EcoCanteen is an 'as seen on TV' stainless steel water bottle. They are being marketed now on the internet. This is my story.
I made the mistake of ordering an Ecocanteen on 7/22/09 via the Internet. Immediately after I placed the order, I realized that the total had not been divulged before I sent the order and the total was considerably more than I expected.
I immediately went to the 'online chat' on EcoCanteen's website. I was eventually greeted by Trish, who then left me in limbo for over 6 minutes, never returned to the chat and I terminated the chat. I attempted a second time to reach them via the Chat function, and again Trish responded. This time she was rude, told me I had left the first chat after less than 1 minute, and SHE terminated this chat session! Then I tried the 888 Customer Service # and after wading through the automated attendant recordings etc, reached a live person who promptly told me my order would not be in the system until after 10AM 7/23/09 and I would have to wait until then.
July 23, at 1PM (4PM their time) I called the 888 Customer Service line. Again with the recording, select option #2, another recording, 'all agents are busy, use the website Online Chat option etc' and then disconnected me. Went to the website and tried Online Chat. Online Chat never even opened a chat window... Tried 3 times.
I'm filing complaints with BBB and Attorney General in North Carolina. This company is operating a scam as as far as I'[m concerned. And now I wonder if they block your phone # and ISP once you've tried to reach their Customer Service Dept. Seems a bit strange to me that I couldn't reach them via either route today. Smells funny to me.
I notice that they charge 15% restocking if you return the item... Another sneaky way to get you. So if you can't cancel the order, they ship, you return it and they still charge you. I think that's illegal. Plus it says that they don't ship for up to 4 weeks if you choose Standard Shipping.
According to other complaints filed online about this company, they will charge you $4.95 shipping for every separate item in your order, but then they ship everything in one envelope. One complainant said they were charged $20.00 for shipping, and in fact everything was in one envelope with approximately $6.00 postage affixed to it.
My final thought is that once you've placed the order, they will do everything possible to keep you from canceling the order, so they make all customer service unavailable. I also have emailed them 3x already, with no response.
I have since uncovered some facts about the company and its 'owner'. As far as I can determine to date, EcoCanteen Inc is incorporated in North Carolina, by Robert Zpoch, who lists the operating address as 4475 'J' Morris Park Dr., Charlotte, NX 28227. There is also P.O. Box 472246, Charlotte, NC 28247. Further, Mr Zpoch appears as the incorporator of many additional businesses in North Carolina, many of which can be discovered by going to the Secretary of State website. To date I have found no less than 15 businesses under his name, many of which have complaints filed online.
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