From: romeo@niagara.Tymnet.COM (Michael Stimac)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Good mail-order source was Re: ditto for 'n' gauge
Date: 31 Dec 92 20:02:28 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: BT North America (Tymnet)

In article <jack-301292161832@compstore.jpl.nasa.gov> jack@sybil.jpl.nasa.gov (Jack Kobzeff) writes:
>In article <3039@tymix.Tymnet.COM>, romeo@niagara.Tymnet.COM (Michael
>Stimac) wrote:
>> 
>> In article <1992Dec29.191640.8483@pool.info.sunyit.edu> johnh@tigger.rl.af.mil (John Hawthorne) writes:
>> >
>.... relate my experience with The Train Master in
>> >Albany NY.  They are N scale specialists who seem to have a good
>> >selection.  Last winter I ordered 2 cabooses from them that I could
>> >not find elsewhere.  They processed the order against my credit card,
>> >then notified me that the items were backordered.  They later informed
>> >me that the cabooses had never been in stock and would not be, due to
>> 
>> I had a similar experience with a place in South California called
>> Lambert......
>> 
>> Lambert deposited my check and then sent me an invoice stating
>> that the books I had ordered were "sold out". They gave me credit
>> 
>> I feel that they should never have deposited my check if they
>> had nothing to send me. Their attitude was "this is our policy".
>> Michael Stimac
>
>Most mail order dealers that I have dealt with will not even think of
>processing your order until your check has CLEARED the bank, or they allow
>a LONG time (usually about 10 days) from reciept of order for the check to
>clear. While the company made it more difficult than necessary to get your
>refund, processing the check before shipping the order is very, very
>common. Another good reason to use a credit card. 
>(Another reason is the card company can cancel payment on a disputed item.)
>
>Jack Kobzeff     (jack@????.jpl.nasa.gov) Mail address changing

Jack, what is the point of your posting? I'm not trying to be
snide, but your posting doesn't relate to what my complaint is.

In both my case and the one John Hawthorne mentioned, there IS NO
'processing' to be done, because the company isn't going to ship
any product. They don't have the item(s) you ordered.

I have no problem with the company making sure my payment is good
(check or credit card) before sending out merchandise of value.
My point is, they should not deposit my money in their account
if they have nothing to offer in return.

Basically, you have pointed out that what I am complaining about
is "policy" and the company followed their "policy" and I shouldn't
complain. You are wrong. I am the customer, and I can choose to
spend my money anywhere I damn well please, for any reason I
choose.  One such reason is that the company has a policy which
I do not care for.

This company unilaterally deprived me of the use of $60 of my
money for two months. There is absolutely no excuse for this
to happen.

I choose NOT to spend my with companies that have a policy of
borrowing my money one or more months, money which I have sent
in good faith to purchase something I am eagerly looking forward
to receiving. I will never do business with this company again;
they have lost a customer forever. 

Anyone who feels that this is an acceptable manner of doing business
is welcome to continue to trade with Lambert. I'm only pointing
out my experience because there are people who feel as I do, and
they will want to avoid this company.

And, I wish you lots of luck in business if you think that "company
policy" is more important than customer good will!

Michael Stimac
-- 
Michael Stimac
(415) 355-8889
romeo@tymnet.com
These opinions are not necessarily anyone's but my own.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad