Zavvi

History of Zavvi

Zavvi is a hugely successful and popular online entertainment retailer which was launched in March 2009 following the collapse of the High Street store of the same name in December 2008. The Zavvi store chain which preceded the website was launched after a management buy-out of Virgin Megastores from Richard Branson's company in September 2007. But the largest independent entertainment retailer in the UK was placed in administration just over a year later and ceased trading in February 2009 after a number of store closures.

Nineteen of these were bought by HMV while five others were bought by the former managing director of Zavvi, Simon Douglas and business partner Lee Whitfield and reopened as Head Entertainment. These also subsequently closed after less than a year of trading. In March 2009, the UK-based Hut Group bought the rights to the Zavvi brand and portal following an auction and relaunched it as an online-based entertainment retail trader. The website offers music, films and games as well as audio accessories, laptops, memorabilia, footwear and men and women's clothing.

The website combines a focus on the brand-new, cutting edge such as the latest games, films and in vogue clothing with nostalgia for classic comics, toys, films and clothing. In 2015 The Hut Group topped The Sunday Times profit track league table, the first company ever to do so in consecutive years. Every year, the newspaper's table ranks Britain's top 100 private firms with the fastest growing profits. Most of the group's sales are now outside the UK but The Head Group - and Zavvi - continue to be based in the north west of England, in Cheshire.

Zavvi also offers great discounts and offers with the promise of the lowest prices and free delivery. Search online for details.

Brands

Zavvi sells a variety of brands across its various ranges including the following:

• Xbox One
• Nintendo
• Siberia
• SteelSeries
• NECA
• Star Wars
• DC Collectibles
• BBC
• Disney
• Warner
• Crosshatch
• Kangol
• ReAction
• Apple
• Bang & Olufsen
• Klipsch
• Philips
• Vero Moda
• Bjorn Borg
• Universal Pictures
• BFI Film & TV
• GB Eye Posters
• Sony
• Ministry of Sound
• HP
• Nike
• New Balance
• Firetrap

Check out the discount codes offers by Zavvi when you're shopping online and see how much you could save.

Departments

• Blu-ray
• Steelbooks
• DVDs
• Lingerie & Nightwear
• T-shirts
• Games
• Trainers
• Graphic Novels
• Action Figures
• Posters & Frames
• Mugs
• Shirts & Blouses
• Camcorders
• Laptops & Ultrabooks
• Audio Systems
• Headphones
• Jeans
• Jackets & Coats
• iPads
• Hoodies & Sweatshirts
• Consoles
• Baseball Caps
• Sunglasses
• Gloves
• Watches
• Knitwear

Opening Times

The website for Zavvi does not list a phone number for contacting customer services, just an email facility.

Delivery Information

Zavvi offers a range of delivery options in the UK, including standard delivery within two to three working days which is free. There is free next day and Saturday delivery when your order is worth more than £70 - on selected products, see website for details - otherwise there is a charge. Standard next day and Saturday delivery costs £3.95. For Monday to Friday, order before 9pm and for Sunday and Bank Holidays you must order before 2pm.

You can also select Premium Saturday Delivery if you order before 9pm on Friday and Premium Sunday Delivery if your order before 3pm on Saturday. The courier will email you a one-hour delivery slot.

Returns Policy

Before looking to return any item bought from Zavvi you must contact their customer service team to request an authorisation number. Failure to do so will delay processing your refund. Any unwanted items must be as new, unopened and in the original packaging. You'll also need to package your item securely and enclose the returns form. You are advised to obtain proof of postage. The cost of returning an item will only be refunded where the item was wrongly sent, was faulty or was a substitute item that was unwanted.

Security & Reviews

Zavvi has a Norton Secured Certificate, meaning you can shop online with confidence, knowing your personal details are protected by a secure connection. The level of protection is industry standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).Reviews on Zavvi are mixed. Hot UK Deals records a number of complaints about the inability to speak to customer services about an order on the phone and slow or unhelpful responses to an email with a total of 33 comments.

By contrast, Feefo records a 100% positive response for its products and also 100% for its customer service. This is based on 8,846 customer reviews. Trustpilot rates Zavvi 'great', based on 8,045 reviews.

There is praise for outstanding service and prices and the company itself responds to criticism on TrustPilot, taking up complaints and asking for details in order to address them.