Complaint Review: Specialty Merchandise Corporation SMC

We also had a problem with SMC drafting on our bank account for an order that we did not place. It took a while but we not only got our money back but we got to keep the merchandise they sent. Before we even called originally though, we called the Better Business Bureau and they were given a clean bill. The BBB stated that they had never been investigated and that the few times they knew of that there had been a problem, it was resolved satisfactorily. If they do owe you money, just stay after them and before you sign on with any company, always check them with the BBB. That way, you are less likely to get screwed.

I GOT MY REFUND!!

I could not believe it! I said in a previous update that I had filed a report with the Better Business Bureau and that is what SMC responded to. The BBB was able to get through to them and I received my refund yesterday.

I am happy that this is over but I wish I had not had to go to such lengths to get an answer and to get a measly $25.00 witch is all I wanted in the first place. Of course by the time I got my refund they had to refund me the initial $25.00 plus the unauthorized charge of $39.95. The only thing that I have yet to be refunded is the $35.00 overdraft fee from my band that occurred when they took the $39.95 without authorization. I was told that if I fax my bank statement to SMC I will get that refund as well.

I think it is a shame the way SMC made me jump through hoops in order to get what they told me I would get in the first place. That is bad business. They take advantage of people that are looking for a better life and put you through hell.

I am sure there are some legitimate Work At Home company's out there but I do not know where to find them. If anyone knows of a legitimate work at home opportunity please let me know.

I have sent SMC several e-mails concerning canceling my account. I still have heard nothing from them.

I feel like I must reiterate, SMC has the absolute worst customer service! They are more than willing to call you so they can talk you into spending more money with them but they NEVER return phone calls or e-mails if you have a problem. I still receive phone calls and e-mails from SMC as if I was an active member. They still want me to buy their products and apparently no one there is aware that I canceled my Big Value web site on the same day I tried to cancel my SMC membership because I still get phone calls about that.

The web site it hosted by someone other than SMC and I had no problem canceling that and was never billed after my cancellation. The web site people were actually quite nice and all I did was call and say cancel me and it was done. I spoke to a real person right away and spent no time on hold. I have no complaints about the people that host SMC web sites. Keep in mind that SMC has nothing to do with the web sites. That is a completely different company.

I want to thank all of the posters for preventing me from making a horrible mistake with SMC again. I signed up with them in 1996, but never really did anything with the membership, so didn't get dumped on them so much as others have. I signed up with them again last year, and again, got caught up in my regular job with more hours, so again let the membership lapse. I was just about to go online and find out how to be reinstated when I ran across report and started reading, and reading, ..........

Last year I thought it would be a great idea to even try Ebay with smc products, but I noticed many others had the same idea, so many of the same products, different people, same or similar pricing, it was a letdown to see that competition didn't even make that prospect exciting.

I have seen postings where report members have mentioned wholesalers that one can contact themselves....does anyone have leads to legitimate wholesalers, and how can one tell if these companies are s too?

Thanks everyone! :-) :-) :-)

I was told in my last e-mail by SMC that if I responded within 5 days they would cancel my membership. I responded the same day the e-mail was sent and have responded 3 more times since then. I have not received another e-mail from them.

I asked the person sending the e-mails to send me conformation that my membership had been canceled and that no more money would be billed to my bank account. I have still not heard back from her. I am getting a bad feeling about this. I decided to cancel my debit card and get a new one issued so that they could not charge my card again without my authorization.

I have also filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I do not know if this will help but at least I am trying something.

I also called my bank and told them that an unauthorized charge was made to my debit card.

I was lured in by SMC with the promise of starting my own buisness for less than $25.00!! This was a LIE! You start by sending them 24.95 then they will charge you 39.95 a month until you have paid 464.40. I was also told "free web site" this is also a lie. the monthly fee for the web site is 29.95. the "free" web site is something called a "big value web site" this site contains about 100 cheap items that no one will buy. If you would like to upgrade to a full web site this will cost you 1095.00. there is also a yearly fee of 44.95 to be a SMC member. They tell you a coach will call you and work with you to get your business started. The "coach" is nothing more than a sales person that will try to sell you more options that you did not want. You will receive no training and chances are you will see nothing for the money that you invest. They make you jump through hoops to get your refund and chances are you will never get one. Your best bet is to never get involved with SMC.