Survey Info: Shoppers Advantage (aka CitiShopper, NetMarket)


Shoppers Advantage (CitiShopper, NetMarket)
Phone: 1-800-Tel-Shop (Shoppers Advantage)
Phone: 1-888-696-2753 (netMarket)
WWW: http://www.shoppersadvantage.com/
WWW: http://www.netmarket.com/ Customer Comments:
Sunday June 21, 1998

ordered Yamaha R-V1103 receiver, they guaranteed delivery in a 2 week period, even the day that the period expired they still guaranteed delivery
needless to say, they never delivered
equipment was never shipped
price was good for phantom equipment
Monday May 18, 1998

I purchased a B.I.C. V62clr center channel speaker from NetMarket.com for $134 including shipping and handling. Thier price was the lowest anywhere. The speaker arrived within six days, double boxed and in perfect condition. The speakers sounds excelllent with my B.I.C. V604 bipolar main speakers, B.I.C. V52 surrounds, and B.I.C. V1200R subwoofer.
Saturday May 16, 1998

I've ordered 4 or 5 items from this place, and their prices were much cheaper than any other places I could find. Unfortunately, since they do let other companies handle the shipping and stocking, there can be problems which they cannot predict. I guess it's all luck. The first thing I ordered was a receiver, but a couple days later I got a call saying the distributor told them they're out for good. Then I ordered a receiver, cd player, and speakers which all arrived (in CT) in FOUR days, maybe five for one of them. BUT, later I ordered a Klipsch center speaker, and that took a month and a half, and many calls (they were friendly and helpfull though). They kept moving back the shipping date because klipsch was out of stock. So that isn't really SA's fault, but it's a risk you have to take when ordering from a place that doesn't handle everything, and their shipping times are only estimates, not promised. So good luck with them. I'll deal with them again, but only because I've paid about $900 for a total MSRP of about $1700
Saturday May 9 , 1998

ave ordered the following from them SA prices including delviery:Pinnacle AC-650 speakers pd.$218-lowest retail $249. JVC GRAX30 U Camcorder-$410 retail?, Yamaha RV-902, $379, lowest retail $499. Clarion Amigo 2 CD changer $218,lowest retail $279. Celstion Impact 10 speakers $108, lowest retail $149. Every time the goods were delivered in no more then 4 days. The $50 membership fee is steep.
Friday March 20, 1998

Stay away!!!!!!! Bad
Friday February 27, 1998

I called to get comparative pricing. I was told that I had to give them my credit card number for a trial membership before they would quote me prices. I said that I wanted to know if the membership was worth getting and was told that their policy was to quote prices to members only. I informed them that I had gotten their prices from their web site and was looking for confirmation. They insisted that I join before confirming the prices.

I bought elsewhere (One Call) for less.
Thursday January 29, 1998

Despite some of the negative remarks about these folks, I was highly impressed with their Web site, Netmarket, and their prices. They were by far the lowest price on the speakers I was looking for, Atlantic Tech 251.1LRs and the 253.1 Center Channel. While I might have been able to purchase the whole 250.1 system for less (when you break it down), I didn't have that kind of money to spend all at once plus I'm not certain I want the 254.1s as my surrounds.

At any rate, I took the plunge and ordered these off the Web site on Jan. 19 (MLK day, a holiday). The order went through flawlessly and I received an almost immediate confirmation e-mail. Realizing the nature of their business, I really didn't expect delivery in under a couple weeks. Friday the 23rd came and, lo and behold, the center channel box was sitting on my doorstep (nice suburb of Atlanta, never had anything stolen with UPS doing this). Single boxed, but everything in great shape. On tuesday, the 27th I got a little concerned when the rest of the order hadn't been delivered so I fired off an email. A response came the very next business day stating their records showed the whole shipment went out on the 22nd. Well, I had looked up the tracking # on the UPS site and saw that the friday delivery had been shipped on the 20th, so I figured that the completed order had shipped on the 22nd. Knowing UPS ground shipping doesn't move over the weekend, I figured Wednesday or Thursday. Well, got home today (Thursday) and sure enough, the package was their, all in tip top shape.

While some may have had bad experiences with these folks, I found them a pleasure to deal with and very responsive.
Wednesday January 28, 1998

I ordered a JVC JX-S300 A/V switcher and they only shipped out the handheld remote control and the manual, but didn't send me the unit itself! They won't ever call me back, and they won't send me the unit.
Thursday January 22, 1998

I had several bad experiences with shopper's advantage. I guess I'm masochistic for staying with them. I had once ordered a sharp vcr from them that never showed up. They said they needed to contact UPS to confirm wether or not UPS had a proof of delivery signature. Sure enough, UPS didn't have one. They said if they got that answer from UPS, they would credit me, but they in turn harassed me at home several times, and asked whoever answered the phone if the package was ever received. It took me numerous irate phone calls, I had to actually scream at the manager to get the charge off my credit card. I couldn't believe it, he insisted that he needed to search further, but it was already proven that UPS had never delivered! finally after 2 1/2 months, it was off my bill.

A second incident was when I had ordered a Hewlett Packard office jet printer. when I had first bought it, I paid $616.95 for it. 3 1/2 weeks later,I get a new catalog, and I see my printer in it, so out of curiousity, I called and asked for a price quote. It was now selling for $517.95. I couldn't believe it. I immediately called customer service, and this girl, April, actually had the nerve to say it's the customer's problem and not shopper's advantage. that it was the vendor who dictated the prices, and they made the prices lower to get rid of stock. she was a total moron. I told her that I would call back tomorrow and verify everything and would speak to a manager. but sure enough I got someone who was capable this time. I told her the situation, she confirmed the price change and said I would be credited the amount. that's it, no other explaining, no ranting, no raving, no demands to speak to a manager. If only they thouroughly trained all their employees. But then again, I haven't seen that credit on my credit card yet....
Saturday January 17, 1998

I have purchased many items from Citishopper/Shoppers Advantage. I've had excellent service every time. I've bought mostly electronics-cameras,cd players etc. They have the best prices around. What I do is make all my major purchases for the year that I have the membership and cancel it after I have everything I need. After all $50 is expensive if you're not using it. Citishopper definetely gets two thumbs up from me. TG
Wednesday January 14, 1998

Good prices, they do the shopping and saved me the hassle.

Bought a Sony 32XBR100, delivered without problems.

Biggest complaint was that they could not provide a tracking number. They have little contact with the vendor after the order is placed.
Monday January 12, 1998

Do not deal with this company.
Extreme delays.
Use LTL carriers for larger items. My speakers that I ordered (DCM tfm8.0) were 5 weeks delayed.
When I went to the LTL carrier site(as they were delaying my shipment), I found my speakers to be badly damaged due to single boxing.
Shoppers advantage said that it would take 2 weeks to credit my a/c. Total transaction time = 6 weeks with no product and total aggravation. Stay away from these people!!!
Saturday January 3 , 1998

Never order anything from this company.I ordered a pair of Infinity RS2000.5 speakers from this company on 12/12/97 through their website.I got a message asking me to call their member security as their was some discrepancy with my credit card.This was a lot of bull as there was no problem whatsoever.They refused to give any kind of delivery schedule initially and after many phone calls from me promised to deliver on the 24th.When I still hadn't received it on the 29th I called them only to be told that the item was yet to be shipped.I then cancelled my order and my membership,at the time of cancellation I was assured that I had not been billed.A couple of days later I found that they had billed my credit card.I'm still talking to them to issue me a refund.Most of their representatives are ill-informed and do not mind giving you incorrect information about the status of your order.Even though their prices are pretty low I wouldn't advise buying anything from them.
Tuesday December 23, 1997

I was naiive. To think that paying for a service would allow you to reap some benefits. I am very dissatisfied with the service. They employ people who do not know what they are doing at all. Before I called CitiShopper, I did some comparison shopping on a Technics receivor. When I found the model number I was looking for, I called CitiShopper to see what the manufacturers price was. The order clerk was oblious to what I was asking for. She even went so far as to say, "we don't carry that brand here." Shocked that she said she didn't carry Technics at all, I asked if she was sure. She of course replied with an afirmative. I went to the store where I saw the model and purchased it. After assembling it, I decided to call Citishopper for some other item(s) I was interested in. When I opened the catalog...surprise, surprise...Technics! I immediately called Citishopper and asked another order clerk for the model I just purchased. She yes we have it. $60 less than what I paid for it. I am livid! The rest of the story is just like the every one elses...inept people, fraudulent services, I'm cancceling my service.
Monday December 15, 1997

The customer is not satisfied. I am very angry. About two months ago I placed an order for printer ribbons which I needed ASAP. The ribbons never arrived. I never received an acknowledgement. A month later I contacted the company and they said that they would put a tracer on my order. This is now almost three weeks after that transaction. They also placed a new order for me and promised 10-14 day delivery. I still have not received any order of ribbons requested. I did receive an acknowledgement that led me to believe that my order was being processed. Today nearly two months later, I received a letter thanking me for placing my order. "We are very sorry to inform you that we are unable to fulfill your order. While every effort has been made to satisfy your request, regretfully we must cancel at this time". There is no explanation as to why the order has been canceled. I was told by the representative that the item was in their catalog. I am paying big bucks which I cannot afford so that I may have a shoppers advantage. What a joke. I also intend to cancel my subscription to their service.
Thursday November 13, 1997

I ordered a Canon BJC-80 color ink jet laptop style printer from them on a Saturday, It arrived by Wednesday, and their price was lower than anything locally by $50. I would say that my experience was satisfying, but maybe this was just due to the distributer.
Monday November 10, 1997

Hi
I personally dealt with evey mail order,you name it. As for shoppers advantage I dealt with them the last june 97 order some wires for my amps,sound too good to be true $16 usually the same wires cost about $40 to $50 depends of wires,I placed my order in june 14th remember last yesterday,they called me on july 24 to tell my order was back order,bull!! I was mad cause I cancelled my appointments for my installation 3 or 4 times.
They said sorry for your inconvenience, went and cancelled my order,and of course my member ship that they charge $50 they said we are going to send you a coupon,I said don't even bother because iam not going to go back to you ever.
Tha't's certain.
So in my experience i would never go back to them or recommend them,as for their prices on some items they are as high as Crutchfield or local .
Monday November 3 , 1997

I've bought a One-For-All remote and a BIC center channel speaker from them. Both products arrived in good condition. The remote took a week, the speaker a month. Both items came from the same supplier and prices were very low. (The remote was $50 delivered while it sells for $90 as Best Buys).

I had some problems with the remote order as a result of "not ready for prime time" screw-ups at Shoppers Advantage. The company personnel try to be helpful and are quite courteous, but the company screws up pretty often. For example, my new member kit came 6 weeks after I joined and then only because I asked about it, twice (after a month had passed). I cancelled the first remote I ordered one day after I ordered it, but it still shipped a week later -- I refused it.

Shoppers Advantage has the "feel" of a new company that is trying very hard, but is still having teething pains. I'm going to cancel my membership and give them a another try in a year or so when things should operate more smoothly.

- GRL
Friday October 17, 1997

This actually turned out well, even though it took some doing. I originally ordered a 61" Toshiba Big-screen TV that I saw on the Netmarket website listed at $1479 when the local retail price (Circuit City, Best Buy) was $2500. It sounded too good to be true and it was. After sending me a confirming E-mail and snail-mail, they left me a phone message canceling because the item was "no longer available." Sure enough, it was dropped from the website. While I debated how to approach them, the TV appeared back on the website -- at $2000.

When I complained, they accepted my compromise offer of $999 for the 50" version of the same TV which has a good retail of $1800. So it wasn't entirely hassle-freet, but the end result was positive. To top it off, they accepted my E-mail offer of $999 as total -- including shipping and sales tax !
Thursday September 18, 1997

Great prices on Signet equipment! 35% off on most of it. Sometimes the equipment isn't available through the supplier and this is frustrating if you've waited a month. They charge you from the get go (moment you place order).

I still have to give them a thumbs up!
Sunday September 14, 1997

I bought three items from them, Onkyo TX939, Toshiba DVD player and Atlantic Technolgy speaker system. The had the best prices I could find even with there somewhat high shipping prices. And with the "bonus bucks" you get when joining the service some prices are even better when buying a high priced item. The price I got on the DVD player was unbeatable after usiing the credit I got from the reciver and speakers. But in short they do what they claim to do and not all mail order firms do that. But there is one bad thing about them if you are in a hurry to get the product they are not fast with the shipping as everthing the sell is sent from outside vendors. But I still will buy from them as I need to I can put up with the delayed shipping but even on that I was surprised as my order was placed during the UPS strike and I did get it during the strike so I do not know the "real" shipping times, but while placing orders they state 7-14 working days and offer no option for faster shipping online.
Wednesday September 10, 1997

I'm a member, and have ordered several items 'through' them. Remember, they are only a broker; your order is forwarded to supplier. Prices are hard to beat mostly, but I've found cheaper on some stuff. Shipping info is the biggest concern, since there is no direct contact with the supplier; however, I have gotten accurate feedback from SA.
Wednesday September 3 , 1997

I have used MANY shopping services, online and telephone, including Shoppers Advantage, Fingerhut, Damark, etc. Shoppers Advantage has, BY FAR, been the best to deal with from ease of ordering, speed of shipment and, most importantly, customer service.

If you need to use a shopping service, use shoppers advantage. I highly recommend this service!!
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