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bigwords.com STINKS! just buy your text books offline.Feb 13 '00 Write an essay on this topic.Going into my fifth semester of college I decided that, being the web savvy person I am, I would shop online for my textbooks and find some real bargains. I had seen ads at school, on TV and one the web for a number of different online textbook stores, (i.e.. varsitybooks.com and bigwords.com) and I thought I would give them a try. When the semester started, I got a list of the books I would need and I started my comparison-shopping. First I went to my school bookstore, where the prices are always outrageous and the lines are even worse. I checked out the costs of what I would need and then I hit the net to find the great deals. The sites I've seen advertised usually mention that their prices are 20% to 40% lower then normal prices but I didn't find that to be the case. Most were the same price, a few were actually higher then my school store and a small number offered a minute savings of a dollar or two, which was quickly overshadowed by shipping costs and an inconvenient 3 to 5 day waiting period. I was excited to see that bigwords.com offered (for a limited time) free shipping and, having my heart set on ordering my books off the net, I decided to get two books from Bigwords.com (and none from any of the other online books stores). I bought the rest of my books at school and waited in line with everyone else. The website advertised 3 to 5 day shipping which, at the time, seemed rather reasonable. After 7 days though, I was a bit concerned. 10 days after I placed my order, the first book showed up at my house. I was glad it arrived but I was more then a bit curious about the location of the second book. There was no letter or notice with my package and the invoice only listed the one book. I went to bigwords.com and check my "order status" which showed that both books were "on order." I wasn't sure exactly what that meant because I had one of the books in my possession… was it still on order? So I e-mailed Bigwords.com's customer service and asked. Despited their promising of writing back within' 24 hours-I received no responce. After a couple of days of wondering what was up, I e-mailed again. This time I got an answer (76 hours later)… my book was on back order and would show up in 3 to 4 weeks. Well, I was glad to have that answer but 1) they doesn't put the book in my hands right now. 2) why the HECK didn't they tell me that before. They couldn't have sent me a little tiny e-mail that said it would be a while? They couldn't include a slip w/ my earlier package? They couldn't have updated their "your order status" section on the website? They couldn't have responded to my e-mail? Anyway, its been 3 weeks since I placed my order and I still don't have my book. I DO have a test on Wednesday but that doesn't matter to bigwords.com. Ok, that was a long opinion w/ a lot of complaining so here is a review: 1) no online text book sites offer good deals. 2) bigwords.com said 3 to 5 day shipping but it took 10 days for a book that WAS in stock. 3) bigwords.com evidently has problems keeping a stocked warehouse. 4) bigwords.com wont admit that they unable to fulfill an order on time and don't bother to let you know that your stuff is on back order (until you e-mail them twice) 5) bigwords.com doesn't answer their e-mails within the 24 hour period promised on their website 6) waiting in line at the book store may suck, but waiting a month at your mailbox is even worse. --END  |
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by texas-swede
by ladyconsumer
by kairosdreaming
