Mambra closure: client frets as TV purchase remains undelivered

Joseph Attard

Aug 15th 2009, 19:56

How come Mambra is allowed to accumulate so much tax due? The VAtT Department should pull up its knickers, it is crumbling to pieces. We need to revamp the system so that money paid by citizens to businessmen goes to the coffers for real use, not to be used then by some ....
The system should insist that the VAT return in done in lesser periods for certain large turnovers , and that VAt law is changed so that each registered company with VAT Department has a VAT account . Without this separate VAT account no business can obtain a VAT Number. The VAT law should change and make electronic reporting the only way to report to the Department and the proprietor / managing director / directors , jiont and several are duly held personally responsible for this on time payment.
This lack of enforcement is creating an unfair level playing field for everyone, when is Government going to pull up its knickers?...Gio casa, euronics, now mam
bra, whose next?

John Calleja

Aug 15th 2009, 12:26

The truth is that the Maltese, as a nation flock wherever they can find a bargain. Even if they do not particularly need something, they will buy it simply because it's a bargain.

When priceclub fleeced millions out of local importers, it was due to the fact that these same importers kept giving limitless credit to the Supermatket chain and downgrading the usual retailers by selling at higher prices simply because they were not purchasing in volume. The result was that Priceclub left a trail of debts which has now already been forgotten and ruined the industry, forcing a good number of retail outlets to close down for lack of competitivity.

Protection rights are just synthetic clauses in Malta and it pays everyone to buy items off the internet where prices are realistic and the products up to standard

Colin Camilleri

Aug 15th 2009, 09:01

Never never and never pay in advance. Due to the worldwide recession many companies are going insolvent and end up literally bankrupt. All advance payments may go lost. At most pay 10% deposit and the rest upon delivery. If you are asked to hand over a higher deposit look elsewhere, it ain't worth it.
On a personal level I would only buy from large established local or foreign companies who offer some kind of protection. For examples overseas shops offer an insurance when payments are done in advance. In case the company goes bust by the time it effects the delivery, the insurance kicks in and pays the full purchase price back.
Given that we have no customs within the EU, one can easily purchase overseas and get it delivered to the door. Paying with credit cards and insisted on the above mentioned insurances will give you double protection. You may even save money still since in the EU mainland the prices are cheaper and still carry an EU wide warranty which the local distributor and/or representative has to honour.

M Xuereb

Aug 15th 2009, 08:16

I'm sorry for Mambra's creditors, large and small, who've been left high and dry. Nonetheless I've made a good number of purchases from this outlet. Despite its bad reputation, when the price was right I just took the risk. I've got a large seven-drawer freezer I bought some four years ago for Lm70 that fingers crossed is still going strong - much much stronger than the Smeg fridge/freezer I had bought from Forestals at a much steeper price which had come out in rust within six months ("sorry, that's not covered by guarantee!") and which never cooled adequately from its first summer. During the last Mambra sale I bought stand-fans and stainless-steel kettles for some €6 each, a Kenwood toaster at a price the fifth of the one I bought from another outlet a few months ago and, yes, I too was strongly tempted to pay a 100% deposit for a 40 inch LCD TV. At that point it was a calculated risk. How could the lady ever have suspected the guy would pack his bags and flee? If anything, Mambra brought a sense of competition to an over-priced market. I, for one, am sorry it had to close down.

Stephen Abela

Aug 15th 2009, 07:22

I've been working in the servicing of Brown Goods for these last 18 years and I made quite an idea what's the best thing to do when purchasing electronic stuff .
1) ALWAYS BUY BRANDED STUFF ( if you are spending a considerable amount of money )
2) TRY TO BUY FROM THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OR DEALER OF THE BRAND
3) CHECK GUARANTEE PERIOD AND TERMS
4) AFTERSALES REPUTATION
5) BUY STUFF FROM A BRAND WHICH AT LEAST HAS ITS OFFICES IN EUROPE ( makes it easier when you claim something )
6) DO NOT BUY STUFF FROM ABROAD THINKING YOU'RE SAVING MONEY . CHECK GUARANTEE !!!!
7) BE AWARE OF BARGAINS ! ( Malta has a very small market and suppliers can only order in small quantities so they only get discounts proportionaly )

These hints may cost the client some more euros but for example if the LOCAL REP. does not give you the required service , or what so ever ,you can always turn on the Mother Company and report the case , who will can trace back the facts with the local supplier . ( this happens with all reputable Brands I have worked with )

Graham Crocker

Aug 14th 2009, 21:12

norman abela, I don't know if your comment was meant to flame me somehow, but what does this have to do with me having a good experience when paying before receiving or that I never had any trouble with Mambra?

Does the Article talk about a Rubbish heap or the environment?
Are you going to accuse me of being the cause of the global recession next?
Do us a favor and take your meds.

T.Guntrip

Aug 14th 2009, 20:03

A few months ago, despite my reservations, my partner insisted that we purchase appliances for our new home from this particular outlet - all in all, we got a fridge-freezer, oven, dishwasher, kettle, and food processor. On entering, the rock bottom prices made me somewhat suspicious - leading me to suspect that the stock is either from dubious origins (off the back of a truck somewhere) or is reject stock. The kettle is already on the blink, the fridge delivered with damage to the front, and the dishwasher is having drainage problems. I am now considering replacing the whole lot in the near future, from a company I can be sure won't mysteriously disappear when the going gets tough!

Joe Fenech

Aug 14th 2009, 18:47

Is the owner still in the country? Why was Mambra turned into a 'limited company' lately? How is it that our authorities allow shop to take deposits on such small items such as TVs? This is similar to what the owner did with a small photography shop he had in Luqa centre before he opened Mambra! Where is consumer protection in this country?

Jason Apap

Aug 14th 2009, 18:11

Have the employees of Mambra been contacted by the owners ? ... have they been laid off ? Were they told not to report for work after the shut down ? Are the employees still owed their salaries by the management of Mambra ? The employees who are out of a job ... notwithstanding the house loan that may be hanging over their head ... are in my opinion the worst victims ... Its true that those clients who may have lost a few hundred Euros ... are feeling distressed ... but I sympathise so much more these ex-employees.

Joe Fenech

Aug 14th 2009, 18:10

Charles Sammut : You're absolutely right!!! But here, rajt ma rajtx, smajt ma smajtx....! Some of the equipment prices where quite unrealistic. Could the authorities assure us that the equipment sold by Mambra as 'NEW' wasn't imported by as 'refurbished' equipment. This equipment STILL comes with manuals, packaging, etc! Didn't the owner do the same with a small photography shop he had in Luqa centre? AUTHORITIES: could you please answer us!

Joe Fenech

Aug 14th 2009, 17:37

Some of the equipment prices where quite unrealistic? Could the authorities assure us that the equipment sold by Mambra as 'NEW' wasn't imported by as 'refurbished' equipment. This equipment STILL comes with manuals, packaging, etc!

S Grech

Aug 14th 2009, 17:11

lol This is better than ebay feedback indeed! Keep on telling stories as we are learning a lot from each other and take a stand for these business man.

a abela

Aug 14th 2009, 16:30

Way back it was Edward's Shoe Shop,
Family TV,
Mambra
GeoCasa

Quo vadis Malta?

norman abela

Aug 14th 2009, 15:51

@Graham Crocker
I guess this is the mentality that ruined Malta.....did anyone ever consider that this fan worth 5 euros and hundreds other like it bought and which lasted a year are now on the rubbish heap...no wonder Malta has a waste problem. It would definitely have been more environmentally friendly to buy a fan costing 15 Euros and lasting 5 years with less Electronic Waste created. Note that electronics are dangerous waste products with all the heavy metals that are contained in components and on printed circuit boards.

Joseph Schemnri

Aug 14th 2009, 14:49

On another occasion in the past I bought an appliance from them at a price much lower than other dealers. They did not offer a delivery or installation service and it turned out that when I took it home it did not work. I went back to the shop and explained to a very overworked but yet friendly assistant what the problem was (service dept was closed) and he told me how to solve it. Turned out the appliance needed an adjustment to work in Malta. He lent me the tool to do this and I did it myself… Then again it is not the kind of thing one usually expects to happen…. I had to pay in time the money saved but at the end am still happy with the product.

They did have some rubbish as some other outlets do but I suppose we hear about so many complaints about Mambra because they had a huge turnover. Come on which DIY enthusiast would not buy a battery operated drill complete with bits going at the price of a packet of cigarettes?

Joseph Schemnri

Aug 14th 2009, 14:45

Before we all rush in to condemn the quality of products from Mambra: Last time I was there at the start of Summer they had this fantastic sale. The prices were way below anything one would expect. I went there for a branded laptop - advertised at E180 including Vista OS. I queued for one hour but the guy in front of me got the last one. I still finished up buying several good quality items at very low prices including a famous name fab stereo system for E60. Of course I have no warranty on the products and in the past I had the misfortune of experiencing their after sales 'service'. So I just reasoned that if the price was low enough I'd take the risk.

However what really struck me as interesting was that in the queue in front of me were several individuals with a huge shopping list including six or so items of the same product. It turned out that they were other shops which were buying the fab bargains from Mambra to sell at their own shops - probably at much but much higher prices.

Ernest Vella

Aug 14th 2009, 14:18

this is the continue of the Family TV Saga - maybe the authorites must get suspicious more fast

patrick bongailas

Aug 14th 2009, 13:46

i always keept my buget to buy from mambra less than 50 euros,cause from words i heard before i was a bit afraid to believe 100 per cent. in that shop,and the small things i bought from there for that price wer worth it...but in another way i thing in malta there are very few shops wer one can shop with confidence,becouse before you buy something every nice word in dictionery you will hear it from the owners,....but the only thing you hear when you need after sales is...sorry ma nistaw nghamlu xejn!!!(sorry we cant do nothing!!!)so...why worry man!

Alexandra Borg

Aug 14th 2009, 13:44

Everyone used to joke about the infamous monument right in front of the Mambra stores...... after all they were right....it really meant that buying from Mambra was a 'kanna'

simon cutajar

Aug 14th 2009, 13:19

I fully agree with Mr. sammut and i do the same like him . I don't buy nothing from local shop , cause I called them daylight robers. They have everything expensive and they try to cheat everytime and comes with every excuse when you have something wrong . where is the consumer protection ? For example I bought a Fuji fine pix camera from the internet for the price of lm 225 in 2005 while in malta was lm 400 same in everything , An LG mobile which I bought a month ago for the price of 76 euros while here is 125 euros and tha battery was damaged the supplier send me one free stright away with no questions asked .

Harry Dobson

Aug 14th 2009, 10:39

Not another electrical shop biting the dust now is it, i feel sorry for the people that Paid well in advance to have their order delivered and now the shop is in limbo, or as most are doing in this recession run out of cash and orders and ofcourse by the time the yearly financial auditors check the books and find that taxes has to be paid and their is not enough funds,usually most just go bust and to aviod repayments they as someone mentioned pass any household furniture, properties on a different name most likely their wife or partner, a very shrewd idea up to now!! The only establishment that suffers are the Banks> people who bought items and ofcourse the extra interest the bank would have to charge us to make up fo the loss, its a never idea spiral story, and this goes on all over the world i would imagine not only in Malta. I always pay C.O.D. (cash on delivery) same as contractors. Surely there are plenty of other shops in Malta to choose from,.normally a cash and carrry businesses don't last very long, its the name of the game.

E. Azzopardi

Aug 14th 2009, 10:21

It is true what they say : Cheap is expensive and expensive is cheap.
Never bought anything from Mambra as items were "too" cheap . Do not ever fall for this.
When you want to buy something, anything, pay a bit more for it . It pays in the long run.

Carmel Garcia

Aug 14th 2009, 08:13

I have a replacement form for a DVD player from Mambra (120 Euros). I've been coming and going for the replacement for over 2 months. Always telling me that they are waiting for a new consignment. Then they told me that they are to go on shutdown and will open on 3rd August. I went there in the said date and also a couple of times after that date always finding the premises closed.

That's what I thought, the same thing that happened to that TV station the Family TV. What will happen now? Do the Authorities try to find where these people are and arrest them or bring them back to Malta to pay their debts.

Ramon Casha

Aug 14th 2009, 07:55

What are the police doing about this? I hope that by this time an international arrest warrant has been issued.

Graham Crocker

Aug 14th 2009, 00:29

Charles Sammut , hahaha tajba man.

I would like to share a success story were I spent before I got the item.
I bought a DELL PC, from a Pakistani Ebay seller living in Stoke-on-Trent, UK. It came in 4 days (DHL), Brand new in Box with the plastic coverings on it (even had factory smell), was half the Maltese retail price with super fast postage+insurance, everything working, more expensive keyboard/mouse than advertised, etc etc.
He had a great rating, and very good feedback report, without any complaints (some were obvious time wasters).

What was the owner of Mambras Rating and what was his feedback report~? Maybe its time we have a website with all these shop reviews like they have on Ebay. Its the least we Maltese deserve after all these local nightmares.

Albeit all this, I've never had any problems with Mambras products. I've got a DVD music player from them that still works (1999) and I believe even our Freezer (2002?) is from them (still going after years).
Obviously one doesn't expect much from their 5-10 Euro fans .. which stopped working after a year, but still worth the money.

Thomas Granger

Aug 13th 2009, 23:36

Ususally from experience overseas when a business goes under or bankrupt, the people who bought items and still have a guarantee running will most likely loose out as ofcourse the business doesn't exist, the owners of the business tend to either get married and pass on the business to their partner and open a different type of business in another name, at least this is the practice abroad don't know the situation in Malta i am not familier with the laws over there but i don't think its any different.

Kevin Camilleri

Aug 13th 2009, 23:25

@ charles sammut

Yours was the best comment I've ever seen on Times of Malta :)

As other people said, how can you pay in full for something in advance before this is actually delivered to you home and you make sure it is functioning properly.

Speaking of Mambra, I was always afraid buying from this shop. I never went in it but when I bought my PS3 it was around 30% cheaper than the official distributor. However, I prefer to pay that little bit extra and be on the safe side. In Malta we have a saying, "L-irhis Gholi" and I think it is a great saying.

S.Formosa

Aug 13th 2009, 21:50

@ M Zammit
Wara kulhadd bravu..kif jghidu...

One cannot blame the client...She trusted such company at that point and it could be that she never had problems with Mambra if she was a regular customer therefore nothing could tell her at the time that the owner will leave the country without delivering such item...

Nevertheless there must be a form of compensation to all the clients who got bitten by this incident cause in my opionion it was not their fault in trusting and buying from a company which on the outside seemed to be one from which people were getting good products and electronics at reasonable prices!

Joe Grima

Aug 13th 2009, 18:43

The secret is never to pay in advance for anything. That includes hotel bookings overseas, meals and other goods and services. I got bitten by Mambra twice, as if once wa not enough. I bought a DVD recorder/player for Lm 67 three years ago. The remote was faulty from the start. I took it in for repaitr twice at a charge of Lm 3 each time. Third time I was told that the remote was no longer repairable and for the last three years I have a shiny DVD never-been-used recorder to look at. Two years ago I bought a pair of reputably-named cordless phones from Mambra for Lm 30. The phones never worked and after a host of puerile excuses, Mambra refused a refund. It took two occasions to convince me that buying cheap was in fact buying expensive and I never used them again advising my friends and relatives to keep away.

M.Neal

Aug 13th 2009, 17:53

Fully concur with E.Vassallo,we took a steam iron in for repair under the same circumstances

Jeffrey Zammit

Aug 13th 2009, 17:51

@ Charles Sammut

Now that's what I call sense of humour. If one looks closely at the phorograph provided by the timesofmalta you can actually see the shade of the monument creeping ominously towards the Mambra store. Was the shadow a sign of the bizarre end of Mambra??

Joseph Schembri

Aug 13th 2009, 17:46

They had been advertising 'pre booking LCD TVs' on their website early on in the summer but I am astonished to read that there are people who were ready to pay for a product in advance!.

Never but never pay for anything that you don't have in your hand excpet from VERY reputable dealers or where there are checks and balances involved as for example the ebay feedback system.

Last week I booked a table for two in a restaurant. They emailed back that they required my credit card details for a 50% deposit on the cost of the meal. What cheek! I obviously refused to pay up in advance.

I do the same with all local hotels and catering establishments .... I only pay upon receipt of service. If they want a deposit tough luck for them I go elsewhere... this applies to individuals I am not familiar with of course.

If a reputable international hotel chain requires my credit card details for reservation I feel comfortable... but certainly not with a gozo flat never seen before.

Consumers stand up for your rights!

Angie Schembri

Aug 13th 2009, 17:44

Same as Mr. Debattista. I bought a cool camcorder and a fab Dyson vacuum cleaner. Pity it closed down. I had got my very first appliances from there and never had any probs. And at Mambra was the first time I had ever heard of LG.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE CUSTOMERS IN CLAIMING THEIR NON DELIVERD GOODS.

s. falzon

Aug 13th 2009, 17:31

@ joseph azzopardi

Yes CE is used by everyone and it does not always mean certificate from europe. Like mr azzopardi said it also means CHINA EXPORT.

So all you consumers who think you are buying an item made in europe - just check out the name of the supplier on the internet. At least that way if the local supplier goes bust - you can always fight for your rights.

And this was only a television - just think when it is a kitchen or a bathroom??????

Alex Brincat

Aug 13th 2009, 17:15

I recall my last experience with this shop. Bought a new mobile phone and the screen stopped working after two days. Took it for repair there and was returned to me after one week. The screen stopped working approximately a week aftr it was returned to me. I complained and after threathening further action they offered me new phone..only the inside electronics of course. They told me I had to keep the old phone casing as they said was slightly scratched (scratch present when opened as new from the box on initial purchase). So they kept the original phone interior, with the new casing of the replacement phone. Does that ring a bell?? Forgot to mention that the replacement phone stopped working after a month, this time totally and not only thge screen. No further purchases from that shop.

Chris Fabri

Aug 13th 2009, 17:14

What about GeoCasa? what about all the people who bought from this store?

John Debattista

Aug 13th 2009, 16:55

I Bought a lot of staff from this place and never had a problem. SORRY it closed down they had good Bargains..........................

Sandro Zahra

Aug 13th 2009, 16:54

good one Charles Sammut !!! :D

M. Zammit

Aug 13th 2009, 16:53

Dear client,

Excuse my saying so but it was rather stupid of you to pay in full for something that was not delivered!!!

Whoever asks me to pay for something I don't take with me sure has no hope of getting paid in full!!! I might consider leaving a Ten Euro deposit but that's it. Serious businessmen should deliver first then get paid on the spot.

Mario Theuma

Aug 13th 2009, 16:52

I've been trying to phone the company for about two weeks only to get that boring message stating opening (sic) times. Have relatives who bought dvd recorders one of which has a fault and I can't even locate their workshop in Msida. Anyone has an idea where it is and if it belongs to third parties?

Christopher Pollard

Aug 13th 2009, 16:23

If the goods were paid for by credit card then the customer may have a claim against the card company.
If cash was used then I'd regard it as lost - there is the old saying "If an offer looks too good to be true then it probably is!"

jcmicallef

Aug 13th 2009, 16:23

@Charles Sammut - you almost killed me there, good one!

Still, this is no laughing matter. I'm sorry to hear about this clients (and goodness knows how many more) problem.

This must have been the 3rd or 4th case in a few years that I've heard of.

azzopradi joseph

Aug 13th 2009, 16:21

thats what we get from bargains from asia, CE is not a certificate from europe but CHINA EXPORT!!!!!These kind of stores should be banned out the whole europe.

Charles Agius

Aug 13th 2009, 16:13

Hope it's not the same story as Price Club where we were left without a dime. This guy owes us for a POS costing Euros 4000. I hope the Government would do something with these people. Trading liceneces should not be given to these sort of people - anyone who folds like this should be stopped from doing business for at least ten years. Pity there are no laws in Malta who can protect the honest people.

Charles Sammut

Aug 13th 2009, 15:54

On a serious note, you just cannot buy a 32" LCD TV for €325. That is below cost. So that should have rang some alarm bells. Caveat emptor.

Julian Borg

Aug 13th 2009, 15:53

Spend a little more from a reputable retailer and you'll get your money's worth. They have being pushing cheap and questionable merchandise for over a decade; thinking back, did anybody really save money, or were things not lasting longer than they should have?

Sometimes when you buy a product on the cheap that seems like the same one from a more reputable, pricier retailer, it's sometimes a mass produced model done as a specific run for a particular client, using cheaper components for mass sale in certain markets. It may be cheaper, but you don't know what you're buying until you crack it open, or something goes wrong. Congrats to anyone who did get a great deal with no consequences, you took the risk and lucked out; but for the rest of you, please be careful, and think before you buy.

We don't want another video on YouTube, some of you know what I'm talking about.

Justin Cucciardi

Aug 13th 2009, 15:52

Same thing happened to me but at least I only have a defective DVD player which is still under guarantee. I promised myself a long time ago that I would never get inside the shop anymore in my life.

Adrian Cachia

Aug 13th 2009, 15:52

@C.Sammut - Thank you!! We're having a laugh here! Had to share it on facebook and twitter I could not help it.

Moira Heath

Aug 13th 2009, 15:50

Is this woman the only one who had an outstanding order with Mambra? Surely there must be more.

If she's the only one who has been scammed into paying for a TV in full in advance, I pity her. Why on earth would you want to pay in full for something that's not been delivered? Lesson learnt I guess.

Bottom line however is.... more taxes for us to pay to make up for the misgivings of these unsavoury businessmen.

@MD Fenech
Yes, GioCasa closed down, but hopefully there's no scandal behind it. Or is there?

E. Vassallo

Aug 13th 2009, 15:50

I had a steam iron and a fan that took for repairs on 13 July. The girl at the front desk advised me that they will be ready when they open after the shutdown. I tried phoning a couple of times but I reckon that I have seen the last of the these things. Another gentleman behind me asked her why they did not advertise the shutdown dates.

I had earlier remarked to the front desk about the unavaiailbility of the website which has been unaccessible since mid-June. She mumbled something incoherently which i did not understand.

John Poulfry

Aug 13th 2009, 15:45

Oh Dear we got rouges in Malta as well have we? there are plenty of them in Britain. Like Mr.pace says invest in another telly is the only way, once bitten twice shy. Yes i wanted to buy sometimes in the mambra sale but someone said the webpage is under construction, i just wait and see if they open by end of August as the sign clearly said the last time i went to Luqa.
But lets not be hasty the owner or share holders might have gone for a longgggggggg. break to the Moon.

R. Azzopardi

Aug 13th 2009, 15:43

@Charles Sammut

I'm going to sue you for a new computer monitor. Your comment made me laugh so much that I spit my coffee all over it!

Charles Sammut

Aug 13th 2009, 15:26

The monument in the roundabout in front of this shop should have provided her with a hint!!

Fenech M D

Aug 13th 2009, 15:23

What about GioCasa (Millenia)?

Mario Pace

Aug 13th 2009, 15:23

Last I heard was that the owner has fled from the island. Would suggest the unfortunate client to buy a new TV if she wants to watch any TV in the forseeable future.