T&C’s to suit themselves.
These are the events that lead to my issues:
Ordered a monitor from CPL online, this was an “Acer Nitro VG272UP 27" 144Hz WQHD 1ms HDR IPS Gaming Monitor”. Approximately 2 hours later I found the same monitor at PLE for $40 cheaper, so I wrote a note on my original order. Also, at the same time I ordered a $1199 GPU from them also.
The next day I wrote an email asking for a price match or a refund to support@cplonline and waited an hour for a response. I then thought I would just chat to the person at the counter about the refund or price match. I arrived at the Preston store and asked the clerk about this issue I had, he checked out the PLE item online (the same monitor but cheaper). He then made a call and spoke in Chinese, so not sure what he said. After the call he said that he could not price match, but you will be fine to get a refund, just send through an email to the support email. He mentioned nothing about a 15% cancellation fee. From here I picked up the one order for the GPU and left the monitor in the warehouse.
I went to my car and proceeded to make a purchase from PLE for the same monitor but cheaper. Made the purchase and headed to Heatherton, where the store was located. All was fine and dandy for the rest of the day as I set up my computer and my wife’s computer.
Later that night I got an email from support refusing to refund my money as the monitor is in stock. I was a little be wielded as I have not dealt with these issues before. The next email was that finding the product cheaper elsewhere is not a legal reason for requesting a refund and that I can cancel the order for a 15% fee. None of this was mentioned by the salesman so I was not expecting this kind of response.
I have since read their Terms and Conditions, which basically give them a right to do what they want and when they want. If there are issues, they will just point to it in their T&C. Even their warranty section mentions and recommends going straight to the supplier and not through them, this shows their true desire not to help their customers with issues with products that they sell.
I have found bad review after bad review creating the bigger picture. Which is that they are here to line their pockets at the cost of the customers, once they have their hands on the money there is no chance you will get it back. Their customer support is rude and condescending, lacking in any kind of empathy for the customers feelings.
I will never shop here again, and I will try and make sure no one I know does also, lucky I work in IT and have many clients to share my knowledge with. I have made a Facebook Group so that people can vent their rage, anger and frustration, where we might get better coverage of CPL Online issues. Lets try and make sure that other people don’t get themselves in the situations that we have. Join The People Vs CPLOnline on Facebook, can't post link
11 February 2021
Unprompted review