Wow. That's all I can say is wow. I've seen a lot of screwed up mail order comanies on the Internet but PCMall has just made the top of my list. I mean really, how hard can they make it go buy their lousy product? I've tried twice so far to give PCMall a good size chunk of my money and both times the've just screwed it up royally. And I'm not the only one, I've found hundreds of others out there that PCMall has screwed, they just have less ability to voice their complaint about PCMall than I do.

HUGE NUMBER OF ITEMS ARE BACKORDERED The biggset thing with PCMall is that if you don't decipher their odd little system of glyphs you have absolutly no idea that an item is going to be backordered. I was even looking for some indication after PCMall burned me the firs time and I didn't see it. It wasn't until I was actually writing this page that I finally looked up what these stupid sun/moon/telephone icons were next to each product. Now that I have that information I am astonished that they don't even have most of their Internet catalog merchandise in stock! In fact, it looks like they have fewer than half the items in stock that they have listed on my search. So it looks like if you go blindly ordering from them without knowing what you are doing you run about a 50% chance of getting backordered on any given item, at least on the items I've looked at.

NO RESPONSE TO EMAILS So after my PCMall order failed to show up (no, PCMall doesn't bother to email you and tell you they screwed up) I figured out my stuff had been backordered by going back online and checking my order status. I emailed PCMall and asked them to send a substitute. After waiting for a response from the PCMall 24 hour support center, I noticed the PCMall web site says they don't respond to email for 24 hours, so I waited some more. I sent PCMall THREE separate emails and not one of them got any response, not after 24 hours, not ever. Talk about lousy customer support.

CREDIT AUTHORIZATION PROBLEMS There are two completly separate things screwed up about the PCMall credit authorization system. First, aparently you don't get immediate feedback that there was a problem. Once again after my SECOND order from PCMall failed to show up I went online to find out why and found that my order had been declined. That was the first problem. The second was the lame ass reason they gave when I called them up, there is a three digit code on the back of my credit card that they call a security number. PCMall even has a sample picture of the friggin thing in case you are too stupid to figure it out. Now I've had to find this thing once before to place an order through PCMall so I know just where it is. I even double checked that code before sending in my order and the next page told me everything was perfect. So why is it that the only lame reason they can give about why my order didn't show up is that this security code was incorrect? Bullshit. They can't tell you when you place an order that everything was processed correctly and they can't even process things correctly once they have the order. Do they have people in the back room entering this crap into a terminal by hand or what?

CATALOG PROMO PROBLEMS PCMall sends out printed catalogs with promo codes on them that they say you can use for all sorts of good things. The problem is that there is absolutly nowhere in the PCMall order process that I could find to enter these codes. Either there is no place to actually use these codes or they are so well hidden that I couldn't find them when I was carefully looking for them.

I AM NOT ALONE Oh no, I am not the only one PCMall has screwed with. Here are customer reviews from just the last few days:

Dec 5, 2003
One of the representatives was very rude and would not help me find a rebate. When my order came in (order#W1307786), one of the items was discontinued.

Dec 5, 2003
I had ordered 5 items, I got the delivery package in a very bad condition. It looks like they tried to squeeze in all the 5 items in one small box. The 100 CDR-W(item no: SUP 00328712) which i had ordered did not have a box or proper packing, it was allt

Dec 5, 2003
Item said in stock. They emailed me about billing address problem. When I emailed them back they said "no, no, order processed shipping out tonight." I called next day they said "Item in stock - problem with inventory system - will ship that day and upgr

Dec 4, 2003
I had hope that would have done a better job with my order

Dec 3, 2003
I contacted customer service about a problem with my delivery. The person told me on the phone that he would check with FedEx about the problem and call me back. Well he didn't follow up and did not call me back. I ended up resolving the issue with FedEx

Dec 2, 2003
no tracking information sat at home all day, because there wasn't any tracking information lost one whole day, due to no tracking information

Dec 2, 2003
You listed 2 free movies, with the purchase of a new Mac computer, on your web page. When I ordered my second computer I was told that I could not get the free movies. This sucks.

Nov 30, 2003
received the wrong screensaver. was supposed to get for hp and i received a mac.. how do i return and get the right one?

Nov 29, 2003
Not all items of order were delivered. No information, ie back order or "second box to be delivered" was included in box.

Nov 25, 2003
There was no indication that the product was going to be backordered or was not currently available for purchase. They (macmall) on more than one occasion tried to get me to buy a similar product at 2x the price. I think this was a bait and switch deal.L ...

Nov 20, 2003
I used a Visa Bankcard and it was rejected. I called the bank and they said there should have been no problem. I cancelled most of order and bought direct from Mac. I also object to a PCMall survey when I am a MacMall customer! The one item I attempted t ...

Nov 20, 2003
The shipping and handling rates for UPS Ground are too high--obviously due to too much "handling," rather than the actual shipping cost. I check s/h costs when making purchases and have bought from other companies instead because the total cost of the pr ...

Nov 19, 2003
1. If the item is not available, I should not be able to order it, or I should be informed how much time I have to wait for it at the time of check out. 2. As soon as an item went onto back order I should have been informed via e-mail so that I do not ke ...

Nov 19, 2003
It has taken over a week to get the product. I still don’t have it although it’s supposed to arrive tomorrow.

Nov 19, 2003
They asked me for additional documents because the credit card is billing to an address outside the US. I asked them to confirm to me whether everything was OK with the documents I sent via email, but they never did so. They did not leave a phone numberf ...

Nov 17, 2003
I purchased an Educational upgrade for Photoshop. I am qualified for an educational software purchase. For some reason, PCMall cancelled my order without even asking me any questions.

Nov 9, 2003
I attemped to order my e-mac system online and it did not appear to go through the system properly so about 6 hrs later I called and talked to a Representitive Ronald Merrill at ext 5983. He said the order did not go through so he would take my order onthe phone. I questioned him about the possibility of getting two shipments and he said that would not happen. We completed the order the shipment was made and then 2 days later I was notified of the second shipment and second charge on my credit card of te same order but tis was the one that got lost online. I was told to refuse the second shipment from ups and they would credit my card when the shipment got back to them. That cedit has yet to happen and I am concerned I will incurr a finance charge befor it happens. I really hate to do that battle next.

Nov 7, 2003
I received the product that I ordered but I have not received, a copy of the invoice nor have I received information on how I am to apply for the $10 rebate applicable to this purchase

Nov 6, 2003
My order has not been delivered though I answered e-mail twice authorizing change in printer so it could be sent on time

Nov 6, 2003
I will be receiving most of my order today, it will be missing a vital piece, which will stall my software conversion until it arrives. It is supposed to reach Mac Mall on the 10th of November 2003

Nov 4, 2003
I was told the iBook would be shipped the same day I placed the order. ALL items are backordered indefinetly. The MacMall webite still claims the items are available and will be sent out immediately. As soon as I find a similar offer elsewhere I will cancel.


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When choosing amongst credit cards it's probably a good idea to review various credit card offers before just getting the first credit line that appeals to you. You may be able to find a low interest credit card that would serve you better.