Made an order with this company for some cable splitters to test for a project that will involve 500 units, encompassing appr 1000 units. Ordered 10 5-1000MHz Eagle-Aspen splitters and 20 5-2600MHz Eagle-Aspen splitters. Prior to placing the order I was pricing and checking these units at three different locations, Summit Source displayed, on a daily basis an inventory far exceeding my ordered amounts (from days before the order, the day of the order and continued to display an inventory above and beyond my order for days after the order.
My order was confirmed and my account charged for the amount initially shown on the original order, including shipping charges for an 8 lb package to be sent 3 day business. I then rec'd confirmation that my order had shipped and rec'd an invoice for my exact order and the exact amount and weight that was 'estimated' during the on line order. At no time was there any indication that anything was amiss or that they had, in fact, swapped out the Eagle Aspen 5-1000MHz splitters for a no-name brand I had never heard of. When the order arrived containing the 20 5-2600 EA Splitters I ordered and 10 of the unknown brand, I immediately checked the invoice again and it clearly showed that I was billed and invoiced for those I ordered, not the unknown ones they shipped. I also again checked their site and it still showed over 20 units in stock.
I then sent an e-mail asking what was going on, since I needed the brand I had ordered for the tests I had scheduled (since I had been informed I would be getting what I ordered and billed 'exactly' for what I ordered. They finally responded that they were 'out of stock' at the time and the ones they sent were actually better splitters (hard to believe since they both carry the same MSRP and the 'replacement', 'better ones', come heavily packaged in hard blown plastic packaging, with a multi-colored advertising insert card (the packaging probly cost more than the unit itself).
I also asked about the discrepancy in the shipping charges since I was charged for an 8 pound package (clearly defined by weight on the invoice) yet the package itself was only 4.7 pounds (and would have been appr 3 lbs if not for the additional packaging that came with the no-name splitters I was sent). On that they gave me a song and dance about how the amount includes 'handling' charges, when asked directly why it is billed as 8 pounds, there has been no response.
Rather than send me a mailing label so I could return the no-namers, they told me to go ahead and keep them (no doubt because shipping costs would far exceed the value of the items) and that they would send the correct ones when they got in which should be 'early next week'. After another nasty-gram from me, this shipment (remember - due early the next week sometime - they had no idea when) mysteriously arrived first thing Monday morning, was unloaded, inventoried, my order pulled and shipped - Isn't that amazing???
So basically they advertised items they 'supposedly' don't have as being in stock and then immeditely change them for some cheapy no-name similar product (Bait and Switch), they advertise products as in stock that aren't (False Advertising, Fraud), they bill for items supposedly sent, when they weren't (fraud, False Advertisng), the overcharge for shipping by inflating the weight of a package and bill you based on the inflated weight (fraud).
Their responses to my follow up e-mails requesting a full refund and the facts of the matter were combative and would not explain answers to my questions. Additional e-mails were brushed off as being 'Forwarded to Management' for action, which apparently means they were tossed in the trash as I never heard back from them.
I informed them if no answers were forthcoming I would be filing a complaint with the BBB as well as possibly with some of the on-line forums such as consumer complaints, they also ignored this (which was sent to 'upper Management'.
I went ahead and filed a complaint with the BBB, which they have ignored (Am happy to see they now have an "F" Rating with the BBB) and will be taking this to the FTC.
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