Gearbest.com - Any good?

I need to buy a new phone and this thread does not instill any confidence in a buyer with the schite going on :o
 
It's hilarious. So I've gone via PayPal and requested a refund. Cited the reason as gearbest unable to ship to an address I've frequently used for many other international etailer purchases which used Aramex.

Know what their response was (and this on PayPal):

"Thank you for your order with Gearbest. I have checked the stock availability and I'm pleased to inform you that the items you have ordered are in stock and are now ready for shipping. However, as there is a case open on your order our system has limited the shipment of your package. In order to resolve this issue kindly choose one of the following options: Option 1- If you still want us to ship your order, please kindly close the case, then we will ship your order out to you as soon as possible. Option 2- We can cancel your order and refund you in full to your PayPal account. Please kindly let us know your decision."

A bot response with no consideration on what I actually logged as an issue. Id stay far far away from gearbest ...

And at mybroadband or mods ... Please reconsider your affiliation to this company. It is the only reason I considered them like most would have.
 
adamr said:
It's hilarious. So I've gone via PayPal and requested a refund. Cited the reason as gearbest unable to ship to an address I've frequently used for many other international etailer purchases which used Aramex.

Know what their response was (and this on PayPal):

"Thank you for your order with Gearbest. I have checked the stock availability and I'm pleased to inform you that the items you have ordered are in stock and are now ready for shipping. However, as there is a case open on your order our system has limited the shipment of your package. In order to resolve this issue kindly choose one of the following options: Option 1- If you still want us to ship your order, please kindly close the case, then we will ship your order out to you as soon as possible. Option 2- We can cancel your order and refund you in full to your PayPal account. Please kindly let us know your decision."

A bot response with no consideration on what I actually logged as an issue. Id stay far far away from gearbest ...

And at mybroadband or mods ... Please reconsider your affiliation to this company. It is the only reason I considered them like most would have.
Click to expand...

It is unfortunate that you have faced issues and some others have as well towards the Christmas period. There are many people who use them often and that does include me as I generally order 1 package a week from them with no issues.

I am pushing them to find an alternative way of shipping instead of directly sending it to the client. The main reason why this would help is that the client would get the item directly once it arrives in SA instead of directly from overseas. No custom clearance, no worries about address issues, etc. I plan to have this done by mid next year after I meet with them overseas.

Apologies for the issues faced and if anybody does not want to order from them but does want items they have, contact me and I will combine my order and include any items you want. It does split shipping and save a little bit.
 
GearBestZA said:
It is unfortunate that you have faced issues and some others have as well towards the Christmas period. There are many people who use them often and that does include me as I generally order 1 package a week from them with no issues.

I am pushing them to find an alternative way of shipping instead of directly sending it to the client. The main reason why this would help is that the client would get the item directly once it arrives in SA instead of directly from overseas. No custom clearance, no worries about address issues, etc. I plan to have this done by mid next year after I meet with them overseas.

Apologies for the issues faced and if anybody does not want to order from them but does want items they have, contact me and I will combine my order and include any items you want. It does split shipping and save a little bit.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'll give it a go again once their logistics are sorted. But I find it very strange that amazon uses aramex with little issue and yet gearbest has a ton.

Also it's more than just logistical issues. Their support responses have not instilled any trust in them as a retailer. There is a nonchalant bot like chatter when one engages them ... With prepicked responses that leaves me feeling like they don't care if I buy from them or not
 
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adamr said:
Maybe I'll give it a go again once their logistics are sorted. But I find it very strange that amazon uses aramex with little issue and yet gearbest has a ton.

Also it's more than just logistical issues. Their support responses have not instilled any trust in them as a retailer. There is a nonchalant bot like chatter when one engages them ... With prepicked responses that leaves me feeling like they don't care if I buy from them or not
Click to expand...

I totally agree on their support center's responses. I have taken it up with them but didn't get to far. They are trying to see the potential of South Africa as a new market for them and to open up a local warehouse and that is what I have been trying to push for as it will resolve all shipping issues and stock can then be held locally (some stock). That means they can really compete with the local competition while prices still being low.

Regarding Aramex, the issues is not with Aramex but which the Forwarding company that GearBest use. Overseas, everybody uses forwarding companies as they get better rates as they do big bulk. Due to this, they do not directly ship with Aramex but rather use an in between company that gives them better rates. The issue is with the forwarding company (think they use a few different ones) and they cannot seem to get the address correct. Not sure if the service they are using only covers the main cities or whether they cannot handle the load, but it is not a good thing.

The worst part is that the support center is not relaying the correct message back and that is causing confusion in the whole situation.

Please do accept my sincere apologies for anybody facing issues and do know that I am trying to find a way to resolve this in the long run. I believe that GearBest does have a big range of items not available in South Africa and will find a solution or alternative.
 
Flipside said:
Click the "Dispatch Faster" button, lol.

Seriously though, my mi box took 20 days to arrive, 7 of those were gearbest, the rest Aramex.
Click to expand...

What is even the point of that button???

You can click it then when you refresh the page it allows you to click again and again and again...
 
weelzSA said:
What is even the point of that button???

You can click it then when you refresh the page it allows you to click again and again and again...
Click to expand...

Reminds me of "TURBO" on 1990's computer towers
 
GearBestZA said:
I totally agree on their support center's responses. I have taken it up with them but didn't get to far. They are trying to see the potential of South Africa as a new market for them and to open up a local warehouse and that is what I have been trying to push for as it will resolve all shipping issues and stock can then be held locally (some stock). That means they can really compete with the local competition while prices still being low.

Regarding Aramex, the issues is not with Aramex but which the Forwarding company that GearBest use. Overseas, everybody uses forwarding companies as they get better rates as they do big bulk. Due to this, they do not directly ship with Aramex but rather use an in between company that gives them better rates. The issue is with the forwarding company (think they use a few different ones) and they cannot seem to get the address correct. Not sure if the service they are using only covers the main cities or whether they cannot handle the load, but it is not a good thing.

The worst part is that the support center is not relaying the correct message back and that is causing confusion in the whole situation.

Please do accept my sincere apologies for anybody facing issues and do know that I am trying to find a way to resolve this in the long run. I believe that GearBest does have a big range of items not available in South Africa and will find a solution or alternative.
Click to expand...

Capture.PNG

Seems like your given address is still a problem for the bots...
 
I think it's just because of this December period, they probably also can't handle it

Probably from January everything should be fine. Well i hope
 
I tried to use facebook messenger because the 24 hour live chat was not very 24 hour, but now I keep on getting spam from them on it. Ive asked them nicely to stop, but it seems that channel is monitored by a bot. Ive now resorted to reporting them and turning off messages from them. I just hope it helps.
 
jouda said:
I tried to use facebook messenger because the 24 hour live chat was not very 24 hour, but now I keep on getting spam from them on it. Ive asked them nicely to stop, but it seems that channel is monitored by a bot. Ive now resorted to reporting them and turning off messages from them. I just hope it helps.
Click to expand...

I'm getting spammed by mail with their specials , yet a week later and my order status is still " packed "

Gearbest rep here trying to get things moving without much success

Doubt I'll ever deal with them again in the future.
 
@GearBestZa

And it continues ... Now I get told the item already dispatched on the PayPal resolution site . And I must wait 2-3 days before the item must get back to the warehouse ... Why must I wait for that you happen even if the item is with the 3pl. I want my money back now. This contradicts chipo response who said he will refund and I should see my money in 24/48hrs

What's up with these delay tactics and confusing messaging
 
adamr said:
@GearBestZa

And it continues ... Now I get told the item already dispatched on the PayPal resolution site . And I must wait 2-3 days before the item must get back to the warehouse ... Why must I wait for that you happen even if the item is with the 3pl. I want my money back now. This contradicts chipo response who said he will refund and I should see my money in 24/48hrs

What's up with these delay tactics and confusing messaging
Click to expand...

The item was sent to the shipping company before you requested the refund and the refund can only take place once the item is back at the warehouse. This is to ensure the item was not sent already.

Most refunds take place quickly as the item has not been shipped or moved to the shipping company. This is the normal procedure and I unfortunately cannot do much. The package should get back to them soon and they will process your refund. I have cancelled orders before but never after it left the warehouse.
 
So I literally placed another order prior to all this crap coming out with 75% of the same items and that shipping is fine when i provided the correct country code from the get go, the other items that I corrected the shipping information for Have now been refunded as they still refused...great!
 
pardus said:
Well, I have now had it, have cancelled my order and asked for a refund. After nearly 30 days and the item I ordered and paid for has still not even left the warehouse.

One of the other reasons why is that they downgraded my shipping to "flat rate shipping" ...................

Gearbest will not see me again.
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I went to Geekbuying.com on 20 Dec to order the watch I wanted after my fiasco with Gearbest (for those that haven't seen that, I ordered and paid on the 20th Nov and by 12th Dec it was still 'Processing' and by 18th Dec (28 days) it still hadn't been shipped despite being 'Packed' on the 14th. Shipping was also then changed to 'Flat Rate' from Aramex Express due to my 50+ year old postal code being "incorrect" and insurance removed).

I ordered from Geekbuying on the 20th and have just received my tracking number and notice of shipping (~2 days).

Much happier (except still no refund from Gearbest)
 
pardus said:
I ordered from Geekbuying on the 20th and have just received my tracking number and notice of shipping (~2 days).

Much happier (except still no refund from Gearbest)
Click to expand...

I'd like to follow this to completion - please update with how the customs stop went etc etc as I may end up buying a new phone from Geekbuying in the new year if Gearbest does not come right...
 
Clearly something is not well at Gearbest currently, probably growing to fast and they are running way past capacity hence all the delays and cock ups.
 
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