Simply Electronic Order Scam??

clittle

I placed an order with Simply Electronics (http://www.simplyelectronics.net) for a Canon eos 500D for 525.95eur (which was a really good price for it), and i recieved confirmation saying it would ship in 3-6 days with order confirmation number and the rest. However I got an email from them today asking me to fax or email a copy of the front of my Lazer Card, ID and a Utility bill as a part of their security checking. I am a bit worried about sending these details off to them. Any advice???

dudara

Moved to Online Buying & Auctions

I've no idea about this company, but such a request is not uncommon for large ticket purchases. However, let's wait for feedback from users here before you do any such actions.

dudara

jor el

They want to verify your identity. If you think the request is fake then contact the company by phone to verify it. If you think the company is dodgy, then you shouldn't be dealing with them at all.

Seems legit though.

Gamesnash.ie: Pat

We would do the same ourselves on occasion. I've no experience directly with the site so am not endorsing the site but certainly the information request would not be unusual - especially if you are paying by laser as there is little or no security verification built in to the laser card system for a retailer.

jpb1974

It might be worth searching in the Photography forum for this crowd because their name pops up from time to time and they seem to be a bit hit and miss with orders.

They give the impression that they are UK based but in fact all the stuff ships from Hong Kong.

jor el

If they do ship from Hong Kong, then that camera is going to become considerably more expensive. Add €110 extra for VAT, plus the handling fee of up to €15, and it's going to be €650 total.

You'd be better off buying more locally.

stimpson

The HK thing is not true. I got a Nikon 35mm f1.8 lens from them for 175 blips last month - price in shops here is 260. It arrived within a couple of days and the DHL tracking showed it shipping from Gatwick the day after I ordered it. It had a European warranty card too.

It might be that an order over 500 euro triggers something.

Oryx

Their company address as per the website is Hong Kong, and their t&cs mention shipping from asia.

stimpson

OK - I didn't see that. However, my point still stands - my lens shipped from UK - see attached

jpb1974

I think they do a bit of a Paul Daniels to get it to you without all the extra stuff.

jpb1974

One from the Photography forum -

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055710022&highlight=simplyelectronics

jor el

It may be that some items are shipped from the UK, while others are shipped from Hong Kong. If the business itself is based in HK, then you can't be sure where it will be sourced.

Up to yourself to decide if it's worth the risk or not.

I notice that the domain is registered through a proxy. This is rarely a good sign. If you're a business, why hide your identity?

hungrygreeneye

I ordered a Canon 550D from them on the 17th of December, today I got an email with the same request, utility bill and photocopy of font side of my laser card. I really don't know what to do, I've found so many bad reviews online, any advice?

pokerface_me

Had a bad experience with these guys, long story short. Ordered camera, came from hong kong and canon sign fell off the camera after 2 days, returned item at my expense and never heard from them again, have tried all sorts of contact.

And yes the item was a fake according to my local Camera shop, hook line and sinker i was got.

hungrygreeneye

I emailed them today and cancelled the order, when I sign into their website under order status, it says refund in progress, and the woman I was speaking too said "action will be taken tomorrow" but I'm not holding my breath on ever seeing that money again

bbopash

Hey guys,

I found a Canon 55-250 lens on Simply Electonics for 168 euro (which was priced in my home town for 360 euro) and started doing a bit of research online. I read lots of reviews, and many people were saying to avoid them, but a few people had posted positive comments. Remembering that most people are loudest when complaining, and quietest when they're satisfied, I decided to take the risk...

And it paid off! The lens arrived by DHL five days after placing my order, in it's proper box, with the right packaging and booklet. A friend of mine is a photographer and he's checked it out - it's the real deal.

From what I can see, you take a risk using this website, but it can pay off. Almost 200 euro in the price difference for the lens was incredible! Goes to show you how you're ripped off by camera shops who charge massive mark ups just for stocking the product.

Sigi

You don't sound like a shill at all...

bbopash

Sigi wrote: »

You don't sound like a shill at all...

I'm not a shill (so much so I had to google what it meant.)

As you'll see from my status, I only became a boards.ie member this week, just so I could post my comment. I had read all the reviews about the website on boards.ie, but never contributed anything to it myself.

I simply wanted to add my thoughts on the issue since all the comments and threads from other users on boards had been quite helpful to me in making my decision.

But hey, believe what you want.
Merry Christmas

pleasant Co.

I think believe you are a shill too.