purchasing electronics from the u.s

A note to make buyers aware, steer well clear of an internet site in the u.s under the name of epal, a koala gps style operation .They have a slick internet site with VERY CHEAP PRICES. Sadly the performance of this mob does not match their hype. My experience is a warning to others, do proper due diligence on the outfit you deal with prior to a purchase. Over two weeks ago I contacted them to be advised that they had stock of a furuno sc30 satellite compass and a raymarine cp200 side view unit, following their assurances of stock and timely dispatch I was informed they need 4 days to dispatch international postage. I had made an instant payment of $2600 fortunately thru pay pal. A week later I checked to be informed that they needed more time to organise customs documentation. As two weeks passed by and no info re dispatch I contacted them to find out what was going, they ignored my emails , I opened a dispute thru paypal that got an immediate response from them , how dare I take out a case against them. I was being unrealistic and unfair and if I did not remove the dispute with paypal they would refuse to post the items. Continued communication with them resulted in a stream of how unreasonable I am but no indication of when they might forward the goods. So I upgraded the complaint to a claim for re imbursement from paypal , which of course means they have a further week or so before paypal intervenses. What a great deal. The public is a cash cow to be milked, you get peoples money for extended periods of time for free. Following this lack of performance I checked consumer complaints re their company and you guessed it ,a litany of disgruntled customers with the same complaint non forwarding of goods reported in stock but not dispatched. So the golden rule due your homework and check the companies out prior to paying for orders. Be very wary of deals that appear to be too god and save your self a lot of heart ache.

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paul a


outdoinit's picture

Posts: 1009

Date Joined: 05/10/12

Good advice mate..

Fri, 2014-10-17 17:47

very lucky you paid via pay pal. Thanks for the heads up..  

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 I've spent half my life fishing.. The other half I have wasted.. 

Swompa's picture

Posts: 3912

Date Joined: 14/10/12

Can't say it have ever read a

Fri, 2014-10-17 19:05

Can't say it have ever read a good review from them.

Overtons.com delivered to a US address for me.

purchased a few bits through them and have always been happy.

southcity104's picture

Posts: 1659

Date Joined: 27/01/09

funny thing is.

Fri, 2014-10-17 19:52

 these guys have been doing this for years!!

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"Its a life style job"

Posts: 128

Date Joined: 14/09/11

Paypal to the rescue!

Fri, 2014-10-17 20:03

Paypal is very good in this situation, but you pay a premium for the conversion to a another currency.

 

It would be good to know how you checked for consumer complaints? Could be very helpful for anyone else doing something similar. 

Posts: 101

Date Joined: 09/03/10

consumer complaints

Fri, 2014-10-17 20:20

I went to epal consumer reports on line and a variety of sites had comments , the best forum in this domain was a Chicago business forum who were able to intervene.

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paul a

Browndoggy's picture

Posts: 24

Date Joined: 09/06/14

Koala at it again

Fri, 2014-10-17 20:33

 This I think has actually been discussed here before. A friend of mine bought a furuno sounder from these guys and it took weeks and weeks to get the sounder. Good unit and everything was sweet but not sure it was worth all the griegand their b-grade lies and ridiculous amount of emails

chris raff's picture

Posts: 3257

Date Joined: 09/02/10

 Just googled ( Epal consumer

Fri, 2014-10-17 20:51

 Just googled ( Epal consumer complaints ) .. this one come up for them . 

http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/electronic-equipment-and-supplies-dealers/epal-in-glen-ellyn-il-88432459/complaints

I see that SC 30 fom them is $1986 US vs AUD $3339 from a Oz retailer , huge difference . 

These mobs are just a legal scam , in the sense they rope punters in to get the coin and then with intent stuff you around based on the fact a percentage of customers would just give up . Though if your the type to ark up enough eventually they'll come to the party one way or another to maintain their supposed legitimacy .   

 

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Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”