A Cautionary Tale: Power Outlet's Decline

I still remember the year 2005, when I was just a teenager, a power outlet caused a real stir on the internet market: the lowest prices, home delivery, quality equipment (at that time, there were no other categories of goods), and an enormous assortment in its segment.

It's no surprise that with such an approach, Power Outlet quickly gained the trust and love of customers, and also managed to outcompete many more greedy and indifferent competitors. Indeed, for several years that followed, I bought all the necessary devices (computers, laptops, phones, modems...) only from them, being confident in the best quality at the minimum price.

However, was Power Outlet able to maintain its impeccable reputation over the many (more than 10) years that followed? Unfortunately, no.

internet store Power Outlet reviewsI'm not trying to defame one of the largest, most successful, and respected stores, but unfortunately, on today's day, the number of drawbacks of this store significantly exceeds its advantages.

Let me be honest, this review will be without photos and screenshots, because I can boast about the pleasant experiences I had at Power Outlet in separate reviews, and I don't see the point in screenshotting the interface: we can all visit the website and get familiar with it. Plus, I got banned a couple of times for posting screenshots...

Pros Power Outlet internet store:

1. The website is very user-friendly: plenty of comments, many product photos, the ability to compare, create a wish list, track the order status, and view the purchase history, and so on. I can say that this is the most user-friendly store I've ever seen, and I'm a big online shopper.

2. The wide range of products. There's always something to choose from.

Cons Power Outlet internet store:

1. The prices. Power Outlet used to be famous for its low prices, but now they're just moderate, and not even the lowest. I've repeatedly found products cheaper on other resources (from electronics to kids' toys, from kitchenware to diapers). Of course, Power Outlet does have sales from time to time, but if you take the time to search, you can find the same prices with better service.

2. Customer Support. I remember when I first started using their service, the support team was always super helpful, friendly, and prompt. They'd answer every call, provide guidance, and even smile at you in person. But now...

a) you can't even get through on the phone;

b) forget about a warm welcome;

c) good luck getting accurate information.

I get it, they're probably slammed, but any reputable company with their scale should invest in hiring more staff, paying them a decent wage, and solving the problem. Instead, it's all about greed, mercantilism, and apathy...

3. Product Range. I'm genuinely shocked by the state of their product selection right now. They've got a ton of stuff, but it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The top products are always 'out of stock', and the food section is a joke. I know they're trying to become a major online marketplace like Amazon, but they've got a long way to go. If they could improve their support, boost quality, and attract more small sellers, I'd be all for it.

4. Shipping. Currently, they only deliver to your doorstep, not even to your front door. The couriers refuse to take it any further, so you're stuck checking the package on the street. It's inconvenient and awkward. From what I've read, regional shipping is also a disaster – expensive and unreliable.

5. The Center (exhibition hall). I live near their central office in Kiev, so I often walk there instead of waiting for delivery. It's not the most pleasant experience, though – the staff can be unfriendly, and there's always a crowd. You can inspect the products before paying, but that's about it. What about people who live on the other side of town? They're forced to pay for shipping, with no discounts or perks.

6. Discounts and loyalty program. There are no discounts, loyalty cards, or bonus programs whatsoever. Even after five years of being a customer, making nearly $1000 worth of purchases, and having a million orders, I get nothing. The only 'perk' is a promo code for some random product that shows up in my email or on the website. If you don't manually enter it, you're out of luck.

7. The Product. And then there's the product quality issue. Lately, I've been getting damaged or defective items (I guess they resell returns). My last order was a disaster – I bought two inflatable single mattresses, but they were both faulty: one had a puncture, and the other had a broken lock.

8. Returns. I've been lucky in the past and never had to return anything, but things have changed lately. I had to return an MP3 player once because it had a scratch on it. It was my fault, I scratched it myself. I called the customer support, but they just wouldn't take it back. Not even after I explained the situation. As for the mattresses, I wanted to return them or exchange them, but it was a total disaster. They said they couldn't take them back because I had to contact the Intex office directly. No phone calls, no visits to the center - nothing worked.

9. Advertising. I'm getting really annoyed with all the ads. Every channel, every project has Rozetka as a sponsor. You can't even watch a video or browse the internet without seeing their ads every five minutes. It's clear they have a lot of money, but they're not using it to improve their customer service or treat their customers with respect.

Conclusion: Based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend Rozetka right now. If you do decide to shop there, make sure you've checked the prices on other websites and that Rozetka really has the best deal. Also, be prepared to pick up your order in person and check it before paying. And if you really need to buy something from Rozetka, make sure it's in stock. That's what I do. 😊

As for the store, I think they should rethink their approach to customers. I'm sure they'll regain their reputation as the best online store if they do.