A Word To The Wise. . .

My word to the wise. . .a 15% off coupon means you will spend 20%+ additional in aggrevation!

I ordered a Meade LX90 on 2/14/03 from Company X because they offered a 15% off coupon for online orders. Ship date was March 19. Called the store on 2/27 and the ship date was April 19. Called with a question 2/28 and ship date was moved to "about May 2."

After a very aggrevating telephone call, I decided to cancel the order and do business with a company that focusses on astronomy.

On 3/3, I call Company X because my credit card company needs them to cancel the authorization on my credit card, otherwise the available credit will be tied up for 21+ days. When I call, I am told that they never processed the cancellation in the first place. I figure that if it is still there, maybe I should stick with it and not "lose my place in line" for Meade shipping.

I decide to call Meade to get a better estimate of my ship date. The Meade rep says they never received any order for me on 2/14/03 or anytime since! He tells me to call Company X back, tell them the problem, have them resubmit the order and Meade would post-date the order to 2/14 so I wouldn't wait even longer for my scope to arrive.

I call Company X back, the customer service rep. says that Meade is incorrect and the order was received. I asked how she had confirmed that, and she responded that her computer said the order was sent. My response was, "Forgive me, but even though your computer shows the order from 3+ weeks ago, Meade has no record what-so-ever. Isn't that a problem?" The response (literally). . ."I don't know."

At this point, a customer service manager is "investigating" my missing order and is supposed to call me back.

Bottom line. . .I should have stuck with Anacortes or Astronomics. Saving 15% was not worth losing the professionalism and customer service these two companies (or others) provide.

Thanks for letting me vent a bit - Jason

> On 3/3, I call Company X because my credit card company needs them to cancel the authorization on my credit card, otherwise the available credit will be tied up for 21+ days.

What's the word I'm searching for here ... oh, yes ... ILLEGAL. Company X may not charge your card until the product ships.

I'd stick with your revised plan ... cancel your order and do business with someone else. They don't sound like the sharpest pencils in the pencilbox. Then, call your credit card company and if there is a charge, have it removed.

Then call one of the other vendors you mention.

Just my two cents,
Lou

Just an update since my initial post. . .

I cancelled the order with Company X (a national chain and Meade authorized internet dealer that you will discover in many malls). Finally had to speak to a manager who said that he'd been watching this whole mess unfold and was "really interested to see what the outcome was." However he did apologize and hoped my experience would not stop me from shopping there again!

The authorization to my available credit is supposed to be removed within 48 hours. I called the credit card company and they offered to act as an intermediary if needed, which I hope will not be necessary now. By the way the authorization on my credit card was, as was mentioned in another post, a hold on the available credit but would not post as an actual charge until the scope was (if ever) shipped. The card company would keep this hold on the credit for 21 days or so, after which the merchant would have to get a new authorization.

After cancelling the order with Company X, I immediately called Astronomics, who I have bought from in the past. I have now ordered an LX90 w/o UHTC from them (UHTC were in stock at both Anacortes and Astronomics - but I don't see a need for that). Even better, they preordered the scopes anticipating customers, so they expect my backorder to be just 1-2 weeks!!!

Bottom line is, its nice to save 15% on groceries and clothing, but when it comes to things like astronomical equipment, its better to spend a little more and know you are also getting the merchant's knowledge and expertise. Otherwise, you may end up explaining to a customer service representative at Company X that "UHTC" has nothing to do with the barcode on the telescope's box! - Jason