  The day the 2nd machine is collected I get a response regarding my goodwill gesture from the 1st machine! We’ll refund you delivery & send you a free case! Wow roughly £20!
  Well I reply I just want my refund, this is now two unacceptable machines I’ve been sent.
  It took 4 days (when sending out it only takes one!)for the machine to return to the warehouse & get tested, at which point (on Thursday at mins to 6pm) I get an email telling me they’re sending me a replacement…….

  No one at this company appears to listen, I call up after receiving this email (literally mins later) & they’ve all gone home for the day! I’ve been calling since Tuesday to see where we are in the process & spoken to a number of people all of whom are aware I want a refund, so why am I getting a 3rd replacement ?

  So I refused to sign for my 3rd net book. Call up acerdirect AGAIN & this time I’m told ‘We’ll issue you your refund on receipt of the net book sent out today’…..Hang on a second I never asked you to send it to me, why am I getting penalised for your mistake. What if the courier loses it? What happens to my refund then? You have it on record that I want a refund which idiot sent another one out….? So now I’m being told they should receive it early next week & then I’ll be issued my refund.

  I’ve gone to Trading Standards….Acer direct are obviously inept.
  The amount of running around I’ve done, I’ve basically supplied my OWN customer services.

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