Side-Socket.com Another dirty trick of SideSocket.com Internet

I do not consider this to be a "Rip-off" but do consider it to be mis-leading.

The TV ad clearly shows that you must pay separate shipping and handling charges for the "Free" Unit. The TV ad also shows that the upgrade to surge protection is an option.

I was thinking of ordering this item and liked the two for one option. I would pay $7.95 for each of the two units so I don't think that the requirement to pay a separate shipping charge is ridicilously high.

I wonder if the ad said: Get your side socket for $10.00 plus s&h plus $7.95 for a second unit, if there would be an up-roar about the "offer".

I do however have a problem with the surge protection issue in that I went to the website to find a price for the surge protection option but would have had to place an order to find the price. That is not right - there should be no reason to place an order to get a price; I wouldn't order a burger in a restaurant if the menu did not have a price attached to it even if I did "upgrade" that burger to a more deluze burger, I would still want to know the price of the upgrade before submitting my order.

There is something that no one else seems to have addressed here:

That is the use of transformers with these units will basically be impossible for several reasons.

    1. The space between "sockets" is to small to accomodate a transformer unit

    2. The thickness of the unit itself to allow furniture to be "up against the wall" is to small to allow for the typical extra thickness of of a transformer.

    3. There are other electrical reasons as well but I am not qualified to speak on those terms other than to warn someone interested in using the product for a transformer plug to avoid the unit altogether

BUT

The biggest clomplaint should be the term "up against the wall" for the furniture. The unit itself is no less thicker than the common plug that is plugged into the wall in the first place so that the furntiure cannot really be "up againist the wall" in the first place even with or without the unit.

One there are several competing products already on the market and already in Home Depot and Leows et cetera. More online as well. These alternatives may not offer the swivel sockets or surge protection.

HOWEVER,

The best solution already exists and sells for around $10 each at many retailers. The standard power strip with surge protection. The standard power strip plugged into the wall is about the same thickness as the unit and can handle surge protection and/or transformers.

Although the product looks cool and fun, in reality it really does not solve a problem but provides a solution to a problem with an alternative that is second best at that.

 

 

 

They don't state how much the postage and handling is before you hit the submit button. Why would anyone pay s&h knowing it would be 3 times more than the purchase price of the plugs. Also, they don't let you check your order before you hit the submit button to confirm address and card number. If I had known the s&H would have been $64 I would have cancelled and waited until its available at Lowes or Home Depot.

Here is how Side Socket rips consumers off. I placed and order that should have totaled 82.70 with the shipping included and they inflated the coat to 146.67. The shipping should have been 23.85 and I was charged 47.70. They also charged 10.1% sales tax (CA sales tax is not that high) I put a hold on my credit card as soon as I noticed the overcharges.

While I don't agree that the above case is a dirty trick, my own experiance is not exactly ethical.

The Side Socket commercial shows only (Surge Protected) sockets, with the $10 price tag always near by. When I logged on their website, the units had no obvious surge protection. There was however, a video on the site which replayed the commercial again showing all units surge protected. So I placed an order.

At ths point I was prompted to include a bunch of stuff I didn't need and declined. THEN THEY GOT ME.

An offer to upgrade to the (Deluxe Surge Protected Side Sockets), would cost an additional $10 each. Turns out the original $10 offer is not protected and the commercial clearly states that surge protection is an OPTION.

By the time you reach this point you cannot back out of your order. Nothing but bad choices here: $26 total for unprotected sockets or nearly $50 to purchase what your eyes saw in the commercial.

Instead of $10 for the first it's $20. Instead of the second being free, it's $10 and shipping with handling is about $16 for the two.

$46 plus tax equals $50.....

The TV commercial and online website clearly state that you must pay separate S&H for the free item. I dislike the $7.95 cost but there is no rip off involved. Personally I will wait for consumer reports on the quality of the product. If it is safe, it will be for sale at Wal Mart or at a "on TV" store and buy it without S&H costs. Don't blame the business for clearly stated charges if you are dumb enough to agree to the charge