Home Center, Homecenter.com, website ripoff, won't call back, left me hanging, got HALF of expectation. Lynbrook New York
Homecenter has a very professional looking web site. Per that web site, HERE IS WHAT I BOUGHT: I quote the site: American Standard Glenwall Toilet White 29-1/2" x 30" x 19-1/2", Model 3402.016.020 Starting at $264.69 plus $79.95 shipping. Okay, it's expensive, $344.64, but it's what I need.
The technical specifications in the .pdf file, the three pictures, the wording, all showed exactly what I wanted: a two piece, wall mounted, white (spelled whitess' on the site.) toilet.
WHAT THEY SENT: HALF A TOILET! What? Why? Only the bottom half of the two-piece toilet came.
So I looked again at the site. (Here is the site:) http://www.homecenter.com/product_details.asp?sid=6&itemNumber=95&propList=productID,&productID=American+Standard+3402%2E016%2E020
I wanted the American Standard Glenwall Toilet The site shows a TOILET in 3 different places. But that's a lie! It says toilet, shows a picture of a toilet, and it shows the exact dimensions of the whole toilet! BUT IT'S NOT A TOILET - IT'S THE BOTTOM HALF!! WHAT GOOD IS THAT!?!?
1.First on the first page, after searching for the type and kind. American Standard Glenwall Toilet, 29-1/2" x 30" x 19-1/2" Starting at $264.69. THAT'S A LIE.
2.Then again when you click on the specific unit selection, it says it all again: American Standard Glenwall Toilet, 29-1/2" x 30" x 19-1/2" Starting at $264.69 plus (hello!) $79.95 Shipping. Again, it has the dimensions of the whole thing, and a picture of the whole thing, and the Price THAT'S A LIE.
3.Then click on the view product specs AGAIN THE WHOLE THING! GLENWALL PRESSURE-ASSISTED WALL MOUNTED TOILET. Exactly what I wanted.
Well, I called, and Lawrence showed me that THE SITE IS FULL OF LIES!!! The site says toilet for $264.69, but that is a lie! The toilet ACTUALLY OVER $600!!
He said Oh, you have to scroll way down to the bottom of the page. Look for the words at the bottom of the page, IN TINY PRINT, required accessories. Tank Starting at $267.61 (plus $39.99) Holy cow! He says that for only $306, I can buy THE OTHER HALF!!!
THAT IS A RIPOFF!
He said that the default quantity of ZERO for the required accessory is because so many people ONLY WANT HALF A TOILET!!!!!!! Hahaha! Funny!!! (Do you think that if it was required, shouldn't the default quantity be ONE?)
He said THE SITE ISN'T LYING when it says Glenwall Toilet for $344.64. The site shows this lie in THREE SEPARATE PLACES. NOT HALF A TOILET!!!!
He said that I MADE A MISTAKE when I read toilet everywhere! It's actually just a toilet BOWL! Would I pay $657 for this toilet IF I KNEW THAT IS WHAT IT ACTUALLY COST? NO!
But now I'm stuck! I have $357 into this thing, and I cannot use it. Lawrence says I have two options:
1. Buy the other half for $306, AND HAVE A $651 TOILET.
2. Return this half, pay shipping AND 25% restocking fee (est. $146) AND HAVE NOTHING.
THAT'S A RIPOFF! I PRETTY MUCH LOSE EITHER WAY!
Since this time, I have called Melinda at ext 1303, THIRTEEN TIMES and left messages to please call me back. I've received NO callback from her.
See for yourself! Click on the link, and see the nice pictures, and words:
http://www.homecenter.com/product_details.asp?sid=6&itemNumber=95&propList=productID,&productID=American+Standard+3402%2E016%2E020
Andrew
Bedford, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Shabbir
Colleyville,Texas,
United States of America
Don't Believe HomeCenter.com or WebStoresxxx.com
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, September 22, 2010
I do not agree with HomeCenter.com owner's response. This company HomeCenter.com is truly a "ripoff".
Similar instance has happened with me recently. I bought (2) Blanco sink stainless grids shown available at their sister website WebStores123.com. (I did not know they were linked).
My credit card was immediately charged by HomeCenter.com and then I received an email from WebStores123.com saying the shipment will be 3 weeks away or I could pay another $25 for immediate shipment. I waited for 3 weeks but no shipment.
Over the next 2 weeks I wrote 3 emails and (5) "contact us" messages to WebStores123.com but no response to any of my emails or messages. In one of the emails I told them to either ship or cancel my order. In a later message I said that if I don't get a response within 2 days I will order it from another source and contact my Credit Card company for a dispute to the charges.
Again no response to any of my messages. So I filed a dispute with my Credit Card company and ordered the products from another source "FaucetDepot.com" and I got it in 4 days.
It appears that when my Credit Card company initiated an inquiry, and 4 days after I had already received the products from other source, HomeCenter.com sent the products (5-1/2 weeks after initial order date).
Now I am stuck with 2 sets. I asked HomeCenter.com for Return Authorization which they approved but with 25% restocking fee plus return shipping (so I would be out $35 or 33% of purchase price no matter what). So I decided to keep the 2nd set also for later use.
If I knew of "Ripoff Report" website before I ordered from WebStores123.com and had researched WebStores123.com or HomeCenter.com (there are several complaints of similar nature), I would have never ordered from them.
So Beware, don't order from HomeCenter.com or any of their sister companies named as WebStoresxxx.com
Shabbir -- Dallas, Texas
Brian
Lynbrook,New York,
U.S.A.
Response from HomeCenter.com
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, March 14, 2005
The customer states that we are "ripping" him off. However, we have posted on the product page that to complete the toilet, customers must also purchase the tank. We do not make up the model numbers of the parts, nor do we decide whether an item should be sold on its own or in components. We represent the manufacturers, in this case American Standard. Not only does it state that the tank must be purchased separately, but we also have a picture and description of the tank on the bottom of the page. Plus, if you click "product specifications", it shows this information. So far, that is three different ways that we explain this information.
Lastly - and you should try this yourself, when you add the original item to your cart and click "checkout", you are brought to a page that states "Required Accessories", where we actually show you the tank as the "required accessory." We ask you "Do you want to continue without purchasing" the Required Accessory, or you can "Add to Cart" from this screen.
We have not had other complaints about this, and we feel that the customer is being unreasonable. Even so, we are willing to discount the cost of this tank to the customer, just so we break even. We'll even ship it to him at no charge. Or, the customer can return the original item and we will reduce our restocking fee - even though we are still being charged by our vendor.
We find that this is a rare instance, and we are trying to work with our customer. If there were a mistake on the website, then we would be even more accomodating, but in this case, we feel that the customer is not telling the truth about this transaction on this website. I encourage you to go to our website to see the real story.
Sincerely,
Brian Okin
CEO, HomeCenter.com