I hope this is okay to post--I did check the Forum rules and didn't see anything, but I'm kind of a noob. A friend and I ordered M3 Reals last week from TheDsDeals.com. The sites listed in the M3 threads were either out of stock or otherwise problematic, so I went with the first place that came up in Google (it has Google checkout, figured it would be okay). They had no good shipping option (such as a trackable UPS), so I paid ten extra bucks for USPS priority mail. The order was allegedly shipped on Friday, has not arrived as of today (10/22). I order stuff online all the time and priority mail rarely takes more than two business days to me, no matter where it's coming from. So I'm dubious that it was really shipped on the 17th. (The USPS tracking info is useless as per usual "We've received notification from the shipper...") I've emailed their customer support, but I'm realistic about my chances of actually getting a response. Just curious if anyone has had any luck with this place or if I'm going to be looking at a paypal dispute situation. (Friend hasn't received hers either, also ordered same day, priority mail, same alleged shipping date.) Thanks! EDIT: Predictably, I hit refresh on the USPS tracking page as soon as I posted this message, and it updated from the default message to having actual information, apparently the package is still a city away. I'll update this thread upon arrival (presumably tomorrow), just in case others are looking for info on this seller. Meanwhile, thanks all for the FAQs and walkthroughs, they helped a lot with my initial decision.
bought from them 3 weeks ago.. got it a week later.. they seems okay.. give it couple more days and see
Update: Spoke to USPS, TheDSDeals charged me ten dollars for Priority Mail, then shipped the package first class instead. They did the same thing to my friend who ordered the same day, so I'm guessing this is *not* a one-time glitch. I've emailed requesting a refund for the shipping charges, but they never answered my other email, they can't be reached via their phone number, and their 'live chat' is always offline. I'll update if they actually turn this situation around. I know this is a gray-market thing, and one is always taking a risk online, but if a company is systematically ripping people off this blatantly for a specific shipping method that they don't actually provide, may be best to look elsewhere, as it doesn't bode well if you have any other problems with your order. And another update: someone answered the phone. Says they'll forward the situation to their manager.
I have been thinking about buying from this site as well. PLease answer these questions: Did the r4 they sent you even work? Was it real or fake? Did you get the r4 sdhc or the regular one? If you got the sdhc, does it work good? Please let me know, i really want this flash cart but the site is fishy like you say. Thanks alot!! -Alex
mine was the sdhc version.. it works great with 8gb looks exactly like my friends regular r4 hope that helps..
Okay--- I did finally receive my M3 Real from them today. At first they only refunded me $2 for the faux shipping charges, I emailed and pointed out that they charged me ten dollars over the usual free shipping, and they refunded me another $4, heh. I gave up. HOWEVER, the product is advertised and works fine. Also, something I was curious about when I ordered, this is a pack that includes a microsd usb card reader and a rumble pack--it seemed kind of cheap so I wasn't sure if the items pictured would all be included, but they were. Bottom line--they got me the product and it works, just don't bother going for Priority Mail because you won't get it any faster.
Hey, the guy did the same thing to me too. Paid priority and gave me first class. How did you get your SDHC to work? Which firmware are you using? I can't get mine past the Loading screen
I did. And it works perfectly. Its the regular one. Everything works. But im not even sure if its even real or not. It could be a fake one im not really sure. But it works perfectly also on the box it says in the back Made in China. But it had no Blue Stickers on the box when i bought it.
I actually bought several of these R4s because I wanted to give them out for xmas. I bought them about a week ago and I just received mine. You probably just have to wait. It is the holiday season and it does get busy. BTW, these R4s are great. Would definitely buy from them again.
My buddy bought one a while back, he got it on time. My guess is it's because of the Christmas season, the post office and UPS are crazy busy this time of year.
The DSDeals have been great so far. Very fast shipping and well designed website. Can't complain one bit.
I bought two M3 DS Reals a few months ago from them and all was fine. My friend and I placed two more orders for M3 DS Reals in December, though, and I got a fake M3 DS Real and he got an original R4 -- not even close to what he ordered. I would definitely not buy from thedsdeals.com again. Besides, in the meantime I found dealextreme.com -- they've got better prices and free shipping and quality control to ensure you don't get a fake.
I wanted to add that I too ordered from thedsdeals.com in December and received a fake m3. I then ordered and received two legit m3's from divineo. I would strongly urge against buying from these guys. If anyone does get a fake one, you need to use the crap firmware on the "m3adaptes.com" site to make it work as it will not with genuine firmware.
i found this thread so i could specifically relate my experience with thedsdeals.com - i placed my first order with them on 11/12/2008 - i received a notification from them that they had "SHIPPED" my package on 11/17/2008 - on 11/24/2008 i sent them an email, asking what the hell was going on because the USPS tracking number they gave me said that they had given electronic notification that the package exsisted, but that USPS had not received it yet. - on 11/26/2008 they sent an email saying "oh we will look into it." - on 12/2/2008 the package finally arrived. that's edited by ddp lousy if you ask me. but i figured what the hell its pretty close to christmas, they were probably mad busy and made a simple mistake. - so again, I ordered another couple of items from them on 1/3/2009 - 1/9/2009 rolls around and they send me the "we shipped your item! here's the tracking number!!!111" this tracking info, again says "we received electronic notifcation that the package exsists, but we havent recevied it yet" - 1/14/2009 I send an email telling them they need to get their shit together. - 1/15/2009 now USPS has the package that they said they shipped on the 9th, USPS says "yup we just got it in our hands 1/14/2009" They print the shipping labels, then tell people that they've shipped it but they really havent. edited by ddp thedsdeals.com tl;dr I'm never ordering from them again.
I ordered from them on the 29th of December. They shipped it on the 5th, which was OK with the holidays and all. I got a tracking number and have been watching it. Every time I click on it it says :The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper on January 5, 2009 to expect your package for mailing. This does not indicate receipt by the USPS or the actual mailing date. Delivery status information will be provided if / when available. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later. Now mind you it is now the 15th. If USPS had acknowledged that they received it I would feel OK about the whole thing. But geesh it's been 10 days with no change and I'm starting to get worried that I got scammed. I have been calling and e-mailing to no avail. I'm either never gonna see it and am out 23.00$, or I'll get it. I hope for the later.
They're probably waiting for their case of cards to come from dealextreme.com, where you can get the same stuff for a lot cheaper with free shipping. I have no connection to dealextreme except for having had three recent orders go without a hitch. I'm totally in man-love with them right now.
OK, it is now the 21st and the USPS info still has not changed. I went ahead and ordered a similar item from Dealwoot.com and got it 3 days later. I am now going to have to report a claim with PayPay. My recommendation is DO NOT order from TheDSDeals.
my wife also ordered her own stuff around the same time as the above poster, and has not received it and also has begun the claim process with paypal. they're not answering their phone messages or emails (thedsdeals).
For you people in the US, I only have one thing to say. RealHotStuff. Quality people, quality product, highly reliable, longevity in the business. You get what you pay for.
I wrote them a letter stating that if I didn't get my item by the end of the week I was going to post a complaint with PayPay. The very next day, I checked the tracking number and it was in fact shipped. I should get it tomorrow. I am still very pissed that I had to go through all that trouble and believe that if I didn't complain, I would have got nothing. I also strongly suggest that if you are going to order from them, look elsewhere. Their company sucks.
