OnSale.com Site and Service Review
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Written To Better Inform Our Visitors Regarding These Deals: • Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere iPod Speakers [INSTANT SAVINGS] • ASUS Eee PC 900 20G Laptop $349 [MAIL IN REBATES] • Iomega 250GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive [INSTANT SAVINGS] • LaCie Big Disk Extreme 1TB External Drive [INSTANT SAVINGS] |
When it comes to bargain sites online, there are so many that it’s hard to know if you’re really getting a good deal. While there are a few major contenders, the smaller sites tend to get lost in the shuffle. Overstock is a standout in this arena, mainly due to their low shipping costs. However, a lot of their prices are actually pretty high, so there is room for a competitor to swoop in and take their business.
OnSale.com isn’t really a new concept, but it’s a good one. Offer discount stuff that can’t be found anywhere else and back it up with great customer service. There’s a lot to like about this store, but we really liked the prices.
OnSale.com is owned by PCMall, which is pretty perfect. They’ll always have a steady stream of merchandise and a lot of purchasing power to bring in the low prices. They offer about 125,000 discount electronics, computers, peripherals and small business products, and most of their customers are either businesses, or people just looking for a great deal.
At first glance you know immediately that OnSale is a place to find cheap computers, iPod stuff and pretty much every type of consumer electronic known to man. They’ve gone a good job of broadcasting this via their design and layout and they hit all the right notes when it comes to organization. We were pleased to find out that this was an extension of PCMall, since they are well known for the quality of their products and their customer service.
The design is a bit cluttered, but it’s tough for sites in this business to promote everything and still keep the main page free from too much clutter. The graphics really didn’t slow down the overall load time and we found that they didn’t go as overboard in this area as their competitors do.
The site is very well organized, with everything you need to see right at the top. The toll-free number is right under the logo, which is the perfect spot for it, and it’s easy to find the help section or the my account link. We also liked the way they made it clear right off the bat that most orders ship free. This gives them an edge over Overstock, which only runs free shipping deals occasionally.
The site offers two main forms of navigation, with category buttons at the top of the page, and more detailed category listings on the side bar. It’s very easy to find exactly what you are looking for and they’ve done a very good job of making sure that their navigational flow is logical.
The individual product pages are well laid out and offer just the right amount of information. You can get reviews on the product, find out if it is in stock at the moment and see if there is a warranty, all without having to scroll. Their product descriptions were a little brief, but in this segment of consumers, most already know what they are looking for and will focus more on the price.
They could go a little more in-depth with the descriptions, but this was a minor quibble and one that we could overlook given the strength of the other areas of the site.
This store has a great selection of laptops, desktops, monitors, televisions and pretty much everything you could ever need in the way of consumer electronics. We loved their iPod store, and especially appreciated most of their prices. You definitely will save money on most everything here. They even offer free engraving on iPods, which is hard to find, especially when you’re dealing with discount pricing. In fact, it’s tough to find iPods this cheap, especially brand new.
The site also offers a great gaming section that is well stocked and well priced. They offer a wide selection of video cards and gaming peripherals as well as the most popular games. The prices are very low and we probably appreciated this section the most.
While a few brands are not eligible for returns, you can get a pretty decent return policy on a lot of their merchandise. They do recommend calling the toll-free number if you are curious about a brand and whether or not the item can be returned in the future. They rely heavily on manufacturer warranties so in most cases, you’ll need to go direct to the manufacturer to get help if something goes wrong. On the plus side, most warranties are longer than the typical 14 day return policy offered by electronics stores, so you are actually getting better service.
They will not accept returns on televisions or monitors that are over 27 inches and there are a few other restrictions as well. However, their return policy page is very clear on their rules and easy to understand. They will take software back if it is defective, and although there is a restocking fee on some returns, that is to be expected when you are dealing with products like these.
If you need electronics and you’re on a budget, this is one of the first places to stop online. Chances are you’ll be able to find just what you’re looking for, as well as a few things that you may not even need, and at these prices, it’s hard to pass up anything you find. Although their return policy was not as generous as it could be, that was to be expected when dealing with discount electronics. We did appreciate the fact that they made it easy to contact them with questions and check the status of your order. It’s clear that PCMall has rubbed off on them, in a good way.
The frequent sales, free shipping offers and overall quality of their products makes them a clear contender in this market place. They may not be as well known as some sites, but they deserve a look.
OnSale.com isn’t really a new concept, but it’s a good one. Offer discount stuff that can’t be found anywhere else and back it up with great customer service. There’s a lot to like about this store, but we really liked the prices.
About OnSale.com
OnSale.com is owned by PCMall, which is pretty perfect. They’ll always have a steady stream of merchandise and a lot of purchasing power to bring in the low prices. They offer about 125,000 discount electronics, computers, peripherals and small business products, and most of their customers are either businesses, or people just looking for a great deal.
First Impression
Site Design and Navigation
The design is a bit cluttered, but it’s tough for sites in this business to promote everything and still keep the main page free from too much clutter. The graphics really didn’t slow down the overall load time and we found that they didn’t go as overboard in this area as their competitors do.
The site is very well organized, with everything you need to see right at the top. The toll-free number is right under the logo, which is the perfect spot for it, and it’s easy to find the help section or the my account link. We also liked the way they made it clear right off the bat that most orders ship free. This gives them an edge over Overstock, which only runs free shipping deals occasionally.
The site offers two main forms of navigation, with category buttons at the top of the page, and more detailed category listings on the side bar. It’s very easy to find exactly what you are looking for and they’ve done a very good job of making sure that their navigational flow is logical.
The individual product pages are well laid out and offer just the right amount of information. You can get reviews on the product, find out if it is in stock at the moment and see if there is a warranty, all without having to scroll. Their product descriptions were a little brief, but in this segment of consumers, most already know what they are looking for and will focus more on the price.
They could go a little more in-depth with the descriptions, but this was a minor quibble and one that we could overlook given the strength of the other areas of the site.
OnSale Products
This store has a great selection of laptops, desktops, monitors, televisions and pretty much everything you could ever need in the way of consumer electronics. We loved their iPod store, and especially appreciated most of their prices. You definitely will save money on most everything here. They even offer free engraving on iPods, which is hard to find, especially when you’re dealing with discount pricing. In fact, it’s tough to find iPods this cheap, especially brand new.
The site also offers a great gaming section that is well stocked and well priced. They offer a wide selection of video cards and gaming peripherals as well as the most popular games. The prices are very low and we probably appreciated this section the most.
Customer Service
While a few brands are not eligible for returns, you can get a pretty decent return policy on a lot of their merchandise. They do recommend calling the toll-free number if you are curious about a brand and whether or not the item can be returned in the future. They rely heavily on manufacturer warranties so in most cases, you’ll need to go direct to the manufacturer to get help if something goes wrong. On the plus side, most warranties are longer than the typical 14 day return policy offered by electronics stores, so you are actually getting better service.
They will not accept returns on televisions or monitors that are over 27 inches and there are a few other restrictions as well. However, their return policy page is very clear on their rules and easy to understand. They will take software back if it is defective, and although there is a restocking fee on some returns, that is to be expected when you are dealing with products like these.
Overall Impression
If you need electronics and you’re on a budget, this is one of the first places to stop online. Chances are you’ll be able to find just what you’re looking for, as well as a few things that you may not even need, and at these prices, it’s hard to pass up anything you find. Although their return policy was not as generous as it could be, that was to be expected when dealing with discount electronics. We did appreciate the fact that they made it easy to contact them with questions and check the status of your order. It’s clear that PCMall has rubbed off on them, in a good way.
The frequent sales, free shipping offers and overall quality of their products makes them a clear contender in this market place. They may not be as well known as some sites, but they deserve a look.