On January 25th I saw an ad on a popular yard sale website (Campbellyardsales.com) advertising the sale of a Embroidery Machine in a like new condition. They requested 350.00 for the item claiming it had a value of over 2,000$. I googled the price of the item new and it is frequently listed for 486$. So I sent an email and offered 250$ for it. They accepted the offer and I go to look at it. Though she had said it was like new it appeared worn possibly or just dirty she had said everything was their and that it worked great and told me there are no refunds, so I said it was too much money to pay for something without some sort of time frame to make sure it works we agreed to 24 hours and she gives me a note that says I have 24 hours what I did not notice was she had added for it to "power on" I inquire again as to whether or not it was missing pieces and she says no I ask if it had a power supply because I did not see one and she said no it operates through the usb cord.
As soon as I get home I look up the item and attempt to find out what the truth of the matter is and find out 1. Yes it does require a power cord, as well as a foot pedal and the embroidery guide hoops. It was also missing 2 screwdrivers one of the presser feet, and a pair of scissors. So I look up the parts and to my dismay they are too much for the purchase to have been worth it so I consider perhaps using it without them. So I ask a friend who has worked in the machine repair business for 5 years to tell me what it would cost to get it running properly and again it was unapproachably expensive. First thing in the morning I go to return it and after harrassing me about returning it, they write me a check for 250.00 well I payed 273.75 so I request my refund in full and thus another check is written. Now it turns out when I go to their bank to cash it the guy who signed it is not an authorized signer on the account. So I call the owner again and she says she'll call the bank. After waiting for a long time at the bank, I finally start trying to contact her again and to no avail. So I start back to the business and inform them that I am going to call the cops if they dont take care of the matter because I felt I was being given a song and dance routine, and I feared that this was a fraudulent business, and so I wanted a witness as to what was going on.
In front of two police officers they said that absolutely they will honor my refund as soon as the manager gets back at four this was as per their phone conversation with the owner while I waited. So I come back at 420 and sure enough she has decided all of a sudden that she had written that the 24 hour guarantee was for it to "power on" and found out that the cops cant force her to pay it and that it was a civil matter so I have to take her to court to get it back. Hopefully I can get this to small claims court or whatever. But because I didnt read the "fine print" I may just be out 273.75, which means I cant afford to buy one that works now. So much for verbal contracts. Either way it is my recommendation that if you consider a purchase from their establishment make very well sure you know exactly what you are buying and its condition, as anything verbally agreed to may go the way of the dodo.
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