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0.5 stars
"Do not, I repeat DO NOT buy from this company!"
Pros: NONE, NONE AT ALL
Cons: Company, Quality
Summary: I've been involved in technology for 25 years. ABS is one of the worst companies I have ever dealt with-no, I take that back-they are the worst. I placed an order three weeks ago for one of their top of the line workstation computers. First clue that something wasn't right--I could not place the order on-line, I had to call. The phone was answered by a polite young woman who asked what I was calling about and told me that someone in sales would call me back. An hour or so later someone finally got around to calling me back. I gave the specifics of the order--expected a confirmation of the price and a ship date--but got only--"I'll call you back in an hour or so". Three hours went by. I called back asked for a supervisor or someone who knew what was going on. Suddenly my original sales rep called to tell me that he was researching my order??? Only to find out the processor I ordered was not available. Strange that it was listed on-line. But, he did offer to upgrade me from dual 2.8 Ghz processors to 3.2's--so I agreed. Shortly afterwards a "supervisor" called me to let me know he was upgrading the shipping to FedEx 2nd day. I was wary-but felt ok.
After two+ weeks the computer finally shipped. A full week after it was promised--and though the shipping was upgraded to Fed Ex 2nd day I was charged for it-what a bargain! After opening the computer I realized that the $250 vPNY video card was lying in the bottom of the case along with with two of its transistors. The card was not screwed into the case. Neither were the wireless adapter card or the Firewire card. Knowing that the upgraded video card would not work I tried to start the computer up using the built-in video--no luck, only a series of beeps. Not a good sign. I called ABS for info and help. I got neither. As before I was told that someone would call me back. After almost four hours--I called back. When I complained about the time I was told that--"we do have other customers you know". I was given a couple of choices-buy a new system immediately and send the damaged one back for credit--or send the damaged one back for repair. No attempt was made to troubleshoot the existing one--or to replace the video card--even though I asked. I also asked if I could simply get an RMA number--send the DOA system back while they began building a new system. The DOA system would be back long before the new system was built--they could then simply send out a new one to replace the old. This complicated solution required another call back. An hour later I was told that this was not possible and they recommended, since I was so upset, that I just send back the DOA machine for a refund--which of course would take 3-5 days of processing once they received the comptuer?!?! After much converstation and consternation I reluctantly agreed to send the computer back for a refund. They agreed to issue an RMA--actually they agreed to issue send a FedEx return airbill overnight.
This did not happen. What they sent was an email with an RMA number. No airbill, no shipping label. No nothing. Just a note that said send this back within 14 days or it expires. That was bad..very bad.. but to add serious insult to injury they are (trying) to charge me a $669.50 restocking fee for shipping a poorly put together comptuer that does not work!!!! What an incredible scam! As I said, I have never run across a company like this--in 25 year of work in this field. Please, please do not do business with ABS. I am not sure how or why CNET can even include them in any discussion about legitimate computer systems. I based a good protion of my purchase decision on CNET reviews of their products. CNET has obviously never had to actually purchase a computer from ABS.
I will be calling my bank to try to get the charges taken off of my card in the morning--as well as the Better Business Bureaus in NC and CA. But again I can't stress this enough, do not do business with this company!
