Elementary Technology Reviews 2

No straight answer. They didn't know how long things will take or if it was sold out, then couldnt say where my order was. Returning items is a nightmare if a camera is broken. Took weeks to sort out. You end up project managing your own order. People are nice enough on the phone, but girl I was dealing with left the company. I chased it up. Nobody came back. Ended up going online after that. Hope they have improved.

In my 18 years of both running businesses and being on the receiving end of thousands of B2B and consumer transactions, my experience with Elementary Technology has the #1 spot for WORST BUSINESS EVER!
As a professional Business Coach I work with many businesses that have problems, none as big as ET's customer service abilities.

I purchased a Newline 65-inch touchscreen with an electrically adjustable stand, a transaction that totaled £3,750+

Pre-sale, my brief was really simple. I needed a screen and stand that operated in both portrait and landscape.

I had a demo with Sam who seemed very professional and knowledgeable where I went over my needs (portrait) and I also said that I was ready to buy and it was important to me that the screen was delivered by the following Wednesday.

Sam recommended a particular screen and stand that would meet my needs, but didn't send me a proforma until the following day (so we lost a day here).

I paid the proforma within minutes of receipt and I was handed off to Rachel that looks after deliveries, who told me the screen will arrive the week after I stated (in pre-sales) that I would like to receive the screen. To which I complained and then Rachel kindly rearranged delivery so it would at least be with me three days later than was previously agreed. Not ideal, but i'll take that over the alternative.

HOWEVER. I had to pay an EXTRA £112.80 to get it here later than was previously proimised.

For full disclosure, there was a bank holiday between the sale and delivery, but this was known and was taken into account.

I also purchased some software from ET that would only work with the screen but was also required for my use case as previously discussed.

Before the screen was dispatched, I thought I had better proactively ask about the software as I didn't want any further delays, so I emailed Rachel about this. I didn't get a response but was copied into an email where she handed off the responsibility to someone called Richard.

This didn't go well either and it would be another SIX DAYS until I received my license key, so I was still unable to use the screen. However, I just got sent a licence key, no advice on where to download, I had to ask.

To sum-up the experience so far, this was the email that I sent to ET.

"
I'm struggling here and I feel like I have been let down in every way.

I told you that I was in a rush and ready to buy, so you were kind enough to bring the demo forward.

During the demo, I referenced the Samsung flip 2 and told you that being able to operate in portrait and landscape was important to me and I was left with the impression that both the stand and the screen you were going to send a quote over for would do this. You also said that I should be able to have them both for Wednesday.

Now this is where I think we are.
The stand doesn't work in portrait;
The screen doesn't work in portrait;
I wasn't going to get them by Wednesday, it was scheduled for Monday;
I had to pay for faster delivery for Wednesday myself, which I let go, so as to maintain a healthy relationship. I didn't want you to resent that I had raised any issues;
I proactively chased up for the software yesterday, so I could have it installed on my PC in advance of delivery;
I'm still waiting for the software a whole week after I asked to place the order.

I'm a bit lost for words Sam!
"

Upon realising that there was no way they could explain the errors they agreed to a refund and in fairness, I though I was going to have to fight much harder, but they offered the refund without a fight, so that's good.
Obviously they wouldn't refund before the screen was collected which is fair and I was going to ask them to do so.

However, I did ask them if they would arrange this quickly so I could move on to my next solution (bare in mind that it's almost 1 month since I said that I was ready to buy and in a rush.

From agreeing to collect & actually collecting, there would be a 13 day wait! Not ideal as I needed the cash back.

Now they have it back they are telling me that they don't know when my refund will be given.
So over 1 month later, I still have no suitable screen, nor the cash to buy it with.

Never again, I wouldn't trust them with a pack of pencils, and yet they have almost £4k of my cash!
Fingers crossed from here I guess.

During my month-long debacle, I a range of excuses that should be mitigated in advance by the owners.

But all they had to do was ship something that was already in stock and send me a license key.
But more importantly, honestly sell something that met my needs.

Elementary Technology failed miserably in every way possible.