Customer service is lacking and horrible.

Firstly, it seems customer service is lacking and horrible.

Reason being- on 18th July, I purchased a RAM module on their website to have it delivered 3-4 days in Cape Town. I received a sale invoice and the usual for confirmation of my order. I waited for 4 days, it has not arrived. I phoned the delivery team, and they said the order was not processed and I was forwarded to sales. Spoke with Sales and they indicated it was a warehouse issue/delay that my order was not processed. Ok, understandable, perhaps load-shedding.

Few hours later, I received an email from the Account Manager, that I will receive my order on the 27th July 2022. That on quote, "Kindly note that we have experienced a slight delay with invoicing and dispatching of your order. We are working on having your order delivered to you as soon as possible. We expect this item to be delivered to you by 27 July." That's good, so I will definitely receive my order or so I thought. Remember, I already paid for this in full, so I should receive my order.

Fast forward to Monday, the 25th July 2022. I receive a new email from them. They said that the RAM module, I bought from First Shop is on backorder as stock has been sold out. That these units are end of life and will not be restocked. They ask if they should quote on a replacement or cancel for a refund. So, since I bought this for my PC in University to do work. I requested a comparable RAM module at a comparable price. They proceed to send me a quotation for a module for a laptop! The RAM, I ordered was for a desktop not a laptop!

I then discovered that on their bidorbuy website, they sold 3 units of the RAM module, so I inquired about it and why that order was fulfilled and possibly delivered, where my one was not. I ordered from their website which is their flagship and it was ordered when it was indicated that it was in stock. So why did they have stock for bidorbuy but not their website? It does not make any sense. Did they take priority over it than their own website?

I then received an email from them about it. They said on quote:

"Our system updates available stock quantities once a day, which is usually around 02h00 in the morning.

Our ERP (Accounting) System is unfortunately not connected and in sync with our website. Therefore, sales that occur during the course of the day either on bid or buy or our website, is not amended on the website until the following day, delaying the update of available quantities. This does cause customers to place orders for stock that appear to be available, but in fact is not. It is currently receiving priority attention and our developers are working hard on resolving this matter. "

That is completely utterly ridiculous. I was not told of this on the day or at least the next day with regards to my order. I had to phone in to inquire about my order. It shows that when customers place an order for an item, there is no guarantee that there is stock available to them. This cause so much uncer*****y and ambiguity to current and future customers. What happens if a customer who is not aware, waits after 3-4 days to receive an order that was in fact not in stock, payment was cleared and will never be in stock again? What happens if it an emergency order? What happens? I am to believe the amount of chaos there will be.

How can a company function like that? Where they make sales but there is no stock?

I then proceed via email, that the order is cancelled and that I receive my money in full. It also doesn't make sense now to request a quotation on a replacement with such uncer*****y and delay my work further.

Today, I then received a new email with a letter requesting my ID and my bank statement, in order for them to verify and transfer my money? There was no such thing in their term's and condition about that? It seems, this new letter is only released and shown when a refund is processed. Not indicated at all in the T&C's.

I then with my patience running thin, requested to have it please reversed back to my bank account as it is ridiculous with especially with what has occurred already.

I hope I will get my money as this just pure ***** and a waste of time.

So in summary. If you want to order, you may risk it but you may never get it as it may not be in stock. Their internal system is horrible. You may have to phone in to check up on it. You will go ridiculous hurdles to get your money back. You may or may not get your money back. Their customer service and understanding is horrible. You will waste your time. Just move on and go to another shop and order/buy from them.

I wish everyone to stay safe and take care. I hope this situation does not and will not happen to current and future customers.

Kind regards.