[Gemini-Phoenix]

On a scale of -10/+10 (where 0 is neutral), rate the various major online retailers and give a brief review as to why you like / hate them so much

Here's my nominations, ranked in order of most favourite to least favourite!

The Good +

GAME.co.uk +7 - GAME is my preferred gaming retailer, mainly due to the fact that they have the best exclusives, choice and availability, returns service, and rewards scheme. Ok, so their prices may not be the lowest, and their packaging methods for CE's still leave a lot to be desired, but they are by far the better retailer when it comes to providing games. As much as I have my issues with GAME's packaging, the returns proceedure is quick & painless, & definitely better than some of the competition (Ie, PLAY.com & Zavvi)!

HMV.co.uk +7 - I only usually use HMV for pre-ordering Dvd / Blu-Ray SteelBooks, I do find their service quite adequate. They ship these items in a sturdy box, and they always come 2-3 days before release. They have a decent returns service (which I rarely have to use), and prices are really competative online. However, I have used HMV for pre-ordering some exclusive gaming CE's before, and they generally arrive in good shape, although not always. Returning items is not as easy as GAME, but in contrast their packaging is usually a lot better.

ShopTo.net +3 - I don't use ShopTo very often, and only really bother whenever they have an exclusive CE or a really good sale. Their packaging methods are amongst the worst though, but in their defence they do have some of the best prices and the fastest dispatch time! They seem to have substituted quality service for speed of delivery though. If you want an item fast and aren't bothered about the condition it arrives in, then ShopTo are great! However, if you prefer receiving CE's in one piece, look elsewhere or be prepared to return the item a few times...


Neutral -/+

Game4Game.at - I can't really form an opinion on this company, as I have only used them twice so far. However, I do have two more items on pre-order, so I will be able to form a much better opinion about them in a couple of months

However, so far all has been well. I like their exclusive CE's, although the prices do tend to be a little on the high side, especially when shipping to the UK is concerned, although I don't really hold that against them too much considering the rarity of the CE's they offer. I would prefer it if their website was a little more English-friendly too, although it's not really any hardship to place orders, and it's just inconvenient more than anything


The bad -

Amazon.co.uk -3 - I have to say, everytime I have used Amazon I have been disappointed, regardless of what I buy. Either items aren't what I expected, item arrives damaged, or item doesn't arrive at all! I try not to use them unless I really have to (Ie, in the case of an exclusive), as I know the outcome will be bad. The last few things I ordered were all Dvd CE's which arrived damage, and upon returning them I was told no more replacements were available! Packaging methods are usually dreadful, and to top it off they ship from the Channel Islands, which means a delay in receiving the items you order

Zavvi.co.uk -5 - Again, Zavvi is a retailer I try not to use unless I am forced to. Every tem I have ever bought from Zavvi online has been disappointing, and I find that a lot of the items I have bought from them have been imported from Europe rather than being proper UK stock. Their packaging is poor, and their shipping times are dreadful due to the fact that they ship from the Channel Islands. However, their customer service is amongst some of the worst I have ever experienced! It is exceptionally difficult to actually get anywhere with their customer service team, and they run you around in circles!

PLAY.com -7 - Hardly much of a surprise you those of you who know know me. LAY.com have got to be the worst online retailer by a longshot, and it's any wonder how they managed to win a "Retailer Of The Year" award with such abysmal service! I have nothing but problems when I order from PLAY.com, and I would say that around 75% of my orders in the last 3 years have had issues! I generally only use them for exclusives, but unfortunately for me they tend to get quite a lot of those, so I have no other choice but to order from them. They seem to be able to deliver SteelBooks with no hassle, but where CE's and consoles are concerned they are the absolute worst! Their customer service team is useless (both via telephone and eMail), their packaging methods are virtually non-existent, and their shipping is very slow due to operating out of the Channel Islands!

I liken PLAY.com to paying for a prostitute - You want the pleasure of the sex, even though you know you're going to catch a venereal, but you still keep going back for more...