I just want to share my first smartphone purchase story at Widget City Philippines. My brother for whatever reason wanted HTC windows Phone 7 (Radar) over an android phone or iPhone.
I’ve visited HTC store in SM North, but they told me that HTC windows phone models (for whatever reason again) was not released in the Philippines. Good thing I was able to find and bought one in widget city.
Here is a brief description about widget city based on what I have understood about the nature of their business. Widget City is an online gadget store selling brand new smartphones, Apple products, DSLR cameras, MP3 players and many other accessories at a very reasonable / affordable price. If they have stock on hand of the item you are looking, just inquire to them through text / call, they will make sure you will have the item the soonest.
Their store is based in Manila, but they also have branch in Vigan. Modes of transactions are through Multiply marketplace, COD, Credit Card, or have the item delivered at your doorstep via independent courier.
Alright, here is my story and review of Widget City. Last week I inquire in widget city if they have any HTC WP7 phone particularly HTC Titan, but it’s out of stock. So I told my brother to search for other WP7 phones, he then decided to go for HTC Radar. I’ve wanted to pay using credit card through multiply marketplace, but it will take 1 to 2 days just to verify the payment. Since I want the unit the following day I’ve texted widget city that I will pay in cash.
We have several exchanges of text message (until 11pm) before we finalized the payment mode and meet-up place for the next day. Meeting time is 1PM at around 12:30PM the concerned staff whom I am going to meet introduced himself through text message.
We were able to meet at around 1:15pm the staff handed me the unit for testing until I decided that it is in good condition. I got my brother’s new HTC Radar for only P12500 + P100 delivery fee.
One thing I notice, it would take 30 minutes to hour before I receive text reply from them. But it is fine since I know I am not the only customer that they cater with. What I like about them is, they entertain customers even after office hours. In my case until 11PM that is cool.
For those who are asking if widget city is a legitimate online gadget store in the Philippines just like kimstore? I would say it is since I was able to purchase from them with no problem at all.
I have tried buying from them and I did the pick-up option where I went to their “office”. They aren’t the most courteous in texting and I needed to do follow-ups but I was able to get my item quickly too.
popular reviews online give WIDGETCITY and DBGADGETS a thumbs thumbs down rating. i tried kimstore and it works well, got my iphone 5 there.
I just bought a ipod touch 5thgen from widgetcity by going to their office last july 24, 2013. I’m expecting that i would find a real and nice office, but I find a small place like a rental condo with just a sala set, and they do not allow people to go inside their unit, they just let us stay outside and even did not offer us to sit, all they ask is the money and they gave us a piece of printed receipt because to have their original receipt from BIR, you need to pay 12% of the product price. And also one thing, their website’s price list are not updated, so the item i saw priced as 11490 but when i got there, i bought it for 11990? 500 pesos of increase.. OMG. But anyway I did get my item fast, and now I’m just worried if it works well.
Is it safe or advisable if I’ll purchase any gadget from them? Needs a reply ASAP! Thank you! :)
Based on my experience ok naman po sila.
Widget City is a gadget store who claims that they’re selling “brand new original phones” turns out it’s a fraud. I purchased my Iphone 6s in their store in Malate. Same thing as I’ve read in the reviews, Payment first before checking the phone. I paid it in cash. The front liner make me check for the physical appearance and continuously asking if it’s okay and done already, so I admit that I overlooked it. She charged the phone and it was dead battery so I waited and she keeps on pushing the chord to the charger port as if it’s lose or maybe she put it the wrong way ( wherein It supposed to work both ways, p.s. i’m an android user so i’m used to a chord that works one way) When the phone’s finally charging I was convinced that the charger works so you won’t noticed that there’s a problem in the port (read later part). I was satisfied enough so I signed the invoice wherein it says they will provide the service warranty which I thought they’ll being it to an apple service center if the problem occurs. So I travelled back to cavite and was ao excited to buy an accessories for the phone. I went to a store for tempered glass. As the lady removed the film covering the screen she noticed a deep scratch as if it was scratched by a cat, thinking of how far I travelled and since she already opened the packaging of the glass I told her to attach it anyway. Fast forward, since the battery wasn’t fully charged, I charged it at home and found out that the chord isn’t working. At first I thought it was the chord but when I tried it to my 5s it works both ways. To further know if what i bought is brand new, I ask my friend to compare it to his 6s and check if the charger works. Turns out it works and the problem is the pin in the charger port is bent. Aside from that, my screen is yellowish in color and low in quality compared to his which is brighter and hd. Also, the earpods that comes with it considering the box is sealed when received. There’s no serial number compared to the original. So I contact the store and forwarded me to their tech team and asked for advice if I should go to Apple service center or to their store. She told me to go back. And since I want to avail the apple warranty I checked it on the apple website and was informed it wad expired. So i tried to update it and waited for their email. On the third day from the day I bought the phone, I went to the store filed a complaint. Today, I received the email from apple and from their tech team. Apple informed me the phone was first purchased March 2016 (I have a screenshot sent to them but they insist it was their supplier who bought it, it means the phone is secondhand). The tech team told me I can’t avail the replacement because I signed that I receive the phone in good quality BUT they didn’t explained WHY THERE IS A FAKE EARPODS INSIDE A BRAND NEW PHONE BOX, SEALED. I wanted a full refund, I sent them all the proofs but they keep on dodging the topic and insisting it’s brand new. Now I’m waiting for their supplier and manager’s response, after telling them that I’ll file a complaint after my report of counterfeit of products to Apple. I’m serious about it if they’re not going to return my money back. I’m willing to present the proofs inside the court with charges under Chapter 3,4,5 of RA 7394 if they won’t allow refunds.
To everyone reading this. If you bought a gadget at widget city and it says it’s free shipping don’t believe it. You also have to call them if you bought one at their online shop because if you don’t they won’t act on it immediately. I bought a camera last oct 13, 2018 at their online shop. After the purchase I received an order confirmation email from them. It says on the email that they are readying your order but it won’t say any ETA. I waited for any update till october 15 and I also emailed them for any updates. It was worth 49k so I really wanted to get an update from them. After that I called them but no one is answering. I texted one time but there was o reply. I texted them “please reply” and then they replied and called. They asked if I already paid the item, where I bought it (fb, call, online store) and who did I transact with. I told them that I bought it on their online store then they checked it and said the item is already paid and bought at the online store. Then they asked for additional shipping fee. I asked them why I need to pay for a shipping because your site indicated that it was free shipping. They said no I still need to pay for the shipping. I didn’t want for the conversation to take longer so I just agreed to pay ( please don’t do this. Argue if you must. This was a mistake of mine). After that they said that ETA will be 3 to 5 days. It was a bad experience but I just want the customer service that attended me to commended. She replies asap and was easy to talk to. I have not received the item yet and if it’s in good condition. I will update as soon as I receive it. Thank you for reading.