Is it really cheaper buying from online superstores?
It’s a fact that Irish consumers pay more than a lot of their European neighbours and with everyone tightening their purse strings coming up to Christmas it may seem a logical choice to buy from international online discount superstores. Sometimes you can save between €20-50 but what a lot of people are not aware of are the hidden costs that may occur.
So what should you watch out for….
- .ie domains – often these online discount superstores have .ie domains (for example pixmania.ie, expansys.ie) but actually have no presence in Ireland at all and even some stores that claim an Irish presence don’t hold stock and have it shipped in when you purchase it. So if you want to buy from an Irish store, make sure that there is an Irish address, the company is registered in Ireland, carries stock and there is someone at the end of the phone to talk to.
- Warranty – what are they offering? Probably a full manufacturer’s warranty but where are the manufacturers based and what is the stores return policy? If you have a fault with your system, you will have to fork out to get it shipped back (most likely outside of Ireland) to the online store or manufacturer for a warranty replacement. Under the Sale of Goods Act when you purchase from an online store, your contract is with the store and it is their responsibility to sort out your problems – try explaining this to a customer support representative based in France.
- Support – can they help you with your purchase? Probably not. When you decide to spend a couple of hundred euros on a electronic device you want to make sure that you are buying the right product for you. Larger online stores tend to not be able to provide you with this service.
- eBay – a number of manufacturers will not provide warranties when their products are purchased on eBay.
I’m not telling you not to buy from these online discount superstores but merely advising you of the risks.
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