eclipse-computers.com (Eclipse Computers, Coventry) > Reviews (106)

...but I can't. They are actually a ranch.

My experience echoes many, though I was a little more fortunate as I managed to get a full refund. If anything it'll teach me to read consumer reviews before committing to buying.

I ordered a custom built PC from eclipse-computers after searching the cheaper end of the market for the components I wanted. Wooed by their very cheap prices and good system reviews in magazines, I went to the site to order:

First bad point: I checked each component, with all listed as 'Normally in stock'. In hindsight, this is eclipse-speak for 'Not in stock, but if we're vague enough people will think it is'.

Just prior to order, they say they will 'charge a £50 deposit for custom built PCs'. Apparently, in cowboy maths, £50 is actually £250 and it left my account on the day of order.

Two days later, I sent them an email querying whether I would receive notification when the system shipped. No reply.

I then Googled them to see if anyone else had received notification and I found these reviews. Paranoid (and hoping the reviews were simply angry bias), I emailed again. No reply.

Two weeks after first ordering, I get a call from them offering me a 'great deal' (yee-haw). They said they had a system already built that was 'similar' to mine and could be shipped immediately.

I asked what was different and they said "oh it's pretty much the same. Same memory, same case". I asked about the more important parts: "the graphics cards? The processor? The PSU?". "Well" they said, "they're a little different".

They were all a lower spec. than I'd ordered, so I said I'd rather wait and have my original order. "Umm, there's actually a problem with that" they said, "we can't source the graphics cards, the suppliers don't ship them any more as they're about to release the new range".

Utter balls: these were top nVidia cards and a quick search of eBuyer revealed 100+ in stock. I told them I'd like to cancel the order, but they said I'd have to email sales to do it.

Two emails to sales to cancel: No reply.

So I phoned to cancel the order the following day, listening to their soul-destroying hold music for 20mins; once through they tried again to sell me a different system but I wanted to get out while I still could! They told me the refund would be applied in "3-5 days".

Two weeks later and no refund. I call again. "Oh, it's not gone through, I'm not sure why not. I'll chase it and call you back in a bit". No call.

I call again the next day. "No, it's not gone through, it'll go through today or tomorrow and it'll be 3-5 days after that. I'll call you when it's done". No call.

I wait the 5 days and call again. Again they say "it will go through today" so I called at the end of the day and, lo and behold, they say "it's gone through". It appeared in my account the very next day, 4 emails, 6 phone calls and 5 weeks after first ordering.

I was lucky that I managed to cancel before anything was shipped.

In summary, their website is misleading and the order management system is appalling.

There are no status updates and they make no effort to reply to emails. They don't have crucial components in stock and they attempted to fob me off with a lower spec. system hoping I wouldn't query why they couldn't fulfil my original order. They waited 2 weeks to tell me this. They promised a refund in 3-5 days (it turned out to be 22 days) and kept 'forgetting' to put it through every time I called (waiting 20 mins at a time).

I swear I heard the clink of spurs on the phone...

On the whole, a bad experience from this ranch. I urge you not to be tempted by the cheap prices - it really isn't worth it.