Customer Lost for Life (buyers beware)
- Thread starter NYSEMTI
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These online companies want the best of everything, undercutting the LFS's and huge profits yet when they make a mistake refuse to honor it. I buy online all the time. Nothing irks me more than a website that doesn't honor the online price. When I'm shopping, I have no idea what the price should or should not be on an item. If I see something I want at a price I want to pay, I buy it. If the online store cant be professional enough to ensure proper pricing, then the customer should not be the one who's screwed. I once bought an item from a big ebay/online store, won the bid at an extremely low price. Then the store contacts me and says sorry, we don't have that item, it was a mistake. Liars. They had it, but the bidding wars did not happen so they think they can just lie and say it was posted in error so they don't have to pay out.. I complained to ebay but of course, they will not do anything to hurt their "power" sellers.
The online price should be the price. No recanting. If you screw up, it's your fault, not the buyers. I can't believe people are supporting MD and blaming the guy for trying to scam them.
The online price should be the price. No recanting. If you screw up, it's your fault, not the buyers. I can't believe people are supporting MD and blaming the guy for trying to scam them.
d0ughb0y
Active member
It is this "pre-judging" attitude without basis and fact that is the problem. People just jump to the conclusion the buyer is dishonest. Even MD in the second comment is pre-judging.
I once served in a jury and all the other jurors have exactly the same attitude, they have already pre-judged in their mind that the defendant is guilty even before the trial started.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Based on facts, the buyer did nothing wrong by placing an order based on what is presented in the website. The transaction is committed and must be honored.
MD is granted a license by the state of california to operate business, as such they are subject to abide by all laws of the state, no exceptions, mistake or not. We can end up in a state of anarchy and chaos without the laws.
If someone killed a person by mistake/accident, I suppose based on the consensus here, he should go away scott free (or a slap on the wrist for the equivalent of $10). I don't think so, he still pays the penalty and goes to jail.
I wonder if someone made a mistake ordering and wanted to cancel after the transaction has committed, if MD will allow that or not.
I once served in a jury and all the other jurors have exactly the same attitude, they have already pre-judged in their mind that the defendant is guilty even before the trial started.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Based on facts, the buyer did nothing wrong by placing an order based on what is presented in the website. The transaction is committed and must be honored.
MD is granted a license by the state of california to operate business, as such they are subject to abide by all laws of the state, no exceptions, mistake or not. We can end up in a state of anarchy and chaos without the laws.
If someone killed a person by mistake/accident, I suppose based on the consensus here, he should go away scott free (or a slap on the wrist for the equivalent of $10). I don't think so, he still pays the penalty and goes to jail.
I wonder if someone made a mistake ordering and wanted to cancel after the transaction has committed, if MD will allow that or not.
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Exactly there is no whining or crying here. I saw a price on an item that Yes "was too good to be true" and I bought it under the assumption that maybe they had a great sale going on or something or maybe they were refrurbs or whatever. After all it did say "SALE" all over it. How am I suppossed to know that a human made a mistake. I see an item it has a listed price I expect to recieve it for that price. Thats the bottom line. I dont think this was a bait and switch or Md trying to decieve anyone. I am not accusing them of that at all. But when you make a mistake sorry sucks to be you, you honor it. Just like Wal Mart, Home Depot or any of our local grocery stores would do. IN fact at our local groceries if they screw up you get the item free plus a dollar. They understand that the value of many orders over a life time and return customers is worth way more than Annoying them over a mistake they made. also in reading this and other forums it seems there are a lot of "system" errors maybe they better find a better system. So at this point I dont think there is anything those of us that placed orders can do about it other than exercise our right to never order from there again. You can also bet that at my LFS they would honor thier mistake also. Another lesson learned support your LFS!
RicksReefs
New member
I want 8 minutes of my life back...
fiveplusfive
New member
Ditto on that!
I think a $10 gift certificate was a nice gesture. They even said they would work with you on the price if you called them. Marine Depot may have lost you as a customer, but I liked their reply and now they gained me as a customer.
:idea: Maybe you should just sue them. Hire an ambulance chaser and tell them your hand slipped off your keyboard during checkout hurting your back and your neck.
TurboRobert
New member
I manage a large jewelry store and once in awhile we put the wrong price on an item. I have seen $6000 products sold for $600. We honor whatever price we have on the ticket. Marine Depot is a big enough company to honor their mistakes. After all they do undercut almost every LFS. The one in charge of website pricing should be given a corrective action and the customer the correct item at the price stated. Lesson learned and keep prices updated better. That is just my opinion. I feel as though Marine Depot has the write to do as they please. IF they don't want to do anything but a $10.00 credit so be it. Why complain to everyone about it?
d0ughb0y
Active member
Many car sellers lowball car prices all the time to get people to come see a car then say oops the person who did the ad made a mistake then offer something at a much higher price. I have ran into this situation twice and just walked away. Unfortunately, private party transactions are largely unregulated. On the other hand, store pricing is regulated by state laws. I don't think a store can make their own pricing policy to override a state law.
As TurboRobert says, each store is free to make their own store policy. But not to the extent they override state laws. I believe the state law does not require stores to accept merchandise returns, but as a matter of customer goodwill, it is standard practice for stores to accept returns no questions asked. With regards to store policy concerning merchandise pricing, state law exists for that and clearly says price must be honored, no exceptions. Stores such as Drs. Foster and Smith (I'm sure most other stores are the same), will honor a listed price, regardless of the amount involved. The buyer has the option to report the store to California Department of Consumer Affairs (under Attorney General's office) and let them deal with the store according to the letter of the law, and not on public opinion.
What is it you people don't get? You didn't lose ANYTHING. You got a small credit for your inconvience but you still LOST NOTHING.
You people should be a ashamed of yourself trying to take advantage of the situation. So what happens if you signed a contract without reading it thoroughly and got taken? Would you bend over and take it or try to take it to the courts?
Nuff said..
You people should be a ashamed of yourself trying to take advantage of the situation. So what happens if you signed a contract without reading it thoroughly and got taken? Would you bend over and take it or try to take it to the courts?
Nuff said..
d0ughb0y
Active member
hmm, if you made the mistake by not reading a contract and got taken, then you suffer the consequence, no? even if you take it to courts, the law will go against you as the other party did everything according to the law. so just the same, the seller made a pricing mistake, so why do you think they should not suffer the consequence of their mistake? is it ok for MD to override the law by changing the consequence to $10? just as in your contract analogy, MD will never win if the buyer takes this to court. The law is on the buyer's side. I see the point you are trying to make, but I think you used a bad example and only reinforeced the opposite point.
see the bottom of the page about a mispriced diamond earring at Macy's.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9993163?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com
The amount in question was not mentioned, but it is irrelevant. Since one cannot prove if it was an honest mistake or a bait and switch, the law simply states the price must be honored, period, end of discussion, nothing more. I read about this kind of stories all the time, and can't remember reading about any store (in California) that did not honor a pricing mistake, except for MD. I see nothing wrong with "taking advantage" of a low price, there are many things that people would never buy at the regular price, but will definitely "take advantage" and buy if the price listed is low (it is irrelevant if the low price was a mistake or not, once it is listed, it MUST be honored, no exceptions). That makes those people "bad"? Its not like the buyer twisted the arm of the seller to put out a low price for the item. The buyer is not at fault in this situation, no matter how you look at it, on the other hand, the seller clearly broke the law, beyond any reasonable doubt What I don't get is why there are some people who think the party who did nothing wrong is bad, and the party that broke the law is right? One can always write to a legislator to have a law they disagree with changed, instead of just sitting and talking about it.
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Jim_S
Timo Boll
Wow. There are just some shady folks out there....
You knew it was a "lower than normal" price, yet you insist they honor it? You should just face the facts and stop trying to hide behind a law to rip a company off. Are you too good to pay for your own equipment? You want MD to pay for your equipment? Unbelievable....
It absolutely amazes me that you people are sitting here trying to justify why this guy should get a $1500 light for $200.
Jeez
Just take the $10 bucks and be happy. Stop looking for shady deals and ways to snake honest business out of their money. Have some morals (and some common sense). Move forward and enjoy your tank
You knew it was a "lower than normal" price, yet you insist they honor it? You should just face the facts and stop trying to hide behind a law to rip a company off. Are you too good to pay for your own equipment? You want MD to pay for your equipment? Unbelievable....
It absolutely amazes me that you people are sitting here trying to justify why this guy should get a $1500 light for $200.
Jeez
Just take the $10 bucks and be happy. Stop looking for shady deals and ways to snake honest business out of their money. Have some morals (and some common sense). Move forward and enjoy your tank
I'm sorry but there was no contract. Yes they advertised it by accident but just as you accepted it buy trying to buy it, they canceled it before they executed the contract by accepting your money.
It's one thing for your order to be accepted and they collect on the money only to refund you back the $200 and cancel it.
You are missing the point here. They made a honest mistake and corrected the issue. You (the buyer) lost nothing in this other than about 20 mins of filling out the forms and hoping you can get away with this steal. They did not bait and switch you. You didn't drive to the store. What more do you want? Please don't say the integrity to honor their advertised price. Then show some integrity and let it go because you know it was a mistake.
It's one thing for your order to be accepted and they collect on the money only to refund you back the $200 and cancel it.
You are missing the point here. They made a honest mistake and corrected the issue. You (the buyer) lost nothing in this other than about 20 mins of filling out the forms and hoping you can get away with this steal. They did not bait and switch you. You didn't drive to the store. What more do you want? Please don't say the integrity to honor their advertised price. Then show some integrity and let it go because you know it was a mistake.
Holyreefer
Octopus Extreme 300 Skimr
Marine Depot has nothing too say?
RicksReefs
New member
they already did. there's not much more that needs saying on their part;
Hello,
I apologize for our mistake, the $10.00 is to show our appreciation for your understanding of this problem. As a hobbyist in need of this light, I am sure you did your homework and are aware this was a totally unrealistic price, too good to be true and was an error at the time you placed your order. I am sure you were hoping we would not catch our mistake and your order would get shipped. This was not an advertised price, nor was it sent out in any advertisement and no attempt was made to cheat or deceive anyone on our part. If you still want this exact Light fixture when they come in as they are currently on backorder, we would be willing work with you, please contact me directly at 714.385.0080. Again, I apologize for our mistake and thank you for understanding.
Walter
Marine Depot Customer Services
sweetleaf
New member
"When I'm shopping, I have no idea what the price should or should not be on an item. If I see something I want at a price I want to pay, I buy it. If the online store cant be professional enough to ensure proper pricing, then the customer should not be the one who's screwed."
So why should somone who doesn't do their homework and believes two wrongs make a right be rewarded anything, let alone 10 dollars in rebate?
MarineDepot is a respectable large online dealer of quality marine hobby products and will continue to be regarded as so. My only complaint with the store would have to be the pack those damn peanuts in their shipping so tight, it makes a mess everytime I get a package.
Not a bad problem, heh
So why should somone who doesn't do their homework and believes two wrongs make a right be rewarded anything, let alone 10 dollars in rebate?
MarineDepot is a respectable large online dealer of quality marine hobby products and will continue to be regarded as so. My only complaint with the store would have to be the pack those damn peanuts in their shipping so tight, it makes a mess everytime I get a package.
Not a bad problem, heh
zeus_roush
New member
They made a mistake, but $10 is nothing. The least they could do is offer it at cost this way they still come out even.
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