On Dec 22, I saw the ad on TV on learning to play the guitar using with Ralph Paul. What caught my attention was the part where it said, "Be the first 100 callers and get the 8 additional disc's just by paying the shipping and handling.
The other discs were playing the blues, playing country and rock, etc. Well I like that, so I call immediately with the first few minutes of the program. Well the phone recorded ordering system kicked in, no live person taking the order. So I continued to give the information waiting to see if I was on of the first 100 to call.
The process continued all the way to the end where I should have received a confirmation number and be given the opportunity to get the additional disc for the price of shipping, instead I get a recording stating something like, "We know your going to love the Ralph Paul learning series, so we know you are going to want the additional series on how to the blues, etc. Just pay $19.95 plus shipping... Blah, blah, blah... I had to go through 8 different times of refusing each set of disc that I thought I was going to get for shipping price only.
Then to top it off, the recording had the nerve to ask if I was interested in purchasing gift certificates.
I was waiting for the end of the recording for it to say something like, "do you wish to confirm or change your order?". Well that did not happen, inside I got a recording stating that I won a cruise and that I would be directed to a person, who immediately came on line trying to get my info for a cruise. I immediately cussed at him and hung up.
I tried calling the customer service number to immediately cancel my order because it was not what I wanted due to the advertisment. I get a recording stating they were closed and to call back during there normal hours.
Tried calling back several times just to be on hold and not getting through. Finally I sent a email to the email listed on the website. I got a response stating they would locate my order and take care of it for me.
This was done way before the shipping date of Dec 27. Yet I checked my account today to find I was charged for the order anyways.
I was able to finally talk to a live customer service agent today and did not get anywhere. He told me I had not attempted to cancel the order and that the order is shipped anyways and that I would have to pay to return it for a refund.
To me this is a deceptive way of doing business. I should have had the opportunity at the end of the ordering process to either accept or turn down the offer, especially since I seemed not to be one of the 100 callers.instead, I was hooked, booked and crooked into something that would have been a good deal for me if I was able to get the additional disc for shipping only.
Here is a tip I will start using myself: When ordering something, use I live operator, get the info up front before supplying your payment info, that way if the deal goes south you can just hand up.
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