It looks like the Watford
Electronics group has hit the financial skids. According to contacts at
various suppliers, the company - the driving force behind the Redten
internet service provider and owner of the savastore web site
and various well-known PC brands (Aries, Carrera, Demonite,
Time,
Tiny) - is undergoing a monetary crisis.
We've been unable to
get Watford to confirm or deny these rumours - but were told
at around 3:40pm today (Feb 1) that
the Financial Director Ricky Raqeeb would call us back. As
yet, though, we've heard nothing.
Live clock (F5 to refresh) -
GMT
If the company does end up going to the wall, it will be - in the
erudite words
of one
HEXUS.community
pundit - déja vu all over again.
This is a reference to the fact that Watford owns a number of PC brands
that were acquired as the result of financial disasters.
Watford eventually picked up the Time and Tiny brands from the
ashes of the
Granville
Technology Group's crash in mid-2005 and did much the same
with another couple of multi-owned UK PC brands,
Carrera
and Demonite, after Digital Networks PLC went down
the tubes.
And, as the companies that were involved with those brands did while
the storm
clouds gathered overhead, Watford
looks still to be trading normally.
We've just visited (Feb 1, 5:15pm) the Redten site where we
saw no indication that anything is wrong. We were able to sign up for a
new broadband account - but stopped at the stage where we had to
input out credit-card details.
Similarly, 15 minutes later, there was nothing on the savastore site to
warn of any
difficulties. We were able to customise a PC system for
purchasing - only pulling out when it came to the plastic-money stage.
Clearly, until we know exactly what's going on, the only advice
we can give HEXUS vistors is not to buy any products or services
from any company known to be owned or partly owned by Watford
Electronics.
When we get any news, we'll update this article and the
associated
HEXUS.community forum thread and put up
front-pagers. Until
then - take care.
Thoughts? Share them with us in the
HEXUS.community,
not forgetting
to tell us what you know about the situation at Watford,
savastore and Redten - and your experiences with companies
that went to
the wall in the past.
HEXUS.links
HEXUS.community
::
discussion
thread about this article
HEXUS.hardlines
::
Time
and Tiny Stores Close
HEXUS.press.releases
::
Watford
Electronics Ltd acquires Carrera and Demonite brands
External.links
savastore -
home
page
Redten Internet -
home
page
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HEXUS.community :: your right2reply
Nizmo, sweet talk iiyami, if its developed a fault, explain who you bought it from etc.
I did this when at uni i had to get my old vdu serviced, Iiyami where very nice about it, once I calmly and charmingly explaned the problem. (thou a friend who was listening to me on the phone did liken it to hannible lecter)
Hmm, OK I will give it a try...
THey were asking for order dates n all, and purchase month. Could I maybe explain that it was bought from savastore and whats happened n all, in an email ? or would it be over the phone ?Quote
He did mention once he got his stuff from a "specialist trade supplier based in Watford"Quote
I would suggest you speak & email iiyama (nicely) and just give them your story.
Tell them where your purchased the item from, when (approx.) and that you having problems getting your proof of purchase from them.
9/10 times, the manufacture should assist.
The problem is that sometimes, a manufacture might only give 2-year warranty, but the retailer offers you 3-years warranty.
I’m not saying that this is the case here.Quote
Reply