Like to gamble? Shop here! (C'mon Danny, prove me wrong! Please)

[emtownsend]

It pains me to write this as I love the forums, but the store... Shut it down Danny! Do us all a favor and don't dangle the carrot in front of us; especially when you have our money and won't send the product...

The Priuschat store and I are on shaky ground.
Starting with a group order for the Engine Block Heater back in the summer of '07. I got on the "list" by placing an order. I never received an invoice, never received any word at all. I emailed Danny and posted on this site til I was blue in the face. Nadda, ever. Think I'd learned my lesson, but I like this site and I wanted to give them another chance.

So, I recently ordered the same EBH and a DICE iPod unit together and paid via Paypal. The PriusChat store took my money right away. I received the EBH in relatively short time (alleluia) but nothing on the DICE. It has been over a month now.

Again, I wrote Danny, and AGAIN no answer. I posted on the forum and NO ANSWER. I finally had to submit a dispute with Paypal before I got a response. Then Danny said he would go ahead and refund me $10 and send the unit out; and that I was overlooked on my original order.
Now several days later and no word from Danny or Nichole. I PM'd him again tonight.

The Priuschat store is so inefficient that I am not sure it can be saved. If it were a serious business, they would respond to all emails and make sure that nobody was "overlooked" and ignored. I cannot tell you how many emails Danny has ignored from me (maybe 12). He has my money and I have nothing.
I am still waiting with baited breath that he may actually follow through, but he has already proved, to me anyway, the Priuschat store is only a hobby and customer service is not a priority. That is OK if that is his business model, but I cannot imagine why. Why be in business if you don't want to bring great products to people, help them, and make money??

I dare you to prove me wrong!

[mr_zorg]

Originally Posted by emtownsend

So, I recently ordered the same EBH and a DICE iPod unit together and paid via Paypal. The PriusChat store took my money right away.

While I too had a disappointing lack of communication back when I got my DICE unit, I just have to comment on this statement. While most merchants will not charge your card UNTIL they ship, this is not true if you pay with PayPal. That's not the merchant's fault, but is a fact of life when using PayPal. They debit you immediately, there's just no way around it.

[emtownsend]

Originally Posted by mr_zorg

While most merchants will not charge your card UNTIL they ship, this is not true if you pay with PayPal. That's not the merchant's fault, but is a fact of life when using PayPal. They debit you immediately, there's just no way around it.

True, you are right about that. I just think the seller knows this too and therefore, the impetus would be to get the product out ASAP or at least communicate a status so the customer (like me) doesn't freak out (like me)...

[patsparks]

I like dealing with the forums store to support the forum, I would like to see replies to emails even if its a quick, "We haven't forgotten you and are waiting for part of your order to arrive." At least you know your email or PM has been seen.

I'm sure the store is a hobby for Danny and Co and there is more in his life than PC but if he isn't enjoying the store he may be able to enlist some help from a member or 2 to help keep up with it.

I want to make it clear that any dealings I have had with the store Danny has gone out of his way to help, I just need to be patient.

[diamondlarry]

Originally Posted by emtownsend

It pains me to write this as I love the forums, but the store... Shut it down Danny! Do us all a favor and don't dangle the carrot in front of us; especially when you have our money and won't send the product...

The Priuschat store and I are on shaky ground.
Starting with a group order for the Engine Block Heater back in the summer of '07. I got on the "list" by placing an order. I never received an invoice, never received any word at all. I emailed Danny and posted on this site til I was blue in the face. Nadda, ever. Think I'd learned my lesson, but I like this site and I wanted to give them another chance.

So, I recently ordered the same EBH and a DICE iPod unit together and paid via Paypal. The PriusChat store took my money right away. I received the EBH in relatively short time (alleluia) but nothing on the DICE. It has been over a month now.

Again, I wrote Danny, and AGAIN no answer. I posted on the forum and NO ANSWER. I finally had to submit a dispute with Paypal before I got a response. Then Danny said he would go ahead and refund me $10 and send the unit out; and that I was overlooked on my original order.
Now several days later and no word from Danny or Nichole. I PM'd him again tonight.

The Priuschat store is so inefficient that I am not sure it can be saved. If it were a serious business, they would respond to all emails and make sure that nobody was "overlooked" and ignored. I cannot tell you how many emails Danny has ignored from me (maybe 12). He has my money and I have nothing.
I am still waiting with baited breath that he may actually follow through, but he has already proved, to me anyway, the Priuschat store is only a hobby and customer service is not a priority. That is OK if that is his business model, but I cannot imagine why. Why be in business if you don't want to bring great products to people, help them, and make money??

I dare you to prove me wrong!

On a similar matter, I was having major log-in problems when I first signed up(May of 2007). Every time I tried to log on, I would have to get a new password. I sent numerous emails and they were never answered. Since the forum has been switched to the new software it has not been an issue though.

[Doc Willie]

Confucious say "Righteousness begins tiwth the proper naming of things." or something to that effect.

Solution to problem: rename the "Store" to a "Buyer's Club." Change nothing else. Or maybe put a disclaimer about how thing have to be ordered from suppliers, variable (to say the least) shipping times, etc. With a store, one has certain expectations, like stock and service. With a buyer's club you never know exactly what the situation will be.

I ordered the BT skid plate. Pay Pal has my money. I know enough not to expect the thing for a while.

[patrickindallas]

Caveat emptor

or

Cave canum

Something like that. Latin 1 was many, many moons ago.



EDIT:

I've purchased 2 items from the store. The plate and the windshield
shade thingy. Both arrived in a timely manner. Not faster than the
speed of light, mind you, but I didn't grow old waiting for them.

[Clubford00]

I have made two purchases, from the store. The first was the winter floor mats,(front) and the second was the Scanguage II. The mats took close to 3 weks and i finally emailed and said where ae they? I got a nice email back right away and said they should have been there they were sent out on such and such...I go them the next day, and they are nice and fit well. The scanguage II i was amazed , but i got it in i think 4 Biz days since i placed the order. Cant beat that.

[Godiva]

I don't go there because for some reason it either slows down or in some cases freezes up my browser. I also like to see the price of things before I put them in my shopping cart.

[mr_zorg]

Originally Posted by Doc Willie

Solution to problem: rename the "Store" to a "Buyer's Club." ... With a store, one has certain expectations, like stock and service. With a buyer's club you never know exactly what the situation will be.

Brilliant idea. Danny, are you listening? While I understood this when I went in, others may not, and Doc is right, "store" has certain connotations that just don't apply here...