JandR
I came across J&R Music and Computer World while searching Amazon.com for an inexpensive camcorder. J&R featured the lowest price tag on my camcorder through Amazon, so I placed my order and hoped for the best. J&R didn’t disappoint. I have since made many purchases through both Amazon and J&R’s online store at jr.com.
About J&R Music & Computer World
Don't be fooled by their name, J&R Music and Computer World offers much more than just music and computers. From cellular phones all the way to household cleaners, J&R features a menagerie of products. Note: Most products at J&R are sold in new condition, however they also feature some refurb items; referred to as "open box."
Navigation/Ordering:
Navigating around J&R is a mixed bag. J&R's home page is somewhat unorganized with an overdose of product links and no distinguishable theme. However, on top of all the garb you will find neatly arranged product category tabs. Here, you can choose from Cellular, Kitchen, Music Instruments, Specialties, Brand Stores, Clearance, Price drops, Audio, Video, Cameras, Computers, Software, Office, Housewares, Travel, games Movies, and Music. If you can't find what you are looking for using the product tabs, J&R offers an excellent search engine. When you do find a product, J&R provides good photography and detailed information about the product. The only major gripe I have with J&R's format is that they don't display some of their merchandise’s price tags. With these items you must first add it to your shopping cart to view the price.
Selection:
While J&R’s largest inventory is on electronic and computer related equipment, J&R still offers an excellent selection in each of their 18 categories. I especially like the fact that J&R features a large amount of products in their clearance section that are usually in stock. Many stores will boast a clearance section, but only offer a few products or a lot of products but few that are actually in stock; this isn’t the case at J&R.
Checking out;
To finalize a purchase at J&R you will need to fill out a few pages of personal information. After you finalize a purchase, an e-mail confirming your order is sent almost immediately and tracking number is usually sent within 48 hours. Payment methods include J&R gift certificates and gift cards and most major credit cards.
Prices:
The excellent prices at J&R are the main reason I frequent this store. On most items you can count on 5-10% savings over retail, however you can save even more money on many other products, especially those located in the clearance section. For example I purchased an orthopedic seat cushion from J&R for only $14.99; nearly 60% off. The biggest saving, however was when I purchased my camcorder, which was nearly 30% off, saving me over 200 bucks! In comparison to competing online stores, e.g. eTronics and Buydig, J&R usually has them beat by a few percent; even after J&R's somewhat steep shipping rates.
Shipping:
Although some products at J&R receive free shipping (mostly on expensive items), shipping fees are based on the weight of the product with a minimum fee of $5.95 for UPS Ground. $5.95 sounds like a hefty price to pay for light-weight items, but with the low price tags at J&R coupled with absolutely no sales tax (unless you live in NY) you will most likely still end up paying less than many online stores that have free shipping, but charge tax. Shipping methods at J&R include standard shipping, 2 day shipping, and 1-day shipping. Note: J&R only ships within the Continental U.S.
Arrival Time:
When I lived in California, arrival times were usually slow and painful.. J&R is located in New York, so orders would usually take anywhere from 9-15 days to arrive to my home. Since moving to North Carolina, however, I have never had to wait more than a few days to receive an order when opting to use J&R's standard UPS Ground shipping. When my orders have arrived, they have always been accurate and in perfect condition.
Return Policy:
If you are not happy with your order, J&R offers a 30-day return policy on most items for a full refund (minus shipping). J&R, for reasons unknown to be, will not accept refunds for monitors, televisions and many other large items. There are also some stipulations on computer software and other products that you should check out before finalizing a purchase.
Customer Service:
While customer service has improved at this site over the last two or so years, J&R still has an inadequate staff. Wait times to speak to a live representative have been upwards of 30 minutes during peak hours of the day. If only I had a nickel for every time I heard the voice at J&R’s automated service say "All of our agents are busy at this time" I would be a rich lady.
Final Words:
Although J&R's customer service department could use some work and the formatting could be improved, J&R’s online store offers a huge selection of goods, excellent price tags, no tax in states other than NY, and accurate and reliable delivery. If you plan on buying anything online, I highly suggest checking out J&R's online store.