On December 10, 2006, I ordered a boxed DVD set of The Untouchables from a company called Rare DVD's. My order was placed via their internet website and I used my credit card to pay for the charges. I received an e-mail acknowledgement on December 11, 2006 from Rare DVD's saying that my order would arrive in 10-14 days and that I was being billed $171.99 USD.
I received a second e-mail from orders@ raredvds.tv also on December 11, 2006 saying that my credit card was being charged the amount of $171.99 and that normal delivery times of 10 to 14 days would apply. The e-mail acknowledgement said that I would receive a tracking number for my shipment. However, neither of these two e-mail acknowledgements from "Rare DVD's" provided a tracking number. Also, there was a discrepancy between what "Rare DVD's" said they would charge ($171.99 USD) and the actual amount charged to my credit card ($175.47 USD).
I expected my merchandise to be received on or about December 26, 2006. When this did not occur, I sent e-mail replies to both e-mail acknowledgements from "Rare DVD's", asking them to check on my order and noting that my credit card had already been billed.
I found it to be unusual that my credit card had already been billed for the merchandise, and that I did not receive it. So I began to do some checking on the internet. The two e-mail acknowledgements from "Rare DVD's" references two websites, Digital Realms and Proliflik. My search found the Digital Realms website to be a dead website and that the website Proliflik to be a website about sports.
I then Googled a search for Proliflik and what I found next was disappointing and alarming. The Google search linked me to Rip-Off Report.com. Clicking on this link, I found a numerous variety of consumer complaints about raredvds.tv and the Garcia Media Group.
I could not help but read in particular the complaint dated November 12, 2006 which is identically what has happened to me, on the identical item that I had ordered.
Never the less, I tried calling the contact phone numbers from the first two e-mails received from "Rare DVD's". The contact number from the first e-mail is listed as 514-827-3837. The contact number on the second e-mail is listed as 877-674-8266. My phone call contacts were made to both numbers. Each time I called the number 877-674-8266, I was led into an automated voice messaging system. For every option that is given in the vendor's automated phone response system, I was asked to leave a message with a contact number where I could be reached.
I did do this asking the vendor what the status is of my order, and leaving a contact number where I could be reached. Each time I called the number 514-827-3837, I was again led into an automated phone response system, which concluded by telling me that this voice mail box is full and then hanging up on me.
I note that in the detail of other Rip-off Report.com complaints about "Rare DVD's", several of the consumer posts have noted that these numbers may be cell phone numbers.
I did receive a voice mail on my cell phone the second week of January, 2007 from "Rare DVD's", and an e-mail from them that my order was shipped on January 10, 2007. The e-mail gave me a Canadian Post tracking number. I found it unusual that the "Rare DVD's" e-mail response said to wait until Monday if I receive this e-mail over the weekend. I searched the tracking number on Canadapost on the following Monday and it said my Item was accepted at the post office. As of this complaint posting, Canadapost still has this tracking number status as Item was accepted at the post office.
I find this to be highly unusual that the post office would keep this item for six days now without moving it out of their facility.
Based on the complaints detailed in Rip-off Report.com, I believe the vendor is lying, that this is a false tracking number, and that my merchandise was not actually sent to me. Consequently, I have contacted my credit card company and have filed a phone and written report with them to have the charges removed.
If you have been cheated by "Rare DVD's", or "Garcia Media Group" or whatever name they are calling themselves now, then I suggest you immediately contact your credit card company and take any and all necessary action to have the charges removed. Do not wait for any e-mails or promises from "Rare DVD's" to appear. Make a clear and concise complaint to your credit card company NOW. When you do this, provide copies of all of the Rip-Off Report.com postings that you can find to prove to your credit card company that "Rare DVD's" is a fraudulent company.
I also suggest that for extra protection, you check your credit card for any suspicious charges after you have made your order with "Rare DVD's". If you can, take the extra action to have your credit card number cancelled, and a new number issued.
Who knows what these cheats will do next.
Ted
Park Ridge, Illinois
U.S.A.