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How NOT to run an online business…buyitdirect.co.uk/acerdirect.co.uk

February 25th, 2009 · 53 Comments

I ordered an Acer One Pink laptop on the 11th January from Acerdirect.co.uk. Once payment was taken I was told that ACTUALLY I had brought from BuyitDirect.co.uk. OK, well I will let that one slide.

A day after payment has been taken I received an email telling me the item was out of stock. OK, well it didn’t say that on the site :(

7 days past after getting lots of OOS emails I enquired when the item would be IN stock. I was told the 22nd of January by their support, and I noticed a little note was now with the item stating stock available in ’2-7 days’

I wait.

I email again on the 1st Feb and get told ‘Apologies about this, our supplier have had issues getting these into the UK.’

Alarm bells ring and I cancel my order finally on the 9th Feb by phone.

I wait a week and no refund, so I ring again and I was told by a puzzled ‘supportier’ that the refund has not been done and he will pass it to the account dept today.

I wait again, then email. The response was ‘I have now done this for you’ on the 19th Feb. So it wasn’t done the second time? Third time lucky…or not.

I am still awaiting my refund from a company who had trouble getting the stock into the UK. I am going to have to get quite shirty on the phone to support now.

I could always just pop up to Huddersfield and demand to watch them refund my money or give me the cash. Don’t test me guys, I will turn up on your doorstep.

So, my first on-line ‘avoid at all costs’ scam award goes to:

Acerdirect/BuyitDirect

also known as:
laptopsdirect.co.uk
serversdirect.co.uk
projectorsdirect.co.uk
iviewcamerasdirect.co.uk
appliancesdirect.co.uk

Edited to add (25th Feb):

Rang today and was told I had never rang up and the refund will be processed today. That is 4 times they have processed my refund (I think they are lying to me) so I shall ring up in a bit to check the refund has been processed. I was also denied any evidence of refund. I will wait my 5-7 days then initiate a chargeback, I don’t feel there is anything else I can do!

Moral of the story is, as an on-line business you need to:

  • Sell stock you HAVE, communicate this to the buyer prior to purchasing if not.
  • Refund if you don’t have the stock
  • Refund in LESS than a month if an order is cancelled
  • Don’t do a swapsie on the company names and branding. After that point I wish I had not ordered, I always tell clients that consistent branding builds consumer confidence and I am so right!

Edited to add:

I finally have my refund 02/03/2009 16 working days later. (refunds are supposed to be 5 working days)

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Category E-Business · Google

53 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.

  • 29 Dave B // Sep 10, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    I thought it was just me! I have just purchased an HP laptop through laptopsdirect and, although my experiences aren’t as bad as most here, it was a very frustrating experience to say the least. I wasted two days waiting for it to be delivered only to be told, subsequently, there was a stock issue but I was never informed of this – I actually had a confirmation email stating “item despatched”. The worst of it is you just seem to get stock responses from “customer services”. In short, I will not ever use them again and, if you’re reading this, I’d advise you to steer clear.

  • 30 Dee Jayasri // Sep 17, 2010 at 9:27 am

    I could write about this for weeks, but instead I’ll just summarise.

    TO ANYONE READING THIS BLOG ENTRY – I WOULD ADVISE THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU PURCHASE ANYTHING WHATSOEVER, FROM THE LIST OF ‘DIRECT’ COMPANIES LISTED IN THE BLOG ENTRY ABOVE.

    AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, AND YES, THIS IS MY OPINION, THEY ARE BASICALLY A BUNCH OF COWBOYS.

  • 31 Sylvie // Sep 27, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    I purchased a PC Acer Aspire X1301 recently since I had seen that ACER DIRECT.CO.UK held the best offer on the market. I am always cautious when buying and I rang the sales dept. before in order to double check the dimensions of the screen for the package as well as whether Windows 7 came with or without a CD. I was told that I would get a widescreen X205H which is a 19″ screen.

    My PC arrives within 3 days and I start installing the whole lot, screen coming last. This is when I decide to check the size which is 18.5″ instead. Since then, I have been complaining and they want me to return the whole package at my costs, despite the fact that they delivered the wrong monitor. They are dishonest and will not last long with an attitude like this. All they needed to do was to ask me to return the screen and replace it with the one I was told I would get. The PC is excellent but these “direct.co.uk” are not up to their word and I will not buy from them again. I have learnt from my mistake!! I HOPE they WILL too before they loose too many customers!!!!

  • 32 JIM // Oct 8, 2010 at 10:10 am

    Ordered dehumidifier – paid for Saturday delivery (next day). Phoned them to make sure it would be Saturday – was told it would be. Didn’t arrive – came on Monday (someone had to stay home). Was faulty. Asked for a return – was returned and finally found to be defective. So on Monday (week after original delivery) was told device would be delivered Wednesday. Didn’t arrive – when I phoned they said out of stock (someone had stayed in again) – asked for money back. They insisted that if I kept order with them that they would ensure it arrived on Friday. Hasn’t arrived – so I phoned and they said – out of stock. (we are home again today).

    Once is a mistake
    Twice is a lie

    don’t deal with them

    Jim

  • 33 JIM // Oct 8, 2010 at 10:11 am

    sorry – previous issue was for awful customer service at aircondirect.co.uk – steer clear
    Jim

  • 34 Luke // Feb 11, 2011 at 4:07 pm

    I wish I never found buyitdirect.co.uk on the web.
    They sold me a faulty TV and will not replace it because according to them the dead pixels the monitor has are not enough for a replacement.

    They basically robbed me and got rid of a crappy LG monitor, stay away from LG too.

    Buyitdirect.co.uk is a terrible company with an even more terrible customer service

  • 35 JayR // Feb 25, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    Man, wish I’d come here first. Ordered a TV from them, was told that the address on my credit didn’t match the actual delivery address so they would reverse the charge and I would need to deposit the funds directly into their account. Thankfully I wasn’t going to do this until I had proof of the refund.

    Long story short, they didn’t process the refund but instead sent me a NEW bill still with the £25 American Express credit card charge included and have halted my order until I pay — even though they’ve docked the funds from my credit card.

    I’m quite happy to let ‘em f**k off without delivering the product, but I still want my refund. The same lady mentioned above (Katy) is the one who seems to be patronising me with bullsh!t lies on a daily basis. If I don’t have my money by Monday, I’m escalating it to Amex to dispute.

  • 36 bob mottram // Mar 3, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    buy it direct should be renamed Fobsyou offdirect. They don’t want to know you when you return items, stating their terms and conditions require YOU to send it back to the manufacturer, even though the UK Law requires THEM to accept responsibility for their sales. Their premium phone line must generate more cash than actual sales. I got an idiot who insisted complaints must go by email and then refused to

  • 37 Jason // Mar 22, 2011 at 11:28 am

    I bought a home server from them last month – the server works fine (just as well judging by this and some of the review sites!) but they were running a £50 cashback “offer”. I didn’t read the small print and submitted it too early (for some reason it has to arrive between 14 and 30 days after the invoice date) so they rejected it. So I submitted another within the correct period – first they rejected *that* because it arrived too early (apparently the 24th Feb is 13 days after the 7th…), now they’re rejecting it because the first was rejected!

  • 38 Oliver // Apr 30, 2011 at 3:33 pm

    DO NOT BUY FROM ACER DIRECT!
    I bought a acer laptop from Acer Direct because it said it had £50 cash back offer so I thought it was a good deal. They said send in proof of purcase between 14-30 days after ordering and it would take 45days to process. I sent it 10 days after thinking it would take a couple of dys to get there then when they got around to processing it it would be within the time. They sent a confirmation email when they got it with no mention it was too early I also called a 2 weeks later to check the progress of the cash back and was told it was being processed, Then 2 months after i gt an email saying the foem was recieved too early and it was too late to resubmit the claim so i get no cash back! They dont care about customer service at all! they take your money and thats all they care about. Go with a company with good aftercare service.

  • 39 Mark // Jun 23, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    I have purchased a Acer laptop and an LG tv from these people, seperate purchases, both arrived next day, no problems with them at all.

  • 40 Liz // Jun 24, 2011 at 11:44 am

    One of the lucky ones it seems!

  • 41 David // Aug 5, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    I actually did march down to Huddersfield to try to get them to sort out a problem with my laptop – didn’t help one bit though!

    AVOID!

  • 42 Leo Gamboa // Aug 27, 2011 at 10:22 am

    Hi everyone, use just been so frustrated with buyitdirect, I have bought an acer laptop from, two in matter of fact, which was on offer. They sent us an email the next day and said that it was delivered. We contacted them and they said that it was delivered by parcel force tomthe next door neighbour. We knocked every single door within our floor with no avail. We contacted parcel force this time and they came to visit and knocked at the neighbours door where the parcel was left and confirmed nothing was left there. We have contacted acerdirect(buyitdirect) and they said they have forwarded it to their investigation department and that they have now involved the police to locate the package with parcel force. Now do you think this is our concern? We have not received the goods and they are refusing to give us a refund until their investigation is over, which is now basically 2months and a half. It has been difficult to get hold of them now and I’m lost on what to do … They basically stolen from me of £700. Any help or thoughts?

  • 43 John // Sep 21, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    I bought a plasma and paid cash three weeks ago.

  • 44 George Henry Murray // Sep 24, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    Ohh, I bought from serversdirect.co.uk and it was perfectly good customer serves :)

  • 45 John // Oct 1, 2011 at 8:05 am

    I took delivery of my plasma TV and it is faulty!!
    I will be taking it back to the store and hopefully they will give me a new TV. I will be logging my story with this company on this site. Watch this space.

  • 46 WGM987 // Oct 5, 2011 at 11:18 am

    I was going to purchase a Samsung 51 inch Plasma TV from buyitdirect.co.uk. However having read the awful experiences customers have gone through with them I am definitely not going to. I can only thank God that the TV was not in stock otherwise I could have been another unfortunate recipient of their interpretation of customer service!

  • 47 Rosie // Oct 7, 2011 at 5:10 pm

    I saw that appliances direct had huge stocks of cooker hoods. We tried emailing customer services and also phoning to ask about the showroom without response so we decided to have a day out and go to South Normanton. What a waste of time on the hottest day of the year. Our local Comet has a better display.
    All I wanted was to check that the base comes off easily for cleaning and the knobs weren’t flimsy. The salesman told us we were stupid to travel without checking. Perhaps he was stupid to work for them. He wouldn’t show us one unless we paid for it first.
    All I wanted was a brown one!!!

  • 48 phil // Oct 10, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    i have been scammed from a site called buyitplayit.eu, payed for goods and nothing arrived then they ask for your passport and license and two utility bills for proof of i.d. The site has now shut down, but when you click on the site you are transfered to buyitdirect.co.uk, i wonder if there is a connection.

  • 49 John // Oct 11, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    Six weeks ago I ordered a plasma TV and had to wait nearly five weeks for it to come, when I did take delivery it was faulty. So six weeks later I have still got no TV and I’m finding it difficult to get my money back. I no longer want to buy a TV from this company and just want my money back. I will be contacting Trading Standards on this issue. I’ve bought a TV from commet, it was £60 more than Rip Off TVs. Do not buy from this company.

  • 50 Gary Burgess // Oct 18, 2011 at 5:03 pm

    I purchased a 64gb I Pad 2 which went missing in the post.

    Difficult to deal with and I too hopefully now have a refund and will go to a market leader to make my purchase.

  • 51 Pupet on a string // Oct 26, 2011 at 8:30 am

    Add “Simply ASUS” to the list. I have been jerked around by customer services obviously trained in Deny, Deny, Deny. Avoid the Buyitdirect group, purchase for a little more from a name you trust!

  • 52 Peter // Nov 27, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Be warned – do not purchase from these people. I have first hand experience of this company, both on the phone, by e-message and in the Huddersfield shop. I’m sure they consider all customers to be a great nuisance, pawns in some huge game of “we’ll take your money quick enough but don’t expect an easy ride if anything goes wrong”.

    Their personnel are completely rude to the point of extreme. Dare to so much as raise your voice and they threaten to turf you off the premises. They do not give an inch that they don’t have to give, their “customers services” are a joke, and I’m sure this policy comes direct from the top of the company.

    Their prices may be competitive, but don’t be fooled into buying anything from this company. Go somewhere or expect grief.

  • 53 FBanks14 // Dec 21, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    My 85yr old Nan bought a samsung telly in Aug, broke within 2 months. Sent away for repair as dont refund after 28 days, it was being “repaired” for 4 weeks!
    They wouldnt deliver it back as we had picked it up from store, how they expect an 85yr old lady to pick up a tv when she doesnt drive and isnt great at walking I dont know…
    Got the tv back and its still doing the same! Rang up and theyve said we have to send it back again!! They wont refund unless it has the same fault 3 times. Horrible customer service, and I really dont understand how they’re still in business after reading all the other reviews.
    I’ll get my refund, no matter how long it takes, thats for sure. Lost all confidence in the company and dont want anything further to do with them.