[geordielady]

Dont use play.com that much mostly due to their shocking slow website but the other day went and had a look for a few movies I was after to see prices. After searching the prices look ok but when I tried to add it to my basket found it was from a thrid party seller rather then play themselves. After looking closely I have found that the prices play are quoting against an item when you search is the cheapest which is very often not their own. You have to open up the item to see the list of prices and what play are charging.
IMO this is pretty poor as if I wanted to just buy an item from some joe bloggs I would use ebay. Amazon do a simular thing but the price you see is always there's you have to open a further page to see their marketplace sellers prices.
Its clearly been done this way by play to make it look like their prices are cheaper than they really are when you search but its just very poor if you ask me.
Have sent an email to them to complain about it just to see how they respond more then anything else.

[Sniffle774]

Play.com used to be my 'go to' site for a lot of stuff. Then Amazon started to match there prices, deliver quicker and offer a better service. Nine been to play for over a year, maybe longer.

[Ginger Nut]

I reckon the last few times I've gone looking for items on Play they've been offered by 3rd parties and not Play themselves. For that reason.......I'm out.

[geordielady]

I agree, think all this has happened since they got bought out or whatever happened. They have defaulted delivery to second class when it used to be first and now take a lot longer to dispatch. If you buy an item from them its about a week from order to receiving it. I do use them but only if I am not in a rush for the item and its cheaper than anywhere else. I would never buy from their traders as I have heard if there is a problem play dont do much about it, totally different to amazon who will always sort out a problem if one of their marketplace sellers are not helpful if there is a problem.
Shame really as 5 years or so ago they were always excellent, used them all the time.

[NinjyBear]

Play have seriously gone to shit over the last few months. It's too much of a pain even searching for stuff from their site now.

[sarahj1986]

I used to use play a lot 2007/8/9 but I then discovered Amazon and haven't really looked back. I found amazon cheaper, quicker and offered a better range of goods. I still use play but it's very rare.

[geordielady]

Originally Posted by NinjyBear

Play have seriously gone to shit over the last few months. It's too much of a pain even searching for stuff from their site now.

And what on earth is up with their website, it takes almost 10 seconds to load a page whenever you do anything especially searching. Its like being back on dial up internet when you vist their website.

[treefr0g]

Their prices are becoming ridiculous.

I was looking for an AV receiver recently.

Most places are doing a particular model for £80 less than the RRP. Play were doing it for £10 more than the RRP.

[Nyota]

I never liked Play anyway. They messed me around so much the very first time I tried ordering something from them that I never even bothered to give them the benefit of the doubt and try again - especially when people spoke of slow delivery, something which I don't tolerate.

Amazon have always been my number one site for movie/tv/music related purchases and have never let me down.

Ebay has also always been great for me.

[fmradiotuner1]

Been using Zavvi as the prices are good but stuff can come with in a few days or can take up to 2 weeks so I would not buy from here if you really needed the item.
Last time I used play must have been back in 2009 but will have to try it some day if it has cheap blu rays.

[Stuart_h]

Used to use Play a lot .....but then they did this re-seller rubbish and you were never sure if the item was new/used of from them or another third party.

Havent used them for years ......

[revans9]

It's an interesting change, one based on their acquisition by the Rakuten group who used to run the priceminister site in the UK. That site was all about the grouping of third party sellers in one place, ebay without bidding basically.

As someone who has been busy selling his dvd collection this year, i have to say i have sold a lot on play, far more than on ebay. I think this may well be because people are getting confused about who is selling what. I think it's perfectly clear who you are buying from

there are some dodgy sellers on there though. one in particular selling used stuff as new, dozens of complaints against her but she's still trading. i guess that's what the feedback is for.

[rumpleteazer]

I must be the only person who has switched from amazon to play in the last year. I normally never buy full price dvd's so the third party traders are perfect for me. I've only ever received one scratched dvd and that was through amazons market place.

Most of the time play works out cheaper because of the free shipping. Also whenever I've pre-ordered something from play it arrives before or on the day of release, I never had the same luck with amazon. Late last year I ended up pre-ordering the same dvd from play and amazon (xmas gifts) and the play one turned up about a week before amazons.

Saying that I only ever ask for deliveries through royal mail because I'm not in to receive courier deliveries and I understand amazon is quite good at next day deliveries that way.

[Lathamite]

Play[247] was THE DVD retailer around the turn of the century (Fast despatch, low prices, great website design) but has been declining rapidly over the last 7 years or so. It's a shadow of its former self due to the new owners.

[Andy_C75]

I used to use play also, but fodn their service got worse and worse so simply stopped.
amazon and even HMV beat them for service.

but i'm not always after latest releases though and I found this:
http://www.thatsentertainment.co.uk
its owned and run by musicmagpie.com.
really competative and so far i can give it 100%

[Schmiznurf]

A lot of the third party dealers are better than play themselves so it's a good thing.

Amazon delivers outside the UK for free so they are now my go to site.

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by revans9

It's an interesting change, one based on their acquisition by the Rakuten group who used to run the priceminister site in the UK

Every time I go to Play.com, I always misread that as the "Rasputin Group".

[Fear of Fours]

I rarely use Play.com. Amazon is usually the first stop for me when buying books, music and DVDs.

[Dombo]

Originally Posted by Lathamite

Play[247] was THE DVD retailer around the turn of the century (Fast despatch, low prices, great website design) but has been declining rapidly over the last 7 years or so. It's a shadow of its former self due to the new owners.

THIS is when i used them and i agree when they were at thier best. my history is still on my account from my 247 days, when dvds were no cheaper than £17.99. i must have spent around £2000 in those days... a website of a bygone era...
now it would need to be something special for me to pay £17.99 a movie.

but just for my tuppence i have used amazon a lot these last few years and use zavvi when they email me for mega monday if something catches my eye!

[downtonfan]

Use play.com for all BluRay and DVD and book purchases. Got nothing to whinge about.

[heskethbang]

Oh my god just caught this thread and had a look at play.com - what the hell have the done to it?

[SHAFT]

I still use Play quite a bit as they've always been fast an efficient. I don't see a problem with the third party trader thing either. Does it matter as long as the stuff actually show up on time and in one piece?

This may explain why there are more reliant on third party sellers now days.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...free-retailing

At the end of the day I'd still pay a little extra from Play than buy from a vile company like Amazon. Zavi are pretty good too.

[Nyota]

Originally Posted by SHAFT

I don't see a problem with the third party trader thing either. Does it matter as long as the stuff actually show up on time and in one piece?

It absolutely matters and Play MUST be totally upfront about whether you are buying directly from them, or a third party. It's sounds like they aren't making it as crystal clear as they should be?

[SHAFT]

Originally Posted by Nyota

It absolutely matters and Play MUST be totally upfront about whether you are buying directly from them, or a third party. It's sounds like they aren't making it as crystal clear as they should be?

When you click on the item they make it very clear on their pages who is supplying it. Have a look.

[geordielady]

Originally Posted by SHAFT

I still use Play quite a bit as they've always been fast an efficient. I don't see a problem with the third party trader thing either. Does it matter as long as the stuff actually show up on time and in one piece?

This may explain why there are more reliant on third party sellers now days.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...free-retailing

At the end of the day I'd still pay a little extra from Play than buy from a vile company like Amazon. Zavi are pretty good too.

Whats wrong with amazon? they have always been first class in my opinion, never once had a problem if an item gets lost, always send out a replacement for a faulty item before getting the faulty item back and are always keen to partially refund or send a e-voucher if your not happy. Ths is the total opposite to what many peoples experiences with play are like. I have only had a few items lost from play but they take an age to action it and it often takes well over a month before you recieve a replacement or refund.