Simply Electronics
Hopefully this is the right section to post this in.
I've never bought from this company, but have noticed from time to time very good offers on some Marantz items. Really cheap in comparison to everyone else you look up on the net.
And there's lots of stuff on the web about the nature of this company... I remember seeing quite a bit about them a while back on another forum...
Back when I worked for a camera store a few years ago, we used to keep a folder of online complaint letters for simply electronics. It was so common to get people trying to price match them (SE were usualy selling below our cost price, margins on cameras tend to be around 10-20% for good brand names sold to small shops) and the book of tears made our jobs so much easier, and helped the customer dodge a bullet.
We would suggest that these products are either copy products or stolen goods.
As per David's post, these are rumoured to be grey imports / non EU stock. I'd not chance an amp from such a retailer, but for something simple (like headphones), I'd consider imports - but I'd have to be very comfortable with the website in question. Creek should be more careful about what they say - the quote above is libellous!
Their reviews are good (3809 reviews). But as BA says, I may consider Simply Electronics only to buy cheap stuff like headphones & use Paypal or Google checkout to pay.
I ordered a Denon receiver of these guys some time ago, based on a cheap advertised price and the site stating it was in stock with immediate free delivery. A week later nothing had arrived and despite several email and telephone enquiries no delivery date could be confirmed. Some research online (which I should have done to start with!) showed many other people had the same experience on big ticket items. Its pretty clear they don't keep these items in regular stock but stockpile orders and then dispatch stock in batches as and when it comes in, meaning there's no way of knowing when you'll get your item when you place your order (could be days, could be several weeks). I cancelled the order (citing distance selling regulations and 'cooling off' periods etc).
One to avoid in my opinion.
Useful and timely info, I just came across this site for the first time lasy night, they have the Benchmark DAC1 HDR for £1399 - much less than usual UK price. Wasn't going to order right now anyway but will cross this vendor off the list.
Many of the products they sell are non UK products (Pioneer/Marantz etc) as they're based in Hong Kong, so they won't be supplying CE products, and sometimes products that are outside of UK specifications.
David @Frank Harvey Hi-Fi, Coventry, incorporating HiFix
Hi-Fi and Home Cinema specialists, and exclusive UK agents for SVS and Ken Kreisel's KK Sound home theatre products.