DigitalDelivered.com is dishonest... Buyer Beware!
Written: Dec 25 '03 (Updated Feb 14 '07)
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| Full Review |
Note: Make SURE to read my Updates at the bottom to see just HOW crooked this company is!
2/14/07 update: If you think Epinions ratings for them are accurate (after reading my review, you probably won't), then check out their score at resellerratings.com:
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Digital_Delivered
They have an incredibly bad 1.02 out of a possible 10!
Here is a picture of their "storefront"... don't believe they are a big, grand superstore, as they would have you believe!
http://donwiss.com/pictures/BrooklynStores/h0233.htm
Now on to my experience:
I needed a Canon Powershot S400 digital camera before Thanksgiving. It was a week before, and I'd called around several companies about ordering this camera, and none of the companies I usually deal with could get me the camera in time. After reading a few reviews saying that DigitalDelivered.com was very fast to deliver, I ordered this camera from them. I have a bad habit of taking chances when ordering online, and this was no exception, as I hadn't fully read all the reviews. After reading some negative reviews, which had a similar theme of people complaining they had received used items instead of new ones, I called DigitalDelivered and asked them about my order. Questions like: Was it new? When will it ship? The support person seemed annoyed that I would ask if it's new, but said everything they sell is new. When I said I'd read reviews saying otherwise, he said that some items ship in an OEM white box, and are still new, but that confuses some people. I had no problem with that, so after he confirmed my item would ship in a full retail box, I relaxed. The camera was indeed shipped quickly and arrived just a couple of days later. When I opened the box, I was highly disappointed. The Canon white box (not full retail box, as I was promised) contained a completely repackaged camera, with no warranty card. The digital display on the back of the camera had SERIOUS burn-in. I couldn't imagine a display having this kind of burn unless it literally had years of use! You can't get extreme burn with a week or two of use. The camera also had a scratch on both the back and the front. It operated fine, but the zoom lever felt very "mushy."
It was clear this camera was not new, so I called Canon with the serial number to see if I could inquire further. Canon could not tell me anything, even with the serial number, which was disappointing, because I know some other camera companies can tell you quite a bit. What they did say was that without a warranty card, I may not have a warranty! After talking to several support people, it was clear that they most likely would honor my warranty (but no guarantee!), but the lack of a warranty card was highly suspect and may be an indication that the camera was a gray market or a model meant to be sold overseas. This kind of jived with the fact that the default movie mode, even though I'm in the USA, was PAL, not NTSC! Really annoyed, I tried using it for a few days and it was a fine camera, but I don't like being misled, and was unsure if I really had a warranty. Would it be there in a year when something goes wrong with my "new" $450 camera?
After a few days, I called DigitalDelivered to get an RMA number and return the camera. In retrospect, I guess I was a bit niave. I expected no trouble. When I said I'd like to return the camera, the support person informed me I would lose a 15% restocking fee ($52), as well as the shipping fee I paid ($27). I didn't think this was fair, since DigitalDelivered's web site says everything they sell "includes the full retail package and carry the USA manufacturers warranty" (Exact quote). My warranty was in jeopardy, according to Canon, and I told her so. Nothing I said seemed to change her mind. She was like some sort of automated robot. Even when I said I would dispute any charge, she was argumentative, saying they would "simply show your credit card company our return policy."
I held off sending the camera in for a couple of days, unsure as to what to do. Finally, I returned it, and included a very formal letter threatening to contact the Better Business Bureau, the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Attorney General's office. I would do all this after disputing the charge. I also included a copy of their web page that says everything they sell is new, and includes the manufacturer's warranty.
I am happy to say that a few days ago, I received a 100% refund to my credit card. No surcharge, no fee, nothing. I don't credit DigitalDelivered anything positive, as they made me go to a lot of trouble and worry, and the only positive experience I had was the fact that they delivered quickly. I ended up ordering the camera from Amazon for an extra $30, and I can now feel secure that I have a new, warrantied camera from a company I can trust. I would never buy from DigitalDelivered again. They are dishonest and caused me nothing but headache. They wouldn't even accept responsibility for sending me a used camera, and wanted to try to make money off of me even if I returned the camera. The sad fact is that they are one of a number of dishonest companies out on the web, and the only way we are going to stay safe from scam companies like this is to vote with our dollars. Go ahead and spend that extra $30 (or $10, or $50, or whatever) and buy from a solid, honest company that you can trust. Trying to save a small amount by buying from an unknown company can cost you much more, either in dollars or in trouble.
*** 12-31-2003 Update ***
They called me all day yesterday. I have no idea why, as our business is done. However, between last night and this morning, two new Epinions accounts have been created that rated my review NH. Both of these accounts have 5-star reviews of DigitalDelivered.com, but no other reviews at all. Both are brand new accounts (created yesterday and today). Both reviews are grammatically similar. This looks very much like someone didn't like my review and is creating multiple accounts to make DigitalDelivered look good (or at least better). I've alerted Epinions. Thanks to this dishonest tactic, I am probably going to go ahead and file the complaints I threatened this company with in my letter. Just be honest, you creeps, and quit posting fake reviews!
*** 1-2-2003 Update ***
Hmmm... I've been reading DigitalDelivered's reviews all evening. You see all those 5-star reviews that are keeping their rankings high? Take a closer look. Every one of those people have only ONE review and it just happens to be for DigitalDelivered. It's also always brief--never a detailed review, like we see so many times on Epinions. And the user never responds to comments on the review. Take a look for yourself--it's a pattern. Skeptical? See for yourself:
http://www.epinions.com/pr-Online_Stores_Services-Digital_Delivered/pp_~1/sort_~prdrt/sort_dir_~des#list
This link is all DigitalDelivered reviews ordered so that the positive ones show up first. Look at the similarities... brief, all 5-star, only 1 review for each user, similar writing style. Go down the list--pick any positive review and look at the reviewer's account information. I challenge you to find anyone that has more than one review under his belt! Want MORE proof? Take a look at these reviewers' accounts:
http://www.epinions.com/user-frankfurr
http://www.epinions.com/user-bababoey
http://www.epinions.com/user-madisonswanson
http://www.epinions.com/user-nuttybar1984
http://www.epinions.com/user-nelson56
http://www.epinions.com/user-miriamsabs
http://www.epinions.com/user-tonytime25
http://www.epinions.com/user-alexjames
http://www.epinions.com/user-siamesetwin
http://www.epinions.com/user-rainonme24
http://www.epinions.com/user-domodu
http://www.epinions.com/user-beatzky
http://www.epinions.com/user-dellguy
http://www.epinions.com/user-armydude12
http://www.epinions.com/user-michaelfine
http://www.epinions.com/user-sinkmaster
http://www.epinions.com/user-domodu
http://www.epinions.com/user-crazylazy
(There are more accounts like this that I didn't list.)
Look closely through these users' Webs of Trust. Anything look fishy? Every SINGLE ONE of those reviewers have only one review--DigitalDelivered! What are the chances of that??? Go looking through the Web of Trust for each of these accounts. You will see many more user accounts like this. Now riddle me this: How could everyone spiraling through those many Webs of Trust have only one review, and it be for DigitalDelivered?? It's not remotely possible this is legitimate. Something stinks...
*** 1-7-2003 Update ***
After a couple more calls to my cel-phone, I called and spoke to Alan, one of the managers. Alan was apologetic and explained that 8 used cameras were accidentially shipped to them from their supplier, and mine was one of them, and that this was a one-time occurence. I'll go ahead and accept that, but it's notable that there are more than 8 people complaining (just on Epinions) that they received used merchandise, and if you'll read the negative reviews, you'll also see that they aren't in the same time frame. That doesn't sound like a "one-time occurence." Alan also confirmed that he reads Epinions, and said that the positive reviews here on Epinions were because they encourage happy customers to post their experiences. While this sounds good, this doesn't explain why all the "happy customers" have only each other on their webs of trust, and no one else on it.
*** 12-31-2004 Update ***
I was just cleaning up my old email, and ran across several from people who read this review, and had their own story to tell. I'm not going to paste them all in here, but here's one, just to give the flavor of what people are experiencing with this company. The email is pasted in exactly, so the spelling and grammar are not mine, but I have removed the sender's email address. Enjoy.
---------------
X-Originating-IP: [67.30.208.97]
X-Originating-Email: [hidden]
X-Sender: hidden
From: hidden
To: bek@briankiser.com
Subject: Digital Delivered Company
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 14:06:25 -0500
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 23 Mar 2004 19:06:26.0326 (UTC) FILETIME=[F0A9E360:01C41109]
Dear Brain:
I throughly enjoyed your writeup on Epinions regarding the crooks at Digital Delivered. (I am not a member of Epinions so I decided to write you at your website.)
I had virtually the same experience that you had, with an Olympus digital camera purchase from them in late November of 2003 - and it's still dragging on as of today.
It all started with "my" salesman Steve, (who called me after my online purchase, to tell me that my credit card had expired - it had not; but since I was on the phone anyway, he thought I might want to purchase a variety of expensive accessories from him - I did not
I received the "new" camera, which was obviously used, with no warranty card, a few days later, and began the wonderful experience of dealing with Susan the customer service rep., who I am now convinced is a pathological liar.
I eventually moved on to Tony Marcus, some sort of manager type @ DD, who has one of the most unpleasant, shamelessly deceitful personalities of anyone I've ever spoken with.
It's a crime that such people even exist on this planet, much less that they are allowed to run a business. I put a brief writeup in Bizrate.com regarding my bad experience.
Anyway, there's more, but enough said - my personal thanks to you for your excellent writeup and research into the fake reviews that they give themselves.
NTK
Recommended:
No
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Canon PowerShot S400
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Epinions.com ID:
bkiser
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Reviews written: 33
Trusted by: 18 members
About Me:
I'm a Systems Consultant for the Kentucky Commonwealth Office of Technology.
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