Consolidated Food Service Buyer Beware: This Company is a Scam! Louisville Kentucky
As a business owner, I have never gone out of my way to write a critical report about a company and their products, preferring instead to deal with people one on one. Like any decent human being. Unfortunately, with Consolidated Food Service I am forced to do so as the company refuses to deal with customers after fake advertisements and terrible customer service. As a result, I am submitting this report so buyers are aware before making the unforutnate mistake that I did in ordering products from this horrible company.
In November 2016, I spoke with an employee at this company named Joshua regarding a state of the art dishwasher (see link https://www.consolidatedfoodservice.com/lamber-dsp3) for my store. Joshua assured me that this was a great dishwasher which could be plugged in and ready to go but cautioned me against having it near anywhere with wood due to the high heat and flammability it could produce. Other than that, it was a simple and highly convenient machine that was simple to use. So I was told.
To my surprise, when received the dishwasher a few months later, I quickly learned that this machine is made for a European outlet and needed extreme plumbing additions for it to correctly work. The total for this amount of work would have cost $900. I emailed the company and voiced my concern. After 2 weeks, Joshua finally got back to me and said that I should have read the instructions properly and hence, it was my fault and they wouldn't be able to help. This was after he explained the machine's capabilites to me on the phone and assured me how easy it was to use. He sent me some information from their website that was extremely murky, basically saying that there might be some further mechnical issues with all of their products. Nowhere did it get into specifics about what would be needed incuding the most obvious issue that IT IS BUILT FOR EUROPEAN ELECTRICAL OUTLETS!
I offered a fair compromise for them to split the difference in labor with me but they refused. I decided I wanted it sent back but they told me that A. they would not return used items and B. I would need to pay the immense shipping cost. Fascinating logic: I "used" the machine only to find out it didn't work and therefore the machine is "used" and cannot be taken back. This would be tantamount to buying a car, turning the key in the ignition, it doesn't start and the car company says "sorry, we don't return used items." I have never heard of such strange and twisted logic in my life and further never had worse customer service in all of my life.
To date, the company has refused to negotiate any possible settlement. While I beieve I am entitled to a 100% refund, I would be willing to have them pay the $900 installation fee -- assuming it would even work afterwards.
In conculsion, do not buy from this company under any circumstance whatsoever. They are conmen and borderline criminal. I will be pursuing further legal actions but in the meantime, wanted to make sure consumers knew who they were dealing with.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Jeremy
New York,New York,
United States
The Illiteracy Rate at Consolidated Food Service Continues to Grow
#5Author of original report
Tue, November 07, 2017
Thank you for your response nearly 5 months later. Your social media team is really on top of it's game; almost as good as your customer service skills and product knowledge. Is there a school you can recommend which teaches such fine craftmanship?
Thank you for once again reiterating your 30 day guidelines for a return. I had in fact contacted you right away to request a return, but your team took two weeks to respond and refused to answer my phone calls while jerking me around until the time crept away. Once again, the logic is impeccable: You will offer a 30 day gurantee on products purchased, but you will not respond to the customer until this 30 days is up. Astonishing. Almost as interesting as your gurantee which says you won't take back a product if it has been used. So...one opens a product, tries it out, it doesn't work, one requests a return and....it has been used so you don't take it back. Amazing! Aristotle couldn't have done it better himself.
In conclusion: Consolidated Food Service is a illiterate and corrupt company. Consumer be wary!
Consolidated
Louisville,United States
In Response To Your Complaint
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, November 07, 2017
As evident from our 4.8 Star Google review, we attempt to ensure 100% customer satisfaction 100% of the time. However, like the old saying goes, “You cannot please everyone all the time…” as in this scenario. We have explained to previously on multiple occasions, per our Return Policy, “You may return your parts or equipment within 30 days of the shipping date if the item(s) have not been used or unpackaged. The buyer may be responsible for a restocking fee up to 20% and shipping costs if returned.”
We can continue to debate the facts, finer points and time-line of this situation, but it would appear we reached an impasse quite some time ago. When a customers complaint culminates in a “charge-back” being rejected by their own credit card company then the legitimacy of the argument should be questioned.
We are disappointed that we could not reach a resolution that all parties found acceptable, but we feel “name calling” and threats of “legal actions” are rather uncouth. In a situation like this, we choose to let the facts speak for themselves and rest on our laurels. We firmly believe we have gone above and beyond in trying to rectify this situation and apologize that you do not feel the same. Regardless of how you feel, we would like to wish the best of luck to you and your business.
Please Read Again
#5Author of original report
Thu, June 15, 2017
Thank you for your comments but I don't think you fully read or fully understand my posting. I am not an electrician or plumber and in fact very unsavvy with these gadgets and hence rely on people who are experts. When their expert told me that this was a plugin machne, I believed him. Stupid me for taking them at their word. Regardless of the fine print you reference, the company was unwilling and unable to help me with any of the issues mentioned and completely unwilling to offer a refund for thier mistake.
NoMore
Alabama,United States of America
NEMA isn't European
#5General Comment
Thu, June 15, 2017
I had a look at the product description and spec sheet. I think you should have done more research before you posted this report. I understand it can be confusing, but if you'd had an electrician look at your problem, he (or she) would have told you there's nothing wrong here.
The product description says the plug type is Nema 6-20. NEMA stands for "National Electrical Manufacturers Association". They are an American trade organization of electrical equipment manufacturers.
The NEMA 6-20 plug is a 208 volt, 20 amp plug. It requires a special circuit, and a standard wall outlet will not work.
In my opinion, the company provided all of the information to they should have and the cost to have it installed is on you.
I am not an electrician.
I do not (nor have I ever) work for the company.