Just few days back, I received an email newsletter from Dandoy Sports, a table tennis equipment sales company based in Belgium. I was one of their customers long time ago. The email newsletter was interesting. This is what they have said in the email (1) Free shipping anywhere in the world (2) Cheapest price of table tennis products (3) Excellent customer service. These are the highlights that I can remember from the newsletter. I had to delete this news letter from Dandoy Sports - the newsletter was little dishonest as I have felt that way.
Some two years ago, when I was experimenting with table tennis equipments I came across dandoy sports website recommended to me by a fellow member on a table tennis forum. I was looking for TSP Curl series table tennis rubbers. I became a customer of Dandoy Sports. They are based in Belgium - not based in the United States. I ordered some TSP Curl rubbers. The rubber reached me within 2 weeks. The Dandoy Sports website attracted me from that time onwards as many table tennis equipments are little cheap of some $5 to $15 difference compared to what we get in the United States. They do the free shipping also. Who does not like that deal? It was easy for me to buy equipments from a single place and dont worry about multiple places. I stuck with them for a while even not bothering to look at prices of product or deals at online stores in America.
Then a horrible thing happened. I made a large order. It never came. Since the amount was high, the credit card statement of that month brought to my attention. The Dandoy Sports charged my credit card but they have never shipped out the package. I have checked the Dandoy website. The status of the order says pending. I have sent them few emails. I never received any reply. Things like this often happen. It is little suspicious when you don’t receive your package for some months and you don’t get any reply from them.
This incident has caused me to further investigate the price of the products and the past orders. I have found something which is alarming. I have found the Dandoy Sports was not charging me the price they advertise on their website. Their website has price in USD and Euro. When I have placed the order, I have placed it in the USD and not in Euro. But they have charged my credit card with the price in Euro. What does that mean? I was attracted to the Dandoy Sports website with a lower price for a product advertised in USD. But I did not get that price. Instead, I paid the Euro price which which was higher and when it converted to the USD, it is higher than the price they have advertised for the same product in the USD.
Is it simply an exchange rate problem? Not really. I have sent Dandoy Sports an email asking clarification of this problem. I was told they would charge in Euro only. They have not answered my question on the advertised lower price in USD. The following day of this incident, I made a sample order on their site for the same products. I have found this time that the price of the products in USD are high, and close to the exchange rate. So, they have corrected the price of the product finally.
After a week, they have refunded the full amount when I have become serious.
I have brought up this issue to discuss between the forum members. Some members gave careful attention while some argued on exchange rates, and a table tennis dealer from Australia called me a “liar”.
Time is now. There have been so many discussions on Dandoy Sports. A lot of people had discouraging experiences with Dandoy Sports - some did not receive products, some lost money. That’s why it is interesting the Dandoy newsletter that I have received.
Let me share some thoughts on Dandoy’s claims in their news letter to me:
About Dandoy’s lowest price:
I don’t trust this claim. The customers may see a lower price in USD on the site and they will be charged high price when their credit card is charged. Dandoy has to charge the customer only what the order total says, not a new price which is different from the price in the order.
Free Shipping to anywhere in the world:
The distributors of brands like Butterfly, Joola are present in the US. It is illegal for Dandoy Sports to ship the items to United States.
Excellent Customer Service:
The Dandoy Sports does not reply to emails. It is hard to reach them on phone. What is that called? I would say, there is no customer service. I buy the products, and I get it. There is nothing more than that.
You, being a table tennis player, will be attracted to a store like Dandoy Sports for their products which are little cheaper than you get from your country. There are few ways to save money by buying table tennis equipmets from your own country. (1) You can buy the used equipments from places like tabletennisJunkie.com For Sales. Sometimes, you can get upto 50% lower. (2) Buy in bulk and save. Get together with couple of your friends and buy together, or ask the club to buy for all. (3) Wait for the price of the new product to become lower. In the US, when the Butterfly Tenergy has come out, it was priced $65. The price has lowered to $52. (4) Look for the deals from the stores in your country. The stores try to get rid of inventory, and you can get products cheap.
Here are some reasons why you should buy from your country. (1) Major brands like BUTTERFLY, JOOLA, XIOM have strict distribution policies. It is illegal to export items from one country to another - that violates distributor policies. Buying from a different country put a lot of burden on your local distributor. (2) it is better to trust the distributor in your country for products. When you are in trouble you can get back to them fast and you have option of taking any action like getting your money back or getting a new product. (3) The table tennis products come with warranty. It means if you have bought a blade and have a defect, you can give it back and get a new one. The stores based in a different country can’t give you a product warranty.
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Dandoy sports Germany is a poor one, they cheat their customer by selling broken shoes.
It is really a shame of German.
I tried to read your article in whole, but as soon as you went on how illegal it is to import tt goods, I’ve wanted to puke since.
I regard it as entirely my business where I buy from, Ok? I have no intention to buy from locals who put huge margin.
I did not say it is illegal to import. I said it is illegal for the distributor in one country to export again to a different country.
Dandoy sports Belgium is a good table tennis equipment sales company. There is no problem with them. They ever shipped out the package. Problems are with customs post or post. ( here are reasons for delay, loss or stealing). There are the place where you can find your package.
You are right about one thing, they never send any reply on e-mail. Why? Who knows.
There is problem with Dandoy Sports as reported by many table tennis players in the US. They don’t operate well to handle the orders correctly. If you have purchased from them recently and if you feel that they have done a good job, they have improved.
I have had the same experience with Dandoy.I have placed and in October 2009 and it still reflects as processing.I have emailed them a few times but to date no response.
I was criticized by many in public for talking some of these facts against Dandoy. I was called a “liar”, and had an interest in writing because I run a business. I’m glad I talked about these issues so that they can improve their customer service. But the fact is, they are not.
They don’t discount like they said they would. On their sites, they said discount on everything except robots and tables. But then when I ordered a blade (Timo Boll ZLF) they did not take the 15% discount off. I would not recommend this company to anyone.
I ordered (Greece) many times from this site & i didn’t have any problem. I’m curius, if something other happens…
I have bought rubber from Dandoy for a few years now. They have been very prompt and efficient is sending tt gear to New Zealand, usually within 6-7 days. Their prices are better than what I can get here. They have given good service. Maybe some of you have had a bad deal. I can only speak well of them.
We have used Dandoy for a few years.
This time (July 2011) placed an Order, the money taken from my credit card and the goods never delivered.
Order still says processing. The will not reply or communicate.
What do you do next???
Very dissapointed and upset with this service.
The order was for a friend, and puts me in a very embarassing position.
Can anyone help me, I appreciate so advise how to get my money back.
Thank You
How did you manage to get your money back? i ordered and it never came back. And the customer support doesnt reply back. I want to get my money refunded. And yes it was a very bad experience.
hello. I’m Anthony from the Philippines. i started to buy stuff from dandoy-sports.com 03/05/2011, the service was good. it amounted 128.23EUR with free shipment. then my second order was last 08/27/2011 that amounted 93.58EUR . again it was a free shipment and the items were complete and in good condition. unfortunately, my 3rd order was a failure. i ordered items like shorts, blades, cases last 10/17/2011 that amounted 84.76EUR but my order is still in “processing status” till now. Ive send them tons of emails, some emails includes my credit card billing statement coz I wanna show them that I already paid for the items I ordered and I wanna show them that the credit card company already charge me the amount that Ive paid in their website but unfortunately, i receive no reply. not even once. can someone please help me get my orders or my money back? I’m just an amateur table tennis player and I’m not rich so 84.76EUR is a very great deal for me. If some one wants to help me, you can reach me at …@yahoo.com. thank you so much
I also ordered from Dandoy several items and all was OK until the last order which was sent to a wrong address and was sent back to them.
I’ve sent a great amount of letters to no avail.
No answer was sent neither the money.
It seems that they have a pattern of cheating and stealing money from the customers
I’ve used Dandoy Belgium a lot for over 8 years here in Vancouver Canada. Never had an issue with delivery apart from once or twice due to Canada post difficulties and always get response from emails. Certainly the most popular site for price and delivery time I can think of in use over here for what it’s worth.
I had only bad experiences with Dandoy Sports in Belgium!
I will NEVER order there again.