- Report: #156366
Complaint Review: Go Antiques - Dublin Ohio
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Author Confirmed
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Go Antiques
94 N. High Street Dublin, 43017 Ohio, U.S.A.
Phone:
614-923-4250
Web:
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Go Antiques Ripoff Deceptive selling practices. Purposely omitting crucial information that affects a contract Dublin Ohio Internet
Back in early March I was given what I thought to be the opportunity to try out goantiques.com for free for one month. This was my understanding from the rep I spoke with on the phone. I believed I was getting a one month free trial and did not know that my signing on online in this trial capacity would lock me into a $40.00 a month obligation for a year.
Nor was there any mention of commissions taken out in addition to this monthly fee. When I called to cancel after the first month, imagine my surprise when the person I spoke with told me I couldn't cancel and that I was locked into a year contract. Despite my attempts to get out of it I was told this was just how things were.
The next thing that happened was that another sales rep got on the phone with me and talked me into giving it another go. He informed me that it took time to get found on the internet and for my items to start really showing up in the search engines. Funny how this was never mentioned at the beginning either. He suggested I that I upload at least two items a day and that I try selling my items in online auctions (a part of their deal).
Amazingly enough though, he and the original rep I spoke with never ever mentioned there would be a minimum product value ($75) I would have to meet for these auctions. The smallest amount you can list an item for in an auction with goantiques.net is $75 and you only offer those auctions periodically. Of course, if I had known that I would not have agreed since my products are almost all antique reproductions which are drop shipped. The tin signs sell for around $12.99 max. The only way I could sell these is if I clump them together in large bundles. This practice is also prohibiting me from selling many other items via auction.
My other complaint is related to the amount of traffic via goantiques which is non-existent despite the fact that I have researched keywords and am listing under those and am cross referencing. I've had only a few inquiries. To put it mildly, the entire goantiques set up is just too labor intensive. It may be working for some but it is not working for me. I don't know too many retailers or etailers who have the kind of time it takes to make this work. I have felt mislead from the start as to what I would be signing on to and as to the traffic I would receive. I believe it is poor business practice on goantiques part to not explain to potential clients that they will be locked in for a year and that by signing up online they are entering into a year long contract. I never saw that coming.
Most online service related companies I know of allow a customer to cancel at the end of the month if dissatisfied. Not this company. I have spoken with the company via phone, email an d letter. Most recently on 9/08/05 their rep, Jason Robins, contacted me and said the only way to get out of the "contract" was to pay the short rate of $245.70 to terminate my account. I chose not to take this option because I would be paying for services I wouldn't receive. They have my credit card info and will continue to bill me for the monthly fee of $39.00.
I never signed the contract but did click the agree button and according to them this is binding. Contract term #XEH4122 Contract length: 12 months Start date: 3/23/05 Subscription: $0.0 from 4/10/05 to 4/10/05 $39.0 from 5/10/05 thereafter Commission: 0% from 3/05 to 4/05 10% from 5/05 thereafter.
The most recent development is I sent back a response in email to Jason who responded to my formal request (my second one) telling me the only way to get out way to pay the short rate. I told him I found their business practices unethical and that omission is a form of deception. I told him I had no option but to continue on and try to make lemons out of the lemonaide. He wrote back asking me to give him a phone # where he could speak with me and try to help me get some sales. So that's my next step. I am very unhappy with this company's business practices.
Teena
Benicia, California
U.S.A.
Nor was there any mention of commissions taken out in addition to this monthly fee. When I called to cancel after the first month, imagine my surprise when the person I spoke with told me I couldn't cancel and that I was locked into a year contract. Despite my attempts to get out of it I was told this was just how things were.
The next thing that happened was that another sales rep got on the phone with me and talked me into giving it another go. He informed me that it took time to get found on the internet and for my items to start really showing up in the search engines. Funny how this was never mentioned at the beginning either. He suggested I that I upload at least two items a day and that I try selling my items in online auctions (a part of their deal).
Amazingly enough though, he and the original rep I spoke with never ever mentioned there would be a minimum product value ($75) I would have to meet for these auctions. The smallest amount you can list an item for in an auction with goantiques.net is $75 and you only offer those auctions periodically. Of course, if I had known that I would not have agreed since my products are almost all antique reproductions which are drop shipped. The tin signs sell for around $12.99 max. The only way I could sell these is if I clump them together in large bundles. This practice is also prohibiting me from selling many other items via auction.
My other complaint is related to the amount of traffic via goantiques which is non-existent despite the fact that I have researched keywords and am listing under those and am cross referencing. I've had only a few inquiries. To put it mildly, the entire goantiques set up is just too labor intensive. It may be working for some but it is not working for me. I don't know too many retailers or etailers who have the kind of time it takes to make this work. I have felt mislead from the start as to what I would be signing on to and as to the traffic I would receive. I believe it is poor business practice on goantiques part to not explain to potential clients that they will be locked in for a year and that by signing up online they are entering into a year long contract. I never saw that coming.
Most online service related companies I know of allow a customer to cancel at the end of the month if dissatisfied. Not this company. I have spoken with the company via phone, email an d letter. Most recently on 9/08/05 their rep, Jason Robins, contacted me and said the only way to get out of the "contract" was to pay the short rate of $245.70 to terminate my account. I chose not to take this option because I would be paying for services I wouldn't receive. They have my credit card info and will continue to bill me for the monthly fee of $39.00.
I never signed the contract but did click the agree button and according to them this is binding. Contract term #XEH4122 Contract length: 12 months Start date: 3/23/05 Subscription: $0.0 from 4/10/05 to 4/10/05 $39.0 from 5/10/05 thereafter Commission: 0% from 3/05 to 4/05 10% from 5/05 thereafter.
The most recent development is I sent back a response in email to Jason who responded to my formal request (my second one) telling me the only way to get out way to pay the short rate. I told him I found their business practices unethical and that omission is a form of deception. I told him I had no option but to continue on and try to make lemons out of the lemonaide. He wrote back asking me to give him a phone # where he could speak with me and try to help me get some sales. So that's my next step. I am very unhappy with this company's business practices.
Teena
Benicia, California
U.S.A.
