MES Ltd and why I will never buy from them again

P4Paul

P4Paul

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I went to the boat show to buy a Standard Horizon CP300i chart plotter with chart and went to the MES stand as they had told me they would be some show special offers.

The yound lady who appeared to have good product knowledge told me that they were the cheapest supplier at the show (£689.99) and I wouldn't find the plotter at a better price elsewhere, but if I did, come back and see them as they would do a deal.

I took up the challenge and quickly found Marine Super Store selling the plotter and chart for £609.99, I went back to MES as instructed and told the guy behind the counter.

He looked at me like I was something he had stepped in, put his hand in his pocket, took out his wallet, put his credit card on the counter and told me to go and buy him 100 plotters. He then looked at his mate and turned back and laughed at me.

Needless to say Marine Super Store got a new customer and MES due to their staff member hacking me off so much lost one.

The marine industry needs to wake up and understand that they can't keep treating their customers like idiots with open wallets and instead treat us with the respect our custom deserves.

MES and their sister companies Cactus Navigation and RayDirect are now off my suppliers list for good.
 
What absolute crass stupidity! They have just lost a possible sale and got themselves on here, with a bad post, crazy.
 
I agree absolutely stupid, however I have dealt with them for a few years and found them nothing but helpful and efficient.

Unfortunately 1 bad apple does spoil the whole barrel.
 
Extraordinary behaviour.
I did buy from them, dealt with the same young lady (I think there was only one) and she did drop the price of what I bought to match that on another stand.
I think you should email your comments to them.
 
It may well be that the "guy on the counter" was hired to staff the stand just for the show.Even so, that is no excuse for such apalling behaviour and may well merit a word to the management -- but perhaps they don't care either. My list of people with whom I wish to deal grows shorter every year and it's not just about the money. It would be due justice if the bad guys went out of business but they seem to continue to get away with it. Perhaps its a British thing of not wishing to make a fuss and putting up with things. I wonder what would have happened if the counter guy had tried the same trick on a Frenchman?
 
That's just unbelievable :eek:

I had similar poor treatment from an ICOM salesman at the London show a few years ago. We were talking about a handheld I was interested in replacing and when I asked why they were seemingly poorly constructed (three models I know of had had the very same problem) he just blanked me mid conversation and stood there silently looking straight ahead. :confused: Wouldn't say another word...
 
Now I have done my time at exhibitions manning stands, too often I think over the last 35 years, but however bad it is and however stupid the punters appear to be there is no excuse for that sort of behaviour.

Now they do not often appear on my buying horizon because they invariably want a few pounds more than their competitors.
 
P4Paul said:
I went to the boat show to buy a Standard Horizon CP300i chart plotter with chart and went to the MES stand as they had told me they would be some show special offers.

The yound lady who appeared to have good product knowledge told me that they were the cheapest supplier at the show (£689.99) and I wouldn't find the plotter at a better price elsewhere, but if I did, come back and see them as they would do a deal.

I took up the challenge and quickly found Marine Super Store selling the plotter and chart for £609.99, I went back to MES as instructed and told the guy behind the counter.

He looked at me like I was something he had stepped in, put his hand in his pocket, took out his wallet, put his credit card on the counter and told me to go and buy him 100 plotters. He then looked at his mate and turned back and laughed at me.

Needless to say Marine Super Store got a new customer and MES due to their staff member hacking me off so much lost one.

The marine industry needs to wake up and understand that they can't keep treating their customers like idiots with open wallets and instead treat us with the respect our custom deserves.

MES and their sister companies Cactus Navigation and RayDirect are now off my suppliers list for good.
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Congratulations on naming and shaming. Too many firms get away with poor service because very few people have the conviction to give full details on these forums. From the company point of view I am sure they would rather know about a complaint, even if it is made public here, so they can take remedial action.

And don't forget, they do have the right to reply and put their side of the story if they feel they have been treated unjustly.
 
AlanRD said:
Congratulations on naming and shaming. Too many firms get away with poor service because very few people have the conviction to give full details on these forums.
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Seconded - naming & shaming does help.
Two years ago received similar treatment from TackTick at LIBS (warranty issue). Aired my displeasure on here - got a very apologetic e-mail from TackTack the very next day. They could not have been more helpful after that.
 
Comment from Marine Electronic Services Ltd

Marine Electronic Services works very hard not only to supply products at very competitive prices but also to provide an expert and friendly service for all of its customers.

As most hardened exhibitors will tell you, it is sometimes important to have a little light-hearted, friendly banter with the customer. However, and as this thread proves, it is not always taken in the right way!

The sales person involved remembers the customers visit to the stand and has made the following comment:

'Firstly, I would like to apologise to 'PAUL' for any distress I may have caused. But I honestly believe that my comments at the time were completely misunderstood! I do remember 'PAUL' approaching me on the stand asking me to match a price that he had found elsewhere at the show. Always eager to try and make a sale, I proceeded to look up the price on our internal price guide. To my amazement the quote 'PAUL' had was well below our cost price and I proceeded to inform him that we would be unable to match the price and even showed him the cost price on our internal price guide. 'PAUL' simply looked like he didn't believe me so to tried and make a point. I proceeded to remove my wallet and take out my credit card and asked him to go and purchase some for us as well! This, was not intended in anyway to be provocative or insulting it was just my own personality and sense of humour that was obviously just taken in completely the wrong way, for which I completely apologize. Anyway, 'PAUL' then left the stand, although disappointed that we were unable to match his price but what on what I felt were good terms. I personally aim to help customers is which ever way I can and 99% of the time am able to achieve this.

It is upsetting however, to see this type of feedback, I can only hope that the majority of our customers will already know what great service Marine Electronic Services provides and once again I can only apologize for any conflict of personality or misunderstanding that occurred.'

The sales person above is genuinely upset about the comments made by 'PAUL' and has learned a valued lesson in customer service.

As it turns out the truth about the cheaper price offered by Marine Super Store was that they had some old stock which dated back to before Standard Horizon increased there prices across the board and on this rare occasion we were legitimately unable to match the price.

I would also like to apologise to 'PAUL' on behalf of Marine Electronic Services for any miss-understanding and inconvenience caused.
 
The employees memories of the conversation is not as I remember it and certainly at no time did he appear to refer to any 'price guide' let alone proceed to show me such a thing.

Making up the story just hacks me off even more or perhaps he has mistaken me for another customer he treated the same way.

To MES, thank you, I appreciate the post and the apology.
 
P4Paul said:
He looked at me like I was something he had stepped in, put his hand in his pocket, took out his wallet, put his credit card on the counter and told me to go and buy him 100 plotters. He then looked at his mate and turned back and laughed at me.
Click to expand...

I'd have picked up his card, said "OK, see you in five, only a hundred was it?" walked off and dropped his card in the nearest bin......

There is no excuse for poor customer service, ever!
 
I'd say hats off to MES for looking into it and making a public appology. Many wouldn't bother.
I must admit though, if the events were as originally described, I would have been tempted to take his card, ask for the pin and buy 100......... then do a runner while he counted the remaining 99.
 
What ever the wrongs and rights of it, good to see a company come on here and "face the public".

I've come a cross similar pricing "issues" before. I bought a handheld, navtex and DSC VHF from an online store. I asked my local electronics guy for a price as I like to support my local firms where I can, he couldn't even get them wholesale for the price the web company was charging!

I also lucked in on a calorifier. As it was the last one of last years stock, the chandlers let me have it at last years price; some £100 less than the "new price". Very decent of them!

The above I'm sure I've been fleeced more than once! (If you are after a soft head deck brush, go to your local car excessory store. Miles cheaper than a "yachtie" model)
 
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