U Bid Ripoff .. my 2 cents worth......

I've also had some less than swell incidents with U Bid. I purchased a Yamaha CD burner from them, listed as a "consumer package". When I received it, it was an "OEM" package, intended for installation by an OEM computer manufacturer. As a result, it didn't have either current software or manuals, and none of the usual installation ribbon cables and other hardware. As a result, any warranties were in question.

And speaking of warranties, many of the manufacturers of items sold by U bid specifically state that purchases from anyone other than their legitimate dealers carry NO WARRANTY. U Bid is not a dealer for anything that I'm aware of. For instance, check out the Rockford (car audio)web site.
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http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/

Posted on the Rockford-Fosgate web site:
>>>>>WARNING! - We find it necessary to alert you about unauthorized "Retail Outlets", "Internet Stores" and "Discount Mail-Order" companies that attempt to represent themselves as "authorized" Rockford Fosgate dealers. They are not!
Product sold ONLY through Authorized Rockford Fosgate dealers is warrantied, and fully guaranteed by Rockford Fosgate for the entire warranty period to the original purchaser.

Do not buy from...

Unauthorized Companies - Retail Outlets, Internet Sites and Mail Order companies advertising and selling Rockford Fosgate products that do not appear in our zip code/toll free "Dealer Locator" violate our agreements with Authorized Rockford Fosgate dealers. We cannot guarantee the quality of the product, nor can we support any warranty for any items sold by these "unauthorized dealers". ****************************************************************
U bid states:>>> "Product Warranty
3 Year warranty through Rockford Fosgate"

I have , at times, suspected sham bidders on items sold with no reserve. Early bids were often overridden mysterously by 'earlier' bids. This is less of an issue now that U bid has "reserve prices" (minimum bid) on many items. At least this is more honest than the sham bidding I suspected was occurring earlier.

Their current shipping charges schedule has pretty well turned me away from their site. (Something like $.90 per # plus $7.99, or there abouts) The shipping charges often are twice the price of small, heavy items such as speakers. U bid ALWAYS ships each item individually. If you successfully bid on six or ten of anything, you'll receive SIX or TEN cartons, etc. THAT makes NO sense whatever.

Any correspondence I've attempted to U Bid has always resulted in a form response not actually addressing my communique.