My boss asked me to purchase some items from RPM outlet for his vehicle. I received some of the items but not all of them. After a few weeks I called and was told the items were on back order. After just over 2 months I called again and was told I could put the items on something called drop shipment with the manufacturer and the manufacturer would send them directly to me. After over 3 months I realized that I was not going to get all the items I ordered so I asked for the remaining items to be cancelled and my money refunded.
I was told to fill out their online return request even though I wasn't doing a return and so I did. Later we got an email telling us we had a gift certificate for in-store credit. I didn't want in store credit, I wanted a refund so I called again.
I was told that the company did not have to refund money on items they could not deliver, that they would just keep the order open for as long as it took to get the items. I asked for clarity and said if it takes you 3 years to get the parts, I can't get a refund and have to wait the 3 years instead? I was told yes that was correct.
I was also told that the gift certificate was good for forever even though it had an expiration date. I told them that I thought giving us a gift certificate that expired was theft and asked why they wanted to steal our money from us? They said if it expired to just call and they would renew it for another year.
I saved the webpage with their return terms and printed a copy and read it several times. Their policy of in store credit does not cover cancellations and specifically says for returns, but they kept telling me I was interpreting the terms wrong. They also told me that even though they could not deliver my items I could not get a refund, only in store credit. I saved a copy of it in case they later decided to change the wording.
It is my opinion that selling items you do not have and can not get is fraud, and I also feel that not refunding money obtained through this fraud is illegal, but I am not a lawyer so I do not know exactly how the law views sales and refunds. I just do not appreciate being told that I not only can't have what I ordered, but that I'm also forced to buy items I do not want.
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