Shades of grey – Inside Imaging

December 5, 2022 When looking at local camera pricing last week, we were side-tracked into re-visiting the online offshore grey market, and specifically that tricky bit of it which operates with a .com.au website. This was inspired by a ‘Black Friday’ E-mail blast from Becextech.com.au, a company which in 2017 admitted to contravening the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and provided court-enforceable undertakings, including customer refunds, in relation to offering refurbished products as new.

Becextech’s home page inspires confidence, with a plethora of high review ratings and online retailing awards.

The promotional email from Becextetch surprised me, as I had assumed a business with such a troubled history with local consumer laws, along with customer review screaming DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY and BE CAREFUL.

DO NOT DEAL WITH THESE GUYS! would be a part of retailing history by now. Then I jumped over to consumer review website Productreview.com.au to discover that Becextech these days has a 4.1 star customer rating, which would indicate it has changed its Australian Consumer Law-contravening ways! Becextech had over 3000 5- and 4-star reviews to around 1000 1-,2- and 3-star reviews.

The Becextech website makes a selling point of its high rankings in consumer reviews, and there’s an impressive-looking logo indicating Becextech won something called the ‘Australian Enterprise Award for Best Online Consumer Electronics Retailer’ just last year. Blimey, the leopard can change its spots! But a closer look at the Productreview.com.au reviews revealed that although a lot of customers were extremely happy dealing with Becextech, quite a few others had toe-curling tales of retail woe.

How could a retailer be that good for three out of four customer/reviewers and attract considerable hostility from the other quarter? Why did so few reviewers have a merely average experience with Becextech? And with User Reviews regularly cited as one of the most important factors in purchasing decisions, do outfits like Productreview.com.au and the likes of Trustpilot/Shopper Approved – a huge global business in itself – need to lift their game?

Collecting and publishing positive reviews is big business in itself. Scroll down the ProductReview ratings for Becextech and under many of the most positive reviews there’s a line stating: The reviewer stated that an incentive was offered for this review. Many international retailers outsource the process of soliciting reviews to operations like Shopper Approved, which has the smell of a conflict of interest.

Filter tips

Putting Review is Verified and Submitted on Product Review filters in to the Productreview reviews resulted in over 3000 5- and 4-star reviews being reduced to 425, with 220 1-,2-, and 3-star reviews – way off an average rating with a 4 in front of it.

With a more reliable data set, that one-in-four chance of disappointment became a one in three chance. But the pattern of extreme joy or extreme unhappiness with Becextech continued. Here’s four recent consecutive review headlines:

5 star: Very happy (with)  Nikkor lens bought from BecexTech

1 Star: Never buy again.

Careful

1 Star: My “as new phone” was covered in scratches and took over a month to get!!! AVOID

4-star: Speedy delivery! Bought “as new” and satisfied

1-star: Faulty item delivered no refund or replacement DO NOT USE THESE GUYS £1300 gone!

Interestingly, Becextech is more a local retailer than one might assume. While product is shipped from HK, Becextech Australia is registered for GST, has an ABN (although this is not published on the website) and is owned by an Indonesian national who has an address in Victoria. The 2018 change to GST on low-value import requires international retailers selling into the Australian market to be registered with the ATO and collect GST for sales under 1000 Australian dollars at the online checkout.

But there’s a loophole. The ATO doesn’t demand that businesses issue tax invoices with the GST component separated out. Becextech states: ‘The price… shall be inclusive of all costs of carriage and applicable import Tax and duty unless it’s not LVIG [under £1000] which the buyer might pay.’

Given Becextech is registered to collect GST, if you ask, you will probably receive an actual tax invoice with which you can reclaim GST if the purchase is in relation to an ABN-issued business. But only the ATO would know whether Becextech pays GST on every single under £1000 sale.

CCC Warehouse ratings. An incredible result.

Another online-offshore retailer which sales close to the wind is CCC Warehouse. Even though it kicks off its T&Cs with an acknowledgement to country and has the website URL cccwarehouse.com.au, this business is a HK subsidiary of a parent company out of China.

CCC Warehouse is rated as Productreview’s 3rd Best Electronics and Computer Shop, with an incredible  – in the 20th century meaning of the word – average rating of 4.9 from 652 5-star reviews. But if we filter out the non-verified reviews, the 652 5-Star reviews drops to just 122. According to Productreview, not one of the 700-odd reviews were incentivised.

CCC has an different approach to Becextech when it comes to handling GST, claiming that is not exporting from Hong Kong, the customer is importing, that cccwarehouse.com.au is a HK company and thus it has  has no responsibility for complying with Australian tax law. You are responsible for ensuring that the goods the subject of your order can be lawfully imported to the destination country (i.e., Australia/New Zealand). You are the importer of the goods and must comply with all laws and regulations of the destination country.

You acknowledge and agree that the Company’s role is limited to procuring products available in Hong Kong and other regions and making these products available through the site to you for purchase in Hong Kong and for your import to your country. In no event will the Company be a party to the import of such products nor will it be responsible for any liability arising under the laws of any country other than Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the import and sale of products available on the site, including without limitation customs regulations and customs holds, detentions and seizures and copyright and trademark laws. Yet when I communicated with the CCC chatbot, the staff-member told us they do issue a tax invoice for reclaiming GST from the ATO.

We also asked whether they charge GST on goods above the £1000 mark. The response was ‘Price includes all charges. So there won’t be additional costs.’ So there you go.

– By the way, you have to be impressed by CCC Warehouse’s chutzpah in matching Canon Australia’s confidence-inspiring 5-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty with a global warranty from a mob called CPS (Not Canon Professional Services) for just £131.95. ‘Including GST’.

Tags:

buyfencingdirect listed on couponmatrix.ukdarlings-of-chelsea listed on couponmatrix.ukmarks-and-spencer listed on couponmatrix.ukwhite-stores listed on couponmatrix.ukwookey-hole-caves listed on couponmatrix.ukyoung-british-designers listed on couponmatrix.uk
buyfencingdirect listed on couponmatrix.ukThe days of ugly, bargain bucket chain link fencing being good enough for a UK domestic garden are long gone - it's now standard practice to have fabulous-looking fencing, and it needn't cost much at all when you use the Buy Fencing Direct discount code. Take advantage of this concession and you'll never risk being the subject of gossip because your fencing isn't up to scratch - and the code is also valid on decking, trellising and posts if it is.
darlings-of-chelsea listed on couponmatrix.ukThere’s no place like home, and the way we decorate and furnish our homes says a lot about us. What we can all agree on is that we want to be comfortable: if you can combine that with timeless style then you are onto a winner. Darlings of Chelsea can do just that with a beautiful selection of home furnishings for you to choose from. As if that wasn’t good enough, we can offer you discount codes and offers that will help to save you money. Comfort, style and savings are the perfect trifecta to build a happy and enjoyable home. Who are Darlings of Chelsea? Darlings of Chelsea are a UK based, award winning home furnishing store. Combining design and great customer services, they pride themselves on being able to provide exactly what you are looking for. Offering fine British craftsmanship on the majority of their products, Darlings of Chelsea also offer bespoke, tailor-made products that their customers can proudly display in their homes knowing that they are one of a kind. They also carry a range of designer products that they take pride in offering at some of the most reasonable prices on the market. They are so confident of their pricing that they will do their best to beat any item found locally that is priced better.
marks-and-spencer listed on couponmatrix.ukQuality is synonymous with Marks & Spencer. If you’re seeking essential items to last – whether it’s a coat, sofa or pair of boots – make your purchase at M&S and you’ll enjoy years of excellence. Invite the brand’s unique luxury into your life with a Marks & Spencer discount code and treat yourself to premium products for a fraction of the price, including renowned fashion brands like Phase Eight and French Connection, as well as own-brand M&S designs. At Groupon, we’ve rounded up all our favourite money-saving tips for M&S, including NHS and student discounts.
white-stores listed on couponmatrix.ukThere's nothing quite like outdoor living, with BBQs, bar sets, firepits, and practically anything designed for your garden or outdoors, Whitestores is the one-stop destination for everything you require. Whether you're throwing a party, or are looking for some permanent features to liven up your garden, the Whitestores range will have something for you and now, with your Whitestores discount code, creating a stunning space doesn't need to cost the earth. Put out some solar lights or a patio heater and get ready for outdoor living year-round with Whitestores.
wookey-hole-caves listed on couponmatrix.ukHead down to Wookey Hole to see first hand nature at its finest. With over 20 caves and attractions available, Wookey Hole is a treat for the whole family. The ancient caves are national treasures and promise an awe-inspiring day of looking and wondering. Go deep underground and see violet lakes, crystal clear waters and much more. With Wookey Hole vouchers you can enjoy the magic of nature for less. Take the whole family, go on a date or explore yourself, Wookey Hole caves and attractions truly has something for everyone.
young-british-designers listed on couponmatrix.ukIf you're looking for a stylish and modern take on fashion, then you'll love Young British Designers. This popular brand offers a range of clothing and accessories that are perfect for any trendsetter. With a wide range of styles, accessories and shoes, you’re guaranteed to find something for everyone! And, with a Young British Designers discount, you can get even more savings on your purchase. So why not shop today and discover great styles at Young British Designers? Here at Groupon, we work hard to find the best Young British Designers discount codes and deals so you can save on your purchase. We know that fashion can be expensive, so we want to help you stretch your budget a little bit further. With our Young British Designers discount codes, you can get great savings on a wide range of clothing, shoes and accessories. Take advantage of our deals today and start shopping for your new wardrobe! One of our top-performing Young British Designers products is the dresses. With a wide range of styles, colours and patterns, you can find the perfect dress for any occasion! So if you're looking for some stylish and unique clothing, then this is the perfect brand for you. With our Young British Designers discount code, you can save some money off of your purchases, so make sure to check our page before buying!