- STORE REVIEWS
- PRODUCT REVIEWS
2012-03-13
4/5
"Tuxedo Expo (also doing business as Smarttuxedo.com), is another in a large crowd of formal wear vendors on the web. I recently ordered a shirt, and here are my observations:
1. Their website provides some search options (like designer name) and is fairly well laid out, but offers NO drill-down facility for the specific characteristics of the item you're seeking. This needs to be improved.
2. Their wares range from pure, low-end schlock to decent, mid-level clothing.
3. Prices are competetive.
4. Stock levels are shown online, but are not 100% dependable. This is because they often have your order drop-shipped from their supplier, and they depend on the supplier keeping their stock information up-to-date.
5. Shipping is relatively fast (when what you want is in stock) and shipping costs are reasonable (but not free).
6. Items are fully returnable (including shirts, a BIG plus) and I got this in writing before ordering.
7. After-the-order communication needs improvement (see next point).
8. The shirt I ordered was not actually in stock and I only found this out when my online order status hadn't changed to "Shipped" after waiting 3 business days. I emailed their Customer Service rep, who was quick to respond (within a few hours) and very apologetic. He offered a full refund, a substitute item, or a slightly different size of the shirt I wanted. I chose the last option and it arrived in one day, and with a minor adjustment of the collar button, it fit fine.
In the end, I'm happy with my purchase, and the personal, fast customer service I received made up for some of their other failings. This is not a stellar operation, but they're trying."
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2012-03-05
4/5
"I've been using justbats.com as the primary supplier of bats for my softball team for several years. Here's what I think you should know:
The good:
1. Their selection is enormous, and their primary website (however, see below) is very well laid out. You can drill down to very specific characteristics to find a very specific range of choices.
2. Prices are competetive, but not always the lowest. I've occasionally found it cheaper to go directly to the bat manufacturer's site.
3. Shipping is lightning fast and free. That is a BIG plus.
4. Customer service has been responsive and sympathetic. They've replaced a few broken bats in the past for free when it was obvious the bat should have lasted longer.
5. Customer reviews are posted whether good or bad (however see below).
The not so good:
6. The company maintains many different web sites using different dot-com names and different layouts (softballbats, baseballbats, etc.) and I assume this is a ploy to squash some valid competition and boost their results in search tools. I can't fault them for strong marketing but the fact that their alternate web sites are designed to look very different smacks of deception.
7. Some bats are available from the manufacturer with personalization, but JustBats.com does not extend those services via their website(s).
8. Bad reviews of the products they offer, although sometimes published, are not always published. I've submitted a few negative reviews of a few bats for quality-related reasons, and they were apparently ignored.
In general, justbats.com is a very good source for baseball and softball bats of all kinds, and I've been a happy customer for years. Were it not for some of their questionable marketing practices I would rate them 5 stars."
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2012-02-28
5/5
"5DollarFrames is the web presence for a business that manufactures and sells picture and document frames. They're based in Georgia and their motto is "Our frames are made from real wood. No Junk. No Fillers. No Additives. Just good old-fashioned quality products." Everything they sell is made in the U.S.A. I recently had a need for some rustic-style frames and purchased four from 5DollarFrames. Here are my observations:
1. Their website is clear, informative and thorough. It was easy to find exactly what I wanted, as well as all the details related to the products.
2. As their name implies, their prices are incredibly competitive. Not every item is $5.00, but all the prices are relatively low. I don't think I could get a better deal anywhere.
3. Very reasonable options are offered with their frames (sizes, glass, plexiglass, easel backs, etc.), a very nice feature.
4. I ordered real barn-wood frames and I could not have been more pleased with what I received. They are real barn wood, very well made, and have exactly the rustic look I was looking for.
5. Communication was exemplary. I received email immediately from the vendor at every step of the process (registering, ordering, shipping).
6. Shipping charges were reasonable and shipping was lightning fast. Additionally, the packaging was excellent, especially considering that I ordered glass with my frames.
7. They accept many forms of payment, including PayPal.
In summary, 5DollarFrames has made an extremely satisfied customer out of me with every aspect of their business. This is not a fluke; they have really done a great job and obviously care about their customers.."
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2012-02-14
3/5
"eTuxedo.com is one of several online sources for tuxedos and other related formal wear. Based on my recent experience with eTuxedo, they apparently differ somewhat from other similar operations in that the site is connected to a real, brick-and-mortar clothing store in Detroit that has been selling tuxedos for many, many years.
I purchased and returned a "designer" tuxedo from eTuxedo.
Here's what was good:
1. The selection offered is reasonably good for bargain-hunters. Most of what's available falls toward the lower end (under $500) of the "designer" models. Many formal accessories are also available at competitive prices.
2. Shipping was free and reasonably fast.
3. There is a real store with real salespeople behind this website and you can call them during normal U.S. business hours to chat about potential purchases.
4. Many of the tuxedos are available as separates, so you can order the jacket and trousers individually to meet your specific sizing needs.
5. Purchases are returnable within 30 days for a refund. I returned mine and received a credit on my CC account within a week. A $5 shipping charge was deducted from the credit (i.e. shipping is "free" only if you keep it).
Here's what was not so good:
1. eTuxedo/com's website is a strange mix of limited useful, fairly-organized information and some totally useless or other amateurish, dead-end pages that annoyed or frustrated me. You can generally find what you're looking for, including with some images, via the links along the edge. However, some pages do not provide a way to order what you've found (specifically those for Hugo Boss tuxedos), some pages represent significantly old, useless data, and some are
just filler or fluff. However, in the end, if you want to order a tux, enough of the website will support that.
2. The tuxedo I ordered was drop-shipped from a warehouse in New Jersey, folded into a plain cardboard box with no hangers, no garment bag, and no reasonable protection from creasing or scuffing. I assume this lack of shipping quality is a cost-cutting measure, but etuxedo was the only vendor among three from which I ordered that shipped so carelessly.
3. The quality of the tux I received (Calvin Klein) was good, but not great. It was made in China and worth about what I paid for it. Compared with the quality of similarly-priced tuxedos I ordered from three different vendors, this was right in the middle, neither the best nor worst.
4. eTuxedo doesn't maintain a working online account for after-the-order status checking or other support issues. Their first email to me included a URL, ID and password for a secure website that would supposedly provide status information, but it never worked ("The server encountered an internal error and was unable to complete your request. Either the server is overloaded or there was an error in a CGI script. ") This was more evidence of an amateurish web operation overall.
5. With all online apparel vendors, returns are a fact-of-life. eTuxedo has not embraced the online aspect of this fact, because there is no way to acquire an RMA via their website. You must call the store in Detroit, and leave a callback number so that a salesman can call you and provide the RMA. This is apparently a vestige of their brick-and-mortar operation (perhaps so the salesman can talk you into a replacement?), but come on guys, this is the 21st century. It's time to automate.
6. After-the-sale communication consisted of a mix of sales emails and other boiler-plate items congratulating me on my purchase (a week after I returned it). When I ordered my tux, there was no email opt-out option. Again, not the most contemporary web design.
In general, eTuxedo may be a reasonable source for you if you're seeking a low-to-medium-end tux. I was not too impressed with their operation or quality, but in the end, it's an honest business providing exactly what they're touting, so you can deal with them without worrying about fly-by-night issues."
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2012-02-03
4/5
"Buying clothing online is always a crapshoot (especially with a horrible name like this place has), but I was pleasantly surprised by my experience of ordering a complete designer tuxedo from buy4lesstuxedo.com. Here are my observations:
1. The website is one of the better organized sites among those selling tuxedos, although that's not saying much. However, it was fairly well-organized, and provided a good range of brands, styles, sizes and options. One of the most appealing is the ability to choose individual sizes for jackets and trousers, thus minimizing necessary tailoring.
2. There's no comparison when it comes to prices online vs. those at retail department or specialty stores (even the so-called discount stores like Joseph E. Banks). The items at this site were far less expensive. Compared to other competing online stores, this one is just slightly more expensive (but worth it - read on).
3. Shipping is not free, but limited to a maximum of $8.95 per shipment, which I think is very reasonable. I ordered on a Friday and received my tux on the following Tuesday. It came in a garment box, complete with appropriate suit hangers and all the expected tags.
4. I ordered three different tuxedos from three different sites, and this was the only site that sent a tux that completely matched the quality of its description. Made in Canada, the tux I receive was perfect, the exact size ordered, and of very obvious, good quality. It was, in my opinion, a bargain.
5. Communication from the site was good but could use some tweaking. Ordering information was easy to retrieve, but no so for the tracking info, which required me to send a separate email. Their response to me email took 24 hours.
In general, I was pleased with buy4lesstuxedo, and I would buy from them again. I recommend it to those not anxious to spend a lot more for a tux of potentially lower quality at the local department store."
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2011-10-25
3/5
"Rustic Garden offers online what you would typically find only at a suburban or rural garden center. Their inventory includes decorative fences, arbors, trellises, gazebos, etc. They also collect and sell old, used, wooden ladders, which are typically used for decorations and displays. My order was for two of those ladders. Here are my observations:
1. Their website is a somewhat disorganized collection of pictures, item descriptions and details and overlapping pointers. In many cases, there are many different links that point back to the same item. I was able to find what I wanted, but the site could use some organizational improvements.
2. The inventory, as I described above, is unusual and offers items not typically available on the web. The prices are very good, and in many cases, excellent.
3. They provide a phone number for asking questions and handling details about availability, shipping, etc. I recommend you use it.
4. Some items can be modified to order (colors, antiquing, etc.) at very reasonable prices.
5. Shipping was reasonably fast, considering the unusual size and weight of my order.
The downsides:
6. No shipping costs are listed. You absolutely must call or email for the shipping costs. Even when you place your order, no shipping costs are shown or listed. Shipping is added later. I found this to be annoying. On top of that, an amount was quoted to me (in writing) before I ordered, but only after I paid for the items and they were personalized did I receive a phone call indicating a higher shipping charge (33% higher!).
7. Although I registered at the website, and was promised regular order status updates online, none at all were provided. The only way I got to know the shipping status was by sending multiple emails to their customer service. And email responses were slow.
In summary, I received the items I ordered and was happy with their quality and the antiquing I had ordered - so I must admit that all's well that ends well. However, the shipping and communication issues irked me a great deal, and they need much attention for this vendor to earn a higher rating from me."
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2011-10-25
5/5
"wag.com, specializing in pet-related products, is part of a warehouse-based business that includes soap.com (home products), diapers.com (baby products) and yoyo.com (toys). This review relates only to their pet products business.
I ordered some hard-to-find dog food from wag.com and I was quite pleased with the entire experience.
1. Their website is relatively clean, easy to navigate and offers an enormous selection of products (among the best selection I've found anywhere!)
2. Prices are very competitive.
3. At a certain threshold, shipping was free. Considering the weight of bulk dog food, this was quite a nice bonus. Additionally, the shipping was very fast.
4. I received excellent email notifications at each stage of the process.
On the downside, I was charged tax on my purchase, but this is a matter of location and tax law, not really a flaw of the vendor.
In summary, based on my experience, I would recommend wag.com without reservation. It's a well-designed, well-run, professional business, and an asset to web-based commerce."
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Merchant Member
2011-06-08
5/5
"If you need cables (as well as some other related hardware) for your computers, TVs, audio systems, etc., then shopping ANYWHERE other than at monoprice.com would - in my opinion - be a total waste of your time and certainly your money.
Considering how long I've been doing business online with monoprice.com, it's been a terrible oversight on my part that I've neglected to add to their already large collection of glowing, wonderful reviews here at Reseller Ratings.
I'll make this short and sweet. Their website is excellent and will direct you to exactly the cable(s) you need. Their prices are so low that you'll often have trouble believing what you see (but go ahead and believe - they're all for real!). Shipping is lightning fast, shipping costs are extremely reasonable, and I've never had the slightest problem with anything I've purchased from monoprice.
If you prefer to walk into the local electronics store and pay $30 for the identical cable that you can get for $3 at monoprice, go ahead; you might save a day.
Otherwise, don't even blink. For cables, monoprice.com should be your first and last stop."
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2011-03-14
3/5
"CenterCaps.net is an unusual online vendor specializing in only one type of automobile part: hubcaps. If you can visualize one of those junkyards with thousands of hubcaps hanging on fences and strewn in piles, but with a guy with a laptop in the shack, you'd probably have an idea of what this vendor is all about.
Here are my observations based on a recent order:
1. Their website is very well set up, provides good search tools, as well as some interesting blogs. The site gives you several opportunities to identify (for yourself) exactly what hubcap you need, and also for the vendor so they'll know exactly what to send you.
2. ONLY IF YOU LOOK VERY CAREFULLY at their "About Us" page will you find out that they only sell "gently used goods." This bit of hide-and-seek seems very intentional on their part. Do not expect anything new.
3. Prices range from reasonable to slightly high, but if you have hard-to-find items to replace (like I did), the price may be acceptable.
4. They accept all forms of payment, including PayPal.
5. Shipping is free, very fast and no tax is charged. Nice.
6. Absolutely no communication of any kind whatsoever will come to you after you place your order. After you confirm payment, that's it until the package arrives in the mail. The package I received contained the hubcaps and a business card. There was no invoice, no instructions for returns, nothing else, period.
7. If you do have to return something, you'll have to pay shipping both ways as well as a restocking fee. (Gotcha!)
In summary, I recommend only using this operation if you're absolutely sure you know what you're getting (and getting into). If they're the last resort for what you need, you may not have another choice."
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2011-03-11
2/5
"This was my second order from PartStore, and it's very obvious that this vendor has fallen to the very bottom of the barrel. It can't be long before they close up shop completely. Here are my observations:
1. They do exist, and they are functioning, if only barely. I did actually receive my order.
2. There is no way to determine if an item is in stock, even after you order it.
3. There is no customer service number to call. You can reach a human by being very intrepid and looking for their SALES number. It took me three tries and
a 20-minute wait on the third try to get through to someone. That alone is reason enough to avoid this vendor.
4. If you go solely by their web site, it would seem that PartStore.com is a booming, flourishing, professional business, providing (as their name implies) parts for virtually everything in the home. Most are accompanied by the phrase "usually ships in 1 business day." Don't be fooled.
5. Email will go unanswered for weeks, if answered at all. After waiting over a week for confirmation of a ship date, I sent two separate emails requesting the order to be canceled. I received a response on the same day that my order actually shipped (2 weeks later) apologizing for the late response. Of course, since my order had already shipped, it could not be canceled, but I could return it for cost of shipping both ways and a restocking fee. You can interpret this practice as you wish, but it smacks of a shady and slimy business to me.
In summary, this business is in dire need of additional staff to handle communications, as well as a real-time stock availability tool on their website. Barring drastic improvements, I recommend that you should avoid PartStore.com and let it die a quiet death."
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2011-03-02
5/5
"Battery Bob is focused on and dedicated to providing any and all types of batteries at a reasonable charge. Here are my observations based on my recent purchase:
1. They seem to carry just about every battery known.
2. Their website is very "busy" and occasionally overwhelming, but it has various search tools to find what you need. Additional, useful and informative articles (related to batteries, of course) are available on their site.
3. Prices are reasonable and in some cases competitive. Buying in bulk brings the prices down. They accept all forms of payment, including PayPal.
4. Shipping (in my case) was free, and could not have been faster. I ordered on a Saturday morning, and the shipment was in the mail an hour later. Because it was sent First Class (in a #10 envelope) there was no tracking, but that's understandable.
5. Communication was excellent (except for some very silly grammatical errors).
The batteries arrived quickly and I was very happy with my experience. In summary, Battery Bob seems to go out of their way to please their customers. For this particular niche, they've done a great job, so shop with confidence and my recommendation."
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2011-02-28
5/5
"Beauty Bridge is an excellent online provider of sundries and products related to personal care, including skin care, bath & body products, fragrances, etc. Unlike many online retailers, this vendor has a brick-and-mortar presence in New Jersey and invites locals to visit their shop. This is not some anonymous person operating out of her garage.
Here are my observations regarding Beauty Bridge:
1. They carry a wide selection of quality products for men and women, and their website is easy to navigate.
2. Their ordering process is straightforward, except for the typical (and unfortunately ubiquitous) use of promotion codes. Their prices are reasonable, although not especially competetive. A five-percent discount is generally available if you want to take the time to find their "coupons" online.
3. Shipping is fast and free. Coupled with no tax charged (for non-NJ residents), that alone may be enough to recommend them.
4. They provide online chat and phone service for questions and issues. They're real people, onshore, and generally helpful. The chat rep occasionally relied on scripted, canned responses but when pressed enough finally gave a useful response.
5. The products I ordered arrived quickly and well-packed.
In summary, I recommend Beauty Bridge without reservation for body-care products, especially if you already know what you want and simply want to avoid the traffic and waiting on line at the local store."
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2011-01-20
5/5
"Based in Portland, Oregon, BaseGear.com specializes in clothing and equipment for outdoor and wilderness enthusiasts. Their selection includes some of the better brands available. My experience shopping at basegear.com was nothing short of exemplary. Here's why:
1. Their website is easy to navigate, offers excellent choices of quality equipment, and substantial information about each product.
2. Prices are excellent and among the lowest I found. They accept all forms of payment, including PayPal.
3. Shipping was *lightning fast* (from Oregon to New York in 3 business days). And for my purchase, which was over $50, it was free.
4. Communication was perfect, with an order confirmation at first, followed by a shipping confirmation with a link to the tracking service.
I am extremely happy with my purchase and my entire experience with basegear.com. I can't think of a better way to conduct business online."
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2011-01-14
2/5
"ivgStores.com is an internet-only business that provides an online front-end for ordering hundreds (if not thousands) of items that other vendors supply. ivgStores does NOT stock or ship anything; it simply acts as a middle-stop between you, the shopper, and suppliers who don't deal directly with the public. It's very important to be aware that whatever you're buying is going to be drop-shipped to you from the supplier, NOT from ivgStores. Your order ultimately will be at the control and mercy of that supplier. Most facets of the transaction - availability, returnability, shipping dates, etc. are controlled by the supplier, not by ivgStores.
To the end described above, ivgStores does its job fairly well. Their website is well organized and reasonably easy to navigate. Based on my particular furniture purchase, their prices are very competitive.
Their customer service (email and telephone) was very responsive and supportive.
However, there are some mitigating issues regarding my specific experience with a baker's rack from ivgStores that I'd like to share:
1. The item I purchased was not returnable - AT ALL. Be very careful to determine if what you're ordering can be returned.
2. The links on the product's description page at ivgstore.com described a U.S.-based manufacturer. As it turned out (and to my chagrin), this item was made in China.
3. NOWHERE in the product description did it say that the item I was interested in came in complete kit form. This is an egregious (and intentional?) gap in the description.
4. The quality of the furniture matched its relatively low price. At best, I got exactly what I paid for. The furniture (shipped from Cramco in Philadelphia but made in China) had cheap joint welds, inconsistent coloring, and the most minimal and insufficient assembly instructions possible. Fortunately, I am VERY handy. I can't imagine the average person figuring out how to assemble this thing from the single, 6" x 8" instruction sheet.
5. Shipping was somewhat slow. ivgStores indicated that the item was in stock and took my order on a Tuesday morning, but the item didn't ship from the supplier until one week later. ivgStores is very careful to indicate the shipping times on their website, so they're covered on this issue, but I still don't understand why such a delay is necessary.
6. After waiting a month after posting my very honest review on the ivgstores' website, I find that they have refused to post it. In fact, I was unable to find any reviews on their site that took issue with their policies. That speaks volumes for the company's ethics.
Overall, I can marginally recommend ivgStores, but only with the caveats mentioned above.
****************** IMPORTANT *******************
ALWAYS READ REVIEWS IN THIS FORUM WITH THE FOLLOWING IN MIND: EXTREMELY FAVORABLE REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE ONLY REVIEWED THAT ONE STORE AND NO OTHERS SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH A GRAIN OF SALT! IT IS EXTREMELY EASY FOR STORES TO "PLANT" THEIR OWN FAVORABLE REVIEWS USING BOGUS EMAIL ADDRESSES. I RECOMMEND YOU PLACE LITTLE VALUE IN THOSE "ONE_STORE_ONLY" REVIEWERS AND PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THOSE REVIEWERS WITH A LONG HISTORY HERE AND WITH MANY SITES REVIEWED.
************************************************"
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Merchant Member
2010-06-22
2/5
"EverythingKitchens.com sells (obviously) kitchen and other household items at very competitive prices, with the added bonus of free shipping and no sales tax (except for Missouri residents). My experience was based on the purchase of a coffee maker listed at the lowest price I had seen on the internet.
Having learned from experience, I checked carefully on their website for stock information. Finding nothing to indicate if it was in stock, I called customer service and was told "it was available." Here are my observations:
Positives
1. Very detailed and reasonably navigable website.
2. Extremely low pricing
3. Free shipping and no sales tax (except for Missouri residents).
4. Large selection of items.
5. Customer Service was available by phone within 10 minutes.
Negatives
1. No indication on the website of product stock or availability.
2. EveryThingKitchens.com does NOT provide out-of-stock information, and apparently does not even like to use that phrase, either by phone or email.
3. Incorrect information provided by Customer Service (I was told item was available when in fact it was out of stock).
4. No after-the-sale communication regarding out-of-stock status. After 3 days of no contact, I had to call to get my order status, and only then was told, "it will be coming from the manufacturer in about a week."
5. Order status can not be checked online unless you register in advance with a password. You can't check status with your order number and other personal information, nor can you register to get the status once the order has been placed.
6. A hold for the sale amount is placed on your credit card before the item is shipped (and when it's out of stock, and this is inexcusable).
In summary, this is another price low-balling operation with good potential but with some practices that make low-price-hunting a risky endeavor for web-based consumers. Over and over, I find that the lesson is the same: for the few dollars saved, you will pay in other ways. My advice is to be willing to pay those few dollars for a more reliable business with fewer shady or questionable practices.
A final note: I suggest you pay VERY CAREFUL ATTENTION to many of the reviews posted here for EverythingKitchens.com, but not because they're good. I noticed a very distinct common "flavor" (vocabulary, style and syntax) to many of them, and also discovered that the bulk of the very favorable reviews were written by users who enrolled at RR on the same day the review was written, and who had no other reviews posted. I tend to disregard such reviews as they seem very suspicious and hint of fraud."
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