2nd September 2011 Update
Subtitle "We're sick of www.shop cowboys"

itstuff.com.au from their web site, the day before they closed:-

"..Great service, low prices and fast delivery. We're Australia's leading on-line store for all things IT. Check out our impressive range of over 35,000 products.."

"..Why shop elsewhere? Every order is a chance to win! Competition closes 31st August 2011.."

One reason is below, the very next day!

The itstuff.com.au on-line store has closed.
To contact us, please email sales@itstuff.com.au

 Right up to the site closing on 31/8 this certification was listed:

    In this case a must read:-
"..Found IT-Stuff to have the cheapest price, even after including cost of couriers. Ordered the product on a Friday afternoon. 40 of the item were listed as 'in stock'. Payment went through no problems. Monday received an email saying that they were out of stock when I ordered and that they update their website stock counts daily; there was now a delay on receiving my item. I emailed them about the situation and received only a generic and non-specific email in reply. Poor customer service standards to not at least acknowledge your customer's complaint.."
28/02/2011 - Troy on Getprice.com.au

Once you can understand, even twice but endless complaints on forums like whirlpool generally point to one thing, they will close, hopefully without taking your money.

The site closed without even a wave goodbye and good luck image.

"It Stuffed"

If people did a little research (below is another shopbot client, FYI Neil Thomas) they would be amazed what they find. If you can't even fill in your "about" section..

"..To Edit About us Infamation at here.."

 

  There is no subistute for:

- Years in busines - Check ASIC records. 
- Look up on Whirlpool forums. 
- Quality & Security of the site.
- Do they keep any REAL stock? Can they put your name on it and you see it?
- Do they say THEY have everything ever made in stock = lie. 
- Read their Feedback does it look believable?
- Do they accept BPAY?
(Hard to get approval if you're fly-by-night and can't afford the application fee..)

Come up with your own "Points System" for the above.

We wonder why large multinational companies risk the bad press of being associated with such closures?

Why not sell via companies that actually know and recommend your products?

Are you always getting competitive prices via shopping engines?

Using the above actual search, you have 3 competitive prices so why not simply take the lowest, they must be genuine competitors?

All 3 Companies above are owned by the same people. They have pushed out two real competitors!

If you'd like a copy of the ASIC search we've used please contact us.

Having several web sites is common practice and it breaks no laws, but you could argue that it's deceptive or not fair when they all come up one after the other in the above search results, especially if you deny you own or control them.

We see nothing wrong with people having as many web sites as they like (we have a few) however in the about sections we believe it would be more honest to disclose who the owners and/or operators are.

If you or your companies have been mentioned here and can prove that information contained herein is incorrect please contact us via email with the details.

We will happily correct any errors or omissions.

Stock [||||] 5+

If one of the above shops sells an item it's sold by all as far as stock count is concerned, they can't all have 100's of everything IN-STOCK!

• Shopping robots can list data months out of date or simply wrong. Many examples below including paying over twice as much as you should.

• Most e-stores update every few days or even every few hours, they hope in the time between updates your item has not been sold by another shop showing the exact same stock.

• Some e-stores mislead you into thinking they have stock in their store when in the majority of listings they don't. Often it's just a P.O. Box.

• Many e-stores use the same suppliers so stock sold at one is gone for all. This is why a common complaint is: "..your site said you had stock when I ordered so why the delay?.."

The truth about "In Stock"

What some people don't realise is when most e-stores (as found on shopping bots) claim X number in stock that's divided between every similar e-shop in Australia. Bottom line is they often take your money then see if they can still get it. You're their finance company. We do it the other way around! (Get it then take your money!)

The down side of many e-stores

• Many pretend that THEY have everything in stock at THEIR company by using misleading wording.

• You pay in advance of them having the stock, they use your money to buy the stock rather than keep it ready to dispatch which means you pay then they try and get it but the delay often means it's sold out (See negative stock below). Less risk for them, more for you.

• They must try to have the lowest price even if many can't stay in business that way, how else do you explain so many going broke? Price, price, price but what about service?

• They often use several suppliers credit and clients payments in advance as business funding. Great till the distributors all want to be paid. The average debt per distributor seems to be several hundred thousands from looking at receivers statements.

• Negative stock means every week on many products distributors have sold more than they had. While you may have known it would be on back order others would have seen Stock 5+ (or whatever) and assumed it's on the way. This is a common over selling problem. Now that we know problems are mostly because they don't really have stock..

shopbot.com.au scam

How can you tell who really keeps stock?

• Stock [||||] 5+ or stock xxxx-number is a give away they probably have no stock.

• "In stock" "In store" doesn't necessarily mean they have or can get it. Ask them. • Can they get you a serial number now before you pay them? We can.

• Can they reserve stock for you? (While you organise payment etc.) We can we put your name on it!

• Can you pick it up from THEM now? After all they have [||||] 5+ You can with us.

Web shops that failed.

Ripped off: Over 1800 customers out of pocket after E-Store collapse "..More than 1,800 creditors of failed online retailer E-Store will not receive the goods they paid for, according to a notice sent by company liquidators.." etailers nervous after buy.com's flop "..As buy.com.au dipped beneath the waves late last week, its competitors took stock, hoping the market doesn't get much worse and the promised Christmas rush keeps the ball rolling.."

Tip:

Insist on using a sites that accept BPAY.

It's not easy to become BPAY approved so it's one extra check you can do.

itstuff.com.au 1300now.com.au alexwilliamson.com.au arousal.com.au artexhibitions.com.au avshop.com.au babyboy.com.au babygirl.com.au basketballer.com.au bbqshop.com.au bikinishop.com.au blackberry.net.au boards.com.au cables.com.au camerapro.com.au magneticmedia.com.au memjet.com.au mjwren.com.au mortgagebroking.com.au musicmachine.com.au network.com.au notebook.com.au officestuff.com.au organicvitamins.com.au ourweddingregistry.com.au pcdealer.com.au coffeemaker.com.au comaxes.com.au christmaspresents.com.au warrantyshop.com.au espressomachine.com.au excitement.com.au footballer.com.au footballer.co.nz foresightcapital.com.au futon.com.au futons.com.au gadgetry.com.au gamemachines.com.au gamersnetwork.com.au gamesnetwork.com.au corsetry.com.au cricketer.com.au cricketer.co.nz cup.com.au cyclist.com.au digitalcams.com.au digitalcams.co.nz discounter.com.au diveshop.com.au emails.com.au comaxes.net.au comtime.com.au repairs.com.au powershop.com.au printers.com.au printershop.com.au printershop.co.nz projectorsales.com.au projectorsales.co.nz purchasing.com.au redeem.com.au rentmore.com.au repair.com.au revhead.com.au salepoint.com.au santaclaus.com.au santashop.com.au globalpositioning.com.au golfer.com.au golfshop.com.au gpspro.com.au handheld.com.au kitchenman.com.au weddingpresents.com.au weddingpresent.com.au phdsites.net.au phoneshop.com.au screens.com.au securitycams.com.au securitycams.co.nz server.com.au servers.com.au sewingshop.com.au sexproducts.com.au weightlifter.com.au wholesalelamps.com.au wimax.com.au workstation.com.au lawnbowler.com.au lawnbowling.com.au leathers.com.au scanshop.com.au phdsites.com.au scanshop.co.nz scientist.com.au sexycostumes.com.au skier.com.au software.com.au sportstuff.com.au tabletshop.com.au taco.com.au tacos.com.au telemarketing.net.au tennisracket.com.au tennisshop.com.au tftmonitors.com.au timerecording.com.au titanium.com.au videocams.com.au..

• And many more.

Summary

Some e-shops bring discredit on the whole industry by misleading you as to how much stock they really have.

Others also stack the search results and lie about ownership of the their web sites.

Many have failed owing large sums, most use your money as their finance company as they don't want to take the risk of holding stock.

When you look at some sites you could be forgiven for thinking they must have the worlds largest post office box to hold all that stock in their store None will say X number "in-Stock" is across 1,000 shops so get in fast! .. In-Stock does not mean it's at their shop.

Why we're different!

Our own stock means no risk for you and often lower prices too.

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Our policy on stock

Apart from the fact we were incorporated in 1984, the really big difference is we don't charge your card till we've double checked our stock and/or distributors.

• Most do it the other way around and that's the problem. Take your money then check the stock.

Legal Disclaimer: This page contains statements of pure opinion and fair comments made in good faith in the interest of the public. To ascertain the facts please do your own research. There may also be quotes from and links to external sources please see their disclaimers.