So, I saw this product featured on some tech blog for iPad stands, and I thought it look perfect for me and the price was great. I ordered one, but eventually had to file a chargeback with my credit card. This is, basically, what happened:
First, there's a $5 shipping fee that is sprung on you during the order. They don't list any shipping costs on the site until you are almost done with the order. Not a big deal, but the $5 "standard" shipping is 6-10 business days, and the upgrade to 2-5 business days with tracking info is $15 - more than the price of the item.
NOTE: the site now doesn't list any shipping estimates when you order, and the price is up to $5.50 for standard shipping
Aslo, the maker/seller of this product (I'm 99% certain it's just some guy in his garage) is in Canada. I have no problem with Canada or Canadians, but he makes NO mention of this when ordering. Understanding that you are buying from an international company is important when you are making shipping decisions. The site is a .com, not a .ca, and the purchase is in USD which I feel gives the impression that the product is domestic (from my point of view as an America). There's NO indication that your order is coming from Canada.
My order failed to arrive after 2 weeks, so I contacted him, with the dialof being:
"It's been two weeks and I have not received my order. Can you please check into it for me?
Thanks,
Hi,
Your order was shipped on June 14, so you should receive it shortly.
Thank you
Vince"
OK, no big deal, I'll give it a couple more days since he did verify that it was shipped.
Another week, still no product, sent an email, no reply. This went on with me sending 1-2 emails per week for 3 more weeks.
After four weeks waiting for the stand, I emailed and told him that he can respond in 24 hours with one of the following: a complete refund or reship the product with tracking and an express service, or I will file a chargeback.
This got a response.
Finally, 4 unanswered emails over 2-3 weeks and I hear from him. What could he have to say for himself??
"Hi,
I have answered your last emails, but maybe they went to your spam, so what I wrote down in these email is that your order was shipped on June 14 and that you should receive it shortly.
Thank you Vince"
I use Gmail, so my spam folder is easily searchable and saved for 30 days. I checked, nothing there from him (of course). I filed a chargeback the following morning.
It's been two weeks since then and nothing has shown up from him. If it does I will give him the opportunity to pay for return shipping and he can have it back.
Just wanted to give MR a heads-up about this company to maybe save you the hassle.
TL;DR GroovStand.com took my order, failed to indicate they were a foreign company (implied they were a US based company by charging in USD, imo), charged me $5 shipping, product never arrived, ignored my emails, lied to me about it, completely failed to offer any sort of customer service in any way shape or form. I would HIGHLY recommend you do not buy from them.
First, there's a $5 shipping fee that is sprung on you during the order. They don't list any shipping costs on the site until you are almost done with the order. Not a big deal, but the $5 "standard" shipping is 6-10 business days, and the upgrade to 2-5 business days with tracking info is $15 - more than the price of the item.
NOTE: the site now doesn't list any shipping estimates when you order, and the price is up to $5.50 for standard shipping
Aslo, the maker/seller of this product (I'm 99% certain it's just some guy in his garage) is in Canada. I have no problem with Canada or Canadians, but he makes NO mention of this when ordering. Understanding that you are buying from an international company is important when you are making shipping decisions. The site is a .com, not a .ca, and the purchase is in USD which I feel gives the impression that the product is domestic (from my point of view as an America). There's NO indication that your order is coming from Canada.
My order failed to arrive after 2 weeks, so I contacted him, with the dialof being:
"It's been two weeks and I have not received my order. Can you please check into it for me?
Thanks,
Hi,
Your order was shipped on June 14, so you should receive it shortly.
Thank you
Vince"
OK, no big deal, I'll give it a couple more days since he did verify that it was shipped.
Another week, still no product, sent an email, no reply. This went on with me sending 1-2 emails per week for 3 more weeks.
After four weeks waiting for the stand, I emailed and told him that he can respond in 24 hours with one of the following: a complete refund or reship the product with tracking and an express service, or I will file a chargeback.
This got a response.
Finally, 4 unanswered emails over 2-3 weeks and I hear from him. What could he have to say for himself??
"Hi,
I have answered your last emails, but maybe they went to your spam, so what I wrote down in these email is that your order was shipped on June 14 and that you should receive it shortly.
Thank you Vince"
I use Gmail, so my spam folder is easily searchable and saved for 30 days. I checked, nothing there from him (of course). I filed a chargeback the following morning.
It's been two weeks since then and nothing has shown up from him. If it does I will give him the opportunity to pay for return shipping and he can have it back.
Just wanted to give MR a heads-up about this company to maybe save you the hassle.
TL;DR GroovStand.com took my order, failed to indicate they were a foreign company (implied they were a US based company by charging in USD, imo), charged me $5 shipping, product never arrived, ignored my emails, lied to me about it, completely failed to offer any sort of customer service in any way shape or form. I would HIGHLY recommend you do not buy from them.
