My son entered into an agreement with Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership when he was first stationed at Ft. Richardson, Alaska. From there he went to Iraq and had allotments coming out to pay for his lease. When he returned, he told them he was being transferred to Ft. Bragg, NC. The owner of the Alaska Aaron's told him they would transfer his agreement to the local Fayetteville store and he would be able to pick up where he left off. He had already paid over $2000 in payments for a houseful of furniture. He turned in his furniture in Alaska and drove across the country, and when he got to Bragg, he went to the local Aaron's store. The manager told him, "No way. We don't do that."
Now he and his expectant wife are sleeping on the floor in their new apartment.
I called the corporate line and spoke with Ashley, who directed our complaint to a regional manager named Ricky. According to my son, Ricky told him there was nothing he could do, but if he wanted to start a new agreement, they would be glad to help him. Nothing about the $2000 he had already paid. Not even an apology. Just a nope, can't help you, but I will take your new money.
I was a regional inventory manager for Aaron's for a couple of years, and I know that agreements are transferred all the time, not only from corporate stores, but from franchises to corporate stores, and vice versa. I have made a few phone calls to other regionals I have worked with, and everyone I have talked to (off the record) says my son is getting a bad deal.
I hope this gets straightened out immediately, and that my son and daughter-in-law get to take ownership of the furniture they thought they were buying in good faith.
I am sure that Ken Butler would not approve of this, nor would he like to be saddled with the label of "the store that mistreats veterans."
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