Anyone else really p!ssed off with Dick Smith failure to deliver?

Lseedy on 15/09/2014 - 12:31

All,

I ordered and paid for a camera from DSE about a week ago on their EBAY site. At the time they had 53 in stock. A week later I get an email saying that they made a mistake and were not able to fulfill the order and were giving me a refund and a $20 voucher.

I am really angry about this. I thought we had a deal / contract if you wish. And yet after a while they suddenly decide not to supply.

Looking in various OzB threads this is a common occurence with DSE. What's the story? Is the advertising false? Are they phishing? Is this legal??

I'd love to hear of others experiences.
Thanks

General Discussion

Related Stores

Dick Smith / Kogan
Dick Smith / Kogan
Marketplace

Comments

  • edgar28 on 15/09/2014 - 12:47
    +8

    quite standard from DSE, at least you got a 20 dollars voucher, i didn't get it

  • RockyRaccoon on 15/09/2014 - 13:42

    Which Camera - that way you might find some here got it, or if nobody did.

  • cypher67 on 15/09/2014 - 13:44
    +3

    Its Ebay, if they didnt deliver then you can neg them. But $20 for you effort isnt all bad news.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/09/2014 - 16:08

    Was it a pricing error?

    What camera was it, and how much did you purchase it for?

  • seedy on 15/09/2014 - 16:22
    -2

    Thanks, I was kinda looking for specific experiences like edgar28 provided. The price and kind of camera are irrelevant. From what I understand of Australian consumer law and the ebay rules, a deal is a deal and you can't just renege on it. Some anecdotal reports I have seen is this is common practice for DSE (such as stated by edgar28). This is something we simply should not lie down and accept. It is really poor business and unlawful. When I approach Fair Trading on it I want to provide them with other examples of this practice as well and this is why I am posting here.

    • seedy on 15/09/2014 - 16:26

      Also, when the advertisement is current, it is possible to contact other merchants to get price matching (or in the case of OW -5%). If I were to do this - and get a price match - then the other merchant has actually been scammed by the original merchant into providing an unnecessarily deep discount. Even if it is a mistake, it seems to be happening too often. People have historically laughed this off as 'that's what DSE does' but this really isn't good enough.

    • RockyRaccoon on 15/09/2014 - 16:53
      +4

      Actually the camera is relevant, so that others who ordered from Dick Smith are aware if it is just this unit, or are they doing it with others.

      As well if someone who ordered the same camera got one, they that might assist you in understanding, was this an case of they advertising more stock than they had or not having it at all.

      But its up to you to let us know and if you dont want to that's your choice.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/09/2014 - 17:25

        Looks like others didn't receive the camera either and got the same message about orders being refunded: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/160215

        As annoying/frustrating/disappointing it would be for the OP and buyers of items from DS (and other merchants) who allow sales to go through, then cancel and refund after realising an issue… I don't really see the harm done. I'm not saying it's okay either, but it's pretty good of them to give out $20 vouchers along with full refunds. At least it wasn't a bait & switch or something more devious.

        This isn't to say that the OP shouldn't be pissed off. What they decide to do is entirely up to them, but I doubt anything could be done to avoid genuine mistakes in the future.

        Meanwhile, I'm waiting to see what happens to the recent (now ended) DS eBay listing for the Canon 600D DSLR Twin lens kit for $99 which a few OzBers snapped up lol….

    • nexus4 on 17/09/2014 - 06:49

      You're completely wrong.

      'Price and kind of camera are irrelevant'

      No, they're not. Those are completely relevant. If it was a price error/mistake (which it seems to be) they're more than entitled to cancel the order. You are being unconscionable and unreasonable by trying to hold them to it.

      'it is really poor business and unlawful'

      Poor business yes. Point me to the supposed law which states that a person must honour a price which was posted in error? It doesn't exist.

  • seedy on 15/09/2014 - 17:00

    Far cop, RockyRaccoon. It was a Nikon AW110. It was also a very good price - I wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't :) . It was listed on OZB. The message I got back was they ran out of stock but it was listed on their site as having 53 in stock.

    • RockyRaccoon on 15/09/2014 - 18:44

      Thanks

      I was having issues with them for a Canon SX50 for pickup, I thought it might be the same. Its supposed to be in store in the next few days, so I'll see what happens. Their store had stock which they say must have walked, and the second store they were to pick it up from lost theirs as well.

      Only consolation is they are still advertising it.

      I agree with AquaBrassicaceae (AKA WT) above about being pissed off. Unfortunately its an issue of how much effort you want to take in pursuing them.

      Good luck

  • Forfiet on 17/09/2014 - 06:39

    I didn't get the IDAPT Charger(posted here under $5 dollar accessories), but got the replacement tip…..I'm like WTF, the tip is useless without the charger….. They managed to get more stock later, but at a higher price(so none for me)….. No Voucher either. :(

  • seedy on 22/09/2014 - 15:25

    Nexus4 I said nothing about incorrect price, neither did DSE. You clearly didn't read my post - and I take offence at you stating I am 'unconscionable and unreasonable' when you clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

    Looking through OzB and Whirlpool there several posts of people not getting there products from DSE after ordering it. This is either sloppy business - or false advertising. This is bad for consumers and bad for honest businesses who don't use these practices. What about businesses such as OW which offer a 5% additional discount? What if they based it on one of these sloppily administered or fake discounts. Is that fair business? Poor Business? What is conscionable (sic) or reasonable about this conduct?

    As I mentioned earlier. They said they didn't have stock, although the web site showed 54 in stock. Offering for sale and accepting payment for something that you do not have is unlwaful, and I have confirmed this with Fair Trading NSW. The thing is that although many things are illegal, government bodies will not pursue these infringements, it is up to you. The law merely provides clarity on who is correct in the courts.

    • nexus4 on 22/09/2014 - 16:48

      I did read your post. The impression that I got was that it was a price error. The reason I got that impression was because (1) the website stated that they had stock (2) DSE stated that it was a mistake (3) you stated it was a 'very good price' (4) you did not answer 'no' to another poster who asked whether it was a price error.

      I'm sorry if you took offense but I am simply telling you what the courts would say if it was an obvious price error and you tried to hold them to the contract. What was the price? This is relevant because if a reasonable person would look at that price and recognise that it was an error then from a legal perspective you don't have a leg to stand on.

      'Offering for sale and accepting payment for something that you do not have is unlwaful'

      What law exactly? I'm genuinely interested to know.

  • seedy on 23/09/2014 - 13:55

    Thanks RockyRaccoon. I was going to leave it at that but I will come up and bite one last time.

    I still don't get it, all I was asking for was other peoples experiences with DSE failure to supply (there is lots of anecdotal evidence there). It is that simple, and then I get trapped into defending my self from some uninformed troll.

    It is easy - you want to find out what camera it was and the price? Look through the trail and find it (like RockyRaccon did). You are that interested in the law behind it call Fair Trading yourself, or look up Australian Consumer laws. (try google.com.au). If you can give me feedback on your experiences with DSE then I welcome your reply (see edgar28 for an example).

    I was talking to a friend about this and before I even had the whole story out they said, 'You should have gone to a price matcher' so in this process it is clear I lost an opportunity by DSE not supplying.

    Anyhow, I bought the camera again and paid $50 extra for it. So Nexus4 go back into your hole and troll someone else.

  • syousef on 25/09/2014 - 23:04
    +1

    Yes I'm extremely annoyed. 4x set of 8 Eneloop Rouge. Ordered 11-Sept. Many hours on the phone chasing it up. Told all sorts of things - promised twice they'd be shipped the first day I called, then glitch in their system at the warehouse, trying to get from different warehouse, offer to go pick it up in store (which wasn't convenient so I said no). When I finally asked point blank if they had stock they told me no and that they'd have to cancel the order. I'm not in any way compensated for my multiple calls to their 1300 number or my hours on the phone on hold waiting for them to answer and while they "talked to their warehouse".

    Another order I placed for a camera at a bargain price I had no issues with and was delivered in 3 business days. I'm not ordering from Dick Smith anymore. It's a gamble.

    What are the rules about banning retailers on ozbargain when they don't live up to their deals?

  • seedy on 26/09/2014 - 07:46

    Thanks @syousef, this is exactly what I was looking for

  • altomic on 26/09/2014 - 08:06
    +1

    I have had 3 cancelled orders from DSE -annoyed me. though they did come through with those free $10(?) coupon deals a month or 2 ago. free eneloops and usb sticks.

    so I'd give them another go. cancelled orders are offset by free stuff.

    basically I'm way ahead with DSE

    but I understand your pain. neg on ebay.

    • syousef on 27/09/2014 - 09:23

      They didn't offer me vouchers. They didn't offer me anything.

  • seedy on 26/09/2014 - 11:07

    Thanks altomic. Great feedback!

  • Geewhizz on 26/09/2014 - 12:38
    +1

    At least you got a $20 voucher. Most of us who got screwed that week got nothing.

  • seedy on 26/09/2014 - 15:42

    Geewhizz, what was your experience please?

    • Geewhizz on 26/09/2014 - 16:13
      +1

      Ordered Saturday. Monday received a message saying it had been picked and was being posted that day, along with a tax invoice.

      Late Wednesday, 'price error.'

  • syousef on 27/09/2014 - 09:22

    Heaven help my stupidity, I reordered this time chocolat eneloops yesterday. I ordered 4x8xAA and 2x8xAAA. I already have a tracking number for the AA. Tracking shows it as "arrived at StarTrack Location for processing". SO I guess I'm getting those. However the invoice I got states that the AAA are on backorder even though the web site still shows them as in stock. I have sent in an email requesting, given my previous issues, that if they don't have the AAA chocolat in stock could they please subsitute 4x4xAAA regular white eneloops. I'm not that hopeful but I'll chase it up on Monday I guess. More hours wasted on the phone sigh

    • syousef on 01/10/2014 - 12:49

      Well in the end it took 3 weeks, about a dozen phone calls, 3 emails, a Facebook post, 2 visits to the post office but I finally have 32 AA Eneloops and 16 AAA Eneloops for just under $75. Unfortunately they are the Chinese Chocolat, not the original Rouge I ordered for the AAs but I knew what I was getting when I placed the second order. I have my refund for the first order so I'm not out of pocket.

      At regular retail prices white Eneloops would have cost in the vicinity of $240-$288 (Assuming 4 packs and $5-$6 a battery). Was it worth it? I honestly don't know, but probably not. I could have ordered Hobbyking AA for $1.75/battery + postage for AA and AAA for $1.06 + postage for a cost of $72.96 + postage and not had all this hassle or wasted 3 weeks of stress and chasing people up.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join