Not sure i fully grasp the complaint........ is it just that they don't have the BRAND they promised? Or they have NO pellets to deliver. Taking peoples money and not delivering pellets (and not returning the money) smells alot like a scam to me .
Beware of www.Pelletsdirect.com they are on the scam! price gouging-fixing?
- Thread starter NoMoreOPEC
- Start date
-
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.
We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil. -
Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here
- Status
If you read the very first post it says he ordered pellets, they charged his credit card, they didn't deliver, they didn't talk to him until well after they failed to meet their delivery commitment and now won't return his phone calls to get his credit card refunded.Ductape said:
Now there are some other questions unanswered like how he handled the conversations, whether they offered alternative pellets, etc. But right now, they took his money, didn't deliver and won't give him his money back. That's fraud (because they lied to him on multiple times about why they weren't delivering until the end when they fessed up & produced the communication from the pellet supplier that they weren't going to get their order so they couldn't deliver on their sales - they were b.s.ing until the end).
NoMoreOPEC said:
Please explain!
Do you know this? The only similarity I see is the last name - Robbins, which is a popular last name.
Edit - they are in the same town also, same ZIP......
I have placed in order for 5 tons of pellets and 2 tons of Envi bricks back in June. They quoted me a devilvery date in Sept. Although i did have to call a few times i did finnaly get my delivery date today for Sept 30. So if the delivery comes through i will be satisfied that they lived up to there agreement which is all i ever ask for.
Ductape said:
I think the original poster is venting more than anything. The letter from pelletsdirect.com clearly says right on it: Cancel order/refund money or Wait for product to become available.
The poster can easily get his money back or he can wait for Lignetics to becomes available. His choice.
And to whoever questioned the relationship between Robbins and pellets direct. pellets direct and Robbins garden center are related. Pellets direct deliveries are made on Robbins garden center flatbeds. And Robbins have been raising their prices something fierce the past few months. Going from $269 in July to $305 on Sept 1.
The price of pellets is getting to the point where it is almost cheaper to use oil now. Heating oil futures are down like 70 cents a gal in the past 3 days.
Thanks for clearing up the relationship between the two....
Note that the original poster claims a few problems:
1. He CANNOT get credit on his card - or at least cannot contact them for such.
2. He CANNOT get pellets for the price he PAID....even though the order was taken and the card charged at the time.
Any business worth their salt would honor the charged priced (might be different if card was not charged).....and any decent business would refund the card immediately.
Even the idea of charging cards for a full amount MONTHS prior to delivery sits wrong with me. And, if you were going to do so, the price should be locked in.....
Pelletsdirect may or may not be doing things which are illegal (in terms of the UCC), but if the above is true they are certainly guilty of bad customer service and ethical lapses. Hopefully we will get an update to this situation.
Note that the original poster claims a few problems:
1. He CANNOT get credit on his card - or at least cannot contact them for such.
2. He CANNOT get pellets for the price he PAID....even though the order was taken and the card charged at the time.
Any business worth their salt would honor the charged priced (might be different if card was not charged).....and any decent business would refund the card immediately.
Even the idea of charging cards for a full amount MONTHS prior to delivery sits wrong with me. And, if you were going to do so, the price should be locked in.....
Pelletsdirect may or may not be doing things which are illegal (in terms of the UCC), but if the above is true they are certainly guilty of bad customer service and ethical lapses. Hopefully we will get an update to this situation.
You can find the owners here. Track them down and call them direct and you may get some action. I have found that many times the top dogs have no idea the way their help runs THEIR business. Hope you get results. To just let it go is BS that's why they pull this crap in the first place. http://corp.sec.state.ma.us/corp/co...eadFromDB=True&UpdateAllowed;=&FEIN=870773131 http://corp.sec.state.ma.us/corp/co...eadFromDB=True&UpdateAllowed;=&FEIN=043152284
Whenever someone will not return calls, etc., when you have a contract, do not hesitate to contact the BBB and the state Attorney General's Office. With the AG, your tax dollars pay for this and they work for you. It can save a lot of aggravation.
Believe you me - a tiny operation like this knows EXACTLY how the help runs the business! We are talking mom and pop businesses here.
Anyway, good link for further verification. If I was the complainant, I would start sending the emails to multiple addresses, as well as faxes and phone calls to request my refund. Then I would simply report the failure to provide the agreed upon price (in paid in full goods) to the BBB or county consumer advocacy office.
Anyway, good link for further verification. If I was the complainant, I would start sending the emails to multiple addresses, as well as faxes and phone calls to request my refund. Then I would simply report the failure to provide the agreed upon price (in paid in full goods) to the BBB or county consumer advocacy office.
Webmaster said:
ROBBIN'S GARDEN??? I buy my pellets from there last winter. I go every week because i was afraid of getting a ton worth of bad pellets. Everytime i go there, i see the PelletsDirect truck parked outside, NOT IDLING, as if it belonged there. My co-worker got the same letter from PelletsDirect today. I think Robbins Garden IS PelletsDirect.com
So the victim should have known better, that makes everything done to him, ok? Kind of like if you dont lock your house doors and your house is robbed, tough luck it was your fault...
Do contact the Attorney General. They have a form you can fill out on line (so it is simple). Had a similar thing happen with a cell phone co. The Attorney General had it all fixed and my $800. back in my account in less than 10 days. Let them have the worry, they will get your money back and you will not have to hassle with it. I will never again argue with a company, I will go straight to the Attorney General, they can get the job done, even when you cant make any headway. Good Luck
If there are Lignetics selling for $300/ton there and the OP got the word that they couldn't get Lignetics (to be sold to him at $259) Robbins would be in deep do-do with the powers that be in the AG's office. Making a mistake is one thing, lying and deliberate deception have a special place in criminal law (instead of being merely a civil issue for the contract breach that seems to have occurred).Tristan said:
Update! After calling and calling and calling and leaving Countless messages on www.Pelletsdirect.com 's answering machine I FINALLY got a hold of someone and told them that I wanted a refund and asked when it would be posted to my CC. They said they would be posting it that night....well....it's now been 3 days and still no credit has been applied to my CC. I called yet again and left another message asking for a refund and for someone to call me back....still waiting for that call. Btw...they don't offer any other alternatives for you either....it's either you can wait with no guarantee that it will be filled or you can get your $ back. They have been LESS than helpful or truthful as to what is going on. I have to ask, has anyone else gotten their $ returned???
-G
-G
NoMoreOPEC said:
Now I'm having flashbacks from my Dogwood Energy six month nightmare last year. Many similar details. Go right now to google your state AG's website and file a complaint. Now. And the BBB. Now.
.
I disagree. It is always appropriate, in my opinion, to name names when you get ripped off. Helps others avoid the same problem and may shame the vendor into acting to resolve the issue. I don't think I would just "move on".
---------------------------
I disagree. It is always appropriate, in my opinion, to name names when you get ripped off. Helps others avoid the same problem and may shame the vendor into acting to resolve the issue. I don't think I would just "move on".
Exactly - I'll let everyone know the first time we get sued, but having talked to my insurance agent a decade ago, I really....really.....really doubt it. Talk about actual perceptions and experiences is just that.
Now if I PLOTTED with dozens of members and told them to post bad things about a company to drive the stock down...and I was big short of that company, that might be another thing. But I don't. I don't tell anyone here what to do. And pelletsdirect/robbins has the FULL right to post here and dispute the situation. I can neither confirm or deny the actual occurrences.....but am fairly certain that there is no "plot" behind it.
Now if I PLOTTED with dozens of members and told them to post bad things about a company to drive the stock down...and I was big short of that company, that might be another thing. But I don't. I don't tell anyone here what to do. And pelletsdirect/robbins has the FULL right to post here and dispute the situation. I can neither confirm or deny the actual occurrences.....but am fairly certain that there is no "plot" behind it.
Tristan said:
On Thursday afternoon, I received my three tons of LG's from Robins Garden Center ($800 for 3 tons delivered). Since I had just read this topic, I asked the pellet delivery driver if Robins Garden Center was Pelletsdirect.com. He said no, Pelletsdirect.com is owned by another member of the family who opened a business on his own and does not work for/at the store. I believed him and his truck said Robins Pellets, not Pelletsdirect.com.
My pellets were purchased at the last day of June, but I delayed delivery until September (priorities have me renovating our kitchen first and my Harman order wasn't looking too promising). My experience with Robins Garden Center (Austroflamm Integra II and 3 tons LG's purchased and delivered) has restored my faith in the industry after my earlier dealings with a local Harman dealer.
So, I'll keep doing business with Robins... Helpful, reliable and hassle-free (my wife even bought a few new shrubs that were on sale and planted them herself!!)
Eddyburns
ps. kitchen not done & stove not installed, but pellets are in the garage!!
DiggerJim said:
First of all, PelletsDirect.com does not "take" anyone's money. Your credit card is charged at the time of delivery, not when the order is placed.
I have been using them for 4 years now and have had no problems. Yes, this year they have had issues with getting pellets from their distributors, which resulted in delays.
Instead of going on a rant about how bad they are, was the question asked if they had another type of pellet as replacement? I'm not so sure that all the facts are right on this post.
CygnusX1 said:
Well, I'm glad you know that - but the customer claims otherwise! He states that the card was charged and that he cannot get credit.
Is there a reason why you know this to be false?
I generally take a customer at his/her word because I see no reason a person would be complaining or calling the attorney general if they had their refund.....
And...the idea of a "different family member" running the business out of the same location does not pass my smell test! People don't care what the corporate structure is! They care that the trucks are parked there....and that the same "family" is apparently involved. One reflects on the other. If Robbins is A-OK, and Pelletsdirect is not....well, the Robbins folks should not let them work out of there.....because it reflects on them.
Anyway, I hope the refund is forthcoming. Personally, I think pellets (the ones ordered or equiv) should have been provided at the promised price...because a credit card (firm order) was given. But that is another story. At this point, the customer should get their money back. Of course, we have no way from here of knowing all sides of such a story - except that we have 250,000 posts and very few like this, so I don't think people generally use the board to ruin reputations.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
