Simply Electronics

Thearle1969 · 08-04-2008, 7:39 PM

Has anyone had any experience buying from Simply Electronics? The reason I ask is that I saw mentioned somewhere on here that they are selling products without the CE mark. The wifes offered to buy me a HDRSR11 and as the price is very keen and I live in the same town as the UK office i thought any issues/returns may be of an easier issue should anything go wrong.

Any thoughts?

slowpoke · 08-04-2008, 7:58 PM

they are Hong kong imports mainly I think

Thearle1969 · 08-04-2008, 8:04 PM

Thanks, I thought as much. Just dont know wether to take the plubge and order

slowpoke · 08-04-2008, 9:09 PM

I may still order from them knowing that as they give one year warranty

stevep94 · 09-04-2008, 8:13 AM

I've just received my Panasonic SD9 from them and I've got to say I've been very impressed!
I ordered through Amazon rather than direct but I received e-mails from Simply keeping me up to date on the delivery process and even one after I'd received it to make sure all was OK!
The nice thing was it was from a person's e-mail rather than a corporate one so I could reply with any queries!

I wouldnt hesitate to buy from them direct next time!

SteveP

Thearle1969 · 09-04-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevep94

I've just received my Panasonic SD9 from them and I've got to say I've been very impressed!
I ordered through Amazon rather than direct but I received e-mails from Simply keeping me up to date on the delivery process and even one after I'd received it to make sure all was OK!
The nice thing was it was from a person's e-mail rather than a corporate one so I could reply with any queries!

I wouldnt hesitate to buy from them direct next time!

SteveP

Sounds like a great experience. I may place an order then.
Just out of interest, does the Panasonic SD9 have a CE mark on the box?

stevep94 · 09-04-2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thearle1969

Sounds like a great experience. I may place an order then.
Just out of interest, does the Panasonic SD9 have a CE mark on the box?

Fantastic question!!! and the answer is, I dont know!!
I'll have a look when I'm home and let you know

SteveP

Mr Lazy · 09-04-2008, 3:18 PM

This from another thread:
HDD Camcorder advice and buying from eBAY!

This was a HS9 purchased from Simply and it had a CE mark.

stevep94 · 10-04-2008, 4:54 PM

Sorry for the delay, forgot to check last night - my SD9 from Simply DOES have the CE mark!!

SteveP

slowpoke · 10-04-2008, 7:33 PM

what does a CE mark prove??

stevep94 · 11-04-2008, 2:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowpoke

what does a CE mark prove??

"By affixing the CE marking, the manufacturer, its authorized representative, or person placing the product on the market or putting it into service asserts that the item meets all the essential requirements of the relevant European Directive(s)."

So........ basically nothing!

SteveP

Fitzwalter · 06-05-2008, 2:29 PM

Well I tried purchasing from this company and found they advertise products I was unable to find elsewhere, tell you they are available , take the money and then fail to deliver the goods, whilst offering various reason as to why the products are no longer available.... various bank transfer later and I am out of pocket

Then you get to deal with the muppets in the call centre, who all refuse to offer a surname (because that might mean responsibility) the manager is never available and he has no surname either ... Avoid Avoid Avoid

Fitzwalter · 08-05-2008, 4:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitzwalter

Well I tried purchasing from this company and found they advertise products I was unable to find elsewhere, tell you they are available , take the money and then fail to deliver the goods, whilst offering various reason as to why the products are no longer available.... various bank transfer later and I am out of pocket

Then you get to deal with the muppets in the call centre, who all refuse to offer a surname (because that might mean responsibility) the manager is never available and he has no surname either ... Avoid Avoid Avoid

To update this further the £3.5K is still outstanding , be very careful buying from this company!

DLW46 · 16-05-2008, 9:45 PM

Have recently bought a SD9 from this company as the price was very good. Was aware of product not being a uk model but it is still a PAL model that is supplied with all the appropriate uk leads and manuals.
When ordering (Fri before B hol)I made a cock up which meant two amounts was taken from CC. Contacted them on tues after B hol and was refunded immediately. Delivery was a little slow but was recieved on the 8th day (as they state on there web site delivery takes 2 to 8 days).

All in all a relatively good experience.

Fitzwalter · 24-05-2008, 6:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitzwalter

To update this further the £3.5K is still outstanding , be very careful buying from this company!

Well it took over two weeks to get my money back and the Manager Ethan Chow seems to think that its okay to have my card up to the limit stopping me buying anything else for those two weeks.

He did warn me and say that their order system has no way of knowing that the stock is there and its a big problem he says need addressing. It was the only point I agreed with him

Bodger15 · 17-06-2008, 5:49 PM

Any views on this company please......

Bodger15 · 17-06-2008, 6:02 PM

They owe me £490, cancelled order, have been waiting four days so far..

Haircut · 19-06-2008, 1:36 PM

I ordered a Sony HDR SR11E last week and this was delivered in 4 days. Excellent communication from customer services, received an e-mail when item was dispatched and all questions have been answered within 24 hours. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this company ...

Nova Invicta · 19-06-2008, 9:53 PM

I go along with haircut I ordered a HDR-SR11E which came within six working days, all my questions were answered quickly and I was kept informed about my order be aware though you dont get a manufacturers guarentee in the UK you have to return it to Simply Electronics I assume for it to be repaired in Hong Kong (you download their warrenty from the web-site using your order no.) The camcorder is also amazing.

Fitzwalter · 24-06-2008, 2:58 PM

Still getting no where with the manager Ethann Chow, although he did respond when a colleague from Watchdog at teh BBC got involved. I suggest anyone with problems contact them , you are not alone.

mirandaandpaul · 08-07-2008, 2:24 PM

Hi, We like you, Fitzwalter, have paid nearly £3,000 for a Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM camera lens that was supposedly in stock, and have received nothing from Simply Electronics.

We can't get through on the phone line as this simply tells you to call back later. When we have tried to stay on the line after 10 minutes they cut you off!. e-mailed twice. Got one standard response. 'We are processing your order'. We are now trying to find the UK address, as consumer direct say we can attempt to get our money back. Legally, they should do so, but can take up to 60 days.

Please, anyone, learn from our studid mistake. NEVER consider buying from this company, personally, have never had a problem before wiht other similar companies. But feel like a right twerp for trusting SIMPLY ELECTRONICS .

Yours, with huge regrets......

chrishull3 · 08-07-2008, 5:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haircut

I ordered a Sony HDR SR11E last week and this was delivered in 4 days. Excellent communication from customer services, received an e-mail when item was dispatched and all questions have been answered within 24 hours. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this company ...

identical for me,i dont know where mine came from 4 days is quick from hong kong ,most of my tape and disc orders take longer,but they all come from japan in the first place.

elecjon · 11-07-2008, 11:39 AM

So has anybody seriously lost money ...I have an order outstanding and am now getting a bit worried...on credit card.... J

chrishull3 · 11-07-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishull3

identical for me,i dont know where mine came from 4 days is quick from hong kong ,most of my tape and disc orders take longer,but they all come from japan in the first place.

Some strange reports some like me wonderful servise others hell,Of note my machine is pal.

elecjon · 11-07-2008, 12:03 PM

Well I suppose i have to sit tight & hope (camcorder) (day6).....doesn't sound too good....

rogs · 11-07-2008, 3:51 PM

I was thinking of buying from Simply Electronics, and thought I'd google 'simply electronics any good?'.
That brought me vitrually straight here, and that's been enough to make me look elsewhere to buy!

In this internet age, I can't see them lasting long if they give bad service, and attract this kind of publicity. One dissatisfied customer can undo the recommendations of ten others --you'd think they'd understand that, and do something about it, if they're a genuine company.

elecjon · 11-07-2008, 10:02 PM

Well you guys ...watch this space....I have sent several mails to Simply Electronics.... they have responded but very negative & non commital... the 8th day is up on Tues 15th we will see...all will be revealed in the fullness of time....so they say...........

Jodoi · 15-07-2008, 10:41 AM

Thought I would update this thread with my experiences of Simply Electronics.

Last Wednesday I sent an email to customer services at 10am asking them to confirm a couple of things, got a detailed reply less than 5 hours later.

I then purchased a Panasonic SD9 on Thursday 10th July at 1pm on their website. Received a dispatch confirmation email from them last night (Monday) at 6pm with a Royal Mail Special Delivery tracking number and it was delivered this morning. So, delivery was on day 5, but well inside 3 working days and did not come direct from HK.

A warranty card is included in the package with details for registration on the website.

By the way, I also purchased the Panasonic camcorder bag which is listed as an accessory for the camera. It IS proper black (not grey as it appears in the poor picture). I was a little worried sizewise when I ordered as there were no dimensions on the listing but can confirm it's nice and compact. It's got 3 small pockets internally. I may add some belt loops as it doesn't have any.

Just tried the camera out and am very happy with it, suits my needs perfectly. Now have 3 weeks to learn it's features and get some practise in before we go to Florida.

mattr · 15-07-2008, 12:45 PM

I'm looking for a camcorder to take to Florida too ! What are you going to do to protect the SD9 from the humidity ? (Think of all that lovely water vapour condensing on the CCDs as soon as you step out from your air conditioned room).

BTW, I'm going to stick mine (when I get it) in a zip-lock air tight bag with some silica gel and not let it out until the camera has reached ambient temperature.

Nastywoodsman83 · 15-07-2008, 5:57 PM

I have currently been waiting over 2 weeks for my order from Simply Electronics. I have tried e-mailing them several times to cancel my order (since reading others reviews on the company) but they don't mail me back. Like others I have tried calling but also to no avail.

If anyone has actually rec'd a refund to date or has any information on the address of the company HQ in England please let me know - Im pulling my hair out here!