Can a Computer Company still charge you for an order that you placed?

Forums › Off topic › Can a Computer Company still charge you for an order that you placed?

Jangez

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#56522 15-Jan-2010 09:31

Hi;

Recently i placed an order with Tastech (i do live in christchurch); i needed a system quite bad and noticed that tastech had good prices and allowed cash on pick up given that tastech is also in christchurch. however the order doesn't seem to have been processed nor does anyone reply to my emails...

so i sent an email stating that i wish to cancel my web order (i also left a voicemail) 2 days ago - and still nothing...

can a company still hold you to an order that you placed online (in this case Tastech) given the fact that they haven't even replied or processed ANYTHING... i dont want to order another system from a different place and then receive an email 2 weeks later saying "no you cannot cancel because i already got the parts here" or something like that

i know this is probably my own mistake... i should really google reviews first...

Thanks for reading anyway
Jangez

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79314 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#290214 15-Jan-2010 09:37

I'd say if they have an order, it's a contract to supply something and you have to pay for it.

Did you receive an automatic email saying "thanks for your order" or something similar? If this is the case, then it's there...

To clear things up (check that the order actually exists, someone is alive there, etc) I'd keep calling - don't trust emails...

Jangez

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#290216 15-Jan-2010 09:46

There was an email once i placed the order "automated" - subjected "order request notice"

"Hello Jangez the following order request has been sent to TasTech for processing..."

"a confirmation email with further details will be sent to you once this order has been processed"

I have to date: left about 3 emails
2 voicemails (via landline which goes STRAIGHT to voicemail)
and i have been incessantly calling the listed mobile (pretty much at various times of the day) all with the same effect - it just rings for a minute then hangs up...

and before anyone else says that the guy is on holiday... i also checked that the website listed its holiday time from 23rd dec to the 11th january...

still - i think its pretty slack that no one picks up a phonecall or replies to emails; and yet since i PLACED an order i'm still obliged to front up? you kidding? what if they come back like a month later telling you to pay up for items that you ordered a month ago - that you can get NOW for a cheaper price.....

Bee

732 posts

Ultimate Geek

#290229 15-Jan-2010 10:07

so youve received one automated email to say the website or whatever received/submitted the order? but nothing to say that any living person has seen your order or is processing it?

If it were me Id give it a reasonable time - say 2 or 3 weeks then if no response at all move on and forget it...

or place another order??? they dont have your credit card details or anything right? so they cant really hold you to anything without a big expensive court case and to me Im wondering if this company even exists!

Sounds very slack and dodgy and Id be leaving it and moving on!

Its a pity you dont live in Auckland or I would offer to build a system for you...

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

Jangez

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#290236 15-Jan-2010 10:14

nah no credit details... just my addy; cash on pick up and yea if i check the web order it just says "requested..." - so this hasn't been updated either

yea i'm just scared of this big digital world... where if you are obliged to follow through with what you ordered - then people can just make you wait so that they order in a cheaper item (over time) then give that to you... even though you ordered ages ago.

yea i'll wait 2 weeks... i reckon 3 weeks is cutting it

i did a google search on tastech and it came out with really mixed reviews

lurker

831 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#290246 15-Jan-2010 10:29

Have you logged on to your account to check the order progress? (Edit:sorry, started typing this before your reply above - I see that you have).
A friend placed an order before Xmas, logged in recently and was surprised to find that the order had been auto-cancelled. Apparently unacknowledged orders get purged after so many days....

Jangez

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#290250 15-Jan-2010 10:38

i constantly check the order progress...

wow i'm impressed - so its like a method to counter the slackness

oh well i'll just wait 2 weeks - a friend of mine told me that im probably protected by some consumer rights law; if i have sent them an email or some sort of statement saying that i'm cancelling within 2 weeks... and also if i haven't heard anything from the supplier

*sigh*
this was my first time trying to buy computer parts online too... i usually just go to the shops

meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#290255 15-Jan-2010 10:44

Jangez:
this was my first time trying to buy computer parts online too... i usually just go to the shops

Yer I've heard mixed reviews about Tastech too. In my experience there's no decent computer retailers in Chch (I live in Chch too), I usually order stuff from a couple of suppliers from the North Island (Computer Lounge, Ascent & Playtech would be my recommendations). You normally have to wait a couple of days but it's much less hassle and in some cases the components arrive the next day.

There's a great thread over at GPForums that shows a rating of the computer stores, you can find it here

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Jangez

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#290258 15-Jan-2010 10:53

cheers thanks

garvani

1873 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#290261 15-Jan-2010 11:13

Tastech is a one man band, he works out of his house.. He has good weeks and bad weeks, he likes to go on holiday and not contact any one for weeks.. Id avoid if possible.. As mentioned, big thumbs up to Computer lounge and Playtech, i like playtech more because there website actually states what they have in stock unlike computer lounge who will say they have it in stock only to find they have to order it from there supplier.

Jangez

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#290270 15-Jan-2010 11:39

yea... definately going to try computer lounge - on that forum it has fantastic ratings...

but i still have to wait until the 26th January to order ...!!! given two weeks from which i got from the below excerpt: under "unfair practice" in the Fair Trading Act 1986, and Consumer Guarantee Act 1993.

Delivery of Goods
If a business can't supply goods or services within a specified time or a reasonable time then they must not accept payment. What is reasonable depends on the specific circumstances. Generally what is normal practice for that industry or situation is considered to be the reasonable standard.

is two weeks the reasonable standard?

and thanks for the replies guys

Ragnor

8223 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#290273 15-Jan-2010 11:49

garvani: Tastech is a one man band, he works out of his house.. He has good weeks and bad weeks, he likes to go on holiday and not contact any one for weeks.. Id avoid if possible.. As mentioned, big thumbs up to Computer lounge and Playtech, i like playtech more because there website actually states what they have in stock unlike computer lounge who will say they have it in stock only to find they have to order it from there supplier.

This is how I'd sum them up too.

Also I'd echo the other recommendations for Ascent, Computer Lounge and Playtech... all very reliable with good service and support.

timestyles

424 posts

Ultimate Geek

#290304 15-Jan-2010 13:14

Note: I haven't read all responses. If you really want to be sure, place a notice in the ChCh Press Public Notices that you will not honour any orders without a response within 7 days. Should there be any hassles, you can refer to that notice.

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#290352 15-Jan-2010 15:43

Jangez: Hi;

Recently i placed an order with Tastech (i do live in christchurch); i needed a system quite bad and noticed that tastech had good prices and allowed cash on pick up given that tastech is also in christchurch. however the order doesn't seem to have been processed nor does anyone reply to my emails...

so i sent an email stating that i wish to cancel my web order (i also left a voicemail) 2 days ago - and still nothing...

can a company still hold you to an order that you placed online (in this case Tastech) given the fact that they haven't even replied or processed ANYTHING... i dont want to order another system from a different place and then receive an email 2 weeks later saying "no you cannot cancel because i already got the parts here" or something like that

i know this is probably my own mistake... i should really google reviews first...

Thanks for reading anyway
Jangez

Generally they will ask for payment before they supply to you. If you can prove you made reasonable efforts to cancel the order you should be fine. Perhaps send them a physical letter by track n tace to be sure. I would highly doubt they will build you a system, without first at least receiving a deposit or the full amount.

I personally don't think you have entered into a contract, until they have actually 'confirmed' the order, and you have paid for it and are awaiting the product. Otherwise he would be legally required to fulfill every order that was placed through his website, if that automated reply constitutes an agreement.