The shopping myth - Letters

Cruise Travel, Sept-Oct, 2002 by Joseph W. Gilkey

I am a longtime subscriber to Cruise Travel and a veteran of more than 50 cruises. Like so many others, I join the shopping frenzy each time I land in St. Thomas. My immediate past cruise was no exception, and Charlotte Amalie was one of our port calls.

I am an electronics addict and drawn to cameras, computers, and related paraphernalia. I'm pretty well stocked in this area, so I had no plans to make any purchases on this trip. I did have an attraction to a personal digital assistant (PDA), but no inclination to buy one. Needless to say, I succumbed to all the buying that was going on around me and bought a PDA at a price I thought was a bargain. When I got home I found it was far from a bargain. The same unit was being sold here for $65 less than I paid for it.

The next blow was even more serious. When I hooked the PDA up to my home computer (an iMac), the computer not only failed to respond to the PDA, but it would no longer function at all. The damage to my computer caused $300 worth of phone calls and repairs to restore my desktop computer to its original condition. The hard drive had to be replaced and all of my data files were lost.

The ship's port lecturer had made a great deal out of the fact that purchases made in one of the recommended shops had the added assurance of a guarantee of satisfaction by the ship. I called the toll free-number mentioned on the certificate of guarantee, and they indicated that I should fax them the receipts and other pertinent information and they would investigate. A few days later came the reply that I would have to deal with the manufacturer. The store was not prepared to handle malfunctioning electronic equipment.

Two phone calls to the manufacturer produced the answer that I must get a refund from the retailer that sold me the PDA. The manufacturer did not sell me the PDA and therefore did not have my money. So, here I am with nothing resolved. A device that does not work properly and everyone connected with the purchase of the device announcing that they have no responsibility for my situation.

The moral of the story is: Before you get caught up in the buying frenzy that occurs when cruise ships hit port, do your homework before you ever get on that ship. Know the price back home for comparable items and do not believe the various tales of guarantees. Many miles will separate you from the retailers, and it is most easy for them to duck your inquiry.

If you wish to gamble--and that is what it is--go ahead and buy. I have made many purchases that I got a good price on and everything went well. The problem occurs when the item does not work the way it is supposed to and you are left holding the bag.

Joseph W. Gilkey, Orlando, FL

And carefully watch the wrapper too. We bargained hard and bought five pendants plus five gold chains at a "recommended" store on the Italian Riviera. Back onboard we had five pendants and one chain.