Well if I must! I am usually one to follow protocol!
What happened was this: I was going to be in Orlando and thought I might drive down to Bradenton to pick up a pair of eastern newts. They were only $10 each, so $40 shipping was dissuading me. I added two green tree frogs just for the heck of it because they were on sale. I was in Orlando on Friday night, and on Saturday received an email saying my order was set for pickup. I drove down from Orlando, ended up being farther than I thought. Cost me almost $40 in gas round trip (240 miles!). When I got there, the guy working was nice. He told me they gave me a bonus frog and indeed there was a third. I told him I didn’t need it, but he said I could keep it. I could only see one newt, though, and he assured me the other was hiding. When I got in the car, I decided I better check, and sure enough, there was only one newt! Now this was disappointing because I spent a month setting up a vivarium for two newts and drove two hours to pick them up. I emailed customer service, and they said they could give me a $10 credit toward a future order. I explained that this was not helpful, as I would have to pay $40 in shipping. They again apologized and extended a $10 credit (the price of the newt). At that point, I started pointing out that I was not interested because I would have driven all the way down once (cost me $) and would then have to pay shipping on top of it (another $40 just for the one newt I should already have!).
Again, I want to point out that I really don't give a damn about the newt anymore. Water under the bridge. I do think this person was inflexible and that the tone got away from her very early in the discussion. And I think you will also see that that last bit (the threats) were unnecessary and scarcely provoked.
From: E Mc [mailto:the_edsta@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 9:21 PM
To:
sales@floridaherps.com
Subject: RE: Your Florida Herps Order Has Been Updated (#8992)
I understand it from your perspective: but why can't you see it from mine? I want two newts. I had to pay shipping on one (gas) and now I'm going to pay shipping on another. I could never have walked away while I was down there because I had already committed to the order by driving down. I would like to explain this to dr. Bill if you cannot see my perspective.
Ed
From:
sales@floridaherps.com
To:
the_edsta@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Your Florida Herps Order Has Been Updated (#8992)
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:39:05 -0500
Ed,
No you didn’t pay shipping. You chose LOCAL pickup, which is a service we have for LOCAL (Sarasota/Bradenton) customers. The fact that you are not local isn’t our fault sir. This is no different than if you walked into a Sarasota Pet Store. If you drove to Sarasota Petsmart to pickup an online order and they were out of what you ordered or back stocked, or the item was damaged – do you really think that company would write you a check to cover your gas? Really? I will not at all bother Dr. Thompson regarding a $10 Newt, I mean no disrespect but he doesn’t deal with these matters. I do. I already credited your PayPal account for the Newt (even the sales tax), gave you $9.95 Store Credit and you got a free frog. But we are not going to pay for your gas nor ship you another one for free. That is just plain ridiculous. We will however do what Nick told you, next time you are down here let us know and we’ll make sure to have a free one here for you. Or you can use the store credit. I am very sorry you chose to drive all the way to our local pickup location, but that was your choice. This is a service we offer our local customers, thus gas money isn’t an issue. If you were local we would even bring you a free Newt, but you aren’t.
Now if we shipped this order to you and screwed it up, we would ship you a free Newt of course. But being a “local” customer you got to see your order and had a choice to cancel it, return the animals for a full refund – or accept Nick’s offer – which you did.
Lonna Thompson – Customer Service Manager
From: E Mc [mailto:the_edsta@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 10:24 PM
To:
sales@floridaherps.com
Subject: RE: Your Florida Herps Order Has Been Updated (#8992)
The extra frog was WRONG of you. I did not want it. I brought it up to nick and he told me it was a free bonus frog. He also told me both newts were in the deli cup. I stopped the car to check on the way out and that is how I found out.
I also received a confirmation email that stated my order was ready for pickup. Why lie? Why not tell me my order was incorrect? Why not allow me NOT to drive down? Sneaking me an extra frog I do not want does not help matters; I wish you would stop mentioning it. If walmart is out of microwaves, I do not want two toasters. I also do not want my ten dollars back. I also do not want a credit. I want what I ordered: the other newt. I do not want gas money, but I do want you to be an understanding human being and not ask me to drive from Jacksonville to your place for one newt.
I held up my end of the bargain. I paid and drove down. You made the mistake of including an extra frog I didn't want and then sending me a confirmation email saying my order was waiting for me. Why not be gracious and offer to ship one to me?
Ed
From:
sales@floridaherps.com
To:
the_edsta@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Your Florida Herps Order Has Been Updated (#8992)
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:06:49 -0500
Ok young man, you do not need contact us again. Calling us liars? Really?
Nick had no idea what was in or not in the cup he simply grabbed them from the shelf that had your name on it. They were packed days ago by Erik in Miami. He is the one that made a mistake and gave you 1 newt and 3 frogs. It was an honest mistake that happens when you package over 100 orders a day.
You received an automated email from our website, I don’t know what the deal is with that. It told you your order was ready to pickup and it was. If anyone knew for a second there was an order error we would have called you right away of course, and the fact that you are accusing us of purposely trying to lie or mislead you is just plain insulting.
We will not being doing anything more for you and you can forget about your store credit. Your insulting email is without a doubt the most immature thing I’ve read or dealt with in years. Please take your business elsewhere.
Do not reply.
From: E Mc [mailto:the_edsta@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 11:02 AM
To:
sales@floridaherps.com
Subject: RE: Your Florida Herps Order Has Been Updated (#8992)
And you have been illogical, unthinking, uncooperative, dismissive, and condescending. Everything customer service should not be. It will end up costing me $100 for two newts when it should have cost me $50 because of your incompetence. Your request that I 'not contact' you is itself immature and absurd. In fact, I want nothing to do with you, but I have been coerced into this discussion by your incompetence. The very notion that you would compare this to something being out of stock at a pet store demonstrates your inability to use logic appropriately. Further, the fact that you admit you would send me a newt if you had shipped it, but now will not for no apparent reason (even though YOU made the mistake), is equally illogical. I will at least be submitting a complaint to Paypal. And you hopefully will not hear from me again. Best of luck.
From:
sales@floridaherps.com
To:
the_edsta@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Your Florida Herps Order Has Been Updated (#8992)
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:22:21 -0500
For all we know you got both Newts. We watched the video tape of your transaction with Nick. You shook hands with Nick and got in your car where you and a passenger in the front seat start playing with the containers. 30 secs later you are out of the car knocking on the door. We see you and Nick looking at the container and can make out most of what Nick was saying. You sure seemed happy when you left. Honestly Nick’s first thought was you guys tried to pull a fast one on us. Oh, and how about the fact that your email from your order said you were going to be in town on Sat. Then later you make it out like it was a special trip? Or how about the fact that we had to pay Nick for 2 extra hours while he waited for you because you were VERY late? Nick makes $14.40 an hour, are you going to pay for the wages we paid him while he waited for you? You are a real piece of work kid, really you are. In 16+ years of this company we have never once had a customer like you, not one. When people ask us why we no longer deal with locals, we will mention you by name. Customers like you ruin things for everyone else. We are a wholesaler, as Nick explained to you – yes our surveillance system is pretty good. We even have you on tape sitting at the end of our driveway emailing me. Why would any adult be all happy when he is face to face with us but 1 min later starts playing email games? If you were that upset be a man and go back and talk to Nick, but no…
We do know where you live if we need to send Dale over to collect our animals. Just let us know, we can have him at your house in 1 hour, he will take back the critters and give you a full refund right there. If you think for 1 second we will let you keep our animals and get your money back, well I can 100000% assure you we will take action, and I don’t mean online games. My brother Dale lives about 45mins from your address. You want him to stop by with a few buddies to repo the animals? Just play on kid…
No I am again asking you to stop harassing us with your emails. Go away and play your PayPal game.