I recently attended an internet workshop that I was invited to with Stores Online, it was a long ten hour seminar with no breaks except for lunch. They appoint a salesperson to the section you're sitting and they "visit" over and over throughout the workshop (while it's going on) and talk to you about making a purchase. Forms are handed out asking you lots of personal information like your SS #, how your credit is, what type of financial situation your in and so on.
The speaker that says he was hired by Stores Online but is not an employee raves about the company and was very good at building confidence in the possible purchase you are being offered. They throw prices around and then make a "one day special offer". I purchased a six store set up because that seemed like it would be the best deal.
My internet experience is already have built several web pages for people and myself so I really didn't need this but it was presented as one complete package, easy to follow with great customer service. Anyone that has already purchased hosting pkgs or and type of software knows that good customer service is hard to come by so the fact that they kept going on about how great it was really sold me.
I made my purchase and I was leaving for vacation the next morning, which I had told them that's why I traveled out of my area to attend the workshop because the one near my home was on the day I was leaving for vacation. When I got back is when I started reading all the material that was given to me AFTER my purchase. To my surprise I started finding quite a few things that were different than what was said at the workshop.in addition there was a section convienently behind the first page of my receipt (they call a contract, by the way) and in between a carbon. Who looks there? What is said was purcahser has three days to review their purchase and can ask for a refund, after that your otta luck? Obviously I was passed my three days and who can reveiw something like this in three days anyway? Also, I find out later they are saying that's a contract when I made sure to ask at the workshop are there any contracts we would have to sign and they said NO.
I admit it was stupid to buy something like this in one day but I would not sign a (contract) or spend over $6,000 knowing I only had three days to review and return. They seem to leave out a lot when talking to you. I asked so many questions the salesperson joked that I win the award for the most questions asked but am I suppose to think of everything? Don't they have a responsiblity to tell you or give you everything before your purchase.
After finding out about the three day policay and noticicng all the differences, I started to email the company with questions and also called. The answers I received were also different so I started to really worry that I made a hugh mistake. Started my research on the internet and found hundreds of complaints about Stores Online with the BBB and lots of law suits. That was the final straw, so I called the company to say I want a refund and I was told "thats not an option" so I explained that I never used any of the software, never logged in to the account and about all the different answers I was getting. I also mentioned twhat I found on the internet about the company. The person was very nasty and said that it's a publically traded company so there would be lots of stuff like that on the internet, huh? She also had an answer for everything, saying that she will correct the people that were giving me different answers. I said I didn't care but she wouldn't budge.
I don't have an extra $6,000 sitting around for scams and I work ten hours a day plus a part time job just to pay the bills so I cannot afford to waste this money on a company that doesn't care about people and wants to just rip them off.
I emailed the CEO (found email address on here) not sure if he will read it or even get it. I emailed, did the live chat with Stores Online and called there and left a message I want a refund. No one answered the phone when I called several times. I also filed a complaint with my states attorney general and filed a dispute with my credit card company. Just waiting to see if they do the right thing. If anyone can help me, I would really appreciate it Thanks.
Maryann
atlantic highlands, New Jersey
U.S.A.
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