I ordered two used books from A 1 Textbooks. I sent several messages asking if I could pay for expedited shipping and did not hear back from the company. I left a phone message to the same effect and my call was not returned.
They cancelled one of the books as it was not available, despite the fact that is listed on their Web site. They did send me an e-mail message to that effect.
The book I received is not the same ISBN as the one I ordered. The ISBN on the Sales Order I printed indicates the book comes with 1 pass for Oceanography NOW, to log onto the publisher's Web site to take pre-tests, etc. The ISBN on the Sales Order also does not include "ISE" at the end of it. The ISBN on the "Pick Ticket/Packing Slip" that came with the book I received includes "ISE" at the end of it. Printed in white lettering on a red background on the covers are the words, "Not for Sale in the United States." There is also no access code included for Oceanography NOW.
I left another phone message for the "Customer Service" department at A 1 Books, again to no avail.
I contacted my credit card company and they suspended payment of the charge for the book.
I noticed the name of the company in the return address on the package said "Phat Campus" and fortunately found "complaint "when I Googled "Phat Campus" and a complaint included an 866 phone number for them.
The person I spoke with at Phat Campus told me several times that I did order the ISE book. I offered to scan a copy of Sales Order to her and when I mentioned the "Not for Sale in the United States" printed on the covers and suggested the publisher of the book would be interested in knowing about the practice of Phat Campus, she relented. She also couldn't justify why the pass for the text's Web site wasn't included. I indicated my credit card company has suspended payment of the charges and that I expected Phat Campus to send me a pre-paid return shipping label so I could return the book.
The person indicated she would e-mail the label and after two attempts to send it from the computer she was using, was able to send it from another computer. She also said she would call me after the "accounting department" processed my refund. I seriously doubt I will hear back from the company. I will update my credit card company and send the book back to Phat Campus today.
I am glad to have found complaint and hopefully other shoppers will see this complaint BEFORE they order from A 1 Books/Textbooks for Less or Phat Campus. I would rather pay full price for a text from a reputable dealer than take a chance with another used textbook company.
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