PBTECH deception

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#1527110 6-Apr-2016 16:14

I also had an "issue" with them late last year with 1 of their sales they had a product that I wanted, it was in high demand however their system let me check out (and pay) for the product and I got a order number (and also a courier reference) and the status was "awaiting courier" etc.

2 days later they email saying that don't have the stock (can't get any more) and then offered me a more expensive product i could buy off them for $500 more. I did point out that we did have a contract for sale and rejected their offer to pay $500 more for another product, they then said their T&C's cover them (which i would not say they do once you get a courier reference and "awaiting courier" status and refunded my card before even getting a reply from me.

Dispute tribunal has a 6 year window if I ever get bored and really pee'd with them.

reven

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#1527118 6-Apr-2016 16:17

pctek:

Yeah PB tech are going downhill at lightning speeds IMO.

Oh? I dealt with them years ago when they first opened in Ellerslie.

Bad, bad experience.

Since then I had 2 more goes, one 2 years ago and one about 6 months ago.

Bad, bad experience.

Nothing has changed

pbtech use to always price match stuff, it wasnt much trouble, just show them pricespy and they would usually quickly pricematch/beat or come very close. the last 5 times I've asked, its been a drama, a couple of flat out no's (was going to buy 5 4TB hdds, they wouldnt come down $5 per hdd, so i said bugger them and went to computer lounge, who beat the price, and no 2.5% surcharge)

mattwnz

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#1527124 6-Apr-2016 16:24

UHD:

Did you ask to speak with the person you spoke with on the phone 3.5-4 mins prior?

If they didn't have any instock at the branch, after they said they had, IMO what they should have done is put through the order for them online, and waived delivery cost. It isn't rocket science to provide reasonable customer service.

scuwp

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#1527127 6-Apr-2016 16:27

turnin:
sidefx:

In the past I've found their website is pretty good at breaking down stock by store (and their distribution\dispatch centre, listed separately)

Did they confirm they had 7 available at your local store. Or did they just confirm they had 7 available and you assumed it was at the store?

No, I rang the local branch and checked I was speaking to that branch not the head office

All they probably did was check their website and give you the stock number on there, unless you specifically ask if THAT store has stock, thats what I have found. Doesn't matter where the stock is held, if other stores or online purchases get there first your out of luck.

I suggest the issue is more incompetent staff more than deliberate subterfuge. How quick we are to jump to the worst possible scenario.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Talkiet

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#1527129 6-Apr-2016 16:36

Personally, I think that every shop should be the cheapest, AND offer the best service, while preferably having everything in stock at every branch. After all, I _AM_ a customer, and I'm ALWAYS right.

If for any reason something goes wrong with a system, process, or there's any sort of un-met expectation, The staff and manager of the store should make it right by any means necessary, apologise to me in person, take out a full page ad in the local daily newspaper apologising to the wider community, and be forced to sell items 5% below cost for 2 weeks as a penalty and to make sure they never make that mistake again.

Cheers - N

ps. Not really, but I swear some people in NZ genuinely hold the above opinions.

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Sideface

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#1527132 6-Apr-2016 16:44

Talkiet: Personally, I think that every shop should be the cheapest, AND offer the best service, while preferably having everything in stock at every branch. After all, I _AM_ a customer, and I'm ALWAYS right.

If for any reason something goes wrong with a system, process, or there's any sort of un-met expectation, The staff and manager of the store should make it right by any means necessary, apologise to me in person, take out a full page ad in the local daily newspaper apologising to the wider community, and be forced to sell items 5% below cost for 2 weeks as a penalty and to make sure they never make that mistake again.

<snip>

Sounds like a Donald Trump election policy

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reven

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#1527139 6-Apr-2016 17:00

Talkiet:

Personally, I think that every shop should be the cheapest, AND offer the best service, while preferably having everything in stock at every branch. After all, I _AM_ a customer, and I'm ALWAYS right.

If for any reason something goes wrong with a system, process, or there's any sort of un-met expectation, The staff and manager of the store should make it right by any means necessary, apologise to me in person, take out a full page ad in the local daily newspaper apologising to the wider community, and be forced to sell items 5% below cost for 2 weeks as a penalty and to make sure they never make that mistake again.

Cheers - N

ps. Not really, but I swear some people in NZ genuinely hold the above opinions.

of course not, but if MightyApe can do it so well (easy refunds, quick deliveries, excellent support, brilliant website), why can't PbTech? peoples complaints seem pretty valid IMO. with lots of alternatives, I (like I suspect many) are starting to use those alternatives more and more (MightyApe has become my goto for most computer parts these days)

Talkiet

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#1527161 6-Apr-2016 17:10

Mainly I'd suggest that not having retail shops MASSIVELY simplifies things. You don't have people turning up asking someone that doesn't necessarily have the most up to date info for an immediate and correct answer, you don't have confusion about where stock is and you don't have the expectation of the aftersales support people naturally have of a brick and mortar operation.

Heaps of reasons.

FWIW, I've had both extremes from PBtech... A few months ago I needed a new cooler (a mount on my current one broke and it wasn't making good contact so things were heating up. They didn't have one in stock that I wanted, but the salesperson (Sheesh that's underselling this guy) recommended one that was significantly cheaper than the one I thought I wanted and said that he'd bring in a really nice one from home of his the next day, and if the cheap one didn't work he'd swap it for the really nice one he personally had (that was current and worth a lot more)... As it turned out he was right and I didn't have to go back - but he was that confident in his understanding of my issue and his recommendation he put it on the line.... For context I have worked as a system assembler before many users on here were born abd have built literally thousands of PCs and probably/maybe hundreds of servers - so it took a bit to accept this guy was more up to date and had a better recommendation than I could figure out myself, but he did.

Love to see a Mighty Ape support person have that sort of knowledge.

On the other hand, PBtech can't reliably identify Galaxy Note 4 batteries in their system... At some stage they had a shipment of note 4 Duos batteries turn up and have been labelled as Note 4... But they don't fit. Took 3 visits and 3 weeks to get that fixed. As it happens, they finally decided the only solution was to source a legit Samsung battery for me (at a $30 loss to themselves and courier it to me). Took too long to resolve, and I didn't expect them to go to that extent, but they did.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

mattwnz

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#1527163 6-Apr-2016 17:10

reven:

of course not, but if MightyApe can do it so well (easy refunds, quick deliveries, excellent support, brilliant website), why can't PbTech? peoples complaints seem pretty valid IMO. with lots of alternatives, I (like I suspect many) are starting to use those alternatives more and more (MightyApe has become my goto for most computer parts these days)

I agree, Mighty Ape are excellent. They delivered a faulty item once to me, and they sent a replacement and courier ticket for me to send the other back BEFORE they required the other one back. Most stores will want the other one back first, delaying things.

richms

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#1527202 6-Apr-2016 18:16

mattwnz:

I agree, Mighty Ape are excellent. They delivered a faulty item once to me, and they sent a replacement and courier ticket for me to send the other back BEFORE they required the other one back. Most stores will want the other one back first, delaying things.

Yes, many stores misrepresent your rights as far as things like that go, and the comm comm seem happy to do absolutly nothing about those fair trading act voilations.

Richard rich.ms

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#1527259 6-Apr-2016 19:32

Mighty Ape can't tell me what audio versions are featured on their Blu-ray discs...

So my hopes for them supporting me on a technical issue (without having to get the instructions, read them / call their supplier) aren't high.

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mattwnz

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#1527369 7-Apr-2016 00:07

richms:

mattwnz:

I agree, Mighty Ape are excellent. They delivered a faulty item once to me, and they sent a replacement and courier ticket for me to send the other back BEFORE they required the other one back. Most stores will want the other one back first, delaying things.

Yes, many stores misrepresent your rights as far as things like that go, and the comm comm seem happy to do absolutly nothing about those fair trading act voilations.

It is more about lack of resources I think. NZ now has all these laws and super strict regulations now, but they are only any good if they are policed. Just had some home cleaners come to my house to clean the carpet, and they now need to stick up work warning notices on the doors to say it is a work area, and a whole heap of terms. It is just so overkill.

qwertee

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#1527398 7-Apr-2016 07:58

My PB Tech experiences with the store in CHCH have been good.

Ordered a thumbdrive and they called me when it arrived.

Same with a SSD and RAM.

I hope that it says this way.

sxz

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#1527407 7-Apr-2016 08:19

I've been perfectly happy with PB Tech Hamilton. Just had a d-link product refunded because it didn't work as advertised. All other dealings have been good

surfisup1000

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#1527429 7-Apr-2016 09:15

I've had lots of issues with pbtech over the years but i keep going back :(

Their prices are sometimes good and their range is great and usually mainstream products are in stock (compared to smaller stores).

They are the jetstar of IT retail, perhaps .

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