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Chattanooga Mattress And Futons Refuse to refund layaway ripoff Chattanooga Tennessee
I am in my first year of college, still live at home with the parents, and I don't own a thing. On 10-3-03, I called to have the layaway policy explained to me. All I was told was that the mattress set I wanted could be on layaway for a maximum of 4 months and all I had to do was put down 20% of the total cost up front. There was never anything mentioned about a non-refundable layaway policy.
On 10-4-03, I put $110 down on the mattress set. Within the next week I find out that I am going to be moving out of the parents house, which made it a really bad time to be making payments on a mattress set.
On 10-14-03, I go to have the mattress set taken off layaway and get my money back. The saleswomen calls General Manager (Brad Merriman) of Hixson & Brainerd Chattanooga Mattress, he tells her to tell me that layaways are non-refundable, but I can use the money I put down as an instore credit. I got his name and number & called him myself to make sure he knew that I had only placed it on layaway, It wasn't a 12 month same as cash deal where I had the mattress at home already. And he told me the same thing.
I called on 10-3-03, to have the layaway policy explained & this policy was not mentioned,there were NO signs posted about this policy, and it says nothing about it on the paperwork. Because of this , I feel it is unfair to deny my being refunded. The only thing the paperwork says is at the bottom, "All sales are final, no refunds or cancellations." This comment at the bottom was Brad's excuse for the situation, but keep in mind I did not recieve this paper until AFTER I made a down-payment. This has all happened within 10 days.
DO NOT put anything on layaway with this company unless you really want it. They will not refund you or work with you in any way if a mistake has been made.
Rachel
Hixson, Tennessee
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Rachel
Chattanooga,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
The long past due follow up.
#7Author of original report
Thu, December 16, 2004
Wow..I had completely forgotten about this entry until I received an email saying that some people had posted comments over one year later. I supposed I should have posted another entry telling what happened afterwards, but I forgot. Most people do that sometimes. Its funny though how each of Brad's stories are just a little tainted, but most people slightly twist the story to their benefit, so I guess that's normal.
I did not ever say I found the same product at Walmart for cheaper and that was why I wanted to cancel the order. I was living at home with the parents and didn't have any bills what so ever, so I decided that I wanted to get a new bed, and really that would have been the best time, or is the best time for any teenager to get something kind of expensive, is while your living at home with your parents and don't have to pay for anything else.
But my plans were changed due to some family issues and I found out that I was going to be moving out on my own. So I decided that right then was not the best time to be making payments on a bed, because I was going to have to use that money to be making rent payments, paying for food, washer & dryer, and all the other things you need to pay for when your out on your own. I had to change my priorities to pay for what I needed instead of what I just wanted, and I did not need a new bed, I just wanted one.
Brad had never mentioned anything to me personally about the additional $50.00 credit he would be willing apply for the inconvenience, I found out about it by reading his entries he posted. So after I found that entry I was like heck yeah, I have an extra $50.00 to work with. If you are shopping furniture wise in this store, the cheapest thing you can get really is a futon. I only had an in store credit of $100 and something dollars, Brad giving me the extra $50.00 gave me a little more room to work with. With this credit I actually had enough in store credit to be able to purchase a futon. Since I was moving out and did not have any furniture what so ever, I decided that I could use a futon in the place of getting a sofa/couch for my place.
I went to the East Brainerd store to pick up the futon, and actually got to meet Brad in person. He ended up hooking me up pretty well, because there are different sizes in the futon cushion, I'm not sure exactly what they are, but I believe the standard is 6 inches, which was all my in-store credit was allowing me to purchase. Well anyways the 6 inch pads are usually the ones that you can sit on and feel the bars through, Brad actually ended up giving me the thickest one they make which, I may be wrong but I believe is an 8 inch pad.
I got home and opened the box to start putting this futon up in my new place, and the box only contained half the parts needed to assemble to futon. I was very frustrated and it was after store hours so I had to wait until the next day to call. I called and they did not have any more in stock at the time, and I had to wait on Brad to make a trip to Atlanta to pick up some more, which was a couple days wait. After Brad made his trip I was able to return to the East Brainerd store and swap out the box I had received (containing half the parts) with another box. I got home to set this up and Thank Goodness all the parts were there and this huge mess was finally over.
The next time I go to purchase a new bed, I will have a better idea of what kind of questions I need to ask to get the information that I want, because it sure isn't going to be volunteered. This has been a learning experience, and even though it was hell to go through at the time, it has worked out for the better. The issue has been resolved and I also have a better knowledge about this area of life.
Basically this whole mess came down to a difference of definition on what a sale was. I still today, in my opinion, believe that when an item is placed on layaway, it cannot be considered a sale until the person has completely paid that item off or taken it home with them.
The opinion of Chattanooga Mattress and Futons is different , in their eyes as soon as an item has been placed on layaway it is considered a final sale.
To Ben: They do not provide classes in high school that teach teenagers how to purchase items from stores, what kinds of questions to ask, what policies there are, and what you need to watch for. I am sure that you were not always the genius that your apparently are now. The day you turn 18, all the answers and the knowledge, and wisdom, do not just magically appear within you, you have to learn all this stuff. I am sure that you would not expect to get the same results from a 25 year old lawyer that you would get from a 55 year old lawyer. So don't expect kids to know how every aspect of life works and how to deal with it.
To Brad: It has been over 1 year since this issue and it being resolved, thanks for working with me.
Brad
Chattanooga,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Rachel's decided to purchase.
#7UPDATE Employee
Wed, December 15, 2004
On November 12, 2003, Rachel contacted regarding her layaway and conplaint with our store. She actually informed us that she found the same product at Walmart for a lower price, and is why she really wanted to cancel the order.
We reminded Rachel about our low price guarantee, and matched the price that she saw at Walmart. The next day, she came by the our store, apologized for the inconvenience, and paid off and picked up her futon set.
This report has a happy ending with everyone involved. We assumed this reported ended last year.
Thank you all for you comments and suggestions.
Ben
Burlington,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
I bought from him. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong
#7Consumer Suggestion
Wed, December 15, 2004
I recently purchased 2 tempurpedic bed sets from Brad. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong. From what I have read, everyone is so eager to side with Rachel, even though she signed her name on the receipt right next to where Brad put "No Refunds". Perhaps she should read the terms more closely before purchasing - since Brad owns the store, he is able to institute any policies he wants regarding layaways and whatever. If you disagree with his policies, then don't shop at the store. If the policies have been presented to you, and you still choose to buy; you have no right to complain afterwards.
Mike
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Contradictory statement by Brad
#7Consumer Comment
Thu, November 06, 2003
I would like to point out this statement by Brad.
"To prevent this from happening again, the new Hixson location will have signage clearly stating the Layaway and Refund policies. The East Brainerd store already has this policy posted."
So he has this policy posted at the East Brainerd store, but until this incident did not have the policy posted at the store where the young lady went.
For those out there that DO NOT know, there are no state laws in Tennessee regarding layaway policies, so it is possible for people like Brad to do what they do and get away with it.
Peggy
Toolaville,Idaho,
U.S.A.
In response to Rip-off Artist, Brad ..WHY your refund policy is such that it is ripping off this young lady?
#7Consumer Suggestion
Thu, October 30, 2003
Hello BRAD,
Would you mind telling us WHY your refund policy is such that it is ripping off this young lady? She never even had this merchandise delivered, so it's not like she is trying to get a refund for a mattress that has been used. There is a brand-new mattress sitting in your store and you can easily sell it to someone else at the full retail price. Why can't you simply refund this young lady's money? In fact, you should not only offer her a refund, but interest as well, since you have had her money in your possession for some time now.
I am going to let everyone in the WORLD know never to shop at your store because of your lame-butt policies and rip-off schemes! The entire WORLD will be boycotting you to the fullest extent of the law!!!
Brad
Chattanooga,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Clear refund policy was signed by Rachel
#7UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 30, 2003
Rachel not only made the necessary layaway deposit, but also signed next to the line on the receipt that clearly states, "All Sales are Final, No refunds or Cancellations apply." Then days after she signed the receipt, she made another payment on the layaway account.
Since she doesn't need this mattress set any further, we would be willing to give her the credit of payments amount toward another item. And for the inconvenience, an additional credit of $50 toward that purchase.
To prevent this from happening again, the new Hixson location will have signage clearly stating the Layaway and Refund policies. The East Brainerd store already has this policy posted.
Sincerely,