Many consumers complain about undeliverable goods at Sinerta: refunds also have to fight | Business

Reader Šarūnas, who recently tried to purchase goods at the Sinerta store, contacted the editorial office.

The network of six “Sinerta” stores in the largest cities of Lithuania is managed by “Sinerta LDC” UAB. Its primary business is printers and other stationery, but the company also operates an e-shop first.ltwhich sells goods of various purposes.

The company also sells various electronic goods through its own website sinerta.lt

True, it seems that this activity is far from smooth.

“Sinerta” has not delivered the ordered goods since January, and does not refund money upon request. He does not answer the phone, does not communicate by e-mail. The company doesn’t have the money, but I still managed to arrange to sell other goods (toner, paper) that they still have on site for the money I paid back in January. I think it is not only unethical, but also criminal to continue such activities and accept customers’ money. In such a case, it is the duty of the director to stop the activity in time”, said Šarūnas.

Another reader, Inga, who tried to purchase parts for a computer, 15 minutes has told a similar story before.

“They show the delivery time of the product in different ways, ten days, two weeks – probably depending on the product. That time is coming. It depends on the person – I read the reviews the other day [po termino pabaigos] I immediately wrote to them because they refused to let me know. They do this because they prolong the time in this way – after the application, they have two weeks to respond,” Inga said.

She said that she bought from Sinerta without suspecting anything – after seeing that the company has been operating for 26 years, the woman trusted the well-known brand. “There are those who did not get back the goods or the money – my husband went to the store physically, they say answer, a letter has been sent to you, whether the item will be available or not. The one who fights more for his rights, how to say, “screams” more, gets it back,” said the interlocutor.

After the second man’s visit, a couple of days later, the money was finally returned. Ingai had to buy the goods he wanted in another store.

However, not everyone was so happy – some buyers complain that they still haven’t received their goods or money back.

“Hello, a month ago I ordered a product from sinerta.lt The delivery was delayed, then I canceled the order and have been waiting for the money for a couple of weeks now. It is not possible to contact them, they do not answer the phone, they do not respond to letters”, – on March 25. “Sinerta” customer Milda wrote in one Facebook group.

“The money has not been refunded for a month, the police and consumer rights are powerless. After calling, communication is discouraged. Sinerta pretends to know nothing about first.lt. The amount is large. Where can I get legal help? Laws are not valid in Lithuania and those who violate them are not punished”, – kaina24.lt Julius wrote on the platform.

“If you want to lend them money voluntarily, free of charge, here you are. Forget about the goods, you still won’t get them after the deadlines are postponed, although they will continue to be displayed on their pages,” said Marijus in Google’s feedback about the company.

Feedback on the platform requisites.lt redirects to the company’s page – this is a paid service that companies must order themselves. The company’s Facebook account is currently inactive.

VVTAT has received 50 consumer complaints

The State Consumer Rights Protection Service (VVTAT) has responded several times since mid-January 15 minutes inquiries about “Sinerta”, each time recorded an increasing number of user complaints.

January 16 the institution had received about 10 consumer complaints regarding the activities of Sinerta LDC. Today, VVTAT has already received more than 50 consumer complaints, informed Dalia Malinauskienė, head of the institution’s International and Public Relations Department.

Žygimantos Gedvilas/BNS photo/State Consumer Rights Protection Service

The company “Sinerta” is known in VVTAT. In response to the number of complaints received, VVTAT has already approached the company about possible violations related to non-delivery of goods, unfair commercial activities, etc., explaining the regulation and possible consequences.

So far, the disputes are resolved peacefully with the mediation of VVTAT, decisions on disputes have not yet been made this year,” reads the received reply.

The company promises to stabilize operations within two weeks

As can be seen from publicly available data, Sinerta has recently made a number of corrections in its operations.

For example, over the past year, the number of employees in the company has decreased from 42 to 23, the company’s car fleet has decreased from 9 to 3 since September.

Since August, the company’s manager has changed twice: the company is currently managed by Kristina Ūdraitė. According to the registry center, the shareholders of the company are the same K.Ūdraitė and UAB “Mapas”, whose shares are held by three natural persons.

The company also moved out of its main premises on Švitrigailos street in Vilnius, so only one Sinertos store remained in Vilnius.

Another company with a similar profile, Printera, is located at the address, which is still listed on the official details of Sinertos LDC. The representatives of Sinertos LDC say that the two companies are not related either directly or indirectly.

Representatives of the company “Sinerta” to 15 minutes answered questions about the company’s activities and disturbances in writing.

“Like most other companies operating in Lithuania, our company UAB “Sinerta LDC” faced temporary difficulties due to extremely objective reasons, so recently the company has been late in delivering the ordered goods to some of its customers for just a few months. However, the company is making every possible best effort to ensure that the company’s customers feel as little as possible the negative consequences of the aforementioned temporary difficulties and receive their ordered goods as soon as possible,” the letter reads.

The process of delivery of goods should stabilize in the near future (no later than in the next two weeks

Sinerta LDC representatives in a written response 15 minutes listed a number of reasons why business is stagnating: the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the market for printers and copiers and their consumables; EU policy on climate change, which encourages individuals to go paperless, not to print, copy or physically archive documents, but to do everything using a computer, to sign documents with an electronic signature; growing costs of renting premises, electricity, purchasing goods and wages; inflation and the increase in EURIBOR interest rates and their impact on the demand for goods sold in electronic stores and others.

“Due to the objective reasons listed above, the company immediately took all the best possible measures to optimize the company’s operations, including refusing the extremely expensive rental of premises, reducing the number of employees and the car fleet,” the answer states. The company is not currently in the process of reorganizing the company.

“Sinerta LDC” representatives say that they will continue to conduct both physical and electronic trade.

“The process of delivering goods should stabilize in the near future (no later than in the next two weeks), after the implementation of all the planned optimization processes of the company’s operations,” the response states.

in 2022 Sinerta LDC received 3.9 million EUR income and EUR 6,996 profit.