Sponsored links

About us

Some Questions and Answers

1. What is Captain Consumer®?

Captain Consumer (a registered trade mark) is both the name of this online shopping directory site and of our company, which also operates other websites. Our aim in all cases is to help consumers and businesses save valuable time and money when shopping online and to enable them to discuss their experiences as customers with each other. It's also the nickname of our MD, who enjoys seeking out deals and can't abide poor customer service. In this directory, we're pleased to offer links to over 1,500 sites, each of which has been individually visited before being added with our own description.

2. What are your credentials?

We've spent almost ten years developing and managing websites that aim to help people buy products and services online with an agreeable combination of quality, service and price. We've worked with all sorts of companies, from major UK brands to smaller merchants serving specialist markets. Our MD has worked in marketing and consultancy roles for over 15 years and has academic and professional qualifications to match.

3. What we believe

We're passionate about empowering consumers and find the following quote - from Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973) www.mises.org - especially inspiring:

"The direction of all economic affairs is in the market society a task of the entrepreneurs. Theirs is the control of production. They are at the helm and steer the ship. A superficial observer would believe that they are supreme. But they are not. They are bound to obey unconditionally the captain's orders. The captain is the consumer." [our emphasis].

We believe that each of us has the ability to help change how products are developed, marketed and supported - both individually and collectively. What we each buy affects which products sell and which don't. And who we each do and don't buy from and/or complain to dictates which retailers and service providers fail and which succeed.

4. Is this site free to use?

Yes, completely. You don't need to register - although you can sign up for membership of our forum and for our email newsletter, both of which are also 100% free.

5. Do you offer any guarantees about listed shops, products or services?

No, because we can't. What retailers do is completely outside of our control and can change at any time. Some shopping directories seem to imply (eg from their names or their logos) that people can shop safely with all their listed retailers. Yet, like us, they have no control over those retailers and their terms of use deny responsibility for safety.

We're not here to misrepresent ourselves or mislead anyone, so we don't make meaningless statements about safe online shopping. Of course we don't add sites unless we believe they're legitimate and will handle your transaction securely, but we can't and won't pretend to guarantee it. You should always satisfy yourself about the safety of shopping with any particular retailer. See our terms and conditions for our own disclaimer.

6. How often is the site updated?

Parts of the site may be updated daily. New online shops get added, discount codes come and go, there might be something interesting to read in The Captain's Blog™ - and so on. So add us to your favourites and keep checking back, especially to take advantage of the latest discount codes and to see the latest shopping deals in the forum.

7. If I join the forum, do I get your email newsletter?

No, to receive our newsletter you'll need to sign up separately. There's a subscription box at the top of every page that you can use to do this. It's really easy to sign up - and remember, it's also free.

8. Is your site secure?

No, but only because it doesn't need to be. We don't sell anything ourselves on this or any of our other sites. You are always transferred to a product or service provider's shop / site, which is where you need to check that there is a secure connection for ordering and paying for things. Indications include a padlock symbol in your browser bar or information you can access by "right-clicking" in the area that you think should be secure. After right clicking whilst your mouse pointer is somewhere within that area, click on "properties" and see whether it tells you the connection is secure. Sometimes you might come across a site that operates a secure form within an area of a page: so, although you may not see a padlock, when you do the "right click trick" in the actual form area, you may still get the confirmation you're looking for.

9. Do you make money and, if so, how?

If you shop with sites that you visit via our shopping directory, we may receive a small commission. This doesn't cost you anything. In some cases, discounts that we feature are available only through partners like us. We also show adverts from companies like Google (sponsored links). If you click on one of those, we may receive a small sum - also at no cost to you.

10. Do you get my personal information if I buy from retailers that I visit via your site?

Never. All of your personal details are always kept between you and the merchant.

11. How can I contact you?

This and our other sites are owned and operated by Captain Consumer Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales with registration number 3927025 and VAT registration number 795088674. Captain Consumer is a registered trade mark and trading names of our other sites also belong to the company. You can contact us by email at: contact @ captainconsumer .co .uk (remove the spaces first) or via our corporate website. Our registered office address is c/o Balanced Accounting LLP, Unit J, The Brewery, Bells Yew Green, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9BD.

Thanks for visiting and happy shopping!

Captain Consumer®

Sponsored links: