Cancelled online iMac order - where do I stand

[marctwo]

Back in November I ordered an iMac from Additions Direct as I had a 15% off code. It stated on their website that it was available. I know there have been some issues with the new 27" ones so I was not suprised when I was called to let me know that the delivery was delayed from the 3rd to the 16th December. Fine, I'll wait.

Then I was called a week later to say that it was delayed again and would not be with me until after Christmas. Fine, I'll wait.

The other day I was called to say that the item is no longer available and they don't know if (or when) they will get it back in. Even if they do I'll have to pay the new price.

So, my order has been cancelled, even though it stated it was available at the time I made the order. Do I have any comeback on this or is it just a case of tough luck?

[theaxe]

If you haven't paid yet then I think it's tough luck. Even if you have paid then their T&Cs are probably in their favour.

QuidCo will give you 4% back on an Apple, not as good as 15% but it's a start. Remember to order this year before the VAT increase.

[HellDiver]

There's a lot of supply issues with the iMac - ordering off Apple directly is showing post-Xmas delivery dates once the order is confirmed, not the 2-3 days showing on the Store page. Or so I've read on a few Mac forums.

[arun1uk]

Speak to the OfT. If you buy an item online, once you receive the item you have 7 days to cancel the purpose contract, and you are entitled to all your money back, including any P&P you paid. The only thing you should have to pay is delivery back to the supplier. This rule is valid for any item bought online.

If you cancelled before you received the item, it's a different matter...you may want to speak to the Office of Fair Trading to get some advice if you are worried

good luck

[Mr Will]

arun1uk said:

Speak to the OfT. If you buy an item online, once you receive the item you have 7 days to cancel the purpose contract, and you are entitled to all your money back, including any P&P you paid. The only thing you should have to pay is delivery back to the supplier. This rule is valid for any item bought online.

If you cancelled before you received the item, it's a different matter...you may want to speak to the Office of Fair Trading to get some advice if you are worried

good luck

...you might want to read the OP in future, not just the title!

[Paul 2000]

marctwo: they might have done you a favour at the moment. I've got one of the new iMac's and although it's a minority of those delivered some have got serious issues - as has mine. There are reports all over the web of screen flickering problems (my problem), screens with a yellow tinge, noisy hard drives, cracked screens on delivery. Apple are being deafeningly quiet about the problems and have not acknowledged what the problem with the screen issues is caused by although they have apparently sorted the cracked screens on delivery problem. There are people that are on their third or fourth replacement and they're still not right. In short, if you haven't parted with any cash I'd breathe a sigh of relief and hang on until the problems are sorted. Take a look at this 100 page thread!!

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=...

[evenflow]

I think (and I could be wrong here) that if you have paid for an item (including the 15% discount) then you have entered into a contract with the supplier. If the supplier then fails to honour this contract they may be liable.
In other words, I believe they should honour the 15%.
NB: I am not a lawyer.

[marctwo]

Paul 2000 said:

marctwo: they might have done you a favour at the moment. I've got one of the new iMac's and although it's a minority of those delivered some have got serious issues - as has mine. There are reports all over the web of screen flickering problems (my problem), screens with a yellow tinge, noisy hard drives, cracked screens on delivery. Apple are being deafeningly quiet about the problems and have not acknowledged what the problem with the screen issues is caused by although they have apparently sorted the cracked screens on delivery problem. There are people that are on their third or fourth replacement and they're still not right. In short, if you haven't parted with any cash I'd breathe a sigh of relief and hang on until the problems are sorted. Take a look at this 100 page thread!!

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=...

Yes, I read all this stuff and figured the delays would mean I might get a working machine. Even if I got a dud I could get it replaced. Sure it's hassle but for the sake of a £250 discount I'd put up with it.

Looks like I'll have to go the Apple/Quidco route before the VAT goes back up. Might also end up going for the i7 instead of the i5 but I'll have to read more to see if it's worth it.

[marctwo]

evenflow said:

I think (and I could be wrong here) that if you have paid for an item (including the 15% discount) then you have entered into a contract with the supplier. If the supplier then fails to honour this contract they may be liable.
In other words, I believe they should honour the 15%.
NB: I am not a lawyer.

This is what I thought. They have refunded my money (without telling me) and claim the it is 'no longer available'. I think they just realised they had sold it too cheap and cancelled on me.

[StevieBee]

marctwo said:

I think they just realised they had sold it too cheap and cancelled on me.

Think you may be right. It is very rare to find any thing Mac significantly cheaper from one place to another.

I've been using and buying Macs since the early 90s and would never use anything else (although I'm not one of those users that go on about Macs being better than PCs - just personal preference). I'd also say that going to a Mac Store pays dividends. They know their stuff and IME, very helpful.

I have a white iMac and a while back, the screen went. It was 18 months over the warranty so I took it in expecting (and willing) to pay for repair. They replaced the screen free of charge and gave me a new keyboard as they had spotted an early fault with the existing one.

[Parrot of Doom]

Paul 2000 said:

marctwo: they might have done you a favour at the moment. I've got one of the new iMac's and although it's a minority of those delivered some have got serious issues - as has mine. There are reports all over the web of screen flickering problems (my problem), screens with a yellow tinge, noisy hard drives, cracked screens on delivery. Apple are being deafeningly quiet about the problems and have not acknowledged what the problem with the screen issues is caused by although they have apparently sorted the cracked screens on delivery problem. There are people that are on their third or fourth replacement and they're still not right. In short, if you haven't parted with any cash I'd breathe a sigh of relief and hang on until the problems are sorted. Take a look at this 100 page thread!!

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=...

And there was me, a poor linux user, thinking that Macs "just worked".

[Paul 2000]

Parrot of Doom said:

And there was me, a poor linux user, thinking that Macs "just worked".

Absolutely true... except when they don't

[marctwo]

Well there is a happy ending to this story. I never managed to get them to re-instate my order but I checked online on the 31st December (15% VAT) and they had the iMac showing as available again. This time I managed to find a 20% off code as well as 8% quidco. Bargain!! Posting this from my lovely new iMac i5

[Mattygooner]

I would use wax instead, it is easier to do those tricky bits round the ankles...

[TheCarpetCleaner]

Parrot of Doom said:

Paul 2000 said:

marctwo: they might have done you a favour at the moment. I've got one of the new iMac's and although it's a minority of those delivered some have got serious issues - as has mine. There are reports all over the web of screen flickering problems (my problem), screens with a yellow tinge, noisy hard drives, cracked screens on delivery. Apple are being deafeningly quiet about the problems and have not acknowledged what the problem with the screen issues is caused by although they have apparently sorted the cracked screens on delivery problem. There are people that are on their third or fourth replacement and they're still not right. In short, if you haven't parted with any cash I'd breathe a sigh of relief and hang on until the problems are sorted. Take a look at this 100 page thread!!

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=...

And there was me, a poor linux user, thinking that Macs "just worked".

Tell you what, Acer eeepc with Ubuntu 9.10 netbook remix - absolutely bulletproof. Used as my field laptop for offsite work.

This thing has been dropped, immersed in water, thrown around in a rucksack, trodden on by a very fat heavy git (me), and used daily for over 8 months. Apart from scratches on the casing, it has never missed a beat. As for the operating system, it has hosted various virtual boxes, and been abused to within an inch of its life testing what is possible, stable as anything and boots up in less than a minute from cold.

Bit tacky looking but I would definately get one again for the purpose!