Comments on: Just Got Ripped Off By A Consumer Product? Five Things to Do Right Now – And Six Ways to Follow Up http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Northern Cheapskate http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-221729 Northern Cheapskate Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:45:23 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-221729 Great post! I had a bad experience with a room air conditioner a few years back. It quit working two weeks after we got it. I kept detailed records of what happened during the two month-ordeal, and wrote a polite, but strong letter to the company. They called shortly after that and apologized profusely and asked if a $50 gift card would make me feel better. (It did). I’ve called companies for little things, too, and have found that if you’re polite, they are usually willing to make it up to you.

]]> By: Golfing Girl http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-220324 Golfing Girl Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:10:30 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-220324 This is perfect timing for a few recent situations I’ve had. I opened a frozen meal to discover the main course was missing. I’ve eaten close to 100 meals of this brand and knew it was an anomoly. I contacted them via the website told them as a loyal customer I was shocked to see what had happened. They took my comment very seriously and asked for the ID number and store so they could track where it occured. They also sent me 3 coupons for replacements.
I also got an item off e-bay that did not fit the description so I contacted the seller before posting a terrible review. he promised to correct it free of charge and appreciated being given a chance to correct it before getting a bad review. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I’ve gotten a lot of discounts and free items for politely bringing something to the attention of the owner/provider/etc.

]]> By: KC http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-219395 KC Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:34:28 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-219395 I am wondering if these ideas can be applied to this poor customer.

http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/10/08/rocks-found-in-place-of-girls-brand-new-ipod-twice

]]> By: Shalom http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-219185 Shalom Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:51:01 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-219185 Great info.

]]> By: Rap http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218968 Rap Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:12:26 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218968 Can I add that you need to have reasonable expectations? I work in credit card customer service and I am amazed on a daily basis how completely ridiculous some claims are. The consumer does not dictate store policy and shouting doesn’t change that. Places like Target have really reasonable return policies – if you bought something that you held onto for over ninety days and didn’t realize it was broken/didn’t care enough about getting your money back to return it within the timeframe – the store is not being UNFAIR in holding you to their incredibly well posted policy.

Your job as a consumer is to be educated, and to be realistic. I had someone today throw a hissy because they want to return something they bought with their credit card – it broke after a YEAR of use – and I had to advise them that its very unlikely that a store is going to issue a full refund. That’s unrealistic.

]]> By: Miranda http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218794 Miranda Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:32:42 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218794 Great tips! I always have my husband call on these issues because he remains calm — and polite. And he usually gets what he wants. We got a reduced price on a Dish Network package when he called to complain about the whole NFL Network snafu…

]]> By: Saving Freak http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218695 Saving Freak Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:41:51 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218695 I find that most major companies monitor the message boards at “insert company name” stinks.com. Or type a company name with stinks or some other reference into google. I know the cell phone companies monitor the sites and many of the retailers as well.

]]> By: Trent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218686 Trent Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:31:51 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218686 “You mention using online message forums. Do you have any that you recommend? I’ve tried my3cents.com before in the past, but didn’t have a lot of luck.”

Look for ones run by the companies themselves. If you want to get their attention, that’s about the best way to do it.

]]> By: Tony http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218631 Tony Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:37:31 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218631 Trent,

You mention using online message forums. Do you have any that you recommend? I’ve tried my3cents.com before in the past, but didn’t have a lot of luck.

]]> By: My.cold.dead.hands http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218622 My.cold.dead.hands Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:26:52 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218622 It’s always best to approach things with a cool head, and if you have a systematic approach even better.

For a customer to go ballistic is just annoying, but companies don’t do themselves any favors by ignoring complaints or giving people the run-around.

]]> By: Derek http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218578 Derek Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:59:04 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218578 I’ve had someone file a Better Business Bureau complaint against my company. I resolved it by saying, “Well, I refunded your purchase when you asked, three months ago.” So, check your facts.

Also, stick to the proper level of escalation, and don’t preemptively threaten to escalate, that’s just annoying. “Hello, could I have a $16 refund? If you don’t, I’m going to the press.”

]]> By: LC http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218560 LC Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:40:18 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218560 I wish I had read this last year. Our new dryer had a light fixture inside that exploded on my husband’s face as he was doing laundry the 1st time we used it. If it was me, I probably would have been seriously injured. The manufacturer ignored us for awhile and finally sent someone to replace the light bulb. It has been fine ever since (the 1st bulb wasn’t snapped in all the way at the manufacturer), but given the seriousness, you would think they would have paid more attention, done a recall, or at least replaced the machine.

]]> By: Christine http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218511 Christine Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:51:52 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/01/just-got-ripped-off-by-a-consumer-product-five-things-to-do-right-now-and-six-ways-to-follow-up/#comment-218511 Just wanted to speak up for the Better Business Bureau – I filed complaints with them on two different occasions(via their website) after endless run-around from custormer service. Both times I was contacted within two days by someone at the offending company who had the power to help me, and I got the resolution I wanted (in one case a refund, in the other a 3-month free extension of service).

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