How bitter am I?

[Mr9146]

I ordered some parts from Automobile Atlanta about a week ago. They said they were in stock and would ship immediately. I paid for 2 day air and when I got the package only half of what I ordered was there.

I was ultra pissed, but I ended up coming to terms with the fact that I was lied to. I put together what I could, and didn't think anything else of the situation. That was Saturday.

Fast forward to Thursday. I am scanning my account history on-line and see an Automobile Atlanta charge for $35.47. In my e-mail box I have a Fed-ex shipping confirmation. I called my dad's shop and he tells me a package came with the other part of my order.

So here's my gripes:
1)They lied about what was in stock when they could have told me only part of the order was going to ship. I would have been fine with only 1/2 the order, but when I'm expecting it to be complete and it's not, it really tipped me over.
2)Automobile Atlanta charged my credit card WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION from me.
3)They charged me for shipping the second half of an order for which I already paid shipping --> I never agreed, verbally or in writing, to another charge.
4)I had already sourced the necessary parts from an alternate source so I am now stuck with a)less money and b)too many parts
5)The bastards are on east coast time so I can't call and tear into them today - I have to sleep on it and wait until I've cooled off

I mean, I'm only talking about $35 and some change, but it's a matter of principle. How the hell are they gonna charge me for shipping TWICE?!?! And, how are they going to charge my card WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION?!?!? I'm thinking I want my money back plus fees for bounced checks and for fighting fraudulant charges.

[Alfred1]

You were probably warned beforehand about dealing with them. Sounds like par for the course ...

[BURN-BROS]

Are you surprised?

[Scrappy]

"There's one born every minute" - G. Husssey

[no substitute]

I dealt with them about ten years ago. One of the items I specifically asked for on the telephone (pre-internet) was early style reinforced, re-drilled rear hubs. Guess what I got. They said they would exchange them, but I never got around to it. I figured it was just a rare occurence, but from what you folks have been saying here, it seems as though it happens not infrequently?

[jamcleod]

shame on you! you've posted on Pelican Parts BBS over 500 times and you didn't learn the lesson from the zillions of others who posted their problems on this BBS about AA!

didn't you see the notice that your orders from PP helps support this board?

i'm sorry for your loss

[mikester]

It is not a matter of principal it's a matter of fraud and the law. Amounts over $25 require authorization for charges be it a signature or otherwise.

If AA gives you a hard time - call your credit card company and file a report against them. Call the local Better business bureau and report them. Also send the parts back (hopefully you haven't opened the box) via fedex and tell them "return to sender" so they shouldn't charge you. Ever notice when you order something from a great place like pelican they tell you honestly how long it will take (to the best of their knowledge). They also give you the option to ship part of the order or save it for one shipment and one charge. Did they charge you the original agreed shipping amount for the first shipment or was it unspecified to begin with?

Seriously people - instead of complaining constantly about AA why don't we treat them like the criminals they are to their customers. I will leave my car broken in the garage before I ever call them again.

[911targafan]

Contact your credit card issuer and complain. I work in the industry. It is illegal for them to charge again without authorization. They can be fined and/or dropped from service.

It is time someone taught them a lesson.

[Zeke]

Marco, where have you been, man? AA musta had something no one else has. Is that it?

[Mr9146]

Actually, I did go to Pelican first ... but they didn't have it on the shelf and I needed it "yesterday". I bought into the lie that AA had the parts "on the shelf" even though I KNEW they didn't.

I don't know why I had a lapse in good judgment, but sometimes it takes a slap in the face to realize that you made a mistake.

Speaking of slap in the face, when I deal with this situation tomorrow morining I'm gonna be bringing a baseball bat as a bartering stick ... metaphorically of course.

I'll keep everyone posted as to the outcome.

[Mr9146]

Milt, I've been 1)working on my teener trying to get it back on the road by the 26th 2)working hard at work 3)sick.

Please forgive my absence. I'll try and pop in more often.

[M. Hendrix]

Chargeback, return, no problem...

M

[Acox914]

sounds like a job for "Cousin Guido"

[Rich Hilgersom]

Its #2 on the FAQ!

automobile atlanta's rubber kit?

Seriously, on the back of most visa statements you can fill in a form and dispute the shipping charge.

The nice part is Visa almost always sides with the customer and the vendor ususally gets dinged. Enough dings and the % the vendor pays to take Visa charges goes up!

Dooo it....doooo it!

-Rich Hilgersom

[Alfred1]

Ever notice when you order something from a great place like pelican they tell you honestly how long it will take (to the best of their knowledge). They also give you the option to ship part of the order or save it for one shipment and one charge. Did they charge you the original agreed shipping amount for the first shipment or was it unspecified to begin with?

You know who has a really professional operation? Amazon.com. I am constantly impressed with their service - they let you know what's going on every step of the way and they allow you to change your order up until the time it ships and then they only charge your credit card after it ships. I had to return a book the other day (my fault) and their web site lead me step-by-step through the process up to printing out the return shipping address, bar-code and all. Return shipping was prepaid and will be deducted from my refund. Couldn't be more professional, IMO.

[Jim Smolka]

Had a similar problem once, a company kept charging my card. Called the credit card company, once they have a number, nothing you can do to stop them from charging to it. Asked to change number, they could not. So I reported the card stolen. Rcvd a new number.

Bottom line, report your card 'stolen'.

[mikester]

I thought about using Amazon as my example but Pelican runs a good ship too - more appropriate.

[Mr9146]

Once again, I did go to Pelican first. They didn't have what I needed ... nobody did, for that matter.

Here's an update:

When I called AA I was put in touch with Customer Service; they tried to explain the situation to me and I told them, "No, I'm explaining this situation to YOU. You WILL do things THIS way or else you can put me in touch with Hussey." They hung up on me.

So I called back on their 800 number and demanded that I speak to George Hussey directly. They told me that he does not take calls on the 800 number and I needed to call their 770 number. I said fine, called back, and when the receptionist said, "May I ask who's calling?" I said, "No."

I eventually got a chance to speak with George, and I explained the situation to him - I was never informed that the parts were on back order, that I sourced them from another vendor when they weren't in the first package, that my card was charged without my authorization and that I was charged shipping twice. I stressed my discontent with the lack of communication and told him that I wouldn't have minded all this if I was informed of the situation when I called to place my initial order.

I was polite but EXTREMELY FIRM, and told him that he was going to refund the full amount to my card before the end of today, and that AA was going to pay for me to return the parts to them. Like a good businessman should he immediately agreed to these terms and apologized profusely.

I told him that that I was a little short with the Customer Service people and that I apologized for being gruff.

In the end, I guess that everything worked out. AA responded to my complaints in a professional manner, but I don't think I will be doing business with them in the future ... that is, unless I'm trying to buy a 916.

[mikester]

Couldn't have done it better myself.

[Jason Porter]

I hate it when people say "I told you so", so I'll refrain....

We still love ya' over here.