Nightmare On Harbor Street.
Written: May 21 '07 (Updated May 21 '07)
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I ordered a 5000 watt Devilbiss generator from the online store. It was a nice generator for $400.00 list price, so i thought.
The shipping at the time was free so I ordered the generator and waited on my confirmation. After that I waited for my new toy to come to Papa.
It took about 4 and a half weeks to arrive, but again the shipping was free so i did not mind too much. I figured it would be at least $60 dollars at the time if not more due to the weight.
The truck arrived at my house 4 weeks later and the driver opened the door. I saw a large pallet with a machine wrapped in plastic wrap. He was about to pull it off, when I stopped him as I saw a water pipe coming out of the side part of the wrap. Good thing too. It was a pressure washer, not a generator. I told him to not bother unloading it and send it back. So I signed the invoice and went to call harbor freight.
I told them that they sent a pressure washer, not a generator and the young sounding fella on the phone told me that it was impossible. I asked him what use was a water hose attachment on an electrical generator?
He said he would wait until the trucking company called and he would give me an answer. Well, 4 days later I called back, seeing as he never called me. I was told it was indeed the wrong equipment. However he told me they simply made a substitution as the generator I wanted was no longer available. In fact, it had not been available for months! Sweet, just sweet thought I, with a nice infusion of colorful metaphors. How was I to generate emergency electricity with a power washer I asked him? Build a dam on the house and spray it using batteries?
So I asked him what he could do. He replied they could send another brand, but the price difference was $150.00 dollars! I said not acceptable. And since they made the mistake, and cost me a month and a half already waiting, why they could not just send the more expensive one at the same cost. He said no deal. So I replied that being a first time customer this was not a good experience, and wanted a full refund so I could buy one elsewhere.
I was told that the pressure washer had to first be returned, and when it arrived an RMA would be filled out and my money processed. Well, asked I, how long will this take? I was then told it could take weeks because the trucking company would need a load heading West again so they could return it.
Now as the veins in my head began throbbing uncontrollably, I still tried to be somewhat polite. So, I put the money out over a month ago, and now I may have to wait at least that long before my refund is even processed? Wow! With customer service like this you can count on me spending big bucks there again I assured the boy! So I called every week to bother them on my refund. After that it still took almost 3 months for my refund to clear. Over 4 months and buying a product they never had in stock, they sat on my money and most likely collected interest in that time.
Now, if they did this to 1,000 other people, the interest would accumulate nicely. I asked the last person I spoke with if this was their secret plot....to screw up orders and make solid interest on the poor saps cash while they waited just under half a year to get money back for Harbor Freight incompetency. I was told no, and that is just their policy.
Well, my policy is to shop elsewhere. I will never do business with them again, even if I have to hand crank my own electricity in a black out.
Recommended:
No
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? TRIED is a good term. Devilbiss Generator
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Epinions.com ID:
kurbs
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Location: Chicago area
Reviews written: 101
Trusted by: 6 members
About Me:
Engineer, lover of things mechanical!
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