Complaint Review: Tdw Closeouts

I purchased a 23 pallets of Sears Returns from TDW Closeouts in October right before the hurricane hit. The entire process took weeks. The load wasn't horrible. It was about what I expected. There was a few big items missing, but for the most part it was fair. about 1/5th of the manifest were electric weedeaters that are impossible to sell, so that was a pain, but people on here need to realize that buying salvage returns on the Internet is dangerous. If it is too good to be true, it is! Salvage items are normally 50% defective. Most of the stuff we received need minor to moderate repairs.

I would give this company a C- in service. I think they are also moderately deceptive as they don't have a contract with Sears. The Sears Return Center is in Atlanta, Georgia. The company that operates the center is called GENCO. GENCO has an exclusive contract with SEARS and they have no knowledge of TDW. GENCO will not sell to anyone unless they have been doing business with them for at least 5 years and they have to buy semi-trailor loads on a regular weekly basis. Somehow, TDW is getting around this with the haulers they use to pick up the merchandise. If you look at your bill of sale, you will notice that your company name won't be on the bill. That's because GENCO won't deal with you direct. Somehow TDW is getting around this. I'm surprised that GENCO hasn't gone after them.

Also be very careful if you are selling any Sears brand names un-defaced. SEARS will sue you. That is why TDW has you sign a million forms holding them harmless. I won't buy from them again. I found Chris Lowe with Beaufort Liquidation on the Net. They are better priced, have contracts to sell and will send you the merchandise already defaced without all of the run around. I'm not on here to slam TDW. Just to point out that Salvage is risky no matter who you buy from. For example, I'm stuck with 180 electric weedeaters I can't sell. If you are going to buy salvage be prepared to get your hands dirty. I'm not saying don't deal with this company. I just think there are much better companies out there. For me, my load was not a loss, but it was not worth all the headaches from the delays and from the amount of work that had to be put into the merchandise in order to resell. I'd say it's a good deal for people that have flea market booths. If you are selling on the Net, STAY AWAY from this kind of merchandise. It's not going to make you any money. I have a store, so for me, it's a little different. Good luck to those that did get taken. I don't really feel I did, but I do think this company is a little shady.

Kelley
Bradenton, Florida
U.S.A.