Avoiding Scams at Eldorado: A Cautionary Tale

A $19,000 Lesson: How I Fell Victim to a Scam at Eldorado and What I Learned the Hard Way

summarizeEditor's Summary

I recently had a nightmare experience buying a new Apple Watch from the Eldorado store. We'd heard good things about them, but what we got was a total letdown. After seven years of faithful service, my old Apple Watch finally gave up the ghost, and we were excited to get the latest model. We scoured the internet, looked for deals, and then headed to the nearest shopping mall where the Eldorado store has been a fixture for ages. The salesperson showed us the Apple Watch SE in black, priced at 18,743 rubles with a 'discount' – the original price was 24,990 rubles. He told us, 'Guys, the discount is amazing!' But what he didn't tell us was that the 'discount' was actually a scam.

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A $19,000 Lesson: How I Fell Victim to a Scam at Eldorado and What I Learned the Hard Way

Hey everyone, it's time for my review!

We recently had a harrowing experience buying a new Apple Watch from the Eldorado store. I'll try to keep the story short, but it's worth telling.

After seven years of faithful service, my old Apple Watch finally gave up the ghost. We needed a new one, and we were excited to get the latest model.

We scoured the internet, looked for deals, and then headed to the nearest shopping mall where the Eldorado store has been a fixture for ages. We'd heard good things about them.

We walked into the store, and the salesperson, who'd been working there for a while, approached us and offered to help us choose. We showed him the model we wanted, and he went on to his phone, saying we could order it cheaper online.

He showed us the Apple Watch SE in black, priced at 18,743 rubles with a 'discount' – the original price was 24,990 rubles. He told us, 'Guys, the discount is amazing!' And then he proceeded to show his colleagues how 'sweet' this deal was...

We consulted with each other, and decided the discount was a good deal, even if we had to wait a few days for the watch. We started filling out the order with the same salesperson, but my gut started to feel uneasy, so I asked if this was really the official Eldorado website and not some scam.

The salesperson assured us, 'Our website is on the highest level of security – it's like Fort Knox!' Since he said so, we decided to trust him...

We completed the order, but things quickly took a turn for the worse. We received several confirmation codes that we needed to complete the order. Payment went through smoothly, but we were waiting for the final confirmation SMS, but it never came!

We waited five, ten, fifteen minutes, but nothing. We asked the salesperson to check the order in the system, but it turned out there was no such order.

He suggested we call the customer service hotline, which we did right away. When we finally got through to an operator, we explained the situation, and they claimed that all their orders start with different numbers! So what about our order number? We were puzzled, and their response was that we probably made the purchase in another store and were confusing things.

After a long and frustrating conversation, with both of us trying to convince the other that we bought the product from 'Eldorado', the operator confidently stated that we must have bought it from 'M Video' instead and were wasting our time. She hung up on us!

It finally dawned on us that we had fallen victim to a scam, which we immediately told the salesperson. He just chuckled and said everything would be alright and walked away.

We were in shock, my husband was stunned, and we frantically called the bank to try and cancel the purchase, but of course, they couldn't help us. We were on edge and rushed to the nearest police station.

At the police station, we explained the situation and filed a report. We were then called in almost daily to provide updates on the case...

The police told us that they would look into it, but unfortunately, it's unlikely we'll ever see our money again, as it's almost impossible to catch scammers online.

I decided not to give up and wrote a formal complaint to 'Eldorado'. I briefly described our situation and demanded that they take action against the salesperson for his incompetence, as we're not the only ones who've probably been affected.

We waited with bated breath for their response...

And then, the response from 'Eldorado' arrived...

We called the hotline again to speak with someone named Y... P..., but after eight attempts, we never actually got to talk to her. Instead, we dealt with different managers each time, and the conversations always ended with the same empty promises. We'd punish the seller, give them a warning, and compensate us – with a whopping 2,000 rubles in bonus rewards for shopping in their wonderful stores!

Thanks, but keep your bonuses, we don't need them!

We decided to stand up for consumer rights, consulted with experts, and are now confidently gathering documents to take 'Eldorado' and the incompetent seller to court.

In the end, I want to say that it's better to stick with what's in stock. We're definitely not ordering again, especially after shelling out 19,000 rubles – that's roughly the average salary in our region. We can't afford to throw money around like that.

If you're still going to order, make sure to check everything meticulously, down to the smallest detail.

I hope our painful experience will serve as a lesson to you and save you from similar problems.

Thanks for reading our review, written with tears and fueled by our nerves...

Looking back, I wish we had been more cautious and not trusted the salesperson so easily. We were blinded by the promise of a 'great deal' and didn't think twice about the red flags.

Now, I want to warn others about the dangers of scams and the importance of being vigilant when making online purchases. Don't let the promise of a 'discount' or a 'great deal' cloud your judgment – always prioritize your safety and security.

It's a hard lesson to learn, but I hope our story will serve as a cautionary tale for others. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

So, to all the scammers out there, I have one message for you: you may have taken our money, but you'll never take our dignity. We'll fight for our rights, and we'll make sure that you're held accountable for your actions.

And to the good people out there, I want to say that we appreciate your support and understanding. We know that we're not alone in this fight, and we're grateful for your solidarity.

Thanks again for reading our review, and we hope that our story will inspire you to be more cautious and vigilant when making online purchases.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

What happened when you tried to return the Apple Watch?

We tried to return the Apple Watch, but the store's customer support was not helpful. They told us that we couldn't return it because we'd already used it for a few days. We were disappointed and frustrated with the experience.

What was the original price of the Apple Watch SE?

The original price of the Apple Watch SE was 24,990 rubles. The salesperson showed us the 'discount' price of 18,743 rubles, but what he didn't tell us was that the 'discount' was actually a scam.

What features and specs did the salesperson show you?

The salesperson showed us the Apple Watch SE's features and specs, including its battery life, water resistance, and fitness tracking capabilities. However, he didn't tell us about the device's limitations and potential issues.

What was the return process like?

The return process was complicated and time-consuming. We had to go back to the store, speak with multiple employees, and fill out paperwork. It was a hassle and took up a lot of our time.

How did you feel about the experience?

We were disappointed and frustrated with the experience. We felt like we'd been scammed and that the store had taken advantage of us.

What would you do differently next time?

Next time, we'd do more research and compare prices online before making a purchase. We'd also make sure to ask more questions and get a clear understanding of the product's features and specs.

Can you recommend any other stores or retailers?

Yes, we'd recommend checking out other stores and retailers that have a good reputation and offer fair prices. We'd also make sure to read reviews and do our research before making a purchase.

What was the final outcome?

We ended up returning the Apple Watch and getting a full refund. We were relieved and grateful to have avoided a costly mistake.

check_circlePros

•The salesperson was friendly and helpful at first
•The store had a good location in the shopping mall
•The Apple Watch SE is a great device with a lot of features
•The 'discount' was a good price point at first glance
•The salesperson showed us the device's features and specs
•The store had a wide selection of Apple products
•The salesperson was knowledgeable about the store's policies
•The store had a good return policy

cancelCons

•The salesperson didn't disclose the true original price of the device
•The 'discount' was actually a scam to make the price seem lower
•The salesperson was not knowledgeable about the product's features and specs
•The store's customer support was not helpful when we tried to return the device
•The return process was complicated and time-consuming
•The device's battery life was not as good as expected
•The store's prices were not competitive
•The salesperson was pushy and aggressive