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Staples - Build to Order

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Julie of Smyrna GA writes (10/18/02):
I purchased a computer system from Staples Office supply on 10-07-02. I was told by salesman Misha that the computer would be delivered to the store within 5 to 7 days. When I checked the shipping status on-line, I was informed that it would not be received at the store until 10-25-02. I called the store to cancel my order and get a refund. I was informed that I "could not" cancel an order. The only way this could be handled, according to the store manager, was to refuse the order when it arrived at the store. The computer would be returned and I would be issued a refund.

In total my money would be tied up for over 6 weeks. I could have walked in another store and walked out with a computer in hand had I known this would take so long. They (Staples) keep referring to the order and a "specially made system" however I was not given any options or choises in the matter. The system was listed on their in store computer as a package deal. I have called the Presidents office (10-18-02) for assistance and was again told that there was no way to cancel the order although the item has not yet been shipped to the store. Joe Tomaski also refused to put me on hold so that I could wait for his supervisor to assist me. "Their system will not allow me to put you on hold" I was told.

Additionally, I was also informed that I would still have to pay a $75.00 the shipping charge and a 15% "restocking charge" -- can they charge me for that even though I do not want to accept the merchanise? This sounds rather illegal to me. I called far enough in advance to cancel the order before they had shipped it and even if I refuse delivery I still have to pay to "restock" the item? AND have to wait another 4-6 weeks to get my money back!!! Can I charge them a service charge for holding my money for so long?

I have been without a computer-- that I use in my investigative work as an investigator for the Juvenile Court of Fulton County, GA.-- for over 6 weeks already, my money has been tied up way too long already and I can not get any help from Staples.

Greg of Oakville, Ontario, Canada (4/27/02):
I recently purchased a "Build your own Proteva" computer. There are two things that I have a problem with: 1) The wireless combo that came with the system, I wanted the optical mouse, but when ordered there was no specific information given whether the combo came with the optical mouse or not, so I had to wait till the package arrived and until I got home, then did I find out that the mouse was not optical, and I had to go through the whole process of waiting another week and then exchanging that product and then paying even more to make up the difference. Considering the package I bought was in the higher end models of computers, I think the higher cordless freedom combo should be offered and included with the package.

As well, considering wireless/remote means convenience, I don't understand why any packages comes with they keyboard without volume control, I think that defeats the purpose of REMOTE. What's the point of having a remote when you have to get up and control the volume?

2)5.1 speaker system, I thought the 5.1 speaker system comes with 5 satellites and 1 subwoofers as do most other speaker system does. What came with mine was 4 satellites and 1 subwoofer. 3)This is just a suggestion, I actually wanted a different colour computer other then the typical whitish tower, I wanted black, and now, considering my optical combo is black, they don't really match, but that's not too important.

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