I have a dilemma with Woot!
1TL;DR: Got burned by a shitty (supposedly) refurbed phone from Woot through Amazon, now found a refurbed laptop I want from Woot's main site, wondering is it also gonna be shit?
First, some background: Two weeks ago, I ordered a refurbished(!) unlocked Galaxy S5 from Amazon, that listed Woot as the seller. I got it last Wednesday (the 20th), and have been struggling to get it to work ever since.
The phone is not refurbished at all. It looks beat to shit, except for the screen, which I'm guessing they had to replace due to the damage sustained in all the drops, kicks, and tumbles evidenced by the damage to the frame.
It also didn't come packaged with anything but a charger. No manual, and nothing to keep it from bouncing around in its box (it was part of a larger order, which did include packing material).
The phone itself has hardware (and software?) issues that would have been fixed if it were ever actually refurbished.
Now on to my dilemma: I now see two refurbished (haha) HP gaming laptops sold on Woot's actual site. I haven't decided which one I want, but I want one. How likely is it that the laptops will be in the same state as the shitty phone they sold me? Is this kind of thing common with Woot nowadays?
That phone was my first-ever purchase from Woot, and I'm not getting a very good impression from them. I'd love to be able to talk to other people in Woot's community about this, but there doesn't seem to be one anymore; all the product pages are completely devoid of comment, even though the products are being bought.
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Post in the product thread, even if it's empty. The mods can help a little bit.
Have you contacted support@woot yet?
Woot is an absolute hit and miss. Do some research first on a laptop of similar specs at Amazon and Newegg. What's the price difference? Is sales tax a factor?
If the difference is minimal, buy elsewhere.
If the difference is significant, then add in the cost of a SquareTrade warranty. Is the difference still significant? If not, pass.
If so, rethink it over whether you really need it or more a want. And once you figure that out, make your decision, because you can't expect returning due to buyer's remorse.
@narfcake Amazon has it for about $40 more, plus an additional ~$70 in sales tax. Looks like it's even more anywhere else. Newegg doesn't seem to have it at all. It seems to be a really good deal on Woot...my only concern is that it will just be somebody trash, and not refurbished at all.
Edit: I have contacted them, through their Amazon storefront and on Woot.com, waiting to hear back.
If you bought the phone from amazon, supplied by woot - if you invoice is from amazon - you can return the phone to amazon, or call them and get a replacement. I certainly would.
I've bought much from woot and done fine. That said, if i were looking for a laptop, i'd get it from amazon, so you can return it if need be. Much/most of what woot sells will show up for sale on amazon, in the gold box deal or a lightning deal or an amazon warehouse deal at a similar price to woot, and returnable.
I'd just make a note of the model/specs/pricing on woot, and then start watching on amazon for the same or similar. Recently, for electronics, this has been pretty reliable. Often the item is a woot item sold thru amazon.
As long as you purchase on amazon, it's returnable. You purchase on woot, it's yours unless defective.
Have to say i've never received anything from woot that wasnt in good condition.
I have a refurb netbook from Woot--totally great and years old but still running (albeit as a chrome book now).
I say Fuck woot Fuck them in the ass.
For the record I haven't had a happy transaction there in a long time
@Foxborn
@Foxborn ditto
@Foxborn so what you're saying is you don't like woot?
@RedOak
I was getting the opposite impression from @Foxborn
@Foxborn I love Woot but I wouldn't spend more there than I was willing to flush down the toilet. I did just get a really good deal on golf balls.
@boc
I just wish this song ran longer.
@sammydog01 So uh, this is actually happening?
@f00l Sorry, I can't help you with that. Maybe contact Roea Wallace?
@boc
Baba Booey
Bought a refurb ASUS netbook from Woot 4-5 years ago. It looked brand new when it arrived, had all it's parts and pieces, and is still functioning well. My experience aside, much of their stuff is junk these days, and a number of manufacturers won't honor warranties on Woot-sold items since Woot isn't usually an authorized dealer or reseller. Square Trade is a must purchase.
If you watch Microsoft's store they occasionally/regularly have some real solid deals.
Got a nice deal on a fully loaded i5 Dell laptop from them several months ago.
Even better if you have a local MS store nearby since they often have the same deals.
Especially nice since they don't allow crapware on their machines.
I've seen posts from Woot regarding Samsung phones "with scratches and dents". Maybe Amazon sold you one from this lot. But you should still be able to return it to Amazon.
As for laptops, and this is just my experience so far, I bought 2 from Woot. The first one was an ASUS brand touchscreen unit (refurb) I bought more than a year ago. The built-in wifi conked out just a couple of months after I got it. Nothing a cheap USB wifi adapter couldn't fix. The second one was a (new) Lenovo ultrabook early this year. Except for the wifi thing with the first unit, both units are still working just fine. Especially the first one, considering my kid is using it at school.
As with such deal sites, "your mileage may vary" is the caveat.
@tinsami1 Yeah, I totally understand that. But they said it was "certified refurbished" and the dents/scratches I can live with. It's the fact that it doesn't work that I don't like :(
@Dweezle
If it doesnt work properly, Amazon will take it back or make an exchange. Even if Woot was the source, as long as you bought from Amazon's site.
Have to say I have bought quite a few refurb items from Woot and knock on wood, have had no issues on anything to date. You know I just jinxed myself.
Thanks for the advice everybody. Got a printable RMA label from Woot today, and picked up an even better laptop on Newegg's shell shocker this morning! You guys are great!
I buy from Woot all the time and have never had a problem. I think your bad experience is the exception and not the rule. I will say that their prices aren't as good ever since they were acquired by Amazon. They're still good but not as good as they use to be.