Being Ripped Off By Online Sellor

[Atrocities]

I just got off the phone with Amazon Customer Service. It took me a while to get the number so I will share it with any one who needs it.

They are aware of the problem, but must stick to policy and not help people reclaim their money until 30 days after the order date and only after they fill out the A to Z form. I was assured that the A to Z form would get my money back, but I must file it before Jan 31st. *looks left to right and back* Why?

Well because Amazon can only refund money for purchases made between Nov X date, and Dec 31st if the customer files a return/refund notice by that date.

A Catch 22.

The guy I talked to at Amazon was very unhelpful, almost skittish to be talking to me and answering my questions. He was evasive and unwilling to provide me with his name or a contact person at Amazon that could help me.

In all honestly, I feel like never doing business with Amazon ever again. This whole affair has left a very bad taste in my mouth.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

I've only ever purchased 3 things off the Internet, SE 4, SE4G and a computer, from Ebay. And I only purchased the computer after I found out that is was from a valid Australian company, got their address, spoke to the dealer over the phone and spoke to another person who had prevoiusly dealt with them.

I might be paranoid but I'd prefer that than being ripped off. Just my 2 cents.

i don't think your paraniod. paraniod is wondering if the person you talked to was paid off.

[Katchoo]

Atrocities, you may want to relay your story/experience to a media outlet, local or national, that blows the whistle on Companies with bad Business practices.

I don't know what's available in Portland or in the US, but here in Ottawa we have a local TV Station that you can relay stuff like this too and they'll do an investigation on it, and then relay their findings to the public.

...And then there are shows like MarketPlace (Wendy Mesley, rrrrow!) that air on the CBC that go after large Companies & Scamers to warn everyone about them, and to hopefully get the offending Companies to clean their act, and to get the Police at the doorstep of the Criminals.

One thing you can definetly do is report Amazon to the Better Business Bureau (or the US equivelent), and encourage everyone who posted complaints on Amazon to complain to the BBB aswell.

Make no mistake though that Amazon won't do anything different for you or anyone else in the future because of this experience. Large Companies want to make money, not spend it, and defiently not lose it. If their Marketplace Vendor thingamabob is making them money, they won't change a thing unless some negative press hits a major US Network (CNN would be good).

The fact that they hire & train support Staff to be evasive & misleading is a sure sign of where their true priorities lie.

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
I just got off the phone with Amazon Customer Service. It took me a while to get the number so I will share it with any one who needs it.

They are aware of the problem, but must stick to policy and not help people reclaim their money until 30 days after the order date and only after they fill out the A to Z form. I was assured that the A to Z form would get my money back, but I must file it before Jan 31st. *looks left to right and back* Why?

So let me get this straight. If you were more like me who quite possible would have waited until after Jan 31 to complain (I just now e-mailed a different company about an order i placed Dec 8) Amazon would have told you to go to hell???!! Waiting a month before complaining does not seem unreaonable to me.

I started avoiding Amazon a long time ago due to the shiping charges. Luckily in Canada we have chapters.ca (although i can't say for sure if they are any better but my few orders have went ok)

[Growltigger]

Atrocities, my 2 pence (worth about 3 1/2 cents at today's exchange rates) for you.

Point 1 - Amazon do have a point, in that you do have to give someone a reasonable time to perform their end of the contract. Frustrating acts may mean that the sellers ISP is down, or he is just busy, or even just delayed in sending you the goods. I would watch and wait till nearer the 31/1 and then raise hell;

Point 2 - the US does have sale of goods legislation similar to what we have in England. You should have recourse to Amazon if the package does not arrive. Use their AtoZ guarantee first. If that doesnt work, raise hell.

Point 3 - you paid this on credit card. Your credit card company will have to reimburse you for the fraud.

Summary - You are 99% likely to get your money back.

For what it is worth, I have been stung several times on Amazon and Ebay. Amazon in each case refunded my money. In relation to Ebay, sellers kept my cash on 3 occassions. On each occassion, my credit card had to refund the cash spent and Ebay kicked the people of the sight.

On one the occassions, the seller sent me an email from his work, but didnt realise that his firm's server or whatever stuck a message on the email giving its name, address etc. Complied documents, got the CEO's name and personal address from Companies House, sent the bloke a letter saying "wouldn't normally trouble you but as this bloke (the seller) did send an email from work and has tried to stiff me, a lawyer etc..."

Got a cheque and an apology from the CEO on behalf of his employee (what a nice bloke) and a promise from the CEO that he didnt like the idea of his staff being crooks, and would therefore have words with said ****.

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by Growltigger:
Got a cheque and an apology from the CEO on behalf of his employee (what a nice bloke) and a promise from the CEO that he didnt like the idea of his staff being crooks, and would therefore have words with said ****.

I take back every bad word I ever said about your honarable profession Gt.

[Growltigger]

Thanks Geo,

It worked quite nicely. I simply wrote to the CEO of this small company, and explained that I had entered into email communications with one of his staff, who had responded from work. I explained that I had purchased something from this bloke, but that now he was refusing to answer my enquiries and not letting me have the goods, notwithstanding that he had been paid.

I then said that I was a solicitor, and said that much apologies but I would have to start legal proceedings against this bloke, and as the only address I had for him was at the office, please would the CEO accept my advance apologies that notice forms etc would have to go to the office until such time as I had the guys residential address. I apologised for contacting him direct, and apologised for the inconvenience, but explained that I would take it kindly if someone gave me advance notice re one of my staff, and hoped he appreciated it.

He called me, we chatted through the issue and he send me a cheque for the £30 the twat owed me. He said that he appreciated my candour, but felt he would rather deal with this internally by having a quiet word with the member of staff about sending personal emails from work, potentially dragging the name of the business into legal proceedings and all sorts of stuff. Decent guy. Hope he sorted the numpty out!