Korean Job Discussion Forums

maddog · Joined: 08 Dec 2005 Location: Daegu

I like to share a grievance I have with this site.

I recently bought a Fujifilm s100fs bundle from this site. It included the camera, case, 4GB SDHC card, card reader, small tripod, and UV filter.

The UV filter is nothing more than a lense protector. It really is a piece of crap.

The worst thing is, the card reader isn't even compatible with SDHC.

My Korean co-worker wasn't even surprised. "If you were a merchant, would you include decent up-to-date stuff that cost money, or would you throw in out-of-date crappy stcok that you couldn't sell".

I pointed out that in any civilized country I'd be legally obliged to provide what I said I would. A piece of glass is not a UV filter. And, whether or not they explictly stated that the card reader was SDHC compatible, by bundling a reader and card together they implied that they were compatible. Fukking dodgey ba5tards.

My advice. Don't buy bundled deals online in Korea. You'll get short changed.

Before anyone asks, I have neither the time nor the inclination to have a K co-worker email them, wait for a reply, send the goods back, and wait for replacements. But I have learned a lesson: It's not only hagwon directors that are guilty of dodgey business practices in Korea, all businesses are.

I guess the reason it happens is that Koreans simply accept it. Seriously, non of them were surprised.

Rant over.

MD

hanguker · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Location: Korea

Right. Never buy the package deals from the online merchants here (or anywhere?) I find that they really mark-up the price a lot for the "little extras". For example, SD cards will usually run you 50-100% more than you can buy them separately, and they will be the cheapest brand available, guaranteed. The other extras are just plastic crap. Now you know.

The camera is ok, right? THat's the important thing.

maddog · Joined: 08 Dec 2005 Location: Daegu

lion · Joined: 27 Oct 2004

hanguker · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Location: Korea

That being said lion, I've had very good experiences with Gmarket merchants. Just check very carefully the description line. I believe that they must represent the product correctly there. Don't depend on the photo at all.

Also, if one's Korean isn't very good, they should not shop on gmarket for the above reason.

Yes, returns are easy if you speak Korean, or have a Korean friend or spouse.

brandonhill31 · Joined: 02 May 2007 Location: Daegu

thanks guys i just bought a new macbook from gmarket. damn

lion · Joined: 27 Oct 2004

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Gmarket is nothing more than a site similar to E-bay in the USA. It's not Gmarket you should be angry with... it's the merchant you were dealing with.

New Balance · Joined: 15 Jan 2007

I've had two bad experiences from at least over 50 purchases. When the product is over a hundred thousand won, then I'm biting my teeth, but I'd do the same with ebay purchases too. You just have to read the feedbacks and Q&A carefully. Also, check out what other items the merchant is selling. If he has a pretty good rating with other products then you can be more confident with the seller.

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

Just look at the emoticons at the bottom of the product page. They're the user reviews. If there are a lot of disgruntled looking ones, stay away.

Very Happy

sistersarah · Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Location: hiding out

I've only had good experiences with gmarket. I bought two cameras, but they were from popular merchants. I always scan the comments at the bottom of the page. They're actually really useful, and often very specific, regarding quality, color, function, etc.

hanguker · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Location: Korea

Good points about using the popular merchants and reading the reviews. They are very informative.

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

I bought a brand-new Sony Vaio from a major Korean electronics chain (not Yongsan outlets) and it had all illegally downloaded software. To add insult to injury, when they switched it from Vista to XP (that's the only English OS they had - illegal for that matter) it made all the pre-installed Sony software inoperable. When I complained, I was informed that all Koreans know that when special requests are made (like wanting English OS) that it'll be bootlegged software. I threw a fit when I returned it and he was stunned by my reaction!

hanguker · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Location: Korea

cangel...you've been in Korea since 2003, right?

Come on, you know the way things work here. Did you honestly expect to get a piece of legit English software? I'm surprised they even tried to accommodate you.

I'm honestly stunned with your reaction and I'm not Korean.

hardr0ck68 · Joined: 01 Sep 2006

If a Korean in the States or Canada requested their useless language on a pc they would find someone at a retail store to set them up properly. That is for Korean, possibly one of the top fifty most worthless languages in the world... It has to be next to that weird clicking African language.

They do run shitty business here, everything in the country is half assed. They cut corners on the sale, then offer "service." Which must not translate correctly, because in English service implies usefulness...