Complaint Review: Ownyourownmodem.com

 I wanted to buy a telephone modem to avoid the ludicrous cable company rental fee. I found buyyourownmodem.com. Unfortunately, I didn't find the Rip Off Report until I looked for a place to post a review. I thought I was buying new. Imbedded on one line midway into their website is the word refurbished. Strike one, against them and against me for not seeing. When received the package and opened, it looked like it was packed by a 5 year old. The box was stuffed with rolled up newspaper, shreds from old FedEx boxes, and my favorite...a Priority Mail envelope with another customer's full name and address on the label. The modem was obviously used. The battery also used. I reread the buyyourownmodem site. That's when I found the reconditioned line. Okay, I needed to install so I bit the bullet and decided to push forward. I called my cable company to do the install. I was told the unit I had was only available through them for rental and not sold to the public. Hmmmm. Upon further review, I found a sheet with directions at the bottom of the shipping box I initially missed. The directions stated NOT to call the normal cable company number, but a specific number and if I reached a tech that said someone else on their side would need to help I should hang up and keep trying. It could take 4 or more times. Sketch much? Long story short, I had 2 cable company techs come to my house to try and make the modem work. Both said it was most likely fried. When I reached out to buyyourown modem, only a voicemail is available by phone. I initiated email correspondence. Over several back and forths, the person responding was, how shall I say, aggressive in his/her responses. I asked for any persons name at the company (good luck finding) and was told why would they give to me when all I would do is bother them and waste their time. Totally frustrated, I agreed to send back. I also asked that they cover return shipping costs since the unit never worked. They said they do in certain situations....yeah, like when a modem doesn't work? I was told I would need, in writing, something from the cable company tech that it didn't fire up. I got that, but since wasn't on their letterhead, was told no. A week after they received my return I still had not heard from them. I contacted my credit card company and filed a complaint.