( Summary of review- Web Site mentions-Discounted price of books?
In actuality how much I ended up paying- More than that quoted on any book store; disturbing and irresponsible explanation provided by UREAD.com . WILL NOT SHOP with UREAD.COM in future)
I was looking for a book at various on-line book-stores as it was out of stock at my favourite and all time trusted on-line book store.
In my pursuit . I stumbled upon a site called UREAD.COM which offered pretty tempting discounts on books.
I was sceptical at first. but on knowing that the site offers the(Cash On Delivery)option and free shipping. I rationalised, that worst come worst. the book would not be delivered to me. Right? Wrong!
In my desperation I took the plunge. and boy do I regret it.
The book I ordered for was worth 284( lower that almost all on-line stores). but I was charged 300
Well. the thing that left me rattled was the explanation provided to me by UREAD.com. I e-mailed the uread.com team(twice) to get a rational explanation as to why, in spite of free shipping and handling I was charged extra? The reply I got was disturbing to say the least.
I quote their mail-
"
Thanks a lot for being our customer.
As for the price which is visible on the website, it is changing and is variable. The day you had ordered the book, the Discounted price was Rs. 300. The price was just updated recently and is now Rs. 284 i.e. at 21% discount. So basically, there are books where prices are revised upwards and downwards based on lot of internal business factors. There has been no excess charge.
Further, as a token of Introduction of uRead.com, we are offering YOU another 4% special additional discount
"
On reading this I was pretty shocked at how irresponsible and ambiguous UREAD.com’s ethical business policies were.
I ask you.How on earth will a customer guess the effect of market fluctuations on the prices of books?
Are people supposed to GUESS the final prices of books, by the time they reach their doorstep, even after paying a declared amount?
If 2 minutes ago a local book store owner told you that a book’s for 284, Would you pay Rs.300 to the cashier by the time you walk out of the store, if he states that because of some "internal business factors.". the price just changed?
Well that sounds completely ridiculous. Right?
God forbid, had I shopped for 5-7 books at a go from uread.com, would I have been forced to cough up an extra Rs. 500-600 because of some "internal business factors.".?
The explanation given by the UREAD.com team is completely unheard of. and in my opinion is fundamentally fraudulent and / or irresponsible in nature
If such a PROBLEM did exist in their business model, it becomes UREAD.COM’s moral responsibility to issue a disclaimer stating what mess the CUSTOMER WOULD ACTUALLY BE GETTING INTO. before he/she makes a purchase.
Conclusion- Buyers.You’re wise enough to conclude! You have been warned.
Safe Shopping.