- Report: #1036064
Complaint Review: GoAntiques - Pembina North Dakota
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
GoAntiques
not available Pembina, North Dakota, United States of America
Phone:
Web:
http://www.goantiques.com/search/storefront/33570
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
GoAntiques Victorian House Antiques, Vera Stojanovic, Vera Stojanovich Deliberate concealment of missing parts in photos, refusal to accept return or refund Pembina, North Dakota
My wife ordered an antique lighter from GoAntiques as a Valentine's Day present for me. GoAntiques appears to be a web based host for independent antique dealers. GoAntiques' client Victorian House Antiques was the seller. My complaint is primarily directed towards Victorina House and Vera Stojanovich. (I think the spelling should be minus the h on the end as she appears to be the only person in the world that spells it that way.)
Victorian House showed several pictures of the item, but did not show any pictures of the inside. It took almost 3 weeks to receive the item after it allegedly shipped. This was because Victorian House was selling it on behalf of "a consignor" in Manitoba Canada.
Within 24 hours of receiving the item, I notified the seller that there were two missing (key) parts. Before contacting them, I tried to find the parts or some availability on the parts, to no avail. When I informed them that the parts were missing with little chance of ever finding them, Vera pointed out that she had a disclaimer in the listing that said she doesn't really know much about the item and that is in "as found" condition. (She knew enough to NOT show pictures of this area though!)
Intially, she asked if there was another lighter I might be interested in, but I declined. After that, she refused to take it back or offer a refund citing her "disclaimer" along with a comment that I "waited too long to say something." Her consignor took 3 weeks to get it to us! I notified her within 24 hours. She also included that "a refund for this item would be a disaster for her store".
When I pointed out that having no photo of the area missing the parts appeared to be deliberate, she got really nasty and repeated that she doesn't know anything about what she sells; she just sells stuff. As a wannabe "antique" dealer, one would hope that she would have at least a cursory knowledge of what she is selling. Generally speaking, if $60 is the only thing between your business and "disaster", you may be in the wrong business.
More rude broken english emails refusing to accept a return or issue a refund followed, ending with a statement that I "must be mentally sick".... I'm sick because she ripped off my wife and I for $60?
The other part of the complaint is directed towards GoAntiques. They offer no kind of rating system or feedback for the vendors that they "host". They offer no contact information or other avenue for resolving disputes or insight regarding the reputation of the vendors, so I have no idea what they actually do, other than a front page and search function to help Victorian House Antiques or Vera Stojanovich to rip people off.
Buyer beware with this operation. If you are not happy with whatever you buy, chances are it will be too bad. Fortunately, I'm a believer in Karma. What comes around goes around Vera. Try not to choke on your new found wealth.....
Victorian House showed several pictures of the item, but did not show any pictures of the inside. It took almost 3 weeks to receive the item after it allegedly shipped. This was because Victorian House was selling it on behalf of "a consignor" in Manitoba Canada.
Within 24 hours of receiving the item, I notified the seller that there were two missing (key) parts. Before contacting them, I tried to find the parts or some availability on the parts, to no avail. When I informed them that the parts were missing with little chance of ever finding them, Vera pointed out that she had a disclaimer in the listing that said she doesn't really know much about the item and that is in "as found" condition. (She knew enough to NOT show pictures of this area though!)
Intially, she asked if there was another lighter I might be interested in, but I declined. After that, she refused to take it back or offer a refund citing her "disclaimer" along with a comment that I "waited too long to say something." Her consignor took 3 weeks to get it to us! I notified her within 24 hours. She also included that "a refund for this item would be a disaster for her store".
When I pointed out that having no photo of the area missing the parts appeared to be deliberate, she got really nasty and repeated that she doesn't know anything about what she sells; she just sells stuff. As a wannabe "antique" dealer, one would hope that she would have at least a cursory knowledge of what she is selling. Generally speaking, if $60 is the only thing between your business and "disaster", you may be in the wrong business.
More rude broken english emails refusing to accept a return or issue a refund followed, ending with a statement that I "must be mentally sick".... I'm sick because she ripped off my wife and I for $60?
The other part of the complaint is directed towards GoAntiques. They offer no kind of rating system or feedback for the vendors that they "host". They offer no contact information or other avenue for resolving disputes or insight regarding the reputation of the vendors, so I have no idea what they actually do, other than a front page and search function to help Victorian House Antiques or Vera Stojanovich to rip people off.
Buyer beware with this operation. If you are not happy with whatever you buy, chances are it will be too bad. Fortunately, I'm a believer in Karma. What comes around goes around Vera. Try not to choke on your new found wealth.....
4 Updates & Rebuttals
JO
Manchester,New Hampshire,
Mediation
#2Author of original report
Tue, March 26, 2013
I would still like to return the item and get a refund. I don't care about covering/recovering the shipping charges; I'll send it back at my expense.
Britt
Atlanta,Georgia,
We Appreciate Your Feedback
#3UPDATE Employee
Mon, March 25, 2013
Thanks, Jo for the feedback on the "Contact Us" page. GoAntiques is a subsidiary of WorthPoint Corporation, in which we value your antquies and collectibles. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, and will be fixing that, as well.
In regards to your complaint about this individual dealer, is there anything in particular you would like us to do so try to resolve this issue?
JO
Manchester,New Hampshire,
Contact info?
#4Author of original report
Fri, March 22, 2013
I appreciate your response. I tried the route you are suggesting. However, I was unable to find a link that was clearly directed towards GoAntiques. The only contact info that I could find was for another company called "Worthpoint". One didn't seem to have anything to do with the other so I did not send a note.
Maybe updating the "contact us" section to include a link that indicates that the message you are sending is going to GoAntiques would be helpful.
Further to the dispute at hand..... I do customer service as a regular part of my everyday activities. The initial notes that I sent regarding the situation were polite and to the point. The first repsonse that I received was perfectly cordial, but as soon as I requested a return authorization because of the missing parts and non-functionality of the item, the responses quickly digressed into the non-polite arena and went downhill from there. The last one implying that I'm "mentally sick" for being upset when I'm in the process of being ripped off and lied to. I think sending a notice about an item within 24 hours of receiving it is well within acceptable parameters for a transaction like this. But a big part of her reasoning behind not issuing a refund was that I waited too long to say something. The real reason was that she paid her "consignor" before I ever received the item. (It took almost 3 weeks from the date it was allegedly shipped for me to actually receive it.)
Absolutely the worst seller/consumer experience I've had in a very long time.
Britt
Atlanta,Georgia,
GoAntiques Response and Resolution
#5UPDATE Employee
Thu, March 21, 2013
On behalf of GoAntiques, I would like to apologize to Jo for his negative experience on our site. Unfortunately, we do not have a rating system or a section for feedback due to the small number of dealers we host on our site. Until now, we have been able to mediate disputed transactions directly with our staff.
According to our Terms & Conditions, "We do not act as an agent for either the Seller or the Buyer in the transactions that take place via the Websites and we shall have no liability for or with respect to any acts or omissions of either the Seller or the Buyer in such transactions." (http://www.worthpoint.com/terms-use#listing_policy)
Please note that if we had been made aware of this situation at the time of the transaction, we would have resolved this issue immediately. If you would like for GoAntiques to contact this dealer, we will do so.
