It took me 24 weeks to recieve a spa that was promised in 8 weeks.
When I ordered they advised that if I paid up front there would be no delays in recieving my spa. They could not deliver on time, and I felt as though they would never deliver, but after 24 weeks, I recieved it. Lie after lie and story after story, I turned to the BBB (joke, this company is a member), yet no spa. After I threatened to call the police and file a criminal (internet fraud) complaint they shipped my spa.
DO NOT use this company! The owners manual read like it was written by a 6th grader. Whole company is a scam. If you read other complaints, you will ses that they all have the same story.
Micaela
San Francisco,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, February 25, 2010
No problem and there is no need to apologize. Am I disgruntled? yes, because at ChooseDirect.com,Direct to home appliances LLC NOBODY WINS. I believe that if you paid 5,000-7,000 for a hot tub it should work and not be a danger. If you go on the choosedirect website they will have a couple of positive reviews to make you think the tubs are FANTASTIC. Let me tell you something, an employee who works there has to call and email ALL these customers asking for a review, maybe one out of 20 says yes, the other 19 want to speak to customer service because something is wrong with their tub. I am so happy that my time there is over, I cant wait to start working for a company that has integrity. I am 31 years old and I have been working since the age of 18. I have LOVED all my previous jobs and I worked for the best of employers. I was treated with respect and they valued my faithfulness to their companies. I still speak to most of them from time to time. As for CHOOSEDIRECT.COM/DIRECT TO HOME APPLIANCES LLC, I have NEVER experienced anything like this in all of my life. If you read these reviews. Im being honest. Do yourselves the favor and spend the extra 1000 on a great hot tub. BUY US MADE, BUY LOCAL, BUY CAL SPA, BUY CATALINA(pretty impeccable record),BUY ANYWHERE REPUTABLE.
GWC
ORANGE PARK,#3Author of original report
Thu, February 25, 2010
I would first like to say that "I am sorry" to Michelle. Not only for my attitude, but for what her employer, put her through. I did not curse her or call her names, but I was loud, and demanding. I have to say that she took it like a champion. She explaned to me, very frankly, that she was doing all she could and had given my case to the "managers" to handle.
Believe every word that she says! Every word that she has spoken has came to light in my situation. Including a tech telling my via email that the tub is not approved for use in the US and a "retrofit" will be forthcoming, "when they figure one out." I am sure that "Steve" will call her a disgrundled employee, but she has all reasons to be. She should not deny it. But, it usually takes someone to get mad (such as myself), before they speak out. Thank you Michelle!
It has been almost 30 weeks now and I am still waiting to get my cover and I was promised a full refund. "Lisa" told me that it would be another 30 days to process the refund and then a check would be mailed. I am not waiting, I will be contacting my credit card company now and demand a refund under internet fraud.
I as Michelle has, told you. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY!!!
Good luck Michelle in finding a better employer.
Micaela
San Francisco,#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, February 25, 2010
Im sure Ive spoken to you and every customer in rip off report because I was the only customer service rep that lasted a year. Customers would say to me your so much better than this, why are you working at this company. And my answer was "Necessity" I have a family and Im a single mother. Okay. For ChooseDirect.com or Direct to home appliances llc a missing spa cover is a LOW PRIORITY. Top priority are people wanting to chargeback a hot tub on their credit card, BBB threats when they were actually a member of the BBB. "The people who make noise"
Micaela
San Francisco,#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, February 24, 2010
Firstly, I was an employee of ChooseDirect.com which is now Directtohomeappliances,LLC. Oh, why is it now Directtohomeappliances,LLC? I'll tell you. No Merchant Service company(credit card processor) will work with Steve Barbarich, because of all the chargebacks ChooseDirect.com receives, because of late and faulty dangerous hot tubs. Steve had to wipe the slate clean, and make a new name for himself. Checks had to mailed in for hot tubs. What online company only takes checks? Checks are GREAT for Steve Barbarich because you cant file a chargeback and he can take his sweet time returning your money if he wants.
GWC
ORANGE PARK,#6Author of original report
Wed, February 17, 2010
It has been over 6 1/2 months and I am still waiting on my cover. I ordered a spa and it took 24 weeks (almost 6 months), to recieve it, but it did not have the cover that I ordered. Company advised that it would be recieved in two weeks. It has been over a month now, (4 weeks) and they have NO answer for the pending question: "Where is my cover?" I call and they say, they know nothing and will have "management" call me back. Nothing!
As for the BBB. The company is a paying member. They have no interest in making this company look bad. They have pulled this companys report from their website.
Steve: I never heard from you. You responded with positive statements to this post, but NO action. (ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS) I am still waiting on my cover. Post your response for the world to see. WHERE IS MY COVER?
In fairness, I attempted to call the company while typing this response and NO ANSWER. If you order from this company get use to that...COME ON STEVE!!!
Jason
Stanley,#7Consumer Comment
Tue, February 16, 2010
I agree!! I too ordered a hot tub and have yet to receive it! I was also promised an 8-11 week delivery. I too was told lie after lie and story after story!! Now they don't take my calls and never return any call I make ("Lisa"). I also have contacted the BBB and I am working with them now. But I don't understand how Choose Direct can be a BBB member with all these issues, why are they? I have contacted my states attorney general to file a charge of fraud and others (since the company is in CA and not in my state). I have also contacted my bank to get a refund of my money. This will take time too, but I'm willing to want on getting my money back. I intend on ordering another hot tub but from someone that is local and that knows how to do business the right way!!
This company should NEVER be allowed to continue doing business!!! What a scam this company is... so, if you are reading any of the postings and are thinking "this will never happen to me if I order" don't fool yourself!! It will!!! Don't order from them, you are much better off spending another $1000 knowing you will get what you pay for from someone already doing business in your local area. Consider yourself warned!!! I just wish I knew about this company before I ordered, guess I didn't do my due diligence as well as I thought.
GWC
ORANGE PARK,#8Author of original report
Tue, January 26, 2010
Check this website and the BBB. They say different. Oh yea, by the way. I am 26 weeks (1/2 year) later still waiting on my spa cover.
Steve/owner
San Francisco,#9REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, January 26, 2010
Hello,
We are the manufacturer of Island Escape Spas, and occasionally our spas get delayed in production. Our normal delivery time is 10 to 16 weeks, and 85% of spas fall into that time frame. We communicate with our customers with late spa arrivals, and they have the choice of either cancellation, or they can take many free options that we can add to the spa as a result of the spa being late. We have re-written and improved the manuals of the spa, as well as beefed up the overall reliability of our spas in order for ALL 2010 models which now included a very reliable control system, called ACC packs. The quality of our spas is high so production time is long, but most customers feel they are worth the wait.
thank you
Steve
ceo