MAC.BID - Pittsburgh Mills — Local services in Frazer Township

Before reading this review, please take some things into consideration: I bought items from 3 of their locations, but am reviewing them as a whole. Also,

1. Mac discount is still very fresh, and like any new retail concept it has wrinkles to iron out. By this time next year, I will most likely want rate it much higher due to these flaws no longer weighing it down. However, as it stands today, some of the negatives may be glaring enough to ward off consumers entirely.

2)The app, while functional, uses "pop-up" links to view an item when clicked. In order to go back to the prior page, your natural instinct is to press "BACK", but that won't close the window and return you to the page you were in....instead, you have to click the "X" to close the pop up (pressing "BACK" controls the page beneath the pop up, causing it to return to the prior page while the item's pop-up remains on screen as an overlay, and at first I thought the app's back button wasn't doing anything). This is more of an annoyance than anything, but some people may have a tougher time than others adapting to this.

3. Some items are not described correctly, and some even include links to different products altogether when you click the "Amazon page" button associated with them.

4. All auctions close at 6-7 pm (estimated), and there are no auctions Saturday, Sunday, or holidays. I wish the auctions consisted of a wider range of ending times. I'm usually busy at my job when auctions close, and I found myself having to run to the back room at work to hurry up and bid.

5. Open box means something completely different to Mac than it does to me. In their app, open box items are often missing vital pieces of hardware (or incorrect parts all together). I suspect that there are now thousands of loft beds in and around Pittsburgh that are unable to be built due to missing hardware and bolts. Worse yet, many of the companies that make these beds are refusing to sell the replacement hardware, making the construction a tedious, hair pulling event. Seriously, look up any item DHP sells (7 digit product #) then give DHP a call and ask if they will SELL (not give, SELL) YOU HARDWARE FOR YOUR ITEM. They won't, at least not for several months from today, as they claim they are backordered and jammed up to the point that the only people who may obtain replacement hardware sets are those consumers that fall within their "warranty window," plus you need to send them proof of purchase from an actual website or retailer. Otherwise, their attitude is "you may not have this, even if you pay for it", rendering the item useless until shipping lanes loosen up.

6. The workers at every location are great. Very helpful, fast, and thorough.

7. Picking up your item is simple: they scan you in, you locate your item based on the info in the description, then they scan your items as you exit as proof that you are taking the correct merchandise.

Overall, the concept is brilliant, and I look forward to shopping at Mac in the future. However, as of now, unless the price is unbeatable, I'd definitely suggest investigating a bit to ensure you're not bidding on something that is broken...

The staff at this location are very friendly and helpful. If your coming to pick items up that you won from the auctions it might be confusing at first. There are 2 main entrances for this location. Left side is for most smaller/medium/adverage items. But some of these items can be kinda big as well. The right side entrance is called the big box portion of the warehouse. These items are appliances or lawn equipment and whole pallets, furniture, etc. This is indicated next to your item in the app using the first letters which would be PB. I first recommend you to make sure your phone has enough battery power to use while your in the warehouse. As I walk in I always open the application and click on the button that says "check-in for pick-up". This will bring up a bar code that you will show to the entrance staff to be scanned. Once scanned your good to go on a search mission. After your scanned in you'll want to tap on your screen anywhere and that will reveal all your items and each item has a code next to it. That code shows you the first the warehouse location using alphabetical abbreviations then the Isle your item is in, which is alphabetical and then the bay in that Isle, which is numbered. Then with smaller items it will go one step further and show the bin number your item is placed in. All items have a yellow or blue sticker that displays your item number and a description of that item. So make sure you double check before you remove it from the shelf or the bin. Also I would recommend getting they're no later than 5:45pm to give you enough time to find your item(s). If you had items transfered from another location to this Pittsburgh Mills Location it will most likely be in one of the 2 Isle on on your left as soon as you walk in the entrance. If you have any questions the staff will be more than happy to assist you unless there is only 5 minutes until they close. They may not be so happy if that's the case so like I said I recommend you arrive by 5:45pm at the very latest but by 5:30 is much more comfortable. But I've got scanned in at 5:55 minutes before close and found my the 3 items I had won and made it to the check out at 6:02pm. I was running but it can be done. They're hours are from noon till 6pm Monday thru Friday. Unless you pay the monthly membership, in which case you are permitted to pick items up from 10am till 6pm Monday thru Friday. Close weekends and major holidays. Oh and be sure to inspect your items for damage unless it was label as such because if you leave with it your less likely to be able to request a refund. They are usually understanding if an item is severely damaged and it wasn't labeled damaged and if you haven't left...

The only reason I bumped this up from one star to two is that the staff here is very nice and very understanding that the system on the b side sucks. While I was grabbing my item the gentlemen that got my item for me commented on how lightweight it is and there was zero need for me to have waited.

I love all the Mac bids but this one just needs to let people get their own items. On hour wait for one piece of trim?! That's is insane. Dude does this location not understand that people have lives? I drive 30 min to get here only to be told there's going to be an hour wait? Well of course I now have to wait. If this location is worried about large items maybe have a "reservation time slot" you can sigh up for. Like say you want to pick up a large item and you only have a certain amount of time you should be able to call or email or heck just add it to the Mac bid app to make a reservation for pick up. That way you don't have 40 plus people stuffed into a small room with not enough chairs. Also since this location does make people wait an insane amount of time HAVE A PUBLIC RESTROOM for crying out loud. I don't blame the staff working the floor but I do blame management and higher-ups. Also SAY PEOPLES NAMES BEFOREHAND when grabbing items that way if someone leaves because of frustration with the wait you don't have staff wasting their time grabbing someone's stuff that is no longer here. I mean I understand a fridge or a stove needing a hand getting it but one piece of trim for a wall? there is zero need to have people wait that long. I went to Robinson and was able to grab a extra large corbal by myself why can't I just grab my trim from this location? I mean if you're going to make people wait do it for items that make sense. I saw a woman waiting for a small box for an hour. She could have easily gotten it herself, just like I could easily get a 98 inch foam piece of trim that weighs literally nothing. If you're thinking of getting an item here from the B side make sure you have a good hour to two hours window and eat something and use the bathroom before you show...