TigerDirect -- STAY AWAY FROM THEM! Going out of business while taking $1250 of my son's money!

[TheBlackAdder]

.


I wired money to Tiger Direct, on December 1st, that was money my son was saving up for a new computer. The wire was thought their business line.


We waited and waited and there was no correspondence back. Then 10 days later, they canceled the order, later finding our because the vendor suspending shipments to them. They have not sent any refund emails, a refund check, nothing back. After several emails to the sales guy, no response. I called a couple of times to get an off-shore help desk that said I would get the money in a few days.


Now, they posted that anything bought will not be subject to refunds, exchanges, etc. All Sales Final!


I called their owner Systemax, and they had another Tiger sales guy call, never confirming a refund on his voice message, just to call back.


I have the feeling that we were set up to have this money stolen from us, because they knew they were going out of business.


.

[cantbeserious]

1. PCM ACQUIRES CIRCUIT CITY CONSOLIDATOR TIGERDIRECT FOR $14 MILLION

http://www.digitaltrends.com/business/pcm-acquires-circuit-city-consolidator-tigerdirect-for-14-million/

As an apparently affordable means of staying relevant, direct marketing company PCM, Inc. has purchased TigerDirect in addition to a handful of business assets from TigerDirect’s parent company Systemax. The acquisition will officially close on December 1, 2015, costing PCM a total of $14 million. The deal is quite limited, and doesn’t give PCM the rights to any of Systemax’s cash, accounts receivable, inventory, or trade payables.

For those unfamiliar, TigerDirect is a consumer electronics retailer that, as its name suggests, sells products directly to the customer through its website and catalog. Toward the end of Circuit City’s lifespan, the former electronics storefront giant was absorbed into TigerDirect after being purchased by Systemax in 2009, interestingly enough for the same $14 million price tag.

Snip ...

[Spitfire of ATJ]

16. I guess 14 million is like a purchase at a garage sale for the 1%.

[TheBlackAdder]

24. Based on what you had posted, this doesn't look good.

"The deal is quite limited, and doesn’t give PCM the rights to any of Systemax’s cash, accounts receivable, inventory, or trade payables."

That implies to me, when Systemax closes, they loot what's left.

Besides morals, that do not exist in most businesses, it also seems to mean that PCM is not on the hook to offering me a refund.

[Hoyt]

2. That really sux. They used to be good source, but I've noticed they haven't had much of an inventory

lately. Hope your son gets his money back soon.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. I doubt they are deliberately ripping you off, but...

now that they have closed all their retail stores there is the question of whether or not they'll be around next month. This is the outfit that bough Circuit City, CompUsa, and Fry's, and no doubt they're carrying a shitload of debt and now have a cash crunch.

Some places hope that the Christmas rush will give them enough cash to move on. A lot of them lose that hope by the 26th.

Bummer, though-- I've bought stuff from them and they've been good in the past.

[SusanCalvin]

8. Huh?

Fry's is a privately held company.

http://www.frys.com/template/isp/index/Frys/isp/Middle_Topics/G1%20Store%20History

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fry%27s_Electronics

(The others I don't know about, but "Fry's" jumped out at me.)

[TreasonousBastard]

37. You're probably right...

one of the articles I saw mentioned Fry's but I may have misread it.

[PADemD]

4. Wire fraud?

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
[phone]

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/

[magical thyme]

5. since they didn't deliver the product and cancelled the order, no sale took place.

Therefore, they owe you the refund regardless of "all sales final."

Looking at their website, I see they are having major sale. Given that they are in "going out of business mode," cash flow is likely a problem so it may take more than a few days for them to have the cash for refunds and refunding is not likely to be their highest priority.

I also see they are a "google trusted" store. When you call them back you may want to keep that in mind as a warning to them. You may also be able to let paypal know, not sure since you didn't by through them, but that could give you additional leverage.

That said, I would never in a million years buy anything over the internet via cash. Credit card or paypal would give you back up in the dispute.

[TheBlackAdder]

12. Awesome point that 'no sale' transacted.

.

I used that in my email to PCM.

The bank (TD) warned me about wire transfers, but there was a sale, and we were seduced into acting quickly. I did not use PayPal. I wanted to use a credit card, but mine didn't have enough free and adding funds to it on-line would have missed the sale date.


.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. I wonder if a credit might be easier to get than a refund.

Last edited Fri Dec 25, 2015, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)

If so, take the money merchandise and run. Bird in the hand and all that.

[Egnever]

35. did you take the google guarantee?

I know when i order from new egg I am always offered a google guarantee that I take. Same with amazon.

If so you might try going that route to get your money back.

[newthinking]

25. I hope you are right, but my own experience is the laws work for the company in trouble and not the

consumer.

I have bought products a couple of times and had this happen. One time they took my order knowing they were days away from filing for bankruptcy. No product sent or even any intention to send it.
It should be considered fraud to take money knowing one cannot fulfill the order: But that is not the way the laws work. Basically it seems like once the check is cashed then it becomes part of any settlement, and most out of business settlements mean people are lucky if they get pennies on the dollar. Most of the money goes to lawyers and any corporate entities owed money.

[magical thyme]

32. that's the problem here. Not that no sale took place, but that they are obviously in trouble

and probably running 1 step ahead of their creditors, and about to go down.

You can't squeeze blood from a stone, so the money is probably already be gone.

Which is why, as I also wrote, I never, ever send cash for internet buys. Either credit card or paypal for leverage.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

42. That's why Im saying if they are still in business, get some merchandise. Anything close to...

... what they originally bargained for. It might be easier to get something they have in stock versus a check cut.

[magical thyme]

44. agreed.

[rjsquirrel]

27. I assume op paid by credit card?

Dispute the transaction, easy.

If you didn't pay by credit card, why ever not?

[WillowTree]

6. What's left of TigerDirect isn't owned by Systemax anymore.

It was sold to PCM, Inc. Try contacting them.

http://www.pcm.com/n/Contact-Us/navLinks-135

[TheBlackAdder]

9. Email sent to PCM Customer Support.

.

Thanks, I sent an email to PCM's Customer Support.

.

[WillowTree]

18. Good. I hope it helps.

Oh.........and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

[TheBlackAdder]

22. You too!

Merry Christmas!

[lpbk2713]

7. NewEgg will screw you too.

I bought an HP 4-in-1 printer from them because is was rated high in Consumer Reports magazine and because it was on sale for $222. I started installing it the next day after I received it. It worked OK on the first two PCs on the SOHO network. But it died about two hours into the setup. No sign of life after that. To make the long story short ... I sent several emails back and forth. They would take a few days to reply to mine and some of their emails just didn't make any sense, I found out later they had their reason for that. One thing mentioned in the ad that I ordered it from said "30 day no questions asked replacement guarantee". They kept asking for info I had already given them and wasting time in various other ways. They used up the 30 day return period with obvious time wasting nonsense. The one thing NewEgg didn't waste any time on was letting me know the 30 days was up and "sorry" but I would have to return it to HP. That would mean I would have to pay to send it to them and there would be no assurance they would repair or replace it at no charge. So now it sits in my garage in the original shipping box, good for nothing more than a $222 paper weight. I have bought many things from them in the past over a period of about ten years but now that I have learned my lesson I will not be so eager to buy from them in the future. That will teach me about buying anything from NewEgg in the future. Apparently $222 is a high enough price to them to make them consider ending a business relationship.

[TheBlackAdder]

10. What is going on? Both of these places used to be great to deal with. nt

[rjsquirrel]

30. NewEgg has been awful for years

Amazon killed these places. They haven't been relevant in a decade.

[Egnever]

36. Did you call new egg?

I have done thousands of dollars in business and have always had issues worked out quickly when I called.

[Reter]

11. Amazon is still the best

They always took care of me when I had a problem.

[Oneironaut]

13. I never had a problem with New Egg but I think you have to call them at that point.

I like to get a contact person. I think I had to work with the manufacturer for a video card I bought once, but they took my TV back right away and refunded. I got a TV that looked like a forklift or something crashed into it.

I wonder what they were so screwed up with for your printer? That's weird.

[snort]

17. NewEgg was great for building systems.

Now they're Amazon lite. Boards not bicycles!

[MillennialDem]

49. Last system I built was with newegg and tigerdirect parts. Granted my last system was built I think

2.5 years ago, though I did upgrade the CPU relatively recently.

[newthinking]

28. Did you use the online return form? Usually you don't even have to talk to anyone

I returned an item to newegg only a couple of months back and it went very smoothly through the online form.

[Marrah_G]

34. I have always had wonderful experiences with NewEgg

[steve2470]

51. I'm really sorry to hear your very bad experience here but....

I've been buying from Newegg for ten years now, and never had a problem.

[Codeine]

14. That's disappointing. I've considered them

my go-to source for video equipment for years and years. I hope you get this resolved to your satisfaction soon.

[George II]

19. Did you use a credit card? In most states and with most credit card companies, the consumer....

....is only liable for $50 in situations like this.

I think that since you say you "wired" the money to them, you didn't use a credit card? But if it came directly out of your bank checking or savings account, most banks have similar protections.

Check with whoever the funds came from (credit card, bank, etc.) - you may be able to get most if not all of it back.

[TheBlackAdder]

23. Thanks, George II

I was forewearned by my bank that wires offer little to no protection and returning money could take a few months, if it was sent to the wrong bank account--if they even will send it back. I never had a problem with Tiger before, and didn't expect this. I will check with my bank on Monday. Thanks again.

[rjsquirrel]

31. I recommend using a credit card

for any online purchase... Why wouldn't you?

It's at least a layer of protection plus it extends the warranty on many consumer electronics products. Why send money before you have your stuff?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

43. Years ago at the beginning of the dot com bubble burst, my partner purchased a bedroom set online.

The company went belly up while the set was in transit. They never paid the shipper. No problem, the shipping company said, just pay us for shipping and storage and you can have your set.

They wanted, iirc, $800 bucks for shipping. We told the shipper to enjoy the set.

We called Discover Card and that was that.

[LiberalArkie]

33. You might think of one of those prepaid debit cards. Works like the money order you load it up

I would think that the issuer MC or Visa would stand behind it, I would check with the company though.

[rjsquirrel]

45. Nope

Doesn't matter what logo is on the card. Do not use a debit card expecting purchase protection. You cannot dispute a debit card charge, it's like cash. No extended warranty, no rental car coverage. Debit cards are a terrible invention, and if you have credit always prefer that and just pay it off every month.

[Logical]

20. I have had good luck with Micro-center. Anyone had issues with them? nt

[Fuddnik]

21. About 6 months ago I had a problem with them.

I canceled an order for a bunch of components for a new build, within 12 hours of the order. Nothing was shipped yet. 3 days later they shipped everything....separately. It took many calls, and a lot of time on hold to get refunds on the returns. All the shipments were refused on this end, but they showed them being filled and delivered...to their address.

[Amimnoch]

26. imo, wire transfer is always the worst way to make any transaction.

Much sadness about your situation especially on Christmas. There's already a ton of info above on what you can do with the company.

I'd recommend either using your credit card, or doing the transfer through a service like paypal in the future. The single biggest drawback to using wired funds is the virtual impossibility of getting your funds back should the receiver not be cooperative, or follow through with their end of the purchase.

If you had purchased via credit card you could call your issuer and open a credit dispute. You'd have instantly received your balance back on your card, and it'd be up to tiger direct to prove the transaction and purchase item was supplied.

If you are someone who has decided to rid his/her life of credit (very understandable), then you might want to look at paying via paypal service. They have consumer protection where they will reimburse you for not having received the goods you purchased. With tiger direct, they would then have to prove to paypal that they shipped your purchase, and it was as ordered in order for paypal to pay them.

Back in my Navy days, several good friends of mine got scammed using wire transfers, and we were advised to never use them except in situations such as sending a family relative money, and you don't' care if you get the money or anything back from them for it.

[rjsquirrel]

29. Bad people

From digitaltrends.com:

"The sale [of TD to PC Mall] isn’t exactly surprising considering the recent legal problems of TigerDirect’s founders. The two brothers who pioneered TigerDirect were convicted of bribery (involving over $11 million) and other illegal practices that they concealed from shareholders. The older of the two, Carl Fiorentino, was sentenced to 80 months in prison, while younger brother Gilbert Fiorentino will spend only 60 months in the big house, and they were both required to pay back $3.06 million in restitution."

Lol.

[Initech]

41. It's all about Newegg.

Trust me, I build and maintain PCs, and I am a moderator on the website Tomshardware.com. I know what you need to buy for your budget, and how to maximize your budget to get the best PC you can buy for your dollar.

[rjsquirrel]

46. Not any more ... They suck too

They were great in the early 2000s.

I'm an old school hacker. But it no longer makes economic sense to build your own PC, certainly on the low end.

[Initech]

47. Oh not at all.

A $400 PC can get you an AMD 860K or an Intel Pentium G 4400 and a GTX 750. $1250 will get you a Intel i5-6600K and a GTX 970. That's not too shabby if you ask me.

[rjsquirrel]

52. Depends

if you value your own time at all. you can buy off the shelf for close to the same money.

The real reason is that low end desktop PCs are practically an obsolete commodity.

[bvar22]

38. Back in the 90s when I was building custom SCSI systems,

I ordered a lot of parts from them.
I had no problems with them other than their parts weren't finished very well (mother boards, cases, etc.).
I had to clean some of them up with a small grinder to smooth the edges to prevent razor cuts while handling them.

They come, and they go.
Why am I still here?

[Liberal_in_LA]

39. kick

[Initech]

40. Tiger Direct blows.

I wouldn't touch their Ultra or Systemax garbage with a 10 foot pole. But really next time you should use this site called "PC Part Picker". It will tell you where to find the best deals and where you should buy from:

http://www.pcpartpicker.com

[MillennialDem]

55. Thanks for this, I'm looking for an nvidia 970 or 980.

[Initech]

57. I have an MSI GTX 970. Great card.

For 1080P anyway. I'm upgrading to 1440P in a month or so, so I'll probably get a second one for some extra horsepower.

[MillennialDem]

58. What do you 1440p on?

[MichMan]

48. Glad I trusted my instincts

Been wanting to buy a new laptop for a year or more, but was waiting for Win 10 to be released etc.I buy few electronics, so didn't really know what I wanted and where to buy.

The one that fit my needs and budget was a Lenovo, and when searching for the best price, I was surprised to see that all the on line retailers like Amazon, B & H Photo, Adorama, Best Buy etc were within $25, except Tiger Direct (who I was not familiar with), which was $100 cheaper than all the rest and had it in stock. Usually that sets off warning signs, so I did some research and saw that Tiger had lot of complaints for back ordering and late shipping. Since I wanted instant gratification, I was hesitant to order, but the $100 was a decent amount of money.

Saw that Best Buy had a price match policy with selected competitors including Amazon and Tiger Direct! Even though I had to order on line and pay sales tax (which is OK with me since it funds state government) I still was more comfortable knowing they had a brick & mortar location in my town in case I ever had issues. Best Buy priced matched with zero issues, and it arrived just 3 days later. After seeing all the issues the OP had, I feel fortunate I did what I did. Only have had it two days, but love the Lenovo so far!

Had a publisher of periodical send me a renewal just few weeks before they shut down one time. Even though it was only $50,I was angry for a while. Feel bad for the OP as I know how he/she feels even though it is a lot more $$$. Hope it gets resolved.

[MillennialDem]

50. Wow. Not that I'd give them cash, but figured I'd check out the site to see if there were any deals

I could get from them with my debit card so I searched for video cards.

They have

2

2 video cards....

Yeah they're imploding. What a shame I tried to buy from them instead of newegg or amazon whenever possible (I always buy from the underdog to support competition).

[rjsquirrel]

53. Debit card might as well be cash folks

Last edited Sun Dec 27, 2015, 09:22 PM - Edit history (1)

A debit card offers none of the protections of a credit card even if it is branded as s a Visa debit card.

And many people believe otherwise until they try to dispute a debit card charge.

It's cash in plastic form. You spend it and it cones immediately out of YOUR money. That's why you can overdraw an account with a debit card.

[MillennialDem]

54. Ok, thanks for the warning.

[MichMan]

56. On line sales end on Jan 30, 2016 n/t