Michael
Scottsdale,#2Consumer Comment
Fri, November 17, 2006
Let's see, how many things could I say about Contemporary Lifestyles. So, so, very many things. Have you seen Boiler Room? These guys are worse. You can buy a top of the line set of cookware at Williams-Sonoma for $500, but these pots and pans cost $2,800 before financing for 6 pots/pans and 3 lids. Each one that we had, the tops broke or the springs popped and they came off, needing to replace. Yes, I am sure someone from the company will pose as a "satisfied customer" and repudiate this, but the bottom line is that this cookware is crap and if anything should be sold at Walmart for $199 on a good day. Why would a company need a 3-day right of recission on their contract? Because they know that they are in a racket and they can avoid contact for 3 days to lock their customers in. Why would they charge a 24% APR? Beats me why anyone would pay that, but I would expect it is typically the less educated or those that don't know how to read contracts or don't read contracts, otherwise nobody would buy-off on this. The principal balance ends up going up over time, not down, this is a deceitful credit practice any way you cut it. I doubt if any of the responses from "satisfied customers" were actually satisfied customers, more than likely they were from the company or friends, employees or investors of the company in continuing with their deceitful practices. I will be contacting the state Attorney General's office to file a complaint today. I have gone through BBB which has many complaints on file already, I have contacted the company to make satisfactory arrangements and have now filed this complaint. The best I can think of is that the Attorney General's office can investigate and put these guys out of business so that another family is not hurt by them. Regards
Evan
Fresno,#3REBUTTAL Individual responds
Tue, November 07, 2006
I too saw Contemporary Lifestyles at a home show and I signed up to win a free trip. I was then contacted by the company and told that I had won the trip. The only catch was I had to listen to their presentation about cookware. My girlfriend (now wife) and I went down to their offices and listened to the presentation. After being impressed by the products we decided to finance them. This was in 1996. Soon afterwards we got married and we took our free trip to Hawaii. It was a nice hotel with great service. We have enjoyed our cookware for years. When something has broken, (2 handles and a valve) one phone call was all it took to get it replaced. Plus, they have never charged me for the replacement parts. We love our cookware. We tell everyone about it. Even my parents and sister have bought sets. It really is fantastic. As far as this claim goes, I think it's a shame. It's terrible that this person agreed to buy something they could not afford. If you sign an agreement to buy something, you have to honor that. If I can't afford something, I wait. Maybe this individual should have waited. As far as I am concerned, Contemporary Lifestyles has been nothing but fair and honest with us, and I would send anyone to see them. Plus, Kirk is a pretty good cook.
Susi
Mesa,#4UPDATE Employee
Tue, June 15, 2004
Tim states that a lady called on 5/20-that would be me. He says he told me the story and I stated "well you must pay" and that I further stated that I "would have Michelle call him back." He later states that I called back, told him Michelle would not call him back and he needed to pay, and that he answered me saying "otherwise what?" He states that I did not answer that. His comments are inaccurate and misleading. What I advised him of when I called at 3:35 on 5/20/04, was that the contract he signed was non cancelable and stated such. Since he told me that he "wants to hear back from Michelle," I advised him I would check into it and either she or I would call him back. I spoke with Michelle and reviewed the notes on the file which clearly indicated that the last thing Tim had advised Michelle of was that HE would "get with council and see what his options were and call HER back." So, I called Tim back. Contrary to his statement, he did NOT answer the phone and did NOT speak to me. Rather, I left a message on Tim's machine stating that according to notes on the file, he had said he would get back to Michelle and that was why she had not yet called him. I further advised him that if this was a mistake he could call either Michelle or myself back. HE DID NOT CALL EITHER OF US. I have very specific notes on the calls I make, including wording of the message left, time of day and in some cases a transcription of the actual conversation. At best Tim misunderstood or forgot, but his statements regarding his and my conversation are false, nonetheless.
James
Phoenix,#5Consumer Comment
Sat, June 12, 2004
I was looking up info for another company and saw that there was a report for a company I bought products from 4 years ago. I went on to read these reports and was outraged. I have been a customers of theirs for 4 years and not a single problem has arose. I have had contact with this company doing business with them in that time frame as well because of the impeccable service and outstanding quality. I have had nothing but great service with them and my friends who have also purchased their products have nothing but happy things to say about them too. Just because people purchase something then later on decided to get out of it and relize they cannot does not give them the rigth to blame the company. They should read the paper work and relize what they are doing. My fiance at the time and I saw these product and feel in love with it from the start.