Speaker Asylum

Won't be doing business with Ubid again

66.81.76.155

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Thread: Display Email Next ] [ Speaker Asylum ] [ FAQ ]

jmareci

I am one of the ones who got caught up in the Ubid "bait and switch" mess on the Micharua 55's. I have been going back and forth with them for almost 2 weeks now. I finally received a call from their president today. Basically she said "too bad and we don't care". So, I told her that I would post on AA to let fellow AAer's know how badly they do business. I will never be doing business with Ubid again.

Follow Ups:

Interesting thread.... - darkmoebius 11:56:46 07/25/02 (0)
I've used Ubid a hundred times in the last 4 years buying computers for my clients and always with terrific results, although you never seem to get the great deals that existed in the beginning.
Anyway, I haven't used the site for 6 months to a year and just bid on a f4 in 1 fax machine two weeks ago. I won at an unbelievablylow price, yet the item never shipped. I checked after a few days, then a week, and finally 10 days. No fax machine.
Nonetheless, my credit card had three $1 charges on it from Ubid. Visa told me that most web merchants do this once to make sure the card is good.
When i finally, got around to calling Ubid! to tell them that I was not going to honor the auction, they informed "no problem, just pretend it never happened!". No explanation. No offer to ship another. Just that.
Well, wrong Ubid, I needed that fax the next week and as a result had to buy one off the shelf, in a last minute panic, at a much higher price.
And then there's the matter that they made $3 off of me for nothing.
What a difference one year can make. I will probably avoid them for important matters in the future. It kind of reminds me of the PayPal complaints, once things go wrong, they go horribly wrong. And I like PayPal, too.
Re: Wow, is that their answer - mg1.6qr 16:39:57 07/24/02 (1)
How about:
1. Class action on behalf of the 15 or so victims of their scam (this particular one) Who knows how many others are out there.
2. Spread the word. If this was Ubid's answer, then people need to know.
- Re: Wow, is that their answer - degaus1@hotmail.com 06:51:47 07/25/02 (0)
  If you read the UBID agreement, you allegedly waive your right to file a suit and instead agree to go through mediation to resolve your dispute in Illinois. Another group of people have brought a class action suit for not receiving PC's they bid on from UBID, not sure how that went. Besides it probably isn't wort the time/effort especially if you don't live in Illinois. Even if it went to court they would claim a computer screw up that caused the wharehouse to ship AR's instead of michauras caused the problem. And then they'd claim the michaura's were sold in later auctions before the error was found. As a side note, I'm not a lawyer just pissed at them.
  I whole heartedly agree with point number 2. I will never use UBID again, and if someone asks me about them I'll realte my experience and recommend against them.
  Pat
those jokers deserve it... - Aroc 09:22:00 07/24/02 (0)
file often and file hard! I've delt with screwBid before. Those clowns deserve it.
Filed a complaint with the California Attorney General - jmareci 18:27:26 07/23/02 (2)
After I posted my original note, I contacted and filed a complaint with the California Attorney General. I don't if anything will happen, but I did my part. I will post any results, if I should get any.
- Re: Filed a complaint with the California Attorney General - degaus1@hotmail.com 06:57:12 07/24/02 (1)
  You could also send a complaint to:
  the Illinois Attorney General(UBID's HQ if I'm not mistaken)
  http://www.ag.state.il.us/complaint.htm
  The Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org/bbbcomplaints/Welcome.asp
  the Federal Trade Commision
  https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
  AOL's CERTIFIED MERCHANT SEAL http://www.ubid.com/help/aolseal.asp
  I think the complaints to the BBB and AOL would be the most effective since they are shown on the front page of UBID. What they did was crappy and I'm still dealing with them to get the AR's sent back!
  Pat
  - Re: Filed a complaint with the California Attorney General - jmareci 08:39:50 07/24/02 (0)
    Thanks for the Info. I just finished filing a complaint with the BBB. I am having trouble filing with the Attorney General in Illinois, since I am in California. But I will keep trying. Thanks again for the links!
    Jim
Re: Won't be doing business with Ubid again - UK 16:19:03 07/23/02 (0)
I'd file a complaint with my state's A.G. This often gets their attention.
Re: Won't be doing business with Ubid again - RMcCoy 16:00:12 07/23/02 (0)
It was my first and last experience, bidiing on an item at UBid.(the Michauras) I needed more speakers like I need hole in my head (wife thinks I aleady have one or volunteers to make one) I went ahead and bought a pair then got the ARs instead "by mistake" (or dozens thereof). UBid did all they could not to make me think it was an honest mistake. UBID is the worst company I have dealt with since a Honda dealer tried selling me a car with a salvaged title. They ended up dealing with fines and bad press with the BBB. I don't think UBID will fair very well with my follow up either.
Learn from mistakes - HD Audio 13:14:18 07/23/02 (0)
I was fairly fortunate, because I did get my Michaura speakers, but U-bid did not ship other speakers that I had the winning bid on. Fortunately, I didn't loose any money, but I am going to quit while I'm ahead. Their inflated shipping and handling fees is a clue as to their business practices. I'm glad that others can be warned.
You and others have convinced me................ - Cut-Throat 12:56:15 07/23/02 (1)
Every company makes mistakes. It's how they deal with them afterward that the true colors of the company makes itself known. Ubid looks Black with a white stripe running down its back.

Cut-Throat
- Re: You and others have convinced me................ - JKelly 18:03:55 07/23/02 (0)
  That is a very wise statement, Cut-Throat.
  Jeff