Reviews

Life is FULL of disappointments. It isn't always clear who you can do business with, and online reviews are a bit hit and miss in my experience. I have personally left both good and bad reviews which appear to have been "curated".
This section will detail those that impressed me, and those that did not.

If you find yourself here, and you don't like what I wrote, SUE ME. I'm so sick of being told that "I should have thought about that before" whilst the same rule seemingly doesn't apply to others.
Refunds, sponsorships, threats. I don't care, It's not coming down.

I will NOT perform, like some kind of rented entertainer, reviews in exchange for anything, including cash payment, goods, services, or return reviews.
Any review published here is MY opinion, and is not the opinion of someone else.

I had a look around and found Radio-Shop.UK.

Easy to navigate ✅
Prices shown on the website ✅
Good range of stock ✅
Advertise what they have ✅
Have what they advertise ✅
Quick and simple to order ✅
Excellent communications ✅

I ordered on a Sunday, and on Monday morning they contacted me to tell me that the specific cable I was after was actually totally discontinued, but not to worry because they sourced the replacement part number and sent that instead, at no extra cost, despite it being a more expensive part.

The leads arrived quickly in unblemished factory Kenwood boxes.
I really couldn't recommend enough.
Have look for yourself: https://www.radio-shop.uk

Whilst searching various websites for programming leads, I saw something here that I couldn't quite believe - An RS232 data cable for Kenwood mobile radios. This is NOT a programming lead, but a way of sending data to and from the radio to remotely control it (amongst other things). I have been hoping to construct an elaborate remote control device for my Kenwood TK90 HF manpack, as the front panel is somewhat simple, so getting to some of the features is a bit of a faff.

These guys had the lead for sale at £40. Bargain. I paid immediately. With postage and VAT the total came to £57.60

£60....  For a multicore cable terminated in some daft little Molex connectors.

Two days pass. Then four. Then a week. Nothing received.
Sent them an email - Nothing received.
I gave them a ring to enquire about the order - who knows, maybe it is lost in the post? They promised to "get back to me" with an answer. A bit odd no? I rang their number right? I'm talking to their office right? Do they not have immediately accessible records of what they sold and to whom? Whatever - I'll wait.

Later that day, an email response:
"Upon investigation it appears that this cable is no longer available and there is not an alternative offered" 

Easy to navigate ✅
Prices shown on the website ✅
Good range of stock (including the obsolete cable I wanted) ✅
Advertise what they have ✅
Have what they advertise ❌
Quick and simple to order ✅
Excellent communications ❌

It seems as though there is no automatic connection between what they stock and what they advertise. It also appears that you can attempt to do business with them, and they won't even acknowledge that fact until you pester them. 

In this day and age, they are going to fall behind the competition.