Compass24.com - Beware

[Gubbo]

I've just been on the receiving end of extremely poor service from compass watersports, the mail order chandler advertised by our chums at YBW.

In essence, I placed a web order for some binoculars and received a confirmation e-mail with delivery expected within 7 days. When I contacted them 11 days later to find out where my purchase was, I was curtly told that they did not have any and would not be getting any in either. When I asked why I had not been told this, the explaination was given that there is no facility on the web service to inform customers of these facts. The lady went on to say that I would not have had this problem if I had phoned my order through...great web-site!

OK, so I feel let down and now have to go on my next sailing trip without binoculars. I'm sure that there are plenty of satisfied compass customers out there, but please bear this in mind if you are ordering something that you simply must have by a certain date....Compass won't tell you it ain't coming.

Good luck

Rich

For details of my boat see www.sailpast.co.uk

 

[jimi]

try www.MonkOptics.co.uk

I found their prices & service excellent.

 

[pvb]

You could try AllGadgets...

www.allgadgets.co.uk have a good range of binoculars. It's a small outfit and will probably give good service, with some application of common sense! I've never used them though.

 

[Guest]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

Wouldn't use him as a matter of principal. He spams uk.rec.sailing and the subscribers and he spams here as well.

Regards,

Peter
http://www.mistressofmourne.com

 

[numenius]

Having only used their telephone service, I've always had good service from them in the past. However, thats really shoddy service you relate - perhaps you should e mail them (obviously a concept they had not thought of to inform you they had no binos in stock) and give them an opportunity to explain on this forum in reply?


http://members.lycos.co.uk/boaty1965/index.htm

 

[pvb]

Hmmm, he\'s never spammed me (nm)

 

[dickh]

Re: Allgadgets...cheap flares...

Never had any dealings with Allgadgets but he is advertising cheap in date flares - 2 years to go -he's apparently bought up lots of flares from the receivers of Sowester.

 

[JerryHawkins]

Re: Monk Optics

Just got a pair of Nautilus Compass bins from them - SWMBO got them for me for my Birthday!!

Under £200 - they float and are guaranteed for 10 years!!! Tried them yesterday - brilliant, very bright image and compass easy to read - reasonably stable too for it size.

Cheers,

Jerry

 

[milltech]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

Peter it's not spam to respond to a query with a solution even when it's commercial. I do it and will continue to do it until Kim asks me not to, which he has not done yet. You also use "spams" in the plural when in fact I only sent a message to uk.rec.sailing once and did not appreciate that it was against the charter, (as I'm sure you know its not against the charter of uk.rec.boats.power).

As a matter of fact it's probably wasn't real spam at all since it was on-topic, but that's another discussion all of its own. Amongst other things people post problems here, if I can make a small profit by providing a solution I have done my bit to make this forum work. A small bit and a self advancing bit, but so what?

We can provide a solution to his problem, and the reason is that we have a tiny range, keep it all in stock, and the Night Vision, Clothing, Binoculars and Dividers all come direct from original source. I'm also prepared to stump up big chunks of cash for deals, like with the flares mentioned elsewhere. I am not, like Compass, a universal chandler, nor am I trying to be. I am an e-Commerce operator and like to find my business in Internet locations because that's where the customers are!

John

 

[Joe_Cole]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

Peter,

All Gadgets responded to a posting which I put on the forum. It was helpful and constructive and I had no problem whatsoever with it.

As it turned out I took them up on the offer and they even offered to let me have the goods on a "try it and return it basis" if necessary.

As a matter of principle I would use them again! I wish there more suppliers like them

Joe Cole

 

[Guest]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

Fair enough. I have no problem with anyone trying to make a living but I do object when people use this sort of forum or Usenet for commercial purposes. Most people with a commercial interest use their signature as a pointer to their website whilst contributing to the community. They don't reply with "I can sell you that" to requests for information and they don't spam your e-mail.

My opinion, yours is equally valid. I won't buy from him as won't many other people who might otherwise have done. If this approach is allowed to proliferate the forum will eventually be overrun with commercial posts. I don't intend to help that happen, others can do as they like.

Regards,

Peter
http://www.mistressofmourne.com

 

[Guest]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

>Peter it's not spam to respond to a query with a solution even when it's >commercial.

Suddenly an expert, 3 weeks ago you, apparently, didn't know you couldn't post commercial ads on Usenet

> I do it and will continue to do it until Kim asks me not to, which he has not done >yet. You also use "spams" in the plural when in fact I only sent a message to >uk.rec.sailing once and did not appreciate that it was against the charter

I don't believe you. You had been around while several other people were lambasted for spamming, you just didn't give a toss. You also uplifted my (and no doubt others) e-mail address from the newsgroup and spammed that.

>, (as I'm >sure you know its not against the charter of uk.rec.boats.power).


You're right, uk.rec.boat.power allows short (less than 12 lines) on topic commercial posts no more than once a month. Your ad was longer AND cross posted, therefore spam.

>As a matter of fact it's probably wasn't real spam at all since it was on-topic, but >that's another discussion all of its own. Amongst other things people post >problems here, if I can make a small profit by providing a solution I have done >my bit to make this forum work. A small bit and a self advancing bit, but so >what?

I have no problem with anyone making a living as long as it's not at the expense of others. You want to advertise? Pay for it like everyone else.

>We can provide a solution to his problem, and the reason is that we have a tiny >range, keep it all in stock, and the Night Vision, Clothing, Binoculars and Dividers >all come direct from original source. I'm also prepared to stump up big chunks of >cash for deals, like with the flares mentioned elsewhere. I am not, like Compass, >a universal chandler, nor am I trying to be. I am an e-Commerce operator and >like to find my business in Internet locations because that's where the customers >are!

You openly admit you're here for commercial purposes, I need say no more.

Regards,

Peter
http://www.mistressofmourne.com

 

[Guest]

3 complaints in as many days. After a flurry of activity from the YBW chaps it's all gone very quiet. Maybe customer service isn't as important as the mighty dollar. Compass themselves certainly don't give a toss, I had a nine day wait for a guarenteed 2 day delivery table that had been kicked to death in transit. Compass response, "sad news". I have 80 quids worth of table that had to be repaired before it could be used. Pathetic.

Regards,

Peter
http://www.mistressofmourne.com

 

[chippie]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

PTK, You say you have no problem with people making a living as long as its not at the expense of others. Wooly thinking there I'm afraid, Its always at the expense of others---thats an economy at work. I have no relatinship with the firm you take exception to and am unlikely to use them as I live on the other side of the world. His actions on other forums have no relevance here.
I think his (albeit commercial) responses here offer personal service that, from what I have read on this and other forums, often seems to be lacking in Britain, and very good prices. Why do you have a problem with that?

Fair winds and good sailing to you.

 

[milltech]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

Peter your mail is quite untrue, I will make only two comments, one because it defames me and one that's personal.

I have NEVER taken an e-mail address from this or any other newsgroup or forum for any purpose.

Like most of the marine industry I also sail and I contribute here without mentioning the company name more often than I do. I am not only here for profit but also for interest as well.

John

 

[Col]

Doesn\'t offend me either NM...

.

 

[Guest]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

How did your spam end up in my mail box then?

I don't intend to continue this as I doubt it's of interest to anyone else. You keep on spamming (another good effort tonight on uk.rec.boats.power), sooner or later you'll lose your ISP connection.

Regards,

Peter
http://www.mistressofmourne.com

 

[Guest]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

I have two problems with the commercialisation of both forums (fora?) and Usenet. Firstly if you allow this guy to get away with it how on earth do you justify stopping other companies from jumping on the band wagon?

Secondly how can you know if you're getting genuinely good advice or being palmed off with some second rate, out of date knock off that is cluttering up someones stock room?. I can't help feeling that biased advice aint necessarily going to be the best, do you?

Regards,

Peter
http://www.mistressofmourne.com

 

[Joe_Cole]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

Surely that means that you can never buy anything from a chandlers, or a stand at a show. Everyone will be biased!

You just have to take a view on the character you are dealing with.

I did. He was OK.

I think we'll have to agree to differ.

Regards

Joe Cole

 

[Guest]

Re: You could try AllGadgets...

The difference is that I will approach a chandler for a particular item or advice on a particular item.

Imagine the situation where we have half a dozen milltechs seeling all sorts of stuff. The guy who asked why his boat won't point immediately gets told by an "expert" that his sails are crap. They may or may not be, who knows. Similarly the guy who asks about white exhaust smoke "your engines knackered mate, buy a new one from me.

The trouble is that the reputable dealers won't resort to this form of spamming so the likelyhood is that not only will the "expert advice" be flawed but the product flogged is likely to be substandard and unsuitable.

By all means we can agree to disagree but as more and more posts get the "you need to buy this product from me" replies you will find it all but impossible to stop.

As Harry Enfield says "is that what you want 'cos that's what'll happen.

Regards,

Peter
http://www.mistressofmourne.com