- Report: #53961
Complaint Review: Xium Direct - Amarillo Texas
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Xium Direct
4720 N.E. 24th Streeet Amarillo, 79107 Texas, U.S.A.
Phone:
806-383-4140
Web:
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Xium Direct Very Unlikely Product consumer ripoff IT'S A SCAM Amarillo Texas
Watch out for this company. They are selling an outdoor TV antenna which looks like a Direct TV satellite dish, but its supposed to pick up broadcast TV signals much better than a conventional roof-top antenna.
I have spoken with two electrical engineers, one a ham radio operator, who have both told me that this is most likely a scam.
There is no way they say that a dish style antenna can work like a conventional TV antenna.
Most of these mail order companies that make use of TV, radio and magazine ads make profit in two diferent ways. They all have a full refund policy, no questions asked. But what's written in fine print is that their shipping and handling charges are not refundable, and you have to pay for the return shipping for a refund.
I like to call them shipping companies because that's the first way they make a profit. For example, this antenna costs $130 plus $15 shipping and handling. This company probably ships from 4 regional wharehouses and have a cut rate shipping arrrangement with UPS or Fed-Ex ground that costs them 4 or 5 dollars to ship this light weight piece of junk. The other 10 or 11 dollars they pocket. Mutiply that by the number of these routines on a national advertising campaing, and that's not a bad piece of change right there.
But the way they make most of their profit is the simple fact that 30% or more of their victims won't take the time to return the product. Also, the people who do return the product have to keep calling them to remind them to refund their money.
The moral of the story?
Rule one: Don't be the first to buy a "revolutionary" new product advertised in these ways for mail order. If it's really a good product, it will show up in Walmart faster than you can imagine.
Rule two: If you cannot speak dierctly with the owner of the company - IT'S A SCAM. If there's no way to reach them by phone -IT'S A SCAM. If the sales person does not have any information about how to contact the company directly - IT'S A SCAM.
Ronald
Washington, New Jersey
U.S.A.
I have spoken with two electrical engineers, one a ham radio operator, who have both told me that this is most likely a scam.
There is no way they say that a dish style antenna can work like a conventional TV antenna.
Most of these mail order companies that make use of TV, radio and magazine ads make profit in two diferent ways. They all have a full refund policy, no questions asked. But what's written in fine print is that their shipping and handling charges are not refundable, and you have to pay for the return shipping for a refund.
I like to call them shipping companies because that's the first way they make a profit. For example, this antenna costs $130 plus $15 shipping and handling. This company probably ships from 4 regional wharehouses and have a cut rate shipping arrrangement with UPS or Fed-Ex ground that costs them 4 or 5 dollars to ship this light weight piece of junk. The other 10 or 11 dollars they pocket. Mutiply that by the number of these routines on a national advertising campaing, and that's not a bad piece of change right there.
But the way they make most of their profit is the simple fact that 30% or more of their victims won't take the time to return the product. Also, the people who do return the product have to keep calling them to remind them to refund their money.
The moral of the story?
Rule one: Don't be the first to buy a "revolutionary" new product advertised in these ways for mail order. If it's really a good product, it will show up in Walmart faster than you can imagine.
Rule two: If you cannot speak dierctly with the owner of the company - IT'S A SCAM. If there's no way to reach them by phone -IT'S A SCAM. If the sales person does not have any information about how to contact the company directly - IT'S A SCAM.
Ronald
Washington, New Jersey
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Tammy
Dawsonville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
You Have to do your homework
#2Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 04, 2005
When I first found the Xium antenna online. I thought as many of the people who purchased it. That it was a dream come true. I done my homework and found out what kind of antenna was recommended for my area in the Mountains.Then I found this report on Rip-Off.com. I called Xium and ask to speak with Marc Ramirez the Supervisor of Customer Service. I got his name off of Rip-off Report. I was Immediately transfered to his phone. I basicly said to Mr. Ramirez...that I had seen all the reports on Rip-off report and wanted him to talk me into buying his companies antenna. After first asking me a few questions of which I was prepare to answer. Like what color code for an antenna was recommended in my area? What the terrain was like? How far I lived from the Broadcast Antenna, and what kind of antennas my neighbors have to use(Mid or Large directional) to get a good signal? After I answered all his questions, he regreted to inform me that although Xuim is a wonderful antenna for most areas that it was probably not the antenna for me. I was shocked. With all the negative reports on here about how they where a rip off company, I was ready for him to say anything to try to sell me this product. Im sorry but this does not sound like a company that is out to rip you off.
Tammy
Dawsonville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
You Have to do your homework
#3Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 04, 2005
When I first found the Xium antenna online. I thought as many of the people who purchased it. That it was a dream come true. I done my homework and found out what kind of antenna was recommended for my area in the Mountains.Then I found this report on Rip-Off.com. I called Xium and ask to speak with Marc Ramirez the Supervisor of Customer Service. I got his name off of Rip-off Report. I was Immediately transfered to his phone. I basicly said to Mr. Ramirez...that I had seen all the reports on Rip-off report and wanted him to talk me into buying his companies antenna. After first asking me a few questions of which I was prepare to answer. Like what color code for an antenna was recommended in my area? What the terrain was like? How far I lived from the Broadcast Antenna, and what kind of antennas my neighbors have to use(Mid or Large directional) to get a good signal? After I answered all his questions, he regreted to inform me that although Xuim is a wonderful antenna for most areas that it was probably not the antenna for me. I was shocked. With all the negative reports on here about how they where a rip off company, I was ready for him to say anything to try to sell me this product. Im sorry but this does not sound like a company that is out to rip you off.
Tammy
Dawsonville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
You Have to do your homework
#4Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 04, 2005
When I first found the Xium antenna online. I thought as many of the people who purchased it. That it was a dream come true. I done my homework and found out what kind of antenna was recommended for my area in the Mountains.Then I found this report on Rip-Off.com. I called Xium and ask to speak with Marc Ramirez the Supervisor of Customer Service. I got his name off of Rip-off Report. I was Immediately transfered to his phone. I basicly said to Mr. Ramirez...that I had seen all the reports on Rip-off report and wanted him to talk me into buying his companies antenna. After first asking me a few questions of which I was prepare to answer. Like what color code for an antenna was recommended in my area? What the terrain was like? How far I lived from the Broadcast Antenna, and what kind of antennas my neighbors have to use(Mid or Large directional) to get a good signal? After I answered all his questions, he regreted to inform me that although Xuim is a wonderful antenna for most areas that it was probably not the antenna for me. I was shocked. With all the negative reports on here about how they where a rip off company, I was ready for him to say anything to try to sell me this product. Im sorry but this does not sound like a company that is out to rip you off.
Tammy
Dawsonville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
You Have to do your homework
#5Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 04, 2005
When I first found the Xium antenna online. I thought as many of the people who purchased it. That it was a dream come true. I done my homework and found out what kind of antenna was recommended for my area in the Mountains.Then I found this report on Rip-Off.com. I called Xium and ask to speak with Marc Ramirez the Supervisor of Customer Service. I got his name off of Rip-off Report. I was Immediately transfered to his phone. I basicly said to Mr. Ramirez...that I had seen all the reports on Rip-off report and wanted him to talk me into buying his companies antenna. After first asking me a few questions of which I was prepare to answer. Like what color code for an antenna was recommended in my area? What the terrain was like? How far I lived from the Broadcast Antenna, and what kind of antennas my neighbors have to use(Mid or Large directional) to get a good signal? After I answered all his questions, he regreted to inform me that although Xuim is a wonderful antenna for most areas that it was probably not the antenna for me. I was shocked. With all the negative reports on here about how they where a rip off company, I was ready for him to say anything to try to sell me this product. Im sorry but this does not sound like a company that is out to rip you off.
Donald
Houston/Conroe,Texas,
U.S.A.
Good Results with Xium
#6Consumer Comment
Thu, April 08, 2004
My house is in Conroe, Texas is about 50 miles from the Houston TV towers in Stafford, Texas. I had a professional installation of the standard wide spread antenna with no results picking up any digital TV signals. I then installed (myself) an Xium antenna and was able to received two different high definition stations which is much better than the previous "professional" HD antenna. I am very satisfied with the Xium antenna.
