UPDATE -My dealings with Aftermarket Discount Marine
Bob D.
followup to keep them informed of the status of this problem with the
business. If this had posted twice, my apologies.
On april 4 2003, a gentleman named Koz (zero...@yahoospam.away) went
ahead and wrote directly to aftermarket. This was aftermarket's response
sent the same day that I just found on deja news.
"Gara,
Bob has already got his money back.Plase do not speak about things that
you do not have any knowledge about.Remember there is always 2 sides to
every story. Good luck paying those high prices at your local dealer."
Hmmmm.... They seem better at responding to people they don't owe money to!
On april 8, I called Aftermarket and asked to speak to Buddy, who Sean had
previously claimed was the owner. Buddy said that if the product wasn't
shipped the card was never charged. I told him that my account was
charged, and that I never received the product, so I cancelled the order. He
then changed his story and said the ammount was refunded but it might take
30-60 days before I see the credit. I reminded him that lag in crediting
are due to account billing cycles and, since I paid by check card, that
credit it would be seen in my checking account within a few business
days. He took my card number and said he'd look into it and get back with
me. And guess what folks? No call back!
It is now April 16th and I have yet to see this credit on my account. A
full 37 days since I placed the order and a full 19 days since I was told
the account was credited when I cancelled my order. I have since called
my card company and placed this "transaction" into dispute.
Since their firm is based in Louisiana, it is my hope that these crappy
little bottom feeders wash down the Mississippi delta with the rest of the
mud. I have not seen ONE action on their part to redeem then from this
point of view. Once again, I hope anyone who considers doing business
with these jerks takes note.
ORIGINAL POST
Here is an open letter I had sent to Aftermarket Discount Marine in
Louisiana (dma...@rodnreel.com). I am posting this in hopes of informing
other boaters so they can make an informed decision when dealing with this
company and avoid being ripped off.
It should be noted that the same part was later ordered from another
source for a few dollars more and it arrived within two days from when the
order was placed.
As of 4/2/2003 they have yet to refund the $224.95 they owe me, forcing me
to pursue this matter further.
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing this letter to express my extreme dissatisfaction in my
dealing your company, and here is why:
On Monday March 10th , 2003, I placed a call with Aftermarket Discount
Marine to order a Rochester 4MV Marine Carburetor for my boat. At the
time I spoke with a gentleman named Sean, who took the order along with my
address and credit card number. Since I wanted the carburetor soon, I
requested the item be sent via UPS 2nd day shipping. "Not a Problem, Sir"
replied Sean. When I stated to Sean that I will be expecting the part
on Wednesday, Sean mentioned that it would not get there until Thursday ,
March 13th as the part would not be sent out until Tuesday. I
acknowledged, and waited for the part.
On Friday, March 14, I had not received the item as expected, so I placed
another call to Aftermarket Discount Marine to get a tracking number, as
advertised on the company web site. Once again, I spoke with Sean, and
indicated that I had not received the item and asked for a tracking
number. Sean replied that the part was NOT being shipped from his
company, but direct from the re-manufacturer, and that he would get the
tracking number for me and call me back in fifteen minutes. I told him
not to rush that if he could get the tracking number before the COB that
day that that would suffice. Well, COB came and went without a word from
Sean. When I called back someone answered that Sean had left for the day
and to I could try tomorrow, but was told that Aftermarket Discount Marine
would not officially reopen until Monday.
On Saturday, March 15th, I called and was told there was no way to check,
but to try again on Monday. I ll just note here that Saturday was a
beautiful weekend for working on the boat.
On the morning of Monday March 16th I called and spoke with Sean. When
asked for the tracking number Sean stated that he would call the supplier
and get back to me in about ten minutes. That afternoon, after receiving
no status, I called Sean again, This time Sean indicated that the reason
he didn t call back with a tracking number is because the supplier will
not have that carburetor ready until Friday. I expressed my
dissatisfaction with not receiving the item as promised, and not getting a
status, telling him that I do not expect to pay for 2nd day shipping on an
item that was not even shipped. He replied that because of the delay,
the vendor would be picking up the cost of the shipping and the part
should arrive by the following Tuesday. I apologized for getting terse
and, mentioned that I m not trying to be a prick, but I need this part
before I can do any other work to my boat. I then asked if it is
possible for Sean to give me the number of the supplier so that I wouldn t
be pestering them. Sean replied "I m sorry sir, I can t do that. " When
I asked if he could call the supplier on Friday and get the tracking
number for me and leave a message with the tracking number he replied "Not
a Problem, Sir".
Tuesday, March 25th - Once again, after Sean s failure to do as he
promised, I called Aftermarket Discount Marine. Once again I spoke with
Sean and asked for the tracking number. Sean replied that he would call
the supplier and get back to me in ten minutes. Another Forty five
minutes later, after not receiving a call, I called back to issue an
ultimatum: Either I have a tracking number, or the carburetor on my
Doorstep, by COB today or I am canceling my order. To Wit Sean replied:
"Not a Problem, Sir".
At this time I was fed up of hearing all of the bullshit that your
employee, Sean, has lavished upon me and said "No Sean, it is a problem
because I m sitting here with my thumb up may ass waiting for a part that
I ordered over two weeks ago" Sean felt he had to take exception to my
statement as it had curse words in it. Sean went on to day that he would
not stay on the line if I curse like that as it was "disrespectin him" .
I told him that respect is also doing as you promised, and not jerking the
customer around waiting for a damn part. On that note Sean hung up. It
was Just as well, as Shaw seemed too inept to do as he promised, only make
additional excuses and empty promises all while spouting "Not a Problem,
Sir".
As a result of this dismal level of service, I am canceling my order
immediately, I am expecting a FULL REFUND of the $224.95 charged to my
Visa before COB on Friday, March 28, 2003. If this presents a problem you
will need to drop the dime and call me at 216-849-8468, leaving a message
if I am unavailable.
Failure to fulfill this request as specified, will result in my contacting
my Visa provider to issue a charge back for the total amount of $224.95,
AND forwarding of this letter to various internet sites and news groups to
help other boaters from being taken as I have. In addition I will forward
this letter, along with my comments, to your attorney general, Richard P.
Ieyoub s office, requesting an investigation for possible fraud.
Perhaps I am too harsh or too premature in assuming that you don t give a
damn about your customers, as I am judging your organization on the
behavior of one individual. If I am wrong, here are some things to
consider when dealing with customers in general:
1. I have only taken the time to write to two companies to express my
dissatisfaction with their service and yours is the second.
2. I may have been willing to wait for this length of time without
causing a problem if Sean had initially told me the part was not in
stock. At the very least I could have decided that the time to wait was
too long, saving both parties bad feeling and wasted efforts.
3. I may have not caused a problem if Sean had taken ONE attempt to
contact me at any point if something was not going as planned, or with the
tracking number I repeatedly requested.
4. While Sean is polite, saying over and over "Not a Problem, Sir", will
not get a boat running. I ve heard that statement so many times that I
actually went and checked. Nope, still not running.
5. If an employee wants respect, they need to do what they indicate
they re going to do for the customer. You can be the friendliness and
most polite person in the world, but if you don t give a customer what
they are paying their hard earned money for , you re still a crappy
employee. If you re a company that tolerates crappy employee s, or
unsatisfied customers, then you re a crappy company.
Whether you wish to take my comments to heart, resulting in better
customer relations or ignore them, and risk failing in the long run its
up to you. I frankly just want my money back and will be happy never
doing business with this company again.
Sincerely,
Bob Dimond
Đon ßailey
"Bob D." <sailbad_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:sailbad_d_sinner...@elvisatmol.grc.nasa.gov...
> Several people had responded to the original post and wanted me to post a
> followup to keep them informed of the status of this problem with the
> business. If this had posted twice, my apologies.
>
> On april 4 2003, a gentleman named Koz (zero...@yahoospam.away) went
> ahead and wrote directly to aftermarket. This was aftermarket's response
> sent the same day that I just found on deja news.
>
> "Gara,
> Bob has already got his money back.Plase do not speak about things that
> you do not have any knowledge about.Remember there is always 2 sides to
> every story. Good luck paying those high prices at your local dealer."
>
> Hmmmm.... They seem better at responding to people they don't owe money
to!
>
> On april 8, I called Aftermarket and asked to speak to Buddy, who Sean had
> previously claimed was the owner. Buddy said that if the product wasn't
> shipped the card was never charged. I told him that my account was
> charged, and that I never received the product, so I cancelled the order.
He
> then changed his story and said the ammount was refunded but it might take
> 30-60 days before I see the credit.
That's BS. They could credit the card just as easy as they
billed it.
db
Calif Bill
that have the Visa / MC logo are not real credit cards!!!! The federal
credit card laws do not apply. The bank will eventually get you your money
back, but may take months. Always pay with a real credit card, one you have
to write a check to pay at the end of the month. Then you can just contest
the charge to the CC company and not have to pay until it is settled.
Bill
"Đon ßailey" <d0n...@netzero.net> wrote in message
news:b7kg0r$200o2$1...@ID-84603.news.dfncis.de...
Harry Krause
It also helps to check out mail order purveyors before you buy. I've had
some good experiences recently with a fellow named Dave who operates a
marine electronics supply store out of California but whose warehouse,
at least for my area, is in New Joisey.
Give brokenlegdave a shot. www.brokenlegdave.com Good prices, fast
shipping, no messing around.
Doug Kanter
news:b7lcak$o6b$1...@slb1.atl.mindspring.net...
> The big misteak ;) was paying with a faux credit card. Those debit cards
> that have the Visa / MC logo are not real credit cards!!!! The federal
> credit card laws do not apply. The bank will eventually get you your
money
> back, but may take months. Always pay with a real credit card, one you
have
> to write a check to pay at the end of the month. Then you can just
contest
> the charge to the CC company and not have to pay until it is settled.
> Bill
You're right. And, just for security reasons, you should never use your bank
card except in places where it doesn't leave your sight for more than a
second or two, long enough to swipe it in the machine. That means no mail
order/web orders, no restaurants where a waiter walks away with it.
Doug Kanter
What city/state do you live in?
What would the price have been if you bought the carb locally, vs buying
from this discount place?
Doug Kanter
news:of2u9vsg3at4ph309...@4ax.com...
> Bill,
>
> That is ridiculous. Debit cards offer MUCH faster "feedback" than
> credit cards.
Yes, but many debit cards also function as credit cards, meaning no PIN is
required. Although your bank may catch up with a thief and replace your
money, anecdotal evidence from people who've been through it is that it can
take as much as a week. Great fun when the checks you've sent begin bouncing
left and right, while the bank is "fixing" things. Bottom line: Debit/credit
combo cards should never be used except where you can see the card during
the entire time it leaves your hand.
>
> A major part of America's financial woes is credit, whether it is MC,
> VISA, Discover, or Ditech.com. Perhaps we have become a "plastic"
> society, but it doesn't have to be transacted with unsecured funds.
It *is* possible to set aside checking funds, mentally, and pay off a credit
card purchases the moment the bill arrives. Some people don't...but some do.
Calif Bill
debit card with the Visa / MC logo. There are no Federal credit card laws
that cover that debit card! A prime example. If you pay for an airline
ticket with your credit card, and the airline goes bankrupt you get a 100%
credit back on your CC immediately. You buy that same ticket with your
logoed debit card, you are now in the unsecured debt line at bankruptcy
court. If you are lucky, you get back 10 cents on the dollar. . . 5 years
later. The only protection you have is the goodwill of your bank.
Bill
"Gene Kearns" <ewke...@triad.rr.com> wrote in message
news:rm3u9voan91e2j2i9...@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 17 Apr 2003 20:24:14 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
> <dka...@frontiernet.net> wrote:
>
> >"Gene Kearns" <ewke...@triad.rr.com> wrote in message
> >news:of2u9vsg3at4ph309...@4ax.com...
> >> Bill,
> >>
> >> That is ridiculous. Debit cards offer MUCH faster "feedback" than
> >> credit cards.
> >
> >Yes, but many debit cards also function as credit cards, meaning no PIN
is
> >required. Although your bank may catch up with a thief and replace your
> >money, anecdotal evidence from people who've been through it is that it
can
> >take as much as a week. Great fun when the checks you've sent begin
bouncing
> >left and right, while the bank is "fixing" things. Bottom line:
Debit/credit
> >combo cards should never be used except where you can see the card during
> >the entire time it leaves your hand.
> >
> My personal anecdotal experience has been that with a credit card
> 60-90 days for a credit to clear, about a week with a debit card. If
> you think that it is safe to give anybody your card, at all, consider
> that there are Palm devices that can be fitted with a card reader. It
> fits easily into a waitress's apron and one quick swipe will steal
> your economic persona. If you use plastic, you'll be subject to the
> shell game. (On the other hand, if you pay by check or cash, try
> disputing a charge.)
>
> >>
> >> A major part of America's financial woes is credit, whether it is MC,
> >> VISA, Discover, or Ditech.com. Perhaps we have become a "plastic"
> >> society, but it doesn't have to be transacted with unsecured funds.
> >
> >It *is* possible to set aside checking funds, mentally, and pay off a
credit
> >card purchases the moment the bill arrives. Some people don't...but some
do.
> >
>
> If you pay off your credit card bill every month, you'll soon find
> yourself on the credit card company's fecal roster. They aren't there
> to serve as your "for free" checking account surrogate. Check your
> annual statement and I suspect that you'll find that they aren't doing
> so, either!
> --
> 23' Grady White, out of Southport, NC.
>
> See where Southport, North Carolina is:
> http://www.southharbourvillage.com/directions.asp
>
> Real Time Picture of Marina "B" Dock,"A" Dock, and ICW:
> http://www.southharbourvillage.com/autoupdater.htm
>
> And courtesy of Lee Yeaton:
> see the boats of rec.boats at:
> www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
>
>
> -----------== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Uncensored Usenet News
==----------
> http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
> -----= Over 100,000 Newsgroups - Unlimited Fast Downloads - 19 Servers
=-----
Bob D.
card. I use the check card for online transactions for two reasons. One
I can limit the ammount someone can deduct. Two I have the faster
response time in knowing when the account has been debited or credited
from a merchant.
If I had used my credit card Absentmoral Distrust Marine would have run up
tremendous debt or at least sat on my money for another 30-60 days before
I even knew that they were cheating me. Hell by the time the billing
cycle catched up these weasles can be packed up and be long gone.
My bank seems pretty good about disputes, still the actual credit card has
merits too.
In article <FSDna.4118$DB....@news02.roc.ny.frontiernet.net>, "Doug
Kanter" <dka...@frontiernet.net> wrote:
> I'm curious about two things:
>
> What city/state do you live in?
Northeast Ohio
> What would the price have been if you bought the carb locally, vs buying
> from this discount place?
Even though we have a boater's paradise (May through September) this
area has a amazingly small number of local marine parts stores. Locally
NAPA dealer wanted around $380 with a $100 core for my missing Rochester
4MV and still had to order it. I figure if I had to order it I'd shop for
a decent price.
BTW - I don't know if I mentioned it, but Champpion Parts had the carb for
only $4.00 more than Absentmoral Distrust Marine, and got the part to me
in two days!
Ron White
technical info and even sent me some things (used tiny little tilt ram
parts) for free.
--
Ron White
Check out HAMMER the 30' sportfisherman I am building
http://www.concentric.net/~knotreel/
Dennis Compton
>
> That is sort of a special case, right? So far, I have been very
> pleased, anecdotally, with my bank and the card.
>
> I'm just not into credit.
If you pay off your entire balance every month then credit cards are the only way to
go. Free money for up to 31 days. How can you beat that?
Dan Krueger
Dan
del cecchi
"Bob D." <sailbad_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:sailbad_d_sinner...@elvisatmol.grc.nasa.gov...
charge and it would have been removed until the issue was resolved.
del cecchi
del cecchi
> You are quite correct, however, some institutions are now charging a
> fee or fees for people that do that.
>
> The credit card institutions exists to make a profit, they can't
> afford to let you pay your balance each month. If you are one of
> those intelligent and disciplined people that WILL pay off their
> account every month you are using the credit card as a free checking
> account. Clever, useful, and frugal, but what does the card company
> receive in return for services rendered...... nothing. Thus, they
> must find some way to return you to the standing of a profitable
> customer.... fees.
>
>
they also charge the merchant a fee.
Greg O
"Bob D." <sailbad_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:sailbad_d_sinner...@elvisatmol.grc.nasa.gov...
> card. I use the check card for online transactions for two reasons. One
> I can limit the ammount someone can deduct. Two I have the faster
> response time in knowing when the account has been debited or credited
> from a merchant.
>
> If I had used my credit card Absentmoral Distrust Marine would have run up
> tremendous debt or at least sat on my money for another 30-60 days before
> I even knew that they were cheating me. Hell by the time the billing
> cycle catched up these weasles can be packed up and be long gone.
>
> My bank seems pretty good about disputes, still the actual credit card has
> merits too.
>
Great, but remember, if you get stuck with an unauthorized charge on a
credit card it is relatively painless to get the charge removed. If you get
an unauthorized charge on a debit card, the bank can tell you to GFY, and
there is nothing you can do but send your banking elsewhere!
I never use my debit card for wire transactions, local business, fine.
Internet, mail order business my credit card sets used.
Greg
Robert Hutton
they also charge the merchant a fee.
Exactly, and the reason many small operators don't subscribe to credit
card services.
We're like Karl D., put as much as possible on Discover, pay the entire
balance each month, and receive a rebate of a few hundred $$$ at the end of
the year. Every couple of years of manage to procrastinate and get hit w/ a
monthly finance charge, but these are insignificant in light of the rebate.
Recently switched to the Exxon/Mobil card which has the same terms as
Discover except the rebate can be as high as 3%. The rebate is available
monthly BUT is only applicable to purchases of gas at Exxon/Mobile stations.
Since we buy 75% of our gasoline from a Mobil station about a mile from
home, works great for us.
BTW, since some of this gas is for the boat or is used to tow the boat,
this is an on-topic post.
Steven Shelikoff
wrote:
>Discover will still give you your cash back "bonus" even if you use their
>card as a "free" checking account.
>
>I love it. I bet they hate me. I haven't paid a nickel in interest on
>their card in more than five years.
Same here, and same with my Mastercard that pays cash back. But they
still make money on the fees they charge the seller.
Steve
Doug Meredith
> If you are one of
> those intelligent and disciplined people that WILL pay off their
> account every month you are using the credit card as a free checking
> account. Clever, useful, and frugal, but what does the card company
> receive in return for services rendered...... nothing. Thus, they
> must find some way to return you to the standing of a profitable
> customer.... fees.
You are incorrect. ALL credit card companies charge the stores that
take their cards a % fee on each transaction. That can range from very
small at a chain such as Wal-Mart to 5% at a small store. So EVERY
charge that is made makes them money. Granted, that they make more off
people that don't pay off the bill each month, but don't for a minute
think that they don't make money if you do pay it off, because they do.
Calif Bill
but after paying for 2 college educations and most of a wedding on the card,
I have got a lot more than the $500 I have spent on fees. South America
airfare, Europe airfare, Cancun airfare. I also do not carry a balance, but
the card companies make money off the merchant, and since I do not go
bankrupt and stiff them for $10-20k they will end up with more money by me
spending with my card. When it costs $50-100+ to fill up the boat, they
will get their profit.
Bill
"Karl Denninger" <ka...@FS.Denninger.Net> wrote in message
news:b7nedo$gh5$0...@pita.alt.net...
> Discover will still give you your cash back "bonus" even if you use their
> card as a "free" checking account.
>
> I love it. I bet they hate me. I haven't paid a nickel in interest on
> their card in more than five years.
>
> --
> --
> Karl Denninger (ka...@denninger.net) Internet Consultant & Kids Rights
Activist
> http://www.denninger.net Cost-effective Consulting
> http://childrens-justice.org Working for family and children's rights
> http://diversunion.org LOG IN AND GET YOUR TANK SITCKERS TODAY!
>
> In article <sjeu9v8jieddnijlu...@4ax.com>,
> Gene Kearns <ewke...@triad.rr.com> wrote:
> >You are quite correct, however, some institutions are now charging a
> >fee or fees for people that do that.
> >
> >The credit card institutions exists to make a profit, they can't
> >afford to let you pay your balance each month. If you are one of
> >those intelligent and disciplined people that WILL pay off their
> >account every month you are using the credit card as a free checking
> >account. Clever, useful, and frugal, but what does the card company
> >receive in return for services rendered...... nothing. Thus, they
> >must find some way to return you to the standing of a profitable
> >customer.... fees.
> >
> >
> >
Doug Kanter
news:07d366cca339ffbc...@news.teranews.com...
>
> Great, but remember, if you get stuck with an unauthorized charge on a
> credit card it is relatively painless to get the charge removed. If you
get
> an unauthorized charge on a debit card, the bank can tell you to GFY, and
> there is nothing you can do but send your banking elsewhere!
> I never use my debit card for wire transactions, local business, fine.
> Internet, mail order business my credit card sets used.
> Greg
>
>
I agree. With the debit card, I don't want to lose visual contact with it
for more than about 2 seconds. And, I want to be able to come back and
either speak to someone, or make a scene that requires the police to come,
if fraudulent use originates with a local merchant.
Auerbach
card charge
reversed is in the mind of the cardholder. One of my cards was used to buy
some
stuff in Jackson Hole on a day when I was home in Los Angeles, and
MasterCard
was very nice in understanding that the purchases were not mine. But they
insisted
that I fill out and return a NOTARIZED statement, which meant waiting for
the
form, finding and paying a notary, sending in the form, talking to them
again after
they got it, and asking them for another credit for the notary charges
(which they
very cordially provided.) Not a hassle, certainly, but a bit of a nuisance.
Alex
"Greg O" <goo1959...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:07d366cca339ffbc...@news.teranews.com...
>
del cecchi
"Auerbach" <auerbach@NO_SPAM_pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:us_oa.1028$2d1.85...@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
temporarily.
And my credit union notarizes for free.
And if it had been a debit card?
del cecchi
> >
>
>