Problem with retailer- what would you do?

Zeke · 12:45 PM

I needed a part for the Carrera that Pelican does not sell, never have, and probably never will. I put an ad in the parts section a while back and a retailer responded on the forum. All good so far.

Knowing that I could get this item any time, I languished. Then, I got an e-mail in response to one of our communications that basically said do you want to go ahead, or not? I thought I better go ahead, even though my PayPal account didn't have much of a balance. The retailer gave me the option of using a credit card over the phone, but I got busy and didn't call during the East Coast hours. Feeling like I was dropping the ball on this guy, I used PayPal that night and added the fees on my own.

PayPal seemed to be acting up and I didn't know why at the time. I went back and forth and all it would do is issue an e-check. I didn't know much about it and didn't know why. Maybe some sort of PayPal policy change. I don't do too much PP. The retailer on the other end tells me that I can pick up the item at a local distributor through his account, but don't wait, they throw the orders away in a couple of days. No PO sent. Suspicious, I know, but the retailer enjoys a good reputation.

I went to the distributor on a Saturday morning as they are open until noon and not an easy trip here in SoCal. No order, no record. However, I found someone locally willing to place the order on my behalf and save the day. I get what I need and pay new the contact in cash. (Fortunately, I was carrying enough cash.)

Come Monday morning, I call the retailer's office on the East Coast to talk some more about what happened and explain further my e-mail I sent over the weekend. It was about then I realized that the retailer did not receive the funds yet, due to the e-check. I call Paypal and wait on the line 18 minutes to talk to someone, all the while working their site. About the same time I got a hold of a customer rep, I figured out what the deal was in their helpless help section. My back up credit card had expired in the last month and since I had used PP last. They never e-mailed a notice. Nice.

So, back to the retailer. They say they will not reverse the e-check or refund through PP. I asked the rep on PP if they could do so, just like a normal deal and he said yes.

The retailer has not responded to any messages since last week. I have only talked to an assistant. This is the person who said they would only write me a company check, no PP refund. I sent several messages explaining why I didn't know about the e-check instead of a straight up payment (there was plenty of money in the bank, BTW) and offered an apology. Beyond that, I didn't feel I was out of line helping myself to what was available on the spot at the distributor. No on told me there would be no order placed until the funds cleared. Quite the opposite, get up there or lose the deal, place a new order, and go back a 2nd time. Don't ask me to explain the workings of this industry, I can't.

To summarize a long post, at this moment, I've paid twice for the product and wait for a check and/or a response. PP says they could refund online, the retailer apparently refuses to talk about it. I could have waited a couple more days before posting this because I know the mail from coast to coast is 5 days or more. I just thought I'd get my ducks in a row. How can someone be angry at me for taking care of business? They were not in their office Saturday morning for me to call for assistance. Should I have left the distributor on Sat and waited to find out why there was no order?

Edit: In conclusion, I did receive a full refund after rattling the cage a bit. I guess I was impatient, but I can't really apologize. It's done.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

Sounds like you are dealing with one of two venders in GA

Zeke · 04-06-2007, 02:14 PM

No, that's not the case here and under no circumstances will I impugn the "retailer" unless I don't receive money in due time. Please don't try to guess, it just causes needless suspicion. This business is relatively obscure. Besides, I said Pelican doesn't sell this stuff. If it's who I think you're thinking of, they are competitors.

BTW, a place in AL just reamed me, too. But that was 4 x 4 parts. Believe me, if I could have used Pelican in both instances, I would have.

Zeke · 04-06-2007, 02:42 PM

Then. I guess this guy shouldn't be soliciting on this bbs. I'll email you his info. If I overlooked something on Pelican, I apologize.

But, did you really have an upper ball joint for a '75 Jeep CJ 5?

Zeke · 04-07-2007, 07:50 PM

*bump*

Is this a little too perplexing?

'

BTW. Wayne owes me lunch.

competentone · 04-07-2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by milt
BTW. Wayne owes me lunch.

Only if the "C" in "Jeep CJ 5" stands for "Carrera."

Quote:

Originally posted by milt
I needed a part for the Carrera that Pelican does not sell, never have, and probably never will.

dafischer · 04-07-2007, 08:01 PM

I'm perplexed. A '75 Jeep CJ upper ball joint for a Carerra?

Zeke · 04-07-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by milt

BTW, a place in AL just reamed me, too. But that was 4 x 4 parts. Believe me, if I could have used Pelican in both instances, I would have.

Both instances. Two different transactions. Only the non BJ one cost me over 200 dollars, which may or may not be lost. What I don't get is being snubbed with no replies to my e-mails. I don't think I did anything wrong by going around the guy if he didn't place the order and didn't tell me either. Up to that, I had an e-mail a day from the dude.

I was just teasing Wayne about the Jeep part. He does not carry the item that cost over 200 and doesn't plan to, according to his e-mail to me. So, I'm free to go out and look for these on my own. Remember, the guy contacted me thru this BBS.

Joeaksa · 04-07-2007, 08:18 PM

Milt,

Call your credit card company and have them reverse the charges. Pay Pal is worthless and will take forever. You pay the CC people to work for you so contact them and have them remove it from your bill.

Joe

Zeke · 04-07-2007, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dafischer
I'm perplexed. A '75 Jeep CJ upper ball joint for a Carerra?

Yeah, have you seen the prices of ball joints lately. It's the new cross reference.

$13.99 and you're in business. (some modifications needed

)

Zeke · 04-07-2007, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Milt,

Call your credit card company and have them reverse the charges. Pay Pal is worthless and will take forever. You pay the CC people to work for you so contact them and have them remove it from your bill.

Joe

Joe, It's not on my CC. PP sent what they call an e-check drawn on my bank and WON"T reverse the deal. I have two options according to them. Get the "retailer" to reverse it or file a complaint with PP against the seller.

I'll wait another week to see if I get a check directly from the seller. If not, I'll tell you all who it is. Meantime, I'm asking about what I did. You gotta read thru the first post on the thread.

jorian · 04-07-2007, 08:28 PM

If I were the retailer, I would give the customer the benefit of the doubt. On-line ordering, paying, shipping and actually receiving the right part can be onerous. I would at least keep communicating.....

Zeke · 04-08-2007, 09:10 AM

Ah, jeez, Wayne, you just outed the "retailer." I have to reiterate at this point that the man has had only week to refund my money and we are 3000 miles apart. If he chooses to use the mail for a company check rather than an electronic refund, I have to give him a due amount of time before complaining about that aspect.

Again, I'm baffled by the sudden lack of communication.

I'll put this whole thing in much simpler terms: I made a deal to buy something, made an error in paying for it (but paid for it, nevertheless), went to pick it up, it wasn't there and no one knew anything about it. I found another way to buy the item after driving half way across LA and contacted the seller to tell him I bought it without his order and needed a refund.

He stops talking to me at that point. I think it stinks.

BTW, I have enjoyed being able to debit money from my bank account and NOT have charges put on my CC. I have heard of the perils of this arrangement, but so far, I have had no problems with PP. I don't keep much money in that account (bank).

Zeke · 04-10-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
Frankly, I don't think so. I had never heard of them when you told me, so I think a whole bunch of people will be clueless too...

On a side note, I'm not sure about the whole PayPal check thing. When you pay using PayPal, and a check clears, there's really no way to be screwed. In fact, if after they pay you a check, then you can still go back and chargeback the PayPal payment. Their whole line is confusing and doesn't make any sense. I predict that they are confused about how PayPal works on their end - it can be confusing.

-Wayne

Well, it'stime forme to start getting nervous. Wayne, I tried to stop the check by calling PayPal. I guess I didn't make that clear. Anyway, the user name here on Pelican for the "retailer" is ProSource Glass. His name is Richard. Anyone have anything to do with this company? Looks to me like I might have been hustled and scammed. Couple of more days of courtesy and then I'm gonna raise hell on the Parts4Sale bbs to alert folks to this guy (if in fact he's not going to pay me).

Joeaksa · 04-10-2007, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikester
If it isn't your primary bank account then that is somewhat okay as well. I Would simply make a habit of keeping very little money in that bank account at any given time.

Mike is 1000% spot on here. My PP account comes directly out of my AmEx card.

I had it on a bank account in the beginning and a friend had his bank account frozen for 2.5 months with thousands of bux in it. Switched it over immediately and emptied the bank account and left it that way.

competentone · 04-10-2007, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by milt
Anyway, the user name here on Pelican for the "retailer" is ProSource Glass. His name is Richard. Anyone have anything to do with this company? Looks to me like I might have been hustled and scammed. Couple of more days of courtesy and then I'm gonna raise hell on the Parts4Sale bbs to alert folks to this guy (if in fact he's not going to pay me).

It sounds like it's been about four days after they told you they only do refunds by company check and you're sounding like you're ready to "go to war."

Businesses get people all the time who place orders, cancel them, then try to get "refunded" money they actually haven't paid. Companies have to be careful in issuing refunds, if they don't want to be ripped-off. (From your description too, it sounds like shipment could have been started by him and he might be waiting to verify that the item was not sold.)

If his PayPal was a verified account, under his business name, if you've determined his business "Prosource Glass" really exists (does he have a physical address? does he have any required business licenses in the municipality he's in? etc.), then I suspect it is just a matter of time for the issue to be sorted out and for you to receive your refund.

Unless there are additional details you're not relating, waiting a couple of weeks for a refund check after a mix-up as you've described, would not be unusual.

Zeke · 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by competentone
It sounds like it's been about four days after they told you they only do refunds by company check and you're sounding like you're ready to "go to war."

Businesses get people all the time who place orders, cancel them, then try to get "refunded" money they actually haven't paid. Companies have to be careful in issuing refunds, if they don't want to be ripped-off. (From your description too, it sounds like shipment could have been started by him and he might be waiting to verify that the item was not sold.)

If his PayPal was a verified account, under his business name, if you've determined his business "Prosource Glass" really exists (does he have a physical address? does he have any required business licenses in the municipality he's in? etc.), then I suspect it is just a matter of time for the issue to be sorted out and for you to receive your refund.
Unless there are additional details you're not relating, waiting a couple of weeks for a refund check after a mix-up as you've described, would not be unusual.

Well, all I can say to that is he is the one that told me the "pulled" order would be returned to the rack and the paper work cancelled if I didn't get there within 48 hours.

However, after posting here last, I wrote PS a nastygram and basically told him that no communication was unacceptable and that I was going to wait 2 more days and then "got to war," as you put it. I mentioned police, Internet fraud, his state attorney generals office and more. I got a reply within minutes.

Now, we'll see if the check comes. BTW, if you were to ever buy anything from me and I didn't ship right away, I bet you'd be the first to holler. You seem rather jumpy and hard core to me. I read (past tense) a lot of your posts, as you know.

Edit: IN conclusion, I did receive a full refund after rattling the cage a bit. I guess I was impatient, but I can't really apologize. It's done.