Chumbo.com - I get knocked down, but I shop again
Written: Sep 04 '02
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I bought from Chumbo.com (not to be confused with Chumbawumba – “I get knocked down, but I get up again…”) for no reason other than that it had the best price on what I was looking for. That’s basically why I choose to shop anywhere online, and my Chumbo purchase of WordPerfect Legal Edition was no different.
That said, there is certainly no reason not to shop at Chumbo.com (now there’s a ringing endorsement).
The Store
Like most online stores, the front page is teeming with different ways to find what you need. Chumbo.com offers browsing by product type, manufacturer, best sellers, and specials.
A personal favorite for me is the “coming soon” which has new product information and release dates, as well as pricing and pre-ordering. Very little is more annoying than not being able to find information about new products. That’s what the internet is for, isn’t it?
Selection
The store offers computer software and hardware, PDA’s, consumer electronics (like mp3 players, not like televisions), DVD’s (but no audio or VHS), and video games. It seems like a weird mix to me, but I guess it works for them. As for the product areas they carry, their selection is quite good. I recall the software I was looking for was quite hard to find at the time, and Chumbo.com not only had it, but they had it in stock and at a good price.
There is also a “download store” to download a variety of software products, including “volume licensed” products from major vendors for products such as anti-virus.
Pricing
As noted, I bought something that was cheaper at Chumbo.com than anywhere else. On the whole, it appears that pricing is the middle of the pack, so I say shop around – there is nothing special that would keep me coming back to pay a higher price.
One nice feature is a very prominent and well organized clearance section for bargain hunters.
Searching
Nothing special here, though it appears to work – I got hits for the things I was looking for as well as for a variety of test products. The display is a little clunky and not well organized. It provides just a list of products with a price and description – only 10 per page and scrolling is a bit slow. They also leave the side navigation menu up for the last category you are in. Some my find that helpful, but I found it confusing and would prefer a custom navigation to get through the search results.
Customer Service
I didn’t need to test it. I suppose that’s a good thing in its own way. The notifications were clear and timely as to order confirmation and shipping. Product status (in stock, on order, etc.) is prominently displayed with each product.
My product shipped on time and arrived as expected. That’s also a good thing – if you don’t get your product, then it doesn’t make sense to buy online. Shipping charges vary by type, and are pretty good comparatively – your mileage may vary.
Conclusion
In short, Chumbo.com is a serviceable, though not special, online store that is worth checking out if the price is right.
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Member: Michael Risch
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Reviews written: 103
Trusted by: 246 members
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Chumbo.com
