White Group Ltd

Has anyone had dealings with White Group Ltd? Amongst other things they advertise photographic gear, including Pentax, on eBay.

I came across them when I was looking around for a Pentax 12-24mm f/4 lens. Their listing boasts "Genuine UK stock - 2 year Pentax warranty". This seems odd as I don't believe they are a Pentax Pro Centre. I wondered if they might be acting as an eBay outlet for a Pro Centre so I emailed them twice to ask for clarification of the warranty. No reply. Seem a bit odd?

Here's a current listing.

PENTAX-SMC-DA-12-24mm-f-4-0-ED-AL-IF-WIDE-ANGLE-LENS-2-YEAR-PENTAX-WARRANTY-/290832899540?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item43b6fdddd4

If you click on the company logo on ebay, it takes you to their shop page. As they seem to offer a wide variety of products, I'd guess that they are genuine, however CAVEAT EMPTOR!!

If they had a postal address listed on the site, I could've got one of our agents in Manchester to have a look at the location, to establish if they are indeed bona fide - hoever, there is nothing to indicate this.

I believe that they are a genuine trading company. What I'm querying is how they are in a position to include a 2-year Pentax warranty.

Their postal address for eBay returns is stated at the bottom of the listing as:

EBAY RETURNS FOR WHITE GROUP LTD
C/O CUSTOMISED PACKAGING
Windmill Lane
Denton
Greater Manchester
M34 3SP

According to Companies House their registered office is at:

The Old Fire Station
1 Abbey Road
Barrow-In-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 1XH

However, that address is used by a lot of companies - perhaps accountants or a set of units.

Here's the list from Pentax

http://www.pentax.co.uk/en/pro-centres.html

Yes, so how are they in a position to include a 2-year Pentax warranty?

I doubt they are.

WHITE GROUP LTD, traded on amazon at one time though last feedback was on
9 December 2010....There are plenty of units here, dentists,Bluepole Ltd,
Mmx Event Solutions Ltd,Green Dragon Recycling Ltd,Better Place Management & Consulting Services Ltd,N & F Findings Ltd,Flame Marine Ltd ..WHITE GROUP LTD...as well as several others..
The Old Fire Station
1 Abbey Road
Barrow-In-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 1XH

if in doubt .....





.

Their feedback record on E Bay suggests they are ok but just don't have any warranty expectations.

They are a UK company trading online so the usual distance selling regulations should apply. Purchase with a credit card would give some backup should things go wrong. Their feedback looks acceptable. I've never used them but cannot see any reason why not to.

Wonder if this lens might have originally come from the Jacobs stock sell-off auction; some of those were ex demo's.

John