Consumer Warning

NEVER MAKE AN ONLINE PURCHASE OF COMPUTER EQUIPMENT WITHOUT CHECKING WWW.RESELLERRATINGS.COM ! Avoid targetpcinc.com
I recently ordered a hard drive for a friends computer. When doing so, I usually order by going to www.pricewatch.com, selecting what I want, then checking the reviews of the companies with the lowest prices ( On Pricewatch, and then on www.resellerratings.com), and placing an order. I skipped a step this time and did not visit ResellerRatings; this was a horrible mistake.
The firm I ordered from is TargetPC Inc ( at least this week it is) and their site is located at http://www.targetpcinc.com/. They are physically located at 36445 Biltmore Place Unit E, Willoughby, OH 44094.
Let me cover the time lines here so you will understand what occurred:
-24 APR '05 I placed the order using a valid CC, valid shipping address that matched billing address, and all the pertinent data to acquire a 60GIG Maxtor HD.
-5 MAY '05 The drive had not arrived, so I called them, because their site specified 24-72 business hour shipping, and I had requested USPS ground shipping which states 7-12 days, but I have never seen it exceed 3 from Ohio to Michigan.
-5 May '05 A phone rep with abysmal accent and very little command of the English language answered the phone. I asked him about my order. He pecked away a bit and stated that it had not shipped, I told him that I no longer desired any products from them, and with their failure to ship in a reasonable time I wanted to cancel my order. furthermore, because it was their fault, I refused to pay the USD$25 cancellation fee. He then asked me to hold on so he could get that setup. He came back on the line after what I assume must have been him prepping the lie, trying to cover his arse, and told me that it had shipped the day prior which was a blatant lie! I informed him that this was not acceptable and he rambled that they had “upgraded” it to first class mail. With what they charge for shipping, First Class USPS is a downgrade from actual cost. I asked to speak to a manager, and I was dumped to a voicemail where I left a complaint that was never answered.
-6 May '05 I get an email letting me know my package had been shipped ( I had to laugh since they could not even ship it the same day I called, they shipped it 48 business hours after they lied and said it had been shipped.)
10 May '05 I get the drive. It is a used drive, not refurbed, and testing (MS Stuff, Spinrite, Norton Systemworks etc) indicates minimal acceptable function. Two of the screw holes are damaged, and one is stripped. Drive is noisy. Drive is an 80gig not a 60gig drive, but their label indicates 60 so I have to wonder just how utterly clueless they must be.
Things I did wrong:
I did not check resellerratings and notice just how abysmal they are, http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1417.html receiving a rating of 1.88 of 10 on overall rating and just a 2.5 out of ten chance of a future purchase from them. Their pricewatch ratings alone were high, so high that based on the Resellerratings, and my own experience I am willing to bet the firm “stuffed” the box with good votes for themselves at Pricewatch.
Things they did wrong:
Every single action they took as a business was based on deception, lies, and almost outright theft.
Lessons learned: NEVER MAKE AN ONLINE PURCHASE OF COMPUTER EQUIPMENT WITHOUT CHECKING WWW.RESELLERRATINGS.COM and avoid targetpcinc.com