Online Buying, A Good Thing? Or Bad Thing?

Online buying has never really taken off in Malaysia. Usually people order from Amazon or the brand new Ebay Malaysia, but over here it’s like second nature. You pay your bills; buy your groceries, your clothes all without even touching the product. So when I saw a website selling a branded motorcycle helmets at 50% off, I just had to try it.

Very wary of online scams, I double checked all the verification sites they had listed. Check their web addresses, and of course research other buyers experience with the site. I picked the cheapest of the lot, at 47.90 pounds and waited anxiously for the delivery.

2 days later I got my receipt in the mail but no helmet. But on Tuesday, ah … the fated delivery came. In fact I didn’t even sign for it. Strangely it was left outside my door. Very strange considering you’ll need a special key to enter my apartment and the mail boxes are downstairs. Also they didn’t ring the door bell …. Hmm, so if you want to deliver a bomb to someone and make sure they get it. Use a delivery service.

Anyways, obviously excited I ripped the contents out and to my horror, the colours were completely wrong. I order a Black/Red/Silver combination, instead I got some funky blue design with red and orange striped etc. Looking at it makes you feel like a clown. Still, this being my first helmet I couldn’t care less. Plus it was a steal anyway at that price.

So putting it on and finding it really tight I thought well that wasn’t too bad. Great for a first purchase, ‘WRONG’. Apparently the problem wasn’t just the colour, but the actual model itself. A quick check with the invoice, which was conveniently buried under the packaging showed that this helmet was actually destined to be in the hands of a Mrs Suse. *Gasp*

So what do I do? Keep the helmet which is 4 times more expensive than the one I paid? Or do I do the moral thing and pack up the helmet and report the mess up to the website? Hmm …

Fine, so I caved and I reported it. I said I’m sorry there’s been a mistake yada yada yada, and this was their reply.

“We have looked into the situation regarding the fact you have received the

wrong helmet. The error was on the part of our suppliers who despatch the

helmets direct for us and obviously they mixed up the orders. The Shark RSX

Chambon is a far more expensive helmet than the S500 and better quality. If

you wish you may keep the Chambon unless you particularly wanted the S500

Fractal. Also please accept our apologies for any confusion caused to you.”

LOL, so it’s pretty obvious which I one I took eh. :)

WOO HOO ! Fantastic bargain :)