On 7/14/09, I ordered a book from Eastern Digital Resources. When I received the book, I realized that I had been shipped the wrong book. The book I ordered was a roster of a Civil War unit, and it turns out there were two different units of the same name during the Civil War.
On 8/21/09, I sent Eastern Digital Resources the following e-mail:
To Whom it May Concern:
I ordered the following book, which is for the 35th Cavalry Regiment (Likens'), but instead received the book for the 35th Cavalry Regiment (Brown's). Please let me know how I can exchange this for the correct copy. Thank you!
I then called their business number and left a voice mail with the same question. I received no answer to either. I then called another number belonging to Eastern Digital Resources and spoke with John Rigdon, who, it appears, is the sole owner and employee of this company.
Mr. Rigdon told me that he would send me the correct book, along with a postage paid return envelope, and he asked me to return the original book that I had received by mistake.
On 10/9/09, having not yet received the correct book, I again called Mr. Rigdon, but was sent to voice mail. I left a voice mail asking for the status of my replacement book. I received no response.
On 11/6/09, I called the first company phone number, and left another voice mail. I received no response.
On 11/9/09, I again called the first number, and left another voice mail that was never responded to. After that, I called Mr. Rigdon, who told me that he was binding my book at that very moment, that he would have it in the mail to me the next day, and that I should have it by the end of the week. After the call, I sent the following e-mail:
Mr. Rigdon,
I just got off the phone with you after being told that you were finishing the binding on the correct book that I ordered. I'm just a little concerned, because it has been over two months since I originally called you to tell you that I had received the wrong book. The phone number that is on the receipt I was given goes straight to voice mail, and I have left two messages on it with no response. When I spoke with you this evening, using the phone number provided to me on my PayPal receipt, the impression I got was that this was your personal phone, rather than a business line.
I'm all for entrepreneurship, and I think it's great when someone starts up their own business. However, I'm sure you will agree that there are a plethora of people out there just looking to make a quick buck without having to provide a service in return. Because I don't know you, I have no idea what to think with this matter, but I'm getting concerned that the latter might be true.
Please—when you finish the binding on my Likens' Regiment book and get it in the mail to me, e-mail me and let me know that it is on the way, and give me the tracking number for the package. That will really help ease my mind and let me know that you're dedicated to providing the service that your customers have paid for.
Thank you very much!
I received no response to my e-mail, and I never received the book.
On 11/18/09, I called Mr. Rigdon and asked him about the status of my book. He said he would have to check in the morning, and then he hung up on me. Following the phone call, I found another company e-mail address belonging to Mr. Rigdon, and I sent him the following e-mail:
Sir, I just called you to inquire about the book that I paid for 5 months ago, that you have never given to me, and I'm fairly certain that you hung up on me. I have called several times before, and have e-mailed you as well, all with no response, and I am at the supremely unhappy stage at this point. You are not at all conducting a professional business. I will call you in the morning before I go to work, and I expect to get a tracking number for my book, which had better be on its way to me as I write. If you are unable to do this, then you will refund my money while I am on the phone with you.
Tomorrow morning will be my last attempt to contact you in person. After tomorrow, if you do not promptly provide me with the services I paid for, I will call the proper authorities and force you to not only refund my money, but they will close down whatever operation this is that you are running, as it is most certainly illegal.
Fix the problem now—get me my book or give me a refund TOMORROW. Otherwise, you are out of business, and will most likely be in jail.
The following morning, I attempted to call Mr. Rigdon, but his phone went straight to voice mail. Upon checking my e-mail, I found the following from Mr. Rigdon:
Your bull sh*t does nothing to help. You have a book you have not returned.
Return the book and I will refund your money.
John Rigdon
Calling me at 9:00 at nite it NO WAY to demand me drop time with my family and handle your supposed emergency.
My response:
Quite the professional attitude you have. As per the last actual business conversation we had nearly three months ago now, you were supposed to provide me with the correct book that I ordered, along with a postage paid return envelope to return the book that YOU sent me by mistake. This was a perfectly acceptable solution to what I considered to be an honest mistake. Had you done just that, I would have been a happy customer. You did not. Therefore, it is your responsibility to refund the money to me first, and I will return the book to you after I have received my refund. I'm sure you can understand why I do not trust that you would actually refund my money after receiving your book back without further coercion by the authorities.
I paid $24.95. You can send that amount to me via PayPal to e-mail address xxx. Once I have received the refund, I will return the book to you. I DO feel bad that you are going through whatever problems you are going through that has resulted in you taking a company that appears to have a long, established history and throwing it all away—the current economy has been tough on everyone. However, there is a right way to handle it, and a wrong way. You, sir, have chosen the wrong way, and I will not be victim to it.
I expect to see the refund in my account by close of business today. Once I have verified the funds, I will return your book to you.
Mr. Rigdon's response:
YOU pissed me off with your attitude and nasty email last nite.
You have a book. I have the money.
We're through. If you want a refund, return the book.
That's it.
Have a nice life.
John Rigdon
Mr. Rigdon, apparently the sole owner and employee of Eastern Digital Resources, has failed to correct an error he made, he lied to me about sending me the correct book, he hung up on me, and then resorted to using profanities.in the end, he scammed me out of the price of the book along with shipping costs, having never provide the service that I paid for. He has a horrible work ethic, and I would strongly caution others against ordering from Eastern Digital Resources.
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