Kogan - first experience

brendun on 22/03/2012 - 21:31

After a year of watching kogan on tv and checking the website I finally decided to give it a go. I was expecting fantastic order processing and to receive the order quickly - I'm in Sydney. I always thought kogan was based in Australia…

So I've made the decision to go to apple, bought a MacBook air 11" from kogan for $938 delivered, and expected a shipped email within 48 hours.

My experience so far:

  • placed order Wednesday morning and received confirmation email.
  • saw the money debited from my account
  • then Thursday morning receive an email saying the order is being prepared for processing
  • then receive an email at 9pm saying the order is processed
  • still waiting on shipping confirmation - expected to be provided within 48 hours…???
  • expected shipping 3-5 days!

I always expected kogan to have a fantastic setup where the item is shipped within 48 hours - not 4 days!
I don't care if it's 'being prepared for processing'… What's that even mean? Someone's thought about it? They've taken the $938, then they want to process it, then they want to think about shipping it?

I can't believe kogan's using "international" warehouses. I thought he was an Aussie doing it right! The whole experience seems misleading and very slow.

On another note there was no mention if this was Australian stock - are these apple products counted as grey/parallel imports?

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Comments

  • Ambiguous on 22/03/2012 - 22:44
    +1

    Everyone knows kogan operates out of hong kong and sells imported stock…this really shouldn't come as a suprise. Regarding the customer service, never bought form there so can't comment.

  • strat on 22/03/2012 - 22:54

    cant comment on customer service either but sounds like you didn't do any research.

    Down the bottom of that macbook air is has a link saying "This Product is offered and supplied by Kogan HK Limited pursuant to the Terms and Conditions"

    did you read the T&C ?

    • brendun on 23/03/2012 - 13:59

      People read T&C's? (joking!)
      I am disappointed in myself not reading everything in more detail. If I had read everything in more detail then I would have had lower expectations.

  • CuteBirdy on 22/03/2012 - 23:25
    +1

    Kogan cuts corners and runs misleading promotions, even lies without conscience to get out of deals
    (substantiated in http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/09/kogan-offers-free-tv-if…)

    In my opinion, Kogan cares about making money and marketing itself higher than what it really is. If past experience serves right, someone from Kogan might even contact a moderator to get your negative posts about Kogan removed. That's how far Kogan can go.

    Best advice - don't buy from Kogan, and tell everyone the same.

  • brendun on 22/03/2012 - 23:45

    I was completely blinded by the marketing unfortunately. If he's not a full Australian retailer then he's just the same as every other muppet importing from Asia. I'm usually careful when purchasing, but this time was in a rush and didn't notice the "hk limited" until I saw the invoice.

    • Phesto on 23/03/2012 - 00:09

      Feel free to pay full price at harvey norman.

      Also, implying that kogan is a single person?

      • brendun on 23/03/2012 - 00:51
        +1

        Kogan is a person who goes on about the rights of Aussies and getting a great deal and service. The business, 'kogan', I'm not impressed with. I don't understand what implying that he's a single person has got anything to do with this - he's definitely not two people.
        There was another website I found on shop bot, something like bexcetech.com.au that had it for $899. I'm disappointed in myself that I gave 'kogan.com.au' a chance. Silly me for been impatient.

        • tonyjzx on 23/03/2012 - 11:18

          here's the problem with that

          kogan at the very least, is a team of people who run a large warehouse in Sydney

          "bexcetech.com.au" is what exactly? a guy in his bedroom? $40 extra is probably what the real cost is with not dealing with someone you have absolutely no idea about

          I hate kogan but at least you're not likely to lose your money.

          There's a certain irony about not wanting to deal with kogan (who does like getting his ugly mug on tv) and then wanting to deal with a hole in the wall company no one has ever heard of AND expecting better service? is that how it works?

  • m0nkeycheese on 23/03/2012 - 00:54
    +6

    If you think this is slow NEVER buy anything from COTD! You would go insane

    • alebox on 23/03/2012 - 11:34
      -4

      all my stuff from COTD shipped within 2-3 days! I was pretty impressed actually

      • Mikinoz on 23/03/2012 - 11:44
        +1

        all your stuff shipped within 2 days?? like what?

        like many others i have made the unfortunate multiple purchases from cotd and the consistant thing is the delay.

        • brendun on 23/03/2012 - 13:56

          I've used COTD 5 times. Check the site every now and then. When there is something I know if actually cheap, then I take the risk. I was burnt my fifth (and last) order as the item took several weeks to arrive (expected), but then the remote didn't work. They refunded the money after I returned the product, but didn't refund the shipping fee. I chased them up and they agreed to sort it out. All got sorted, but I won't be catching anything at midday anymore!

        • SirFlibbled on 23/03/2012 - 14:31

          COTD has improved dramatically the last few months.

        • alebox on 24/03/2012 - 07:14

          got negged for having stuff delivered on time :P
          stuff I got was the 1c sale. That was really surprising cos I thought they would have gotten ravaged. (it was the remmington crimper that no one wanted though)

          The only other thing I bought from them was an organiser which was sent pretty quick as well.

          so my two items came quick, hence its pretty valid to say 'all' my items did :)

        • Mikinoz on 24/03/2012 - 15:50

          Similar to all my best friends lol

  • pao2x on 23/03/2012 - 07:11

    For Apple products grey imports does not matter. They will honor their warranty from a tax invoice or worst scenario the product manufacture date regardless of where it came from.

    • brendun on 23/03/2012 - 13:54

      Thanks for that info. I was concerned about the keyboard layout between the US an EU versions. I am only delving into Apple products now, so I wasn't sure if the two versions were going to cause difficulties.

  • BirdyMcBirdBird on 23/03/2012 - 09:36
    +1

    If you pay full retail price in a store (JB Hi Fi, for instance) you pay for the product, intangible extras attached to the product (i.e. sales service, warranty) and you pay for the immediacy. You chose a discount site which clearly states it operates out of Hong Kong, and you complain of a lack of immediacy? If you wanted your MacBook so urgently, you'd buy it from a domestic, bricks & mortar retailer. However, like most of us, you opted to save money and hence "lost out" on the sales service and immediacy of your purchase.

    Welcome to the global economy. Start a business somewhere cheap, using cheap supply methods and cheap distribution methods, setting your prices cheaper than bricks and mortar. If operating expenses are lower, you can afford to set your prices lower. Then you get the women. Then you get the money. Then you get the power.

    • tonyjzx on 23/03/2012 - 11:00

      this guy has it in one

      you don't wanna pay the extra for local service at JB or even HN and yet you want the same from Kogan

      very poor form IMO

      if you want to save money, you have to wait

      kogan for all their criticism cannot match a real B&M… live with it, or don't… your choice

  • brendun on 23/03/2012 - 13:52

    -I completely understand the comparison made by BirdyMcBirdBird between the bricks and mortar vs online. That break down has been posted over and over again on this site. However, I visited harvey norman, Myer, JB and the service was terrible. The staff were rude and unhelpful. There are numerous discussions about how bad the service is in bricks and mortar. With online retail, and the cheaper prices offered by them, I expect a longer wait. I don't have a problem with that. However, with all the hype Kogan builds I just expected a bit better service than emails telling me they are thinking about processing my order, thinking about shipping my order,etc. I was suprised by system kogan has. www.kogan.com.au appears from this experience no better, and possibly worse than other Australia online stores.
    -bexcetech.com.au is cheaper, and ozbargain is all about saving whatever you can. I like to weigh up my options (just like ALL of you), but at least the guy (even if he is working from his grandma's garage), still responded to emails, and had the item in stock. I regret not saving the measly $39 and taking a risk. I'm disappointed in myself and suprised at kogan.com.au. That sums up the point of this discussion i started.
    A question I did ask though was who has had an experience with www.kogan.com.au? No one it seems.

    • tonyjzx on 23/03/2012 - 14:03

      i've had good experiences with kogan but i have very low expectations of what i'm getting… ie. a low end cheap china TV delivered with a general lack of timeliness by the cheapest courier out

      i once bought an awesome Panasonic TV from a specialist with a B&M facility 15 mins from where I am… i have different expectations there

      • brendun on 23/03/2012 - 14:18

        Fair enough. I think I've got myself worked up with kogan's marketing and set myself up for this disappointment. Thanks for your comments.

      • Phesto on 23/03/2012 - 17:05

        You know kogan doesn't sell cheap knockoffs right? They will sell the same products that you can get at your local stores..

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