After responding to an ad in the Old Car Trader, my brother and I recieved samples from Walston Auto Interiors. After looking over these samples for carpet, headliner and seatcover materials we selected what was to be the beginnings of our restoration of a 1958 Pontiac 2 door Hard-Top Superchief.
I sent them a check for $726.49 on June 30. That check was cashed on July 6. I was told that the order would be shipped within 90 days. Sept. 25 I called for status on my order. I was told that the owner had died, and that some orders were on back-order and would be delayed. I asked if my order would be precessed quicker if the seat covers were cancelled. I was told that my order then could be shipped in 2 to 3 weeks, and that I could expect a refund for the seatcovers in about 1 to 2 weeks.
I called Walston's at 2:30pm Nov. 11 and asked why I had not recieved my order or refund. I was told that due to the courts probate actions (regarding the death of the owner) the company did not have the funds to complete some previous orders. When I asked about the status of "my order", I was told: "within 2 weeks you will recieve your order and refund. The headliner will be sent first, followed by the carpets and your refund".
At 8:07 am December 15 I called Walston's again, and was told "you should have everything, including your refund just after the first of the year, because we just got more money released to us from probate court".
At 1:55 pm January 16 I was told that " your order and refund of $409.20 would be sent in 3 to 4 weeks". At 3:10 pm on February 7 I was told that "within 5 to 7 days the headliner would be shipped, followed by the carpet and your refund of $409.20 within 10 days".
At 4:35 pm March 5 I was told that "the bookkeeper has been sick for some time, so shipping and refunds have been temporarily postponed, however, by the first of next week I will call you with shipping dates and tracking numbers for your order". I told this man (Lin), (the same man I had been talking to since I first place the order) that I no longer trusted them, because I had been lied to time after time". I asked him "Are your SURE that this time my goods and refund will be shipped?". I was told "Oh yes, I am VERY sure. There should be NO problems at all".
At 2:45 pm March 14 I was told, "next week you should get your headliner first, and then your carpet with the $409.20 refund".
At 4:45 pm March 21 I was told by "Lin", "I can't seem to find your records or order information, so give me your telephone number, and I will call you later".
At 5:12 pm March 21, I called Lin back, and told him that I was getting VERY upset, and that he was forcing me to consider actions that I did not want to take. He said, "FOR SURE I will call you first thing in the morning with information concerning your order".
AT 3:50 pm March 22 I called Walston's, and Lin told me "I left a message on your machine this morning". When I asked him what number he called, he said (503) 220-8262 [which is the number for the V.A. Hospital in the Portland/Vancouver area]... I asked him what "other" numbers he dialed after that... He said "none"...{if you dial that number, you get a recording that tells you to enter an extension number or dial "0" for the operator}... At that time I told him that he had to dial "something" or talk to an operator, because when that phone number is called he would get a recording, giving him instructions.
I then asked him what the latest "story" was on my order. He said, "I have been told that your order will be shipped at the end of the month, along with your refund of $409.20".
I asked him "who told you this"..? His reply was "My bosses Jerry and Eric, and my headliner and carpet suppliers". At this time I started contacting the Old Car Trader /1-800-548-8889 ext. 364 (RON) or 371 (SCOTT) / customer service department, and told them about my continued problems with this company (Walston's)
They contacted the company, and told me that the people at Walston's would be sending me a refund. Scott Dame, an Old Car Trader account representative, and Ron, a customer service representative, have assured me that if I do not recieve a FULL REFUND by June 8th, that they will no longer run ads for Walston's in their magazine.
I also have filed complaints with the California Attorney General's Office regarding Walston's... I have copies of letters from the A. G'S office and Walston's, which state the I will have a FULL REFUND mailed to me by April 30... ANOTHER LIE...!!! I have yet to recieve my refund...
In addition, I might add that I talked to Walston's (Lin again) on May 10 [which I tape recorded, with permission] and was told that Lyle Walston (the son of the original owner) could not be reached, because he was in LAS VEGAS... Hmmmmmmmm!
I wonder if any of my money that I sent to them in good faith went to the "craps" tables...??? Very recently, I have sent complaints in to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Trade Commission, regarding what I feel is MAIL FRAUD... But this I fear will take many months to be proccessed... Your assistance would be WONDERFUL... If it could help me in any way...!!!...
Thank You... Larry Brown,
[email protected]
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