The prices are a tease... what a scam!
Written: Feb 09 '07
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I did some hunting around the web to get the best price on an LCD tv, and these guys had a crazy-low price ($3,500 for a $5,000 Sony LCD TV). I read the reviews on this company, and despite all of the bad press, the price was so low that I decided to order through them anyways, and just take the bad service as a cost of doing business. Anyways, here's how the scam works...
You go to the website and they show you that the item is in stock, and it has a low price. You call them to order, and they work you hard to buy a bunch of worthless accessories (stands, warranties, upgraded remotes, etc.) but I relented and said I just want the TV. They said I'd have it in a week, and hung up without saying "goodbye" or "thanks". No prob... I just want the TV... courtesy is not necessary. The next day, you'll get an email saying "your order has been processed". No details at all on price, model, etc.
The following day, you get an email saying "the item is backordered." This prompted me to call and ask when the TV will ship. They said "well, it's been on backorder for over a month, but if we do have the TV in stock as part of the "executive package". This package costs an extra $39.99 and comes with a stand, etc., and if you want this upgraded package, we can ship it out right away." Well, I figured an extra $39.99 is no problem to get the TV right away, so I said, "go ahead". I received another email saying "your order has been processed." Again, no details on model, price, anything.
A few days later, my VISA was charged $4,300. That's a bit more than the $3,500 + $300 shipping + $39.99 that I was expecting, so I called 'em on it. They said that I ordered the executive set at $3,999.00 + $300 shipping. I asked them to review our conversation so that they could see that this is not what I was told. Suddenly, I realized why the emails had no details... everything is verbal, and will revert to a "he said - she said" scenario. I told that after they reviewed the conversation, which one guy said he would do (the other guy said they didn't record anything), that they would see that I was told that I would be charged $3,800. The guy said he would be willing to drop $100 off of the price of the TV. I said "no thanks", please just fulfill the agreement that I made with the salesperson. He said that he couldn't and that they would just pull the TV back from shipment, but that I would be responsible for the $200 shipping charge. I said that I want the TV with the terms that I agreed to, or if they are unwilling to abide by those terms, that I don't want the TV and will not pay shipping. After arguing with the guy for 5 minutes or so, he finally said that he would refund the full amount billed to my VISA.
Two days later, my VISA was credited back $4,000, not the $4,300 that it was billed. I called back the same guy, and he said that after reviewing the conversation, they concluded that I was responsible for the shipping charge. I asked him for a transcript of the conversation, or to listen to it with him, or to have him re-listen to it, but he refused all of these options, and hung up on me. He won't talk with me anymore.
Therefore, I filed a complaint with VISA. They have 45-days to respond. WHAT A FRIGGIN' NIGHTMARE.
Here's a better solution, that I have come up with after putting hours and hours into this... Call a local retailer and say that you want to buy a particular model of TV, but that you want the retailer to come closer to the price you can get online. Tell them to look at www.preferredphoto.com as an example of the price that you can pay, but that you would rather buy the unit locally from them. I did this with RC Willey here in Reno, NV, and they said that they would drop the price $400 (from $4,800 down to $4,600 + a $200 gift certificate). The TV bought from RC Willey would carry the full Sony factory warranty (no warranty from non-Sony-authorized vendors like Preferred Photo) and I would be able to just go pick it up, could inspect it, return it if there is a problem, etc. etc. etc. So, it comes down to this: Pay $3,500 + $300 shipping + $40 executive fee = $3,840 for a kickin' Sony TV with no warranty, and perhaps issues involved with shipping (i.e. damage, missing parts, etc... with this company, I would expect as much!) OR $4,400 + $368 taxes = $4,768 for the same tv that is a U.S. model with Sony's 1-year warranty and no problems. Yikes, we're still talking about $928... not a small amount of change.
Well, I decided to call preferred and re-order the TV. Dang! I'm a cheap guy! This time I called and recorded the conversation. I ordered the same TV from Luke this time, and he said it was in-stock. I got an email saying "your order is processed". No details. I called him back, and he said it was backordered. Might be a month before they get it in. I'm still waiting. I'm such an idiot.
Recommended:
No
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Sony 52" XBR LCD TV
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whiteratdog
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Reviews written: 1
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