- Report: #852545
Complaint Review: Milford Spice Company - Internet
Reported By:
Shannon -
Charleston, South Carolina, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Milford Spice Company
Internet, United States of America
Phone:
800-457-5640
Web:
www.milfordspice.com
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
Milford Spice Company No communication, failure to honor Groupon Internet, Internet
My complaint is similar to the others. I have never filed a complaint with Ripoff Report before, and it took this company to compel me to create an account.
I attempted to redeem a Groupon with them last Fall for spices and paid twelve dollars over for the spices that I wanted. Like the other person lodging the complaint, I did receive notice in November that the company was delayed, and I was all right with that.
On January 13th, I received notice that my order had shipped. I never received the order. To give the company the absolute benefit of the doubt despite months without communication, I did lose my previous home to a fire but all mail was forwarded, so if the spices had been sent there, they *should* have been forwarded to the new address. I contacted the company via email to ask them about the shipment and to let them know that there could have been an issue with an address change.
When I received no answer, I attempted to call, only to be forwarded to answering machines. I have attempted to call their main number on four occasions with no answer. I resent the email request two other times without answer before adding "Better Business Bureau" in the subject line.
*That* prompted a quick response that I should have contacted customer service (at what address?), that the owner, Laura, had not been able to keep up with her email of late (for over three months?) but that she would look into it the next day. That was the first contact after a month, and that was now at a week with still no answer. The company has been advertising that they are selling Groupons again, despite still not having honored those from last year.
I would avoid this company in the future. There are other websites that sell quality spices that ship them and have far better customer service. Even if the delays are not deliberate, it is indicative that the company is absolutely ill-equipped to deal with its customer volume.
I attempted to redeem a Groupon with them last Fall for spices and paid twelve dollars over for the spices that I wanted. Like the other person lodging the complaint, I did receive notice in November that the company was delayed, and I was all right with that.
On January 13th, I received notice that my order had shipped. I never received the order. To give the company the absolute benefit of the doubt despite months without communication, I did lose my previous home to a fire but all mail was forwarded, so if the spices had been sent there, they *should* have been forwarded to the new address. I contacted the company via email to ask them about the shipment and to let them know that there could have been an issue with an address change.
When I received no answer, I attempted to call, only to be forwarded to answering machines. I have attempted to call their main number on four occasions with no answer. I resent the email request two other times without answer before adding "Better Business Bureau" in the subject line.
*That* prompted a quick response that I should have contacted customer service (at what address?), that the owner, Laura, had not been able to keep up with her email of late (for over three months?) but that she would look into it the next day. That was the first contact after a month, and that was now at a week with still no answer. The company has been advertising that they are selling Groupons again, despite still not having honored those from last year.
I would avoid this company in the future. There are other websites that sell quality spices that ship them and have far better customer service. Even if the delays are not deliberate, it is indicative that the company is absolutely ill-equipped to deal with its customer volume.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Angell
Bloomfield Hills,Michigan,
United States of America
Milford Spice Company
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, May 22, 2012
My comments were not directed to you but toward RipOff. Hundreds of Groupons were issued for Milford, apparently only two found this forum as the way to handle problems. I find that most people are prone toward posting negative experiences online; therefore I felt it equally necessary to put out my positive experiences with Milford. It rather balances out your bad experience with my experience of prompt customer service. In fact I received Bourbon Sugar from Milford today which I will be rubbing on a lovely pork tenderloiun and grilling tomorrow.
The class action lawsuit comment had absolutely nothing to do with you as it was directed to RipOff out of curiosity in how they profit from complaints.
As a Psychologist, I am most interested in how people vent their problems online and in texts. It is a most interesting behavioral study. Also, when I have had an issue with any Groupon, they are equally prompt and responsive.
Shannon
Charleston,South Carolina,
USA
Reading comprehension
#3Author of original report
Tue, May 22, 2012
You clearly read enough to note that since my home had been burned in a fire, I let them know this and attempted to receive a response. My issue was not that they responded in the negative, or confirmed a shipping, it was that they ignored all attempts to contact them to resolve the issue. Do you consider this good customer service? Additionally, all mail previously sent to that address (the fire was in late December; the notice the spices shipped in mid January) including packages save this *single* one arrived.
I mentioned giving the company the benefit of the doubt and went with voicemails unreturned and emails unanswered. This is unprofessional, plain and simple. If you read other reviews regarding this company, you will note that honoring the Groupons and a lack of communication was a recurrent theme.
When I did receive a response after having to threaten to involve the BBB as the only way I could get in touch with them, I was chided for not accessing an unpublished customer service number, told email was backed up (three months), and told the representative would resolve it *the next day*. After a week of no responses and a follow up, I came here with no other recourse. At *that* time, the issue was resolved promptly (as I noted) and the spices were shipped, arrived, and were lovely. I specifically posted a follow up that I would consider the issue resolved.
My initial interest in a "class action" was a check mark box (with others) upon creating the review. At the time, I had lost money both to the Groupon and to the company with no refund and no response. Though the amount is not high, at the time, I had neither the money nor the spices nor a response from the company, thus yes, legal pursuit is the next step.
You seem to think I'm whining and lack personal responsibility because having gone through an extremely unexpected life changing event, after setting up a forwarding address with the US Mail AND having all other mail delivered to that changed address (at a locked box, so no, no one ran off with it), when I politely attempted to contact the company of origin multiple times with no response and repeated similar complaints (minus the fire), I *finally* created an account to say this is inexcusable. I shudder to think what you would consider poor customer service given this.
It is a shame that 'whining' is used to defame a small company due to a single misunderstanding or single account of customer error. Had I merely fired off a missive upon not receiving a package after the fire, that would be an entirely different story, but that was not the case.
Yes the issue is resolved. I have the spices; they have the money, I feel no further action is warranted, and have no interest in pursuing legal matters nor reporting to agencies.
But maybe you want to take a little more responsibility to attention to detail when you're going to whine about people being dissatisfied with a company you like, eh? Particularly since in so doing, you've merely brought more attention to this complaint.
Angell
Bloomfield Hills,Michigan,
United States of America
Milford Spice Company
#4General Comment
Sun, May 20, 2012
I have been a customer of Milford Spice Company for almost 2 years now and have had nothing but positive experiences. I have used my Groupons for the Milford Spice Company with ease. Laura, the owner, is very prompt to respond to any questions and has even sent me a sample with my order for a spice I was curious about. They are prompt and very service oriented. I know the company was back ordered with the very popular Groupon offers but I received my order in Jan
I think the problem with the one complainant could very well have been that her house burnt down or possibly someone may have grabbed the package. This is where you at RipOff should be exercising some personal responsibility for what you attach your name to.
This is the problem with websites like the Ripoff Report; you provide a place for venting while actually causing greater damage to small businesses like the Milford Spice Company. Does the Ripoff Report do any investigating before publishing these "whinings". Also are you employing an agency to keep your name on top with search engines?
Lastly, your motive seems to be an interest in class action lawsuits. What is that all about?
Shannon
Charleston,South Carolina,
USA
Updated
#5Author of original report
Mon, March 12, 2012
I have just received a response from the company stating they will reship my order. If this is received in a timely fashion, I will consider the matter settled.
