Retro Duo Portable - RDP 2 in 1 Portable System

[nusilver]

Because it's a fucking nightmare, that's why.
It isn't the seller's fault that most of the world's postal systems are horrible.

Sweet. Hostility! I love it! (actually, I don't.)

Anyway, I pre-ordered the RDP and ordered a Retrogen Adapter from DasCheap, but so far, the experience has not been promising. The website went down immediately after I placed my order for the RDP, which seemed fishy as an authorization charge showed up on my bank account almost immediately, and when I emailed customer service to ask why I was already seeing an authorization show up for something that's not shipping for nearly a month, I was met with a vaguely hostile response.

Later, I received a flurry of auto generated emails stating that the phone number from the back of my bank card hadn't been saved to my account for the two orders I placed, even though I'd entered it several times (in both the orders and my account info/billing info)...but what gets me is that I have to put this phone number in at all, as I've never, ever had to do that for an online retailer before.

Has anyone else had any experience ordering from these guys? I'm hopeful, as I always am, that things will turn out fine, but greeting new customers with hostility is not the best way for a business that purports to be "cheaper than Amazon" (not true!) to keep new customers.

EDIT: slight update - the customer service email I received just now was pleasantly neutral - apparently I put the wrong zip code in my billing address. Still, I'd like to hear other peoples' experiences with Das, since I know I can trust you guys.

[kedawa]

Hostility? I think you're reading more into that post than what's there.
Even shipping across the Canada/U.S. border is usually more trouble than it's worth.

[nusilver]

Hostility? I think you're reading more into that post than what's there.
Even shipping across the Canada/U.S. border is usually more trouble than it's worth.

okay. moving on then.

[nusilver]

So nobody here has experience with DasCheap?

[Old_Skool_Fool]

Sweet. Hostility! I love it! (actually, I don't.)

Anyway, I pre-ordered the RDP and ordered a Retrogen Adapter from DasCheap, but so far, the experience has not been promising. The website went down immediately after I placed my order for the RDP, which seemed fishy as an authorization charge showed up on my bank account almost immediately, and when I emailed customer service to ask why I was already seeing an authorization show up for something that's not shipping for nearly a month, I was met with a vaguely hostile response.

Later, I received a flurry of auto generated emails stating that the phone number from the back of my bank card hadn't been saved to my account for the two orders I placed, even though I'd entered it several times (in both the orders and my account info/billing info)...but what gets me is that I have to put this phone number in at all, as I've never, ever had to do that for an online retailer before.

Has anyone else had any experience ordering from these guys? I'm hopeful, as I always am, that things will turn out fine, but greeting new customers with hostility is not the best way for a business that purports to be "cheaper than Amazon" (not true!) to keep new customers.

EDIT: slight update - the customer service email I received just now was pleasantly neutral - apparently I put the wrong zip code in my billing address. Still, I'd like to hear other peoples' experiences with Das, since I know I can trust you guys.

You have to put the phone number because it's for your safety as a customer. As online commerce becomes the norm, there is a very high risk of fraud that goes on from day to day! Actually statistically that there is about 8% of all orders daily on the net are fraudulent. So the number is there so that the CS guys/gals can call your banking institution and verify your information, including your phone number.


Das Cheap sells super cheap and are super secure so when they service the customer. I mean if you were selling a $90 product, would you want to send it out to someone not being able to confirm their information? I would feel more secure if the CS agents were calling my banking establishment to verify it was me making the purchase. So that's why they need your phone number. Also, many sites are starting to require them, it's just the nature of the beast.


Also, your card wasn't charged...You were Authorized. That checks the card to make sure it's valid and you have the funds on there. If you used a debit/check card then it may look like a "pending charge" because it takes that "authorization" from real funds as opposed to your credit line. (Unfortunately this is something that isn't explained to you by your bank). Though this is the way it's done.


If you have any questions about preorders for the unit you can contact me or CS.

[nusilver]

You have to put the phone number because it's for your safety as a customer. As online commerce becomes the norm, there is a very high risk of fraud that goes on from day to day! Actually statistically that there is about 8% of all orders daily on the net are fraudulent. So the number is there so that the CS guys/gals can call your banking institution and verify your information, including your phone number.


Das Cheap sells super cheap and are super secure so when they service the customer. I mean if you were selling a $90 product, would you want to send it out to someone not being able to confirm their information? I would feel more secure if the CS agents were calling my banking establishment to verify it was me making the purchase. So that's why they need your phone number. Also, many sites are starting to require them, it's just the nature of the beast.


Also, your card wasn't charged...You were Authorized. That checks the card to make sure it's valid and you have the funds on there. If you used a debit/check card then it may look like a "pending charge" because it takes that "authorization" from real funds as opposed to your credit line. (Unfortunately this is something that isn't explained to you by your bank). Though this is the way it's done.


If you have any questions about preorders for the unit you can contact me or CS.

Hey, thanks for the info Old Skool. It seems DasCheap is having trouble verifying my actual shipping address - I work at Gracenote (a Sony company) in Emeryville, and prefer to have everything shipped here instead of home in Sacramento as I'm not there during the day to check packages. I suggested to Paige (the rep who's been emailing me - she's not the one who was hostile originally) that I re-order using my Paypal account as my work address is verified there...does that make sense? I was just about to give them a call...think I'll do that now.

Hoping to get this all sorted soon. Looking forward to receiving this stuff.

Are you going to E3 again this year? If so, I'll look for you.

Michael

[nusilver]

Hey, thanks for the info Old Skool. It seems DasCheap is having trouble verifying my actual shipping address - I work at Gracenote (a Sony company) in Emeryville, and prefer to have everything shipped here instead of home in Sacramento as I'm not there during the day to check packages. I suggested to Paige (the rep who's been emailing me - she's not the one who was hostile originally) that I re-order using my Paypal account as my work address is verified there...does that make sense? I was just about to give them a call...think I'll do that now.

Hoping to get this all sorted soon. Looking forward to receiving this stuff.

Are you going to E3 again this year? If so, I'll look for you.

Michael

Okay, I got everything resolved. I'm cancelling the RDP pre-order until the authorization charge falls off my account, then re-ordering with PayPal. If anyone wants DasCheap to ship to a different address than their billing address, use PayPal and use a verified address. Problem solved, and Paige was very helpful on the phone. If you can get ahold of DasCheap by phone, do it that way.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

oldskoolfool, I don't mean to be rude but could you please answer my question?

Do you know when DasCheap will have the standalone NES adapters in stock? I want to order one alongside the RDP. I see the Genesis version is up, but I'm more interested in the NES adapter. Anything you can tell me is appreciated.

[Old_Skool_Fool]

oldskoolfool, I don't mean to be rude but could you please answer my question?

Do you know when DasCheap will have the standalone NES adapters in stock? I want to order one alongside the RDP. I see the Genesis version is up, but I'm more interested in the NES adapter. Anything you can tell me is appreciated.

From what I am told, the NES units should be available around the same time as the RDP itself. It's ETA is early/mid Feb. If we happen to the get the adapter units earlier (which is actually what happened with the Retrogen units), then I will be more than happy to let you guys know. You should be able to preorder the adapter in the coming days. I also let you know when preorders open up for those.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Thanks. I just want to order them together so I'm only charged shipping once you know?