Looking for an Autoharp? If yes, then do yourself a favor and don't buy an autoharp from the AUTOHARPSTORE.com
Here's what they did to me:
I ordered an Oscar Schmidt OS45C. I already knew that the "newer" ones came with a built in tuner in them. I told the person at the AUTOHARPSTORE.com that I did not want this built in tuner on mine. The AUTOHARPSTORE.com sales rep told me they had an OS45C without the tuner in it. I told the rep that I would take that one.
After I paid with a credit card, the OS45C autoharp was shipped to me. However, when I opened the box, the first thing I noticed was it had a built in tuner in it. Boy, was I upset about that! I specifically told the AUTOHARPSTORE.com rep that I DID NOT want a built in tuner! The rep told me he would "make sure" that I would receive one without the tuner.
When I called to complain about it, the rep at AUTOHARPSTORE.com just bold-faced lied and said, "I never told you that we had any harps without tuners." I right away called him on this and said, "That's a bold-face lie! You told me specifically that the autoharp you were sending DID NOT have a tuner in it." Then, he got all uppity, and just hung-up the phone on me. That made me mad also, so I just decided to wait a couple of days to cool off.
Now, when I called again, I was told by the same rep at AUTOHARPSTORE.com that I would have to pay for the shipping to send the wrong item that they sent me back! In addition, I was told that they were going to keep a "15% re-stocking fee" which was somewhere around $47.00. Oh brother, I'm really fuming now!
So, I tell this rep that they can't charge me a huge fee because of their mistake. The rep just smirks and says, "Yes they can, it's on our website." I reply, "Oh, so this huge fee applies when your company sends me the wrong item, heh?"
Alright, so I just decide not to fight these scamming liars at AUTOHARPSTORE.com and WebDirectBrands.com just to keep the peace. Then, what happens next? Read on.
The following is a statement taken directly from AUTOHARPSTORE.com :
"If you find any of our autoharps or accessories cheaper on an authorized Oscar Schmidt dealer's web site, we'll refund you the difference. PLUS, 10% of that difference! All you had to do is provide us with the URL of the web site within 30 days after purchase. Once we confirm they are an authorized dealer, we'll send you back the difference, PLUS 10%!"
When I called the AUTOHARPSTORE.com to tell them that I found the exact same autoharp from another confirmed "Authorized Dealer" I was told that would NOT give me the difference back!
I complied with everything AUTOHARPSTORE.com stated on their website that had to be done in order to get this "difference back, plus 10%." I gave them the exact website URL where the item was far less cheaper, the telephone number, the model number that matched exactly the one that I bought from AUTOHARPSTORE.com, and I gave them this information within the 30 day "time period."
Bottom Line:
AUTOHARPSTORE.com is nothing but a pack of lying scammers! They will "Hold 15% of your money as a ransom unless you buy something else from them, even, as in my case, they send you the wrong item. PLUS, you'll have to pay the shipping!
The AUTOHARPSTORE.com is nothing short of a pack of lying, scamming thieves! Don't believe one word that they tell you, or that you read because it's all lies!!
You'll be sorry if you purchase an autoharp from the AUTOHARPSTORE.com
Jim
Mountain Lake,#2Author of original report
Mon, March 08, 2010
Fair is fair. Autoharpstore.com made good on their commitment to refund me back the difference in price between their product and another one I found at a different authorized site.
I also got an email from one of their managers telling me that he was sorry that I had to experience the runaround that I did. He also mentioned that the rep that made all the trouble for me was new.
I accept his apology, and say, "Thank you," for keeping your company commitment.