A review by
jpmcgurk written on Aug 8, 2000
Pros:
Selection, prices, service
Cons:
the left hand doesn't talk to the right
Full review
You have to give them some credit- they have a great selection, good (if not great) prices, and customer service is attentive and helpful. I have ordered once and had a not-so-great experience, but it could have just been me. My order was held for manual processing because the printer I ordered was being shipped to my work address, but billed to my personal credit card. Manual processing took far too long (almost a week), and I had to call twice to speed along the process. But if I had the product shipped to my home address, I could have very well had a great experience. Now for the low-down:
Selection
They have a huge selection. The site is broken down into two areas: Auctions (which is the OnSale section) and Superstores (Egghead section). Whatever computing, software, hardware, office supply need you have, they can fill. In comparison to buy.com, they have 10x the selection.
Customer Service
I actually used customer service 3 times for this order, which I never do. Because I was choosing a printer for my office, to use in a network environment, I wanted to be sure that the printer had all the functionality that I needed. I consulted customer service and they seemed to be very knowledgeable about the capabilities of each type of printer functioning on a network. The representative that I spoke too actually saved me several hundred dollars because he determined that my usage did not require a network card and software, which contradicted what the manufacturer's site recommended, but was none-the-less true. The second and third calls were to try to get my order shipped, and the representatives were again helpful and trying to assist. I was, however, promised a "status e-mail" which I never received. The customer also has the ability to check order status on the website, which is common with many retailers.
Pricing
I found prices to be very competitive. The printer I purchased was $300 cheaper through egghead than it was on the manufacturer's site, and the among the cheapest listed on dealtime.com. Even if their prices are slightly higher, their extensive selection and great product reviews makes up for the difference.
Delivery
I paid $7 shipping for a printer, which I thought was decent. I chose standard freight, which was 3 days. I was happy with that, once the order left egghead's facility.
Overall, not a horrible experience, and I am willing to give them another try. Selection combined with knowledgeable customer service and good prices make them a good retailer for computers and the like. You should at least consult them before making a purchse to compare.