Big rip off!!
By manleyjoe
@manleyjoe (1597)
United States
January 3, 2008 2:20pm CST
I hope that each of you who reads this will tell a friend so they can check it out also. This company needs to be put out of business and the only way that I can do it is with the help of the public that have been scammed by them. And interested parties.
I'm sure that you have heard and maybe even ordered things from the catalog that is mailed every week or so to most households in America and probably all over the world. The company I refer to is Heartland America, They refused to make good on a defective product that they sell. That is what makes me so ticked off is that whem I call they said sorry Buyer beware is what they mean. Let me tell you the whole story then you will see what makes this so hurtfull.
I ordered from them a Phonograph, copied after the 1940's Crosley Radio, They shipped this to me In November so I could give it to my wife as a Christmas Gift. She opened it Christmas morning and was real happy with it as she has a stack of 78 rpm records she wanted to listen to. We set it up and put one of the records on to play and it was too slow, couldn't understand the words. I check the instructions to see that we had followed them right, we had. I tried a different record still couldn't get speed right. The next day I called Heartland to see about getting it exchanged. The lady I talked with was nice and told me that the warranty was for only thirty days. I didn't know this as there was no packing slip or anything saying that in the catalog. I ask her for the name of the manufacture and she refused to give it to stating that it was against the company policy to tell people where they bought from.
Now you can see why I feel we need to try and put this company out of business. If they did this to me, how many others have they ripped off. Also the catalog said that there was a rebate on this item but there was nothing in the box and the lady said I was crazy to think I should get a rebate, not in them words but the same meaning. Let's get together and close them up, what do you think?
4 people like this
6 responses
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
24 Aug 11
I hope by now that this company and types of companies like them have been put out of Business and stopped from selling things online, and reported many times to the BBB as well. Personally these type of sites and places make it really Bad for consumers and people who might want to consider purchasing things online. If I were the woman working there I would be embarassed to be there, as this is poor customer service for sure.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
27 Aug 11
That is always the Best thing for sure. When you get to experience and see the item first hand it makes you feel more comfortable with what you are wanting to purchase. But now that you know the other companies return policies etc. are stated that helps keep others from feeling misled for sure.
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
25 Aug 11
They are still in business. I got another catalog from them just this morning. They do now say that on the order blank that they only have a thirty day return policy. I think they may have gotten to big to quick and was over whelmed with what was happening.
I still buy most everything from stores that have an internet presence, but I like to go to the store and feel the item before I order.
1 person likes this
@agfarm (930)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Here's what I have done in the past.
I would go on the Internet and look up the Company that sold it to me through reverse phone lookup. If you get No results doing this....I would keep doing the reverse look-up , and Keep asking for someone in Charge untill you get someone whom understands Consumer law. At some point you will get a hold of Someone you just have to Be Diligent. ( I'm like a Bull-dog with a Bone On these issues )
Good Luck.
1 person likes this
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Thanks for that info, I will try it. and thanks for posting
@Stiletto (4579)
•
4 Jan 08
Well as someone who does run their own business I see their point of view. The thing is with a warranty or returns policy it has to end sometime. If their policy states 30 days then they are quite within their rights to do that. Where you may have a case against them is if they don't state anywhere at all that their warranty period is 30 days. I know you said it wasn't in the catalogue or on the packing slip but I suspect you will find it somewhere - even if it's hidden in small print. As for not giving you the name of their supplier I can understand that too. That's not something a company will normally disclose to their customers. Even if they did it wouldn't do any good - your contract of sale was with Heartland America. The supplier wouldn't get involved in any dispute.
@Stiletto (4579)
•
8 Jan 08
Personally if it was my company I would have tried to do more to help, just to promote good customer relations more than anything else. There again I just have a small business, I guess the bigger they are the less flexible they become!
Thank you for best response - much appreciated!
1 person likes this
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
25 Aug 11
Sears is not so inflexible that they try to hide where the manufacturer is.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
4 Jan 08
that was sad i guess you have been denied of your rights as a consumer..do know of an agency of the govt. which deal about that? we have here in our place where in we can file a complaint on the said establishment..its a govt. agency that protects our rights as a consumer and all complaints are dealt with accordingly..
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
4 Jan 08
The govt agency that I contacted, State attorney general, are looking into it for me.
Thanks for your response
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
9 Jan 08
I think you are in a dream world if you think you can get this company shut down. There will always be someone willing to buy from them. For these reasons I don't buy anything from a catalogue or from the internet. You don't know what you are getting. I only buy in a store and see what I am getting.
I have not heard of this company or their catalogue. I think maybe they are only in the states. I live in Canada and have never seen or heard a thing about them. Sorry for being so blunt, but you need to face reality. A few people can't shut down a big company.
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
10 Jan 08
Unless they are the right people.
Thanks for the comment, And being blunt is what I like, so thank you.
I have since found out thru other sources who their supplier was and got the record player replaced.
1 person likes this
@mummybec (685)
• Australia
3 Jan 08
Sorry to hear this, I hate it when you order something and then there is a problem yet the company is not helpful at all, maybe try calling back again and speak to someone else - like management complain again - say that is was a christmas gift etc...
I would not be happy at all!! I would be demanding them to fix it in some way - like replace the item or refund your money.
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I have turned it over to the state attorney general for action.
Thanks for responding.
