Poor merchants SimpleElectronics, RedTabletPC and bad tablet Ployer Momo11 Bird

[zjed]

This is the first time I've bought an item of this value from a chinese internet merchant and it will probably be the last.

I first ordered a tablet from SimpleElectronics after confirming by email that they had it in stock.
After 5 days without it been shipped (they advertise 1-2), I got an email saying :-

"Upon packing your order, we had discovered that the Tablet was damaged, and therefore had to be returned.
Unfortunately, the replacements are not expected to arrive within any short period of time."

Their "real time" stock report said they had 26 of them, but they still couldn't provide it or any similar tablet, like the 16gb version which had 13 in stock.
I eventually cancelled the order and it took me 3 weeks and a paypal dispute to get my money refunded.
Even a week after they couldn't ship my order, their "real time" stock report said they had 19 tablets so I presume there are 5 or 6 other poeple stuck in the same situation and more to come.

I thought that was a 1 off and decided to try another merchant, redtabletpc.
I bought the tablet using a $10 coupon I found on the net and UPS shipping, after everything was processed I got an email asking me to pay the extra $10 as the coupon I uses was for a different tablet.
I said I'd give him a good review if everything went well and he waved the $10. He said it was shipped the next day.
After 4 days of asking for a tracking number I got an email saying :-
"You UPS package customs fines 50$ , because battery limits, we need pay fines for you .
Today my colleague change to DHL ship to you . you will received next week . "

So he paid a $50 fine and then shipped it with different company??? I don't think so.
He also told me my name and address was on "a list" which UPS wouldn't deliver to. Which excuse is it?

I did receive my tablet 3 or 4 days later, a Ployer Momo11 Bird.
This tablet has a shocking wifi range, I can only get a slowish browsing connection when I'm up to 3 meters from the router. At 5 meters, the wifi connection stops working and eventually drops out.
I've tried multiple routers, channels and firmware without improvement. Other android devices receive signal and operate at 3-4 times the distance from the router.

I contacted both Ployer & redtabletpc to resolve the issue. Saying I would like a refund if it can't be solved.
Ployer wiped their hands of it and said contact redtabletpc. redtabletpc said :-
"We contact ployer and talk about wifi range, they told us wifi have no any problem . they let us wait for new firmware.
Please patient wait for firmware. because return is not good choose , high shipping cost& Import tariffsand, maybe tablets will be destruction of China customs, they very corruption,"
This doesn't make sense, how will they fix the problem if they don't believe there is a problem?

I waited for the next firmware, which made on difference.
redtabletpcs latest email says :-
"I admit that the WIFI signal is not strong, but WIFI is usable. WIFI is not bad, WIFI is also a common problem. Why do other users say is acceptable. Please be patient and wait for the latest firmware will solve the problem of WIFI."

I don't care what other people say, the tablet they sent me doesn't work properly and it should be replaced or refunded.

So, I have a tablet without usable wifi, a merchant who wont accept returns on bad products and a manufacturer who doesn't believe their product has a problem.

My advice to anyone looking to purchase a tablet is to pay the extra $20 and get it from a local merchant.
At least then you have a chance of a refund or replacement when the product is not up to scratch and you can let them have the headaches of dealing with the distributors and manufactures.

[sando7]

wow what a mess to have to deal with.....i had a Terrible experience with Pandawill but it was finally resolved to my satisfaction...yet i will never order from them again.....on the other hand my experience with McBub was great with amazing delivery time to the USA & no problems, yet i do not know how they handle problems/returns, that would be the true test.........i was already leary about redtablet & you confirmed what i thought.......bottom line is it's a gamble i guess...my latest purchase is coming from Newegg and i know from personal experience they stand behind what they sell....
sure hope your situation gets resolved & thanks for the heads up.

edit: after reading the post below.... i will reconsider about future dealings with McBub...maybe i just got lucky on my purchase.....

[yellowperil]

I think its all random, I have used a few china resellers, Merimobiles sent me my a10t never had any issues with it at all, but took long time to arrive when I paid for express delivery (so wasnt happy there)
McBub, a complete freaking nightmare, and I still do not have the issue resolved 2 months later, I would never ever recommend this store to anyone :-

1 - send me a dead tablet
2 - they told me I could open it and fix it myself (mmmm not happy but better than sending it back if I can fix myself)
3 - takes 3 weeks for them to send me a video on how to do this
4 - I fix the tablet and get it running
5 - inform them, no apology from them, just no response....ignored
6 - find out the tablet they send me as advertised with ICS has GB on it
7 - inform them of this
8 - get an email saying they are out of stock and to wait
9 - 3 weeks later get email saying they will send me the link to the file on monday
10-multiple ignored emails on the firmware issue
11-2 weeks later still waiting for the link for the firmware with instructions on how to flash.

Overall my son still has a tablet that works but does not have ICS on it which was one of the primary reason of buying this tablet from McBub.

COMPLETE BUNCH OF $&$% ( if you ask me, never a "is there anything we do to say sorry", basically ignored for weeks on end ).

Now they mis-sold the item (stated ics is was not, and doesn't even appear to be supported), so in my eyes these guys are mis-representing items they are selling, I would never ever recommend them, I would even tell you to avoid them like the plague.

Buying an item is only one part of the company, getting support from them is another, and if both are not up to scratch, stay away from them....

I may change my tune if I ever decide to use them again, but it I don't know, my first experience with them is ongoing 2 months and still no resolution.

[zjed]

It's really a gamble buying from these guys. If you have any problems you have no come back. I'm trying to decide if I should raise a PayPal dispute with redtabletpc

[Tharm82]

When in doubt, file a dispute. You can always cancel the dispute if you luck out and everything works out in the end.

[zjed]

Just got an email from redtabletpc saying :-
"Do you want Return?
You cant return ,because you order more 1 week."

2 days after receiving the tablet and wanting to return it, he said :-

"Please patient wait for firmware. because return is not good choose , high shipping cost& Import tariffsand, maybe tablets will be destruction of China customs, they very corruption"

I emailed him the day I received the tablet saying the wifi was not acceptable and emailed him a further 13 times in the 1st week trying to resolve the issue.

I now know where the corruption is.
Hopefully a few posts like this on various forums will save people from going through the same issues and cost them a few sales.
Be warned!!!

[RedTabletPC.com]

Just got an email from redtabletpc saying :-
"Do you want Return?
You cant return ,because you order more 1 week."

2 days after receiving the tablet and wanting to return it, he said :-

"Please patient wait for firmware. because return is not good choose , high shipping cost& Import tariffsand, maybe tablets will be destruction of China customs, they very corruption"

I emailed him the day I received the tablet saying the wifi was not acceptable and emailed him a further 13 times in the 1st week trying to resolve the issue.

I now know where the corruption is.
Hopefully a few posts like this on various forums will save people from going through the same issues and cost them a few sales.
Be warned!!!

Hello
Dear zjed
Thanks for you question
1、We are trying hard to find the latest firmware to change the problem of weak WIFI signal.
3、Buyer the terms of which states that received the tablet a week later to return is invalid. Because you've been using for some time, we do not recycle your tablets for sale again.
3、We are efforts and manufacturers to get the latest firmware as soon as possible to improve the WIFI signal!

Thanks for you understand! Have a nice day!

[zjed]

I wanted to return it because its faulty, you want to resell a faulty tablet to some one else !!!!
Why would people deal with a company that resells returned faulty products?
Just this morning you said "you tablets have no any problem" and previously you said "We contact ployer and talk about wifi range, they told us wifi have no any problem"
How do they fix a problem they don't think they have?

[RedTabletPC.com]

I wanted to return it because its faulty, you want to resell a faulty tablet to some one else !!!!
Why would people deal with a company that resells returned faulty products?
Just this morning you said "you tablets have no any problem" and previously you said "We contact ployer and talk about wifi range, they told us wifi have no any problem"
How do they fix a problem they don't think they have?

I must say, Ployer is a very no responsible company, blame the dealer, WIFI antenna signal is weak. You can also prompt signal strength through the upgrading of hardware
link here:
½Ò¿ªMOMO11СÄñ°æWIFIÐźÅÈõÖ®ÃÕ£¬¼æWIFIÌìÏ߸ÄÔì¹ý³Ì¡£ - ¹ú²ú7~10´çƽ°å - iMP3ËæÉíÓ°Òô
use Google translate.

[yellowperil]

Unfortunately these things happen, worse case scenario, prove your case with Paypal and they will then resolve the issue, if you have an email trail even better for you, hopefully you won't need to let it get to that stage.

As to the poor wifi, there could be a number of issues, the OS is possibly to blame, but with the current builds on ICS most of those issues are history, do a speed test next to the router if you get a good speed constantly and no drops then its not the OS more likely bad hardware. What sort of range are you getting, use "wifi analyser" to see how far you can move away and still be in the green on the gieger counter screen, I found I have some dark spots in my house with this app, and moved my router, but you shoul dbe able to get upto 5-7 mtres away from the router without any walls blocking you (Line of sight) and still be able to use it, if not it looks more like a hardware issue.