Complaint Review: Spectrum Home Furnishings Spectrum Great Chandeliers.com Freedomcrystals.com More! - Farmingdale New Jersey

I'd like to reply to "Art Forme` - Troy (USA)" who posted an answer to my original complaint about Spectrum. 

First of all your name calling is quite unprofessional, that I don't have "BRASS" to "REVEAL" my name.....that has nothing to do with the situation here one way or another. I assure you I have documentation to prove I purchased these items from Spectrum and further documentation to prove I went almost a year dealing with my credit card company trying to get this all straightened out etc. and finally they found Spectrum to be at fault and that is the only way the situation got resolved through THEM putting a charge back on Spectrum and Spectrum finally losing a case!  (Had I used a check I would be out all the funds and have no recourse other than court, and I WOULD have done that.)  You have to understand people like these scam artists COUNT on the consumer getting worn out when they give you the run around, and run around they did.   Problem is, MOST consumers just give up because it usually involved ONE chandelier or such (and that's EXACTLY what Spectrum counts on and how they KEEP ripping people off time and time again), and only a few hundred dollars perhaps, but my order was thousands so I kept on pursuing this.  I posted this complaint ONLY to warn other unsuspecting consumers of their tactics.   Sure perhaps a FEW of the sales from Spectrum go off without a hitch, but those just might be the simpler models of chandeliers, the all-one-part ones or the metal ones in particular, that are not as complicated to assemble (although still ridiculous with many parts, just not as fragile and fallig apart is all) so there's that, but re-read my complaint for all the reasons why Spectrum is putting people in jeaopardy, not to mention ripping off their money for this junk merchandise.     

Let me start with your last paragraph first, where you accuse me of "ASSUMING" and "NOT PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION" when placing this rather large $4000 order for 11 chandeliers and 4 wall sconces.  Now does that statement REALLY make sense? Yes right, I placed a $4000 order and asked NO questions whatsoever (I say sarcastically).  RE-READ my original complaint, Spectrum guaranteed over the phone that all items are assembled,and they KNEW my time frame situation with needing these fixtures by a certain date to close on a home (and we ordered with sufficient time to spare), and when I received these they were in almost-flat boxes, zillions of pieces, and NO crystals in sight, NO instructions for assembly, and one main larger chandelier arrived in a tiny box and all I got was ONE chandelier ARM.  The invoice stated it was POTTERY that was delivered, the return address was an entirely different company, and when we complained and they CLAIMED they were going to send out the missing pieces, they sent ONE item and it was wrong, and they sent it to the wrong address....should I go on? This all went on for NINE months!

Sure I know their prices are low but NO WHERE on their website (when I ordered) did it ever say "assembly required" and again when I spoke to a live person they assured me everything arrives assembled (and said that was the reason for freight charges, larger cartons, special handling, etc.).....and THAT, my dear "posted your name Arte Forme", is against the law in NJ where they are located.  MISREPRESENTATION for starters. Then add FRAUD, UNLAWFUL PRACTICE, CHARGED FOR ITEMS NOT RECEIVED, INCOMPLETE ORDER, etc.!!!  Not to mention that consumers attempting to wire lighting units themselves (out of desperation due to Spectrum's unprofessional antics, more on that in a sec) risk injury or death through being electrocuted, OR damage to their home if something is not wired properly and the house burns down as a result.  THIS is why they MAKE these laws.  Or are you going to tell me we should factor in the price of HIRING AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR to assemble these each time we place an internet order for alighting fixture guaranteed assembled?   Oh THAT wouldn't cost a lot (NOT!).   

I've owned my own companies too and I would NEVER misrepresent merchandise as Spectrum has, and then count on stonewalling tactics to make sure I wear out the consumer and they simply give up the fight.  I am happy that ripoffreport.com gives us consumers some sort of voice so at least others have a CHANCE at not getting caught in the same web I was with Spectrum.

I had immediately notified Spectrum when I first opened the first few boxes, and the scam started from there.  I was confronted by a nasty young man who was anything BUT professional.  He accused ME of all sorts of things, would only give me his first name (which you quickly find is the case with anyone else you talk to there), then gave me a fake "name of the day" as the person who was president etc....and then ventually stopped taking my phone calls entirely......it was a nightmare.  This is where my credit card company then too over contacting them. Also when you deal though a credit card company they give Spectrum 60 days to reply, and the beat goes on from there, each time.....again Spectrum counting on consumers giving up the fight.  They never met ME.  BY the way at one point my credit card comapny put us on a three way phone call and only THEN did the spectrum rep. act like a complete angel, promising to send me everything under the sun, but as soon as  I dealt with them on my own again it was another story, nasty young men laughing at us the consumer, as they tell tale afterfalse tale, and keep giving different first names only, phoney president names, and false promises.  THIS is what most of the complaints on here about Spectrum have experienced....see a pattern here?????  I think so.

What I found was that besides everything being unassembled, the metal parts were SOOO inferior and NOT the color in the photo...for example one "solid brass chandelier"  that arrived was nothing more than a cheap tin in ORANGY metal color, just atrocious.  Then all of the "Maria" style fancy supposed-to-be-all-crystal chandeliers were plastic and/or glass and falling apart and pieces all cracked etc. 

By the way, I did not build my home, I just ordered GUARANTEED assembled fixtures from this lighting company called Spectrum, to be installed ij the home I was purchasing from a builder, and although I ASSUME a builder will have his electrician install lighting fixtures so I can close on a home, they are in no way responsible to ASSEMBLE fixtures that I supply to them......nor should I have to pay that extra cost when I bought these with a verbal guarantee they would arrive ASSEMBLED....so I never assumed anything, I had the facts guaranteed upon ordering, and had the facs straight.  Where this went bad is when me, the consumer, had to then deal with these unprofessional folks at Spectrum.  Yes I use the "sugar" (professional) approach because I would do it no other way....so I guess you could say what I got back was not only "vinegar" (unprofessionalism and scam tactics)  from Spectrum, but more like molasses......such a sticky mess that a person simply cannot believe this company remains in business.  How many more ripoffreport.com complaints does there need to be before someone DOES something to stop these disreputable people?  They seem to fly under the radar.

How can you say with a straight face that we need to hire an electrical contractor to assemble lighting fixtures when we place a simple order online for same, and it does not have the required "assembly required" posted, as by law? (they also guarantee items will arrive in "working condition" which is quite a joke...how can something work if it is not assembled and all the parts incomplete?  I was also charged for items not received, by the way.....LARGE items like few chandeliers and the 2 wall sconces! Had I not been diligent in checking merchandise and paperwork I would have been out that money too.

Let me close by saying NOTHING I said has been "blown out of proportion"....I told the story just as it happened to me and please, anyone reading this steer clear of Spectrum, just bad BAD news there. Don't be enticed by the low prices, that's their HOOK, then YOU sink deep into the "sea of nightmares" to come.

And by the way, read Belinda's posting right under yours Arte...another scammed customer, and there are many more I am sure, check the ripoffreport website for more....and also other complaints about Spectrum online.  Remember they use many different company names too! How anyone could even consider ignoring all the numerous negative postings on ripoffreport.com about Spectrum is beyond me.

I wonder if I should ASSUME Arte is from Spectrum? :-)

I just wanted to add that they are also working with

chandelier liquidators - www.chandlierliquidators.com

I ordered products from this company that would never have arrived had a not got Australia post to stop the parcels at the port on their second journey back to the USA.

   They were actually products sent from spectrum home furnishings and great chandeliers even though I ordere them from chandelier liquidators.   They had totally incorrect postage addresses - but my name on them.  Of course the return address was correct.  

   I suspect their intention was to keep and resell the returned items pocketing all the money.

   These packages made the voyage from USA to Australia 2 times (3 in one case).  Several boxes as I bought several  lights.

   Anyway, I finally got them stopped at port with the help of Australia Post, and sent to me.  Otherwise I would have kept belieiving it was the fault of the postal service here.

   They swore black and blue that they had checked everything at their end (TWICE!) and that they were not at fault.  They are such fluent con-men that they even convinced me to pay an additional $500 USD for the resending.

   Needless to say I have never seen the money and had to get as smart and tricky as them to ensure that I received anything at all for my money.

   Frauds, stealing money, lying, misrepresenting themselves and then refusing ultimately to answer any calls and emails.  Beware!  A very expensive lesson to learn. 

   (oh, and by the way, either incomplete, incomprehensible or entirely missing assembly instructions when I finally got them).  Rubbish!

    I am a consumer of Spectrum Lightings products and have to say this report is quite slanted. IF you read and communicate with Spectrum or any of their affiliates you understand WHY their pricing is so reasonable. It is because everything they sell is "unassembled" and sold in broken down order. That is why they are able to provide "free shipping" on many of their items and why so many of their chandeliers are multiple boxes.

    For someone to come out "blasting" like "P" above (who doesn't even have the brass to name themselves is quite bothersome. If what they feel is so true, I would think there would be no problem in facing the fact that it is what it is and saying who they are. I think there is more to this problem than meets the eye.

    I will agree, there are hundreds, if not thousands of parts and pieces to these things. If you are building a home and furnishing it with beautiful fixtures from these folks you had better be prepared for your ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR to do some extra work. The contractor can get the fixtures wired and in place and there is no reason you can't attach all of the hundreds or thousands of crystals! (By the way, the crystals don't have to be attached for the house inspection)

    There were alot of comments in the report above that were blown way out of proportion. Obviously there is a reason "P" hasn't gotten their money back as of yet. Spectrum offers an array of chandeliers. The lesser crystal ones are Italian crystal that I put in one of my homes and was quite happy with, they sparkled quite nicely and reflected in the large mirror wonderfully. In my new home, I just ordered a larger Swarovski French Empire Style 12 light chandelier, it's going to be a bear to install, however I know I saved a bundle and I will be extremely pleased.

    Maybe it's all in the attitude and expectation. Ya think?? Obviously they found Spectrum online and did some investigation before calling, they just didn't pay enough attention and made some assumptions that shouldn't have been made. They are a good company. I own my own company and know how some customers can be, you certainly get more with sugar than with vinegar, first impressions are everything. I can only imagine "P's" initial phone call.  There, I think I've said enough. Thank you. 

Here are more of their websites(and names!) to beware of!: http://www.spectrumhome.pointshop.com/ http://www.spectrumfurnishings.com/ on amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/b/104-5683941-6512745?ie=UTF8&me=A1N3YT1P428DFM phone to contact them from amazon.com website: 800-668-3899 on MSN: http://shopping.msn.com/results/shp/?ptnrid=175,ptnrdata=200230,bCatId=4846,av=2-128176