Richard H.

Over the last month or so I have placed orders with several different companies and paid for shipping via USPS Priority Mail. I did this because, with Priority Mail, there is, theoretically, tracking available. With any tracked package the company prepares the package, prints a label through their connection with USPS (presumably), and the package shipping is considered as started (as you will be informed by the company you have paid). The USPS supposedly picks up the package (that is the impression I get) and away it goes. Here's the glitch in the tracking system. If, when picked up, the package isn't scanned in, there is no indication of movement, this happens with products I have ordered about 50% of the time. If you try to contact the company you bought stuff from they will tell you the Post Office has it, if you try to contact the Post Office to find out what's going on they, as only an entity with ties to the federal government, have a computer reporting system that WILL NOT LET YOU REPORT A PROBLEM. Now I assume that, as I have had this happen multiple times. It is a regular problem in shipments through the Post Office. On days where conspiracy theories invade my brain, I wonder why the Post Office is out to get me. In either case, my purpose is to inform, if you are expecting a package shipped with USPS and you are given information for tracking the shipment, DON'T EXPECT TRACKING.

I recently ordered a DVD through eBay. I received a confirmation on the order and was told that I could expect delivery between November 4th and November 8th. This is the third day since I placed the order and have heard nothing back. I attempted to contact eBay to ask how there was any way possible for me to receive the item by November 4th if it wasn't even being prepared for shipment. There is no way to ask eBay a question, you can only get an answer if your question is one of the 4-5 pre-determined questions in their system. I attempted to cancel the order, and got the reply it was to late to cancel the order, I should contact the seller to try and work it out with them. I attempted to contact the seller, which, although an option in the eBay system, cannot be done in the eBay system. I went through the "Contact Us" option several times with no satisfaction of an actual point of contact. I left the eBay website, looked up online a contact telephone number for Customer Service (I laugh at that title), and called the number. After several minutes of trying to be put in contact with a person, the 800 number recording informed me I would have better luck if I went to the eBay website, and then the number HUNG UP ON ME. As a general rule, in my life, to be ignored I usually have to date a person for awhile. One thing I will say for eBay Customer Service, it makes Amazon seem better. My suggestion to eBay customers is this: If you need service, or just have a question, for eBay, find a strong wall, preferably brick or stone, and beat your head against the wall for what ever period of time you feel is appropriate, that is the Customer Service experience I had with eBay. Always remember, the great thing about beating your head against a wall is that it feels so good when you stop. EBay, I'm stopping.

A few weeks ago 2 fraudulent charges were made through Best Buy. I made 2 attempts to contact them by e-mail and was ignored. I was finally able to contact them through what they call a customer service chat. The person I chatted with did not seem to understand what a fraudulent charge was. I was asked several times for the order number, as they didn't grasp that the fraud was that someone other than me had placed the order. They asked if I had gotten what I ordered, again not grasping the concept that I hadn't ordered anything HENCE THE FRAUD. I was finally told they couldn't do anything to help me and gave me an 800 number to call. The first try, I got through, due to the wait the computer offered to call me back, and surprisingly they did call back, then hung up on me. I called again, told there was a 3 minute wait, and held the line for 10 minutes. I went through the same questions as I had earlier with the Chat line with the same results, no help. Suggested I just let the back dispute the charge. Best Buy doesn't care if you get cheated, they got your money. If they make it hard enough that you just give up, THEY STILL HAVE YOUR MONEY!

I set up a reservation with a local taxi service, Pyramid Taxi in Wilmington NC. The reservation was made on-line, and verified by the driver. I arrived at the pick-up point early, sat on a bench and waited, the time came and went, no taxi. I waited for 15 minutes past time and called the cab company. I was asked where I was and where I was going, gave them the information they asked for, and was told they would send a taxi. I waited 45 minutes, no taxi. Called them back, reminded them that I had called earlier. "Where you at"? I was asked, this gave me the impression that the information had not been written down before, and probably no taxi had ever been dispatched. It was a long walk home in the dark. NEVER AGAIN.

I recently ordered three puzzles from this company. I received an e-mail the next day informing me that it would be two weeks before I would receive what I had paid for. I immediately responded that two weeks was a bit long and wanted to cancel the order. I received another message from Bits and Pieces that the order could not be cancelled. A week after that message I received a message that the order had finally been shipped, a week and a half after I paid. I finally received the order after two weeks and returned it the same day. The best puzzle they produce is how they manage to stay in business with such poor customer service.

I posted a review a couple of days ago about problems I've had with The Vermont Country Store. Two days later and they still have not answered any of my e-mails. I did get a message, 2-3 days after I requested they cancel the shipment, that the item had been sent, scheduled for delivery today. UPS tracking, today at approximately 2 pm, told me the package had been delivered at 12:30 pm, IT HAD NOT. I contacted UPS and there is no way you can speak to a person, the computer will tell you that the package has been delivered. I went to the Vermont Country Store web site to the option called "Live Chat" and waited for the Live Chat Rep to join the conversation, got tired of waiting after 5 minutes. Did send another message that I have no hope of ever being answered. If you are considering ordering items from The Vermont Country Store allow me to state again DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!

I ordered from Amazon a few weeks ago. As always, when they ship using UPS the order got screwed up. I simply cannot understand why UPS gives you a specific time they will deliver, yet, in my experience, they have NEVER delivered as promised. An hour after they had promised delivery time I had to leave to run errands and left a note that the shipment was refused. T was returned 4 days ago, I called Amazon and, after jumping through an amazing number of hoops, talked to a person that told me it usually took 5 days to process. How would their business go if it took 5 days to process my payment. However that's not the real problem, Amazon makes it all but impossible to get help or information, you can't message them on line, you have to get past the computerized goon that answers their phone. The entire process is almost enough to make you lose your Christian faith.

I ordered from Walmart online, what a waste of time. The estimated time for receipt was 10 days after the order. 5 days after the order I checked the status, the shipper was still preparing the shipment (HA). 7 days after the order, still no progress, requested the order be cancelled, Walmart replied they would check. Finally on day 9, checked the status, no movement, but finally got a notice that the order was cancelled (still waiting for my refund). Ordered the same item from Amazon, promised receipt in 4 days, received e-mail today to expect receipt tomorrow (day3), admittedly the item cost $4 more from Amazon, but they delivered.