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March 29, 2007
An update on the couch...
The day after our couch story hit The Consumerist website, we received this email from Target...
I'm sorry for the inconvenience caused in this regard.I have checked your order and I apologize that It seems that there
is a widespread problem with this item.I am sorry that the original box isn't in good enough shape to send
back to us, but we don't have a replacement box to send you.
Fortunately, we're not picky about how you get the order back to us.
Feel free to use tape to fix up the original box or to find a
different box. If you don't have a box big enough to fit everything,
you can use as many as you need.Once you've got everything packed up, please use the link at the
bottom of this e-mail to let us know how many boxes you used. Then
we'll help you finish up the return process.As an apology for the inconvenience caused in this order, I have
issued a advance refund for the item in your order. However, I
request you to pack it with the needful and keep it ready for the
carrier to pick up the package.
Personally, I think it's a slap in the face, but oh well. This was never about our money, only about getting what we paid for. They issued us an "advance refund" but still expect us to return the couch. Do they think I am in such desperate need of money that I can't wait until the thing is returned to get it back?
The only time I ever asked for my money back was when I said that I was going to throw the couch into a lake, not return it, so if they think that I am going to go out of my way to return the couch to them just because they refunded my money, they are wrong. They can have it, but they're going to have to come and get it themselves. I will not box it, I will not wait for UPS, I will not return it to the store, I will not lift a single finger to help get their garbage back to them when I had not agreed on the terms beforehand.
I will instead write them a letter giving them a reasonable amount of time to remove their couch from our apartment without any help from me, before I claim the pieces of couch to be abandoned and therefore ours. At that point, we will use the money they refunded us to buy custom legs and screws to put the couch together and keep.
Also, their supplier, Homelegance Inc. updated their policy page shortly after The Consumerist story was posted to say this...
If you are an end user who has purchased our furniture through a store, please go to your store for service. Homelegance, Inc. is a wholesaler and does not deal with end users directly.
It then goes on to explain their policy for their wholesale customers (stores) to make parts orders!
The real tits of this latest development was this line from Target's final letter to us. I feel it deserves repeating...
I have checked your order and I apologize that It seems that there is a widespread problem with this item.
Now, I think that that's a canned, bullshit response that they give to make customers feel better for some stupid reason... BUT, to me, that line is insane. If there IS in fact a "widespread problem" with this couch, why is it still for sale on Target.com or why haven't they fixed the problem and set up a proper system for parts orders?
There you go folks, if you're thinking about buying a couch from Target, understand beforehand that Target has an admittedly widespread problem with their product.
Posted by Christian at March 29, 2007 09:41 PM
Comments
However, I
request you to pack it with the needful and keep it ready for the
carrier to pick up the package.
pack it with the needful???
what what what?
Posted by: corinne at April 5, 2007 07:14 PM
However, I
request you to pack it with the needful and keep it ready for the
carrier to pick up the package.
pack it with the needful???
wtf?
Posted by: corinne at April 5, 2007 07:15 PM
I haven't laughed this hard in a while. Although I am sure it isn't as funny for you! I had a similar problem with walmart, I gave them the "this is unacceptable" line, and it worked. It doesn't sound like that will work for you. Well good luck!!! P.S. Thanks for the Target card "I won't be buying any furniture with it!!"
Posted by: Jon Barrette at April 11, 2007 01:27 AM
