Sunday, August 30, 1998 5:19 PM
I'd just like to take this chance to tell everyone in the world to
avoid Internet Liquidators International at www.bid.com.
Their business is an online auction house, selling all kinds of electronic
equipment. On the 8th of April, I made the mistake of bidding on a computer
monitor and "winning". They assured me my shipment would be delivered in
about 2 weeks. Three weeks later I inquired about my shipment. One month
later, I was told that the monitor was on "back order". Back order? They're
selling things in an auction that they don't even have? Yes,
apparently so. This was all accompanied by reassurances that the item
would ship soon. Not having a real pressing need for the monitor, I
agreed to wait a while longer.
Nearly three months after charging my credit card, ILI graciously told
me that the monitor was no longer available, but that another, better
monitor was available as a replacement. Fine, I said. Three weeks later,
no monitor, no messages from Bid.com. Extremely frustrated, I once again
demanded to know where the hell my monitor was. They sent me an obvious
form letter, thanking me for my patience and apologizing for the
unexpected volume of sales they'd made that left them unable to blah blah
blah. FINE! Just give me my damn monitor. Next Friday, so they said. A
week after that deadline, nothing, and I let them know. Not a peep from
them. A week after that, nothing, and I let them know. Again, not a
peep. Finally, I've given up, told them to credit my account, and if they
don't step on it, I'll be in touch with the BBB and state's Attorney
General's office. I'm going contact the BBB anyhow, but wanted to let
them think they had a way out.
On a related note, my wife "purchased" a PCMCIA modem/network card
from them for her laptop. After a month or so of waiting, they told her
they'd have to send a replacement. Fine, as long as it's both modem and
network card. Oh, yes, they assured her. They were right. But when the
replacement got here, she discovered they'd sent her an ISA card,
designed, of course, for desktop computers. Utterly useless in a laptop.
Scam artists or incompetents? Who knows, but this is the main reason
that online commerce will not overwhelm standard business at the speed
many people seem to think. When they're not trying to rip you off,
service is horrendously unreliable and customer support is often
nonexistent. Everyone, do yourself a favor and get your electronics from
a local, reputable retailer.
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