Remember when stuff just worked? You bought it, brought it home, and it diligently performed its advertised function? Me neither, but suposedly there was a bygone era where products were made to last, instead made to break. In any event, we’re certainly not in those times now, and Jeff’s tale of trying to buy a simple refrigerator from Sears is proof positive. [More]
complaints
Comcast Sends You To Collections For Bill You Already Paid
By 9.19.11
Bruce cut the cord with Comcast and returned all his gear. It looks like the right hand didn’t know what the left was doing, as Comcast has now sent him to collections for a bill that he already paid. [More]
Recession Horror Stories: AMC Theater Stops Giving Out ICEE Straws
By 9.13.11
In a sad sign of the times, reader “Strawless” says that his local AMC Theater isn’t giving out spoon straws with ICEEs anymore. They say they’re too expensive and you’ll have to make do with a regular straw. The theater is still happy to sell you a popcorn, coke and ICEE for $20, but that’s no longer enough to subsidize shipments of the specialized straws. [More]
Complain To Companies, Get Free Stuff
By 9.9.11
When you buy a product that lets you down, you can either stew in bitterness or direct your frustration toward a productive end — whining to the company that wronged you. Zipping off a quick complaint email or phone call can often yield surprising results. [More]
Alienware Laptop "Fixed" With Black Marker, Food Crumbs
By 9.2.11
Jeremy’s 3D Alienware gaming laptop from Dell hasn’t worked right from its first bootup. It had blue screens of death and the video card needed swapping out. Then when he sent it in for repairs, he got it back with food crumbs between the keys. The side panel was also cracked, and someone had tried to hide the crack by coloring it in with black marker. [More]
How About Some Customer Service, Cricket? Response: Chirp… Chirp…
By 9.2.11
Cricket is perfectly capable of selling reader skokieguy a smartphone for several hundred dollars, but when it comes time to replace his defective battery for free under warranty, all of a sudden they become powerless. [More]
Sears Is Really Bad At Delivering Tractor
By 9.2.11
Peter has paid for a Sears Craftsman Lawn Tractor, twice, and two and half weeks later it hasn’t been delivered. He’s gone through the phone gamut, the blame tossing, and the broken promises. With his grass 10 inches high, he just wants his tractor so he can mow his lawn. [More]
When Asked If They Care About The Customer, AT&T Rep Allegedly Curses Customer Off
By 9.1.11
After trying several times to get through to customer service to get her bill adjusted, reader C was finally connected to the right department. Problem was that no one was talking to her, but she could hear their personal conversations in the background. She then asked loudly through the receiver “Does anyone at AT&T care about the customer?” Allegedly, she heard back “**** you,” a laugh, and someone saying, “she can call all she wants, she’ll never get through.” [More]
Pizza Flyer Stuck In Door 5 Inches Above "No Soliciting" Sticker
By 9.1.11
SJ has been battling door-to-door salesmen and flyer stuffers in his neighborhood for years. After getting fed up, the block held a powwow and everyone decided to get “No Soliciting” stickers to put on the doors. Yet the flyers still keep cropping up. Here is a recent picture SJ took of his door, with a flyer for “Shiraz Pizza” stuffed in it, right above the “No Soliciting” sticker. He diagrammed and labeled it to make it easier to understand, and sent it to the pizza parlor along with a complaint letter. [More]
Orlando Shell Station Charges $5.59/Gallon, Shocking Drivers
By 8.31.11
Gas prices are high, but $5.59 a gallon? That’s what drivers pulling up to a Shell station at in Orlando, FL are paying. They say they don’t find out what the price is until they get their receipt. Talk about Shell-shock. [More]
National Rents You Car At Non-Existent Turkish Office
By 8.18.11
NYT’s Frugal Traveler has a funny story about how he reserved a car from the National car rental company for while traveling through Turkey. When he showed up at the rental office, there was no office and the address was non-existent. [More]
"I Don't Doubt It" Is BofA's Response To You Saying They Transferred You To Foot Fetish Phone Line
By 8.16.11
When David tried to report some fraudulent activity on his debit card, Bank of America transferred his call to a 1-900 type phone line that specialized in feet-related activities. [More]
After 10 Years Of Selling, Why I Swore Off eBay
By 8.12.11
After having used eBay for 10 years, Daniel has vowed to never do it again. “If I have something I know I can sell on eBay,” he wrote in a letter to eBay executives, “I’ll give it away before listing it.” Why is Daniel so steamed? [More]
Amex Finally Agrees That You're Not Your Mother
By 8.11.11
After Yuriy’s complaint — Amex was addressing his bills to his mother and had her as the legal name on the account — went up on Consumerist, and he sent them an EECB, he got results. [More]
Not Even Warm And Fuzzy Cereals Immune From Grocery Shrink Ray
By 8.10.11
As an avid Consumerist reader, Drew knows to watch out when the boxes on the supermarket shelves get a makeover. Oftentimes these are tell-tale signs that the grocery shrink ray has been at it, reducing the amount of content you get and charging you more. His favorite cereal, Kashi Honey Sunshine, was a recent victim, dropping from 12 oz to 10.5 oz and getting a “New Look!” in the process. [More]
Even Paying On Due Date Won't Save You From Late Fees
By 8.10.11
Even though he thought he paid on his credit card’s due date, Russel still got dinged with a late fee. Turns out that he needed to make his payment before 5pm Eastern, otherwise it would get counted as being the next day. Rarg! [More]
Amex Thinks You're Your Mother, Refuses To Change Its Mind
By 8.10.11
A big part of one’s psychological development is building an individual identity that is distinct from one’s parents. So it’s a bit of a setback for Yuriy when Amex has him confused with his mother. He has an Amex card that’s attached to his social security number, but somehow his mother is the legal name on the account and the statements are addressed to her. Dealing with customer service has been fruitless. Is Amex trying to induce a Psycho-esque syndrome in Norman, er, I mean, Yuriy? [More]
Sirius Satellite Radio Won't Stop Calling Me, 2-3 Times A Day
By 8.5.11
Some people, and companies, just don’t take a hint. Sirius has been calling Matthew two and three times a day trying to get him to resubscribe. No matter how many times he tells them no, they still keep coming around, trying to win him back. Ok, that’s not so much a problem with taking a hint as serious stalker behavior. [More]
