I'm a very low-income Senior Citizen disabled with Peripheral Neuropathy in both legs and can only walk enough to get around apt. - can't get to my car and drive, plus have a digestive problem that causes 24/7 nausea. As I have no family, I have to hire someone to do my shopping and errands for me every 2 weeks, and also helps with cleaning. I have to rely on the ads in Sunday Free Press to see what is in the stores and/or on sale.
I live in a high-rise HUD building and it is extremely difficult to find carpet cleaners that have hoses long enough to get up to my apt. So I saw an ad in ABC Warehouse flyer for a Bissell Carpet Steamer with Heater for $89. Person went and paid cash for it (big mistake - should have used my credit card so I could refute with them) and brought it to me along with many other items. Person went on vacation so didn't come back until 4 weeks. Took steamer out of box and attempted to clean very, very tiny 2 rooms. Steamer was cheaply made out of all plastic. Reservoir to put cleaning solution in would not lock in place and kept falling off. Had to tie a rope around it to hold it on. Then tried to clean carpet and there was no heat - only slight warmth from filling it up with hot tap water - so it would not steam which you need to clean carpet.
Person started to take everything that came in the box, instructions and bill so could return it, and only then did I notice on the bill that it said "Returns must be made in 10 days." Called store and spoke with Manager named Greg, explained problems, and he said to bring it in and he would give me a refund. Person took it in, along with original ad that said it had a heater, and this Greg took almost 15 minutes to try to get the reservoir cleaning tank in place and this was doing it empty, not full. He ignored the original ad that stated it had a heater I had stapled to the instruction manual. He then had the nerve to say there was nothing wrong with the machine and would not give a refund. So person brought it back to me.
I was furious and called him. He put a woman on the phone who put me on hold for a long time and came back on and said they would only give me a store credit, and only if it was brought back and the credit was used immediately.By the way, person that took it there for me said a woman looked at the ad where it stated heater & the comment I had wrote on it that there was no heater, no steamer, false advertising. I didn't need anything else immediately so store credit was useless to me. She also said I could call warranty and take it way out to the place listed. Told her I had already paid a person $20 to go buy it and another $20 to take it back, so wasn't about to pay $30 or more to take it way out to warranty place, and then pay again to have to go back to get it. Machine was only $89 tax. If an item is defective, should be able to return it to store. Wasn't my fault it couldn't be brought back in within ridiculous 10 days.
So I'm stuck with a useless system where the cleaning solution tank will not stay on (nothing locks it in place) and no heater so no steam. Guess I have no choice but to try to call the Better Business Bureau, and try the problems solvers on the 3 major TV stations to see if they can shame them for what they did to me.
Before I was disabled and low-income, I had shopped at ABC for about 15 years and never had a problem. Was always able to take a defective product back to the store after getting it home and taking out of box and trying to use it. 10 day return is ridiculous - always used to be either 30 or 60 days. Besides my circumstances, I'm sure many people buy stuff and don't get around to trying it out right away because of work, sickness, travel, etc.
Sandy
Livonia, Michigan
U.S.A.
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