Sears Canada Inc. Complaint

Hidden restocking fee - AC Kenmoor 10000BTU

AndrewJ's Picture Reviewed by AndrewJ
Please Improve
0  

1. Description of the purchase
A the beginning of July'08 I went to Sears to buy an Air Conditioning unit. When I asked the seller what is their return policy on that he told me that I've got 30 days to return it if I don't like it. After finalizing the deal I got the unit home.

2. The merchandise and it's quality
The AC unit: portable AC Kenmoor 1000BTU for $649.99
First run was a little bit disappointing - the first impression was that it is too loud we couldn't hear that in store where background noise was apparently high.

3. Problem description
Over couple next weeks we barely used it due to spending most of our time outside of our apartment. One day in the nigh wave of heat came and we turned the unit on. Unfortunately in the night the noise was even bigger - we couldn't sleep even on it's lowest setting. Next day we decided to return it because we had about 5 days left before the 30 days return time pass.
To my surprise when I brought it to the store I was told that there is 20% of the restocking fee. I calculated roughly that it is around $120 - it wasn't cheap AC unit. I mentioned that I wasn't told about any restocking fee when buying the item. The associate didn't want to listen to my arguments and she mentioned that all rules are on the reverse of the receipt. I checked and yes there is a statement: "If for any reason you are not satisfied, simply return your purchase with your receipt within (...) 30 days for Electronics, (...) and Seasonal Merchandise*, less a restocking fee if applicable."

Nice statement but it doesn't say anything about what is considered the "Seasonal Merchandise" (for me it could be shoes) nor it says anything about the 20% fee. I asked the associate where the 20% fee comes from and she told me that she is telling me that this is the fee. I tried to convince me to show me some rules which were saying about the fee amount but what she could do was connecting me with, I think it was a customer service which turned out to be already closed. Also the text on reverse of the receipt doesn't clarify under what condition the restocking fee is applied - everything is fogy here and open to interpretation. When I was paying the seller didn't even mentioned that there are any rules on the reverse of the receipt. The receipt itself doesn't say that signing it (I was paying via credit card) I agree to those rules. Nowadays usually the revers carries some ads which I never bother to check but in

case of sears it contains a fuzzy rules (comparable to fine print you can find on some tricky user agreements).

4. Steps I has taken so far
I tried to talk to the store manager but I was told the same story that everything is on back of the receipt and he cannot waive the fee. I asked him to date the receipt what he did.

5. Steps I'm going to take
I'm planing to take the case to court and fight for my right as a customer. I used to be a good Sears customer but it has changed now.

6. Final impression
Freedom of choice is an illusion at Sears. I'm stuck now with crappy AC unit while on the market there are some models with better quality (meaning quiet) for lesser price. I'm not going to pay $120 for the Sears version of freedom of choice. This was my last deal with Sears and I'll also let all my friends know about Sears approach to a customer who is buying more expensive merchandise. Any customer who is planning to buy anything from Sears should recall my case.


Company: respond to this review Company: Respond to this review
Post a reply for this review Consumer: Post a reply for this review
Write a review about !
Create a support ticket for !
More Sears Canada Inc. Reviews and Complaints More Sears Canada Inc. reviews, complaints, compliments and support tickets




Comments - Consumers and Companies Connect by Commenting


Jojo907 says: (2 weeks ago)
0  
Today I returned a TV and was told about a 20% re-stocking fee, which I was not earlier informed of. It seems that the information was to be found on the back of a Sear’s form that was stapled to my receipt. When this was pointed out to me, I in turn pointed to the front of the form that had my name and address collected on it, and a detailed list of information that I, the consumer was to have been informed about at the point of the sale, specifically the re-stocking charge. According to the Sear’s from, I the consumer was to have been informed about the restocking fee, not misinformed by omission. Based on this information, I argued that it was Sears who had made the mistake, and therefore ought to pay me a refund, which they did. Ps…never will I but electronics at the store again.

cgraser says: (4 months ago)
0  
Sears lost 56 million dollars last quarter. Weith their terrible costomer service, I wonder why. I will NEVER buy a thing in Sears again, they are the worst. And I have been customer for years, no more. Hope you win in court!


Post a comment for this review

*Pick a Username
I already have a username
Username must be 4 to 20 characters, only letters and numbers.

*Email
Privacy policy
We will send your password to this address.


*Comment


*Do the math: 7x7 =

This is to ensure you are a human user. Please do the math.

Share This Review

Bookmark/Share this review
Digg   Facebook   Reddit   StumbleUpon   del.icio.us   Google

Similar reviews


[Top]

Bookmark/Share this page

This page is under construction.
It will be up and running soon with new features to make you smile more.
Thanks,
The MeasuredUp Team