ABC Distributing Bit Me in the Butt!
Written: Apr 28 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: The company will call you directly if there's a problem *interject sarcasm here*
Cons: Everything about the company
The Bottom Line: Avoid this company at all costs. Don't let the low prices fool you.
|
|
|
| chrisceb's Full Review: ABC Distributing, INC |
I was introduced to ABC Distributing by a friend about three years ago. Her husband had a home business and received a catalog from the company. As we breezed through the catalog we ooh-ed and ahh-ed at all the neat merchandise, and we were also impressed with the prices. So we got a pen and paper and started ordering. That’s where the fascination ended, and from that moment on my relationship with ABC Distributing has been nothing but a nightmare.
The Product:
ABC Distributing is a catalog company based out of Miami, Florida, which sends catalogs to people through their employers. In order to get a catalog you have to request one through a business name. For instance, my friend who had a home business received a catalog. I also requested one under my husband’s business name (we are also self-employed) and therefore I received a catalog. You also have to include your title of your job, proving you actually work there.
The catalog varies in size. During the holidays such as Easter and Christmas the catalog can be more than 200 pages. But other months it can be as small as 75 pages. The catalog is full color with actual photographs of the merchandise.
The merchandise at ABC Distributing is both name brand and generic. You’ll find home interiors, housewares, toys, clothing, furniture, bedding, office equipment (not computers), knick knacks and even garden supplies. It’s pretty much a surprise each time the catalog comes. You order your merchandise either through the catalog order form, which by the way is about eight pages long. Or you can order from the Internet on the ABC Distributing web site. You can also order by fax.
By Fax: Simply fax your order to us at:
1-305-919-1918 - Anytime!
By Phone: You can reach us at:
1-305-944-6200 - Mon-Fri 8:30am to 5:00pm EST
By Mail: Mail your order to:
abc distributing, inc.
P.O. Box 610130
North Miami, FL 33261-9098
By Email: www.abcdistributing.com
My Experience:
ABC Distributing wrote the book on poor Customer Service and lack of customer satisfaction. Even though they have a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Everyone I know, including myself has had a negative experience with ABC Distributing. If you’ve used ABC and have had good service and good products . . . just give it time. Soon, you too will be writing a blasting review of the company.
You never know what you’re going to get with ABC. Sometimes their products are great! Durable, good quality and a great value. For instance, my mom usually orders a bunch of stuff from them for my kids for Christmas. She’s ordered art supplies, matchbox car products and books. I’ve ordered gift-wrapping supplies, furniture and toys for the kids. The Gift bags and tissue paper were very good quality, but not much else of what I order had been. You just never know. For instance, I ordered a small pharmacy table for my bathroom. When it arrived, I needed to put it together, which I did. The drawers have never fit properly and it’s a struggle every time you close one of them.
I know your thinking it, but it has nothing to do with how I put it together. It’s the drawer part that doesn’t fit, I only had to put the base together. The drawers came preassembled. I also ordered a piano book for my son. It was battery operated and had a small piano key board running vertically up the book. When I finally received it after a 3-month wait, it was broken and didn’t work. I also ordered some crystal Christmas tree ornaments. They came 12 in a box, and when I received them four of the 12 were broken.
Another problem I’ve had with ABC is their delivery system. If you order a number of items all at one time, they don’t ship them all together. They ship them as they have them. If four out of 10 items are back ordered, they’ll ship the six items at one time, then maybe two items a month later. Then maybe one more item three weeks later, and your final item in a month. You are charged shipping for each one of the deliveries rather than shipping for the whole lot. You are also billed for each individual item when you get it. You don’t give a credit card number or send a check when you order, you are sent an invoice and a bill when you receive your merchandise.
Many times I’ve ordered merchandise from ABC Distributing (I’m a slow learner), and I’ve received several quantities of the same merchandise. Remember that pharmacy table I ordered?
I received four of them. I received two green and two whites. They weigh about 15 lbs. a piece! Many times I’ve received merchandise I’ve never ordered. One time I got a box of merchandise that had six Powder Puff Girl banks in it, along with three of the other eight items I ordered.
Huh? I didn’t know what a Powder Puff Girl was until I receive six of them in the box.
My mom ordered some items for Christmas this year and received two stuffed Easter Bunnies and a set of glasses she didn’t order. She lucked out . . . she wasn’t billed for them either. After many tries to get in touch with Customer Service, she decided she was wasting her time and kept the items. Although she did try and do the right thing.
Speaking of Customer Service. What Customer Service?
Remember that order they sent me duplicates? The one with the pharmacy table? I also ordered about six other items which also came in duplicate. I tried to call their Customer Service line literally for two hours straight. I’d call, get a busy signal and hang up. I’d immediately hit re-dial and start over again. For two hours straight. Which by the way is not a toll-free call. I finally got an answer and the person who answered the phone was Latin and could hardly speak a lick of English. (I have nothing against Latino people. Ricky Martin is yummy! But if you’re going to have a Customer Service Rep answer the phone for American customers then it might be beneficial for them to be able to speak English).
I decided to send a fax instead . . . twice. I received no feedback from Customer Service at all. I wrote them three letters stating my situation. They continued to bill me month after month for the duplicate merchandise. I refused to pay the bill, and wanted an itemized statement from the company before I would even consider paying. The whole ordeal went on for 19 months, finally ending in me getting a letter from a lawyer saying ABC was taking me to small claims court for not paying my bill. The nerve! In the end I was able to get through to the company by phone, but only because they called me. I kept writing on my bill that I wouldn’t pay until I could talk to a Customer Service Rep, and if they wanted my money they needed to get in touch with me. They finally sent me UPS shipping labels to ship back the duplicate merchandise and I paid my bill begrudgingly, as we couldn’t agree with what I paid for and what I didn’t. I think I got dissed, but at least it’s over and done with.
At that moment and time I vowed never to use ABC Distributing again. Since this episode, I’ve found a number of people who have had trouble with this company. Customer Service is nonexistent, the merchandise is not consistently good quality and the whole company is nothing short of disorganized, disreputable and sleazy. Take my advice and stay far, far away from ABC Distributing.
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
chrisceb
|
 - Top 200 |
|
Member: Chris B
Location: Florida
Reviews written: 367
Trusted by: 325 members
About Me:
MEN HAVE NEVER
ASKED FOR ADVICE ON HOW
TO COMBINE MARRIAGE
AND A CAREER
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.