Raru assures website downtime is hosting problem

jollyjammer42 said:
This issue can't be left to die. The truth about Raru needs to be brought into the public eye.

@Jan the website was down due to a complaint from an upset customer and not the "hosting problem" that Waine Smith has alluded to. Here is the post on Hello Peter: https://www.hellopeter.com/raru/reviews/running-scarred-4127915
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Hopefully, others take this route as well (reporting them to ISPA)

I don't dislike Raru, but if they out here scamming people and then lying about why their website was down... They deserve it.
 
RunningFromFat said:
Unhappy customer with 4 stars? What...
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Maybe the individual is happy that their method worked. It seems as though it's the only way to get money out of them at the moment.

As some have mentioned in this thread, some of the Raru co-founders were a part of TheShoppingMatrix, which also saw them being very dodgy toward the end. More info here: https://www.itweb.co.za/content/PmxVEMKXrZyqQY85

"He describes it as "disappointing" that the company has collapsed and that former CEO Wayne Smith has gone on to launch an opposition site, www.take2.co.za, which also sells DVDs, games and electronic goods."

It's also disappointing that PlayStation SA is promoting them:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1585193075298680832
 
@Jan some more weird things going on at the company:
It looks like sloppy marketing, but it also looks place a company that doesn't want anyone to contact them directly.
 
Katelknaap said:
Would take a very brave soul to order anything from them now, even if their website does come back online. All this bad press is probably the final nail for them.
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You'd think, but then there is always someone who shows up with "I've ordered with them and got my parcel 2 days later, no problems". Especially when they have a "good deal" you'll have people that already made up their mind to take the risk, so they'll read about 10 bad messages, then find 1 positive message and take that as a good omen to proceed. Only to come back later and talk about how they got scammed

Can't really do much when there are so many stupid people that'll keep supporting them.
 
jollyjammer42 said:
but it also looks place a company that doesn't want anyone to contact them directly.
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As the troubles got worse, the abuse the staff received from irate customers also apparently increased, so they've cut off those communication channels.

Pinch of salt, of course, but it sounded like a reasonable-enough explanation to me.

It's not that unusual for founders not to be on LinkedIn. Were they there before and their profiles are gone now?

The lack of Facebook updates is a red flag, agreed.
 
Jan said:
As the troubles got worse, the abuse the staff received from irate customers also apparently increased, so they've cut off those communication channels.

Pinch of salt, of course, but it sounded like a reasonable-enough explanation to me.
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Yeah the problem are the irate customers :rolleyes:
I mean probably better to just delete the messages than cut off the people complaining about your complete lack of ethics and service
 
Jan said:
As the troubles got worse, the abuse the staff received from irate customers also apparently increased, so they've cut off those communication channels.

Pinch of salt, of course, but it sounded like a reasonable-enough explanation to me.
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As others have pointed out, Raru's mismanagement started before the COVID-19 pandemic. And the owners choosing not to publically comment on your article about the refunds is one heck of a red flag.


Jan said:
It's not that unusual for founders not to be on LinkedIn. Were they there before and their profiles are gone now?
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They were on LinkedIn before - don't know when they removed their affiliation or profiles. You don't do that for a successful company...
 
The biggest board games supplier Solarpop (https://www.solarpop.co.za/) has asked Raru to remove all of their items from the site. They stopped dealing with Raru a while ago, but the online store still has all of the items listed as if there are no problems.

Recent Times Live article talks about Raru and the issues there: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/co...prices-wendy-knowlers-watch-outs-of-the-week/

Anyone check if there are still staff at Raru? Are they even being paid with all of these issues?
 
jollyjammer42 said:
The biggest board games supplier Solarpop (https://www.solarpop.co.za/) has asked Raru to remove all of their items from the site. They stopped dealing with Raru a while ago, but the online store still has all of the items listed as if there are no problems.

Recent Times Live article talks about Raru and the issues there: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/co...prices-wendy-knowlers-watch-outs-of-the-week/

Anyone check if there are still staff at Raru? Are they even being paid with all of these issues?
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Many 'failure to deliver' rants about this online retailer

According to online retailer Raru's website: “The founders each have over 15 years of experience in the online retail world in South Africa. You can expect only the best shopping experience from us.”

Loads of South Africans would no doubt disagree: they say they haven’t got the goods they bought from Raru, such as electronics, books, video games and music, and promises of refunds haven’t materialised.

There’s only one way to contact the company — via e-mail. A phone number appears on the website with this advice: “The call centre is currently not available due to Covid-19 restrictions.” Right. Huge, waving red flag there.

Megan is owed R3,800 for undelivered orders.

“I've ordered from Raru for several years because they sell hard-to-find vinyl records — I’m a collector — and though they're quite slow, I never had major issues,” she said.


“But that’s changed in the past 18 months. Several orders have failed to arrive — one of them for more than a year. After some back and forth, I cancelled all outstanding orders but no refund has been forthcoming.

“I keep getting told the refund process is not immediate. However, it feels at this stage that they're giving me the runaround.”

I’ve taken up a couple of cases with Raru recently and both times the complainants were refunded shortly afterwards.

In the most recent case, in August, I went back to the company to ask about the many other refunds due by them, including one for R11,000.

“How do you respond to the scores of complaints from people regarding lack of delivery and no refunds from Raru?” I asked. No response.

On Thursday, “Neil” posted helpful advice on HelloPeter for the many consumers complaining about having nothing to show for what they paid Raru.

“Finally got my very late refund by sending them this: 'If I do not receive my refund in 24 hours, I will do the following:

• lay a charge of theft at my local police station;

• formally request a take down notice with IPSA;

• lay a complaint with the Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman; and

• lay a complaint of fraud with your bank — Nedbank.'”

The ombud’s office has received scores of complaints about Raru since August 2021, with an increase in number recently. Many were subsequently resolved by Raru. So it seems the company responds when put under pressure, be it by a customer, the media or the Ombud’s office. But at best this online retailer is a high-risk choice for consumers
 
Sad but clearly a place to be avoided.

Hope I get my orders. Due end October, now mid-November.

To be fair I have received my items in the past, albeit late.
 
Raru was really good about 5-6 years ago, but they just went downhill faster each year after that.
 
Escalated my chargeback with my bank. Raru came back after the last outgage that their deliveries were running late ( it was only about two weeks later for international so maybe understandable ) but not with this now.
 
jollyjammer42 said:
@Jan They have closed down.
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How sure are you of this ? Above says it's a hosting issue.
Haven't ordered from them in a long time. So glad I haven't.

I recommend Loot.co.za. Love them. They even send stuff way ahead of schedule.
 
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