Wednesday, October 20, 2010

What do you do in your spare time?

So really this isn't interesting. It's just that you can spend HOURS trying to get a company to get things straight when they screw up. I have been trying to get a refund from Ritz Camera since this summer. It was a straight-forward return. I got the refund #s and everything. But they just can't quite get from A to B. Know what I mean? So for a good laugh, you can read on, but otherwise just know that I'm frustrated and I will NEVER, EVER order from Ritz camera again. I said that to somebody and they acted like I was a dummy to order from them in the first place. Nobody told me they were bad!!!




Dear Customer Service:
I have tried in vain to straighten out a refund order. I have TWO refund orders: #2624237 and refund #2619018.

I have a credit for one of the orders:
From my bank statement:

09/2109/2274332390265002396971991RITZCAMERA.COM 877-6900099 CA$34.99-

Now here is the problem. I have received this credit, but I have not received the second credit of the SAME AMOUNT and for the SAME PRODUCT.
I have called several times. Then I resorted to doing the live chat:
Conversations below:


Please wait while we find an agent to assist you...
You have been connected to Mathew S.
anita herway: ok
Mathew S: Hello Anita. Welcome to RitzCamera.com. I will be glad to assist you.
anita herway: thank you. I hope you can solve this mystery!
Mathew S: Sure.
Mathew S: Please stay online while I check the order details.
anita herway: no problem
Mathew S: It is taking longer than expected. Please stay online.
anita herway: I told you there seemed to be a mystery. I have two return/credit statements but only got credit for one.
Mathew S: Thank you for waiting. I appreciate your patience.
Mathew S: As per our records we have refunded to your both the orders.
Mathew S: We request you to contact your bank and check.
anita herway: Well, I have my account (VISA) as proof that you indeed did give me credit on Sept 21 for 34.99. But that is the only credit. Give me the date of the second credit please.
anita herway: No need to check with my bank. I already have the record. There is only one credit. That is why I am coming to you
Mathew S: Please stay online while I get the required information.
anita herway: ok, and I will need date and transaction #
Mathew S: Thank you for waiting. I appreciate your patience.
anita herway: ok
Mathew S: I shall forward request to our concerned department to check on this.
Mathew S: We will get back to you as soon we receive an update.
anita herway: ok, however, please note that this is my 3rd try to get this settled. Please do not ignore this request! email: anitaherway@hotmail.com with updates and info. I wish there was a way to document how many times I have tried!
Mathew S: Sure, Anita. We will get back to you at the earliest.



and also just today:







Please wait while we find an agent to assist you...
You have been connected to Stuart L.
Stuart L: Hello Anita. Welcome to RitzCamera.com. I will be glad to assist you.
anita herway: Very good. Maybe I should start by saying this needs to go straight to accounting. I have tried to straighten this our previously. They said they would contact me. It's been a week and no word. I really don't want to be put off again.
Stuart L: May I know on which order you received the refund?
anita herway: Well, that would be great if I knew. But on my bank account it doesn't list which refund #!
anita herway: I have the bank statement in front of me if you want all the numbers?
Stuart L: Please stay online while I get the required information.
anita herway: Just that it was received on 21 Sept. And that is the only refund. I think the problem is b/c there are TWO EXACT returns. Both for the same amount. May I just say that your store sent BOTH items to me which I did not even order!

anita herway: Oh, I did talk to Matthew before and I have the entry of our conversation if that would help.

Currently experiencing network delays, one moment please....
Network connection re-established.
anita herway: 09/21 09/22 74332390265002396971991 RITZCAMERA.COM 877-6900099 CA $34.99- Here is the ONE refund I received. Does it help at all?
Currently experiencing network delays, one moment please....
Network connection re-established.
Currently experiencing network delays, one moment please....
Network connection re-established.
Currently experiencing network delays, one moment please....
Network connection re-established.
anita herway: Could you confirm that you are still there?
Stuart L: We request you to check with the bank.
Stuart L: Yes, Anita.
Stuart L: We have no authorization on the credit card.
anita herway: Oh man. This is unbelievable. I HAVE checked with the bank!!!! There is only ONE refund!!!! PLEASE do not tell me you will contact me later.
Stuart L: We request you to check with the bank.
anita herway: What do you mean, no authorization??? You can credit the account right?

So then I tried calling Billing. (866.760.4249) Tried again to get it straightened out. It seems it was too difficult for them to figure out as well. Really, $34.99 I shouldn't worry about, but it has almost become comical at how inept your company is to figure this out!
Do you want to try? I would also like your feedback on this case, if you would please be so kind.
May I also say that I did NOT even order these 2 items. I place a simple order for a camera, a lens, and a memory card. All of which I received but also received 2 memory cards that I didn't want, and was charged for. Sent them back, and the headaches begin!
Anita Herway

5 comments:

Heidi said...

Sheesh! I just recently heard that Ritz was awful to work with, so you weren't alone in not knowing!

La said...

Holy Moly. What a headache. I admire your tenacity. I totally would have just given up.

natalie said...

Mom! I have a little experience in this dept. :) I once worked for a company that avoided giving ppl their money back.
What you have to do is:
1. document everything. having copies of these emails is great! also write down every time you call and who you talk to
(So basically this post.)
2. At this point (no refund) you should contact ritz ONE more time and say if you don't get your money credited back to your account within one week then you will be contacting the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU and the ATTORNEY GENERAL.
3. If they don't give you your $, then go ahead and contact both these with as much documentation as you can.

In my experience, the BBB always comes through. Once I got my magazine subscription money back and a free subscription. :)

Herways Go West said...

Thanks Natalie for the tips. Dad also gave me an article that had more ideas....like complain on facebook.
Thanks girls for your sympathy!

Colie said...

Stuart L and Matthew S are totally a computer. What punks. I remember arguing with Verizon on the phone for 2 hours and Steve said, "Geez. I would have given up a long time ago." Then when I told him it was for a $75 refund he completely backed me up. :) So keep fighting!