False Advertising / Shipping Charges

ComplaintsOnline StoresHeartland America

Complaint

0
Edward Holman
Country: United States
I placed an order last night after a window popped up stating that the item i was looking at, if purchased right now today 6-25-09 Qualified for free shipping. A very small discalimer under the item said some items would incure an oversize Shipping charge. after purchasing i was hit with a
order processing charge of 2.99 plus shipping charges of 12.95. Today when going back to their sight the oversized shipping charge is listed at 4.95.

When i called to ask for my free shipping as advertised, I was told that the item i purchased is oversize as the the charges will not be adjusted,
I said that i should only have to pay the oversize charge that my purchase
said free shipping today only ... after getting disconected 4 times asking for a superviser the supeviser girl said there was nothing she was going to do, that the shipping and handling charges would remain. But she did admit that the pop up ad "purchase now window for free shipping" was a problem. she just could not do anything about it and if i wanted to complain i could write a Mr. Richard Winters.  Very Shady , No regard for the customer, deceiving practices, poor customer service, false and misleading Ads.... I Will Never Purchase from them Again! EVER!

Comments

  • 0
    tj
    | 3 replies
    Basically "bait and switch".  

    The pop-up window represented that they were offering a deal on shipping if you accepted now.  They made an offer, failed to disclose what they now claim are additional terms, you accepted their offer based on what they had disclosed, and they then charged amounts different from what they had disclosed.  

    "Shipping and handling" is NOT just some common carrier's charges, it is their own charges which they could have disclosed.  They admitted they failed to disclose and charged you different from what they did disclose.

    File complaints with BBB, your state AG, and FTC.  Also file a dispute for their excess charge over their original offer through your credit card company.  Send a dispute letter to them directly, noting at the bottom "CC: <your state AG>, FTC"

    If they don't want to play chicken, they should cave over $8.00.
    • 0
      Former Heartland America Employee replies to tj
      | 2 replies
      I used to work for HLA (Heartland America) and "Richard Winters" is a fictitious person. There is one representative that pretends to be "Mr. Winters" via email, and another individual that pretends to be "Mr. Winters" via phone, and his name is Valentino, or "Tino," though I have not worked there in several years. "Richard Winters" is not a real person, and the real owner lives in MN somewhere in the Waconia or Victoria area. After working there several years, I can honestly say, this is the shadiest, most dishonest and vindictive company I have ever worked with. A majority of the employees use illegal substances while on their 10 minute breaks, and sell these same substances to each other, aka dealing them. They take advantage of vulnerable adults and manipulate their customers into believing the product is in great condition. Most of the products are "refurbished" or "factory-serviced," aka, they have fallen off the conveyor belts of the manufacturer's facility and sold the partially damaged, but functioning (usually), product to Heartland America so they can mark it down and customers believe they are purchasing with great value! They also recharge their "Value Club, Elite Club, etc" illegally, by running each credit card on that customer's order history until the membership charge is authorized on one of them when a year's time rolls around. Very nasty, greedy, filthy, and morally corrupt individuals working for and running this company!!!
      • 0
        I'm in ky. Just reported a complaint to the MN Attorney General. Getting ready to complaino the Ky AG and US postal Inspectors as well as the FTC. You need to reveal yourself to the MN AG and put a stop to this company. Especially the drug part. They need to be shut down.
      • 0
        There are no ethics here.
        As a former employee, I felt guilty every day.
        Their goal is to sell junk to the unknowing.
        Memberships are a joke and the fees are generally hidden from the customer.
  • 0
    No problems with this company myself
    Try their customer dept on the webpage
    they always are good with me and make adjustments too
  • 0
    daughter
    My parents ordered phones one was broken so they sent her a prepaid label and had her send it back to them. When she didn't get a replacement she called and they told her she should have insured the package and she was out of luck. I have called and argued with these people who lack customer service skills. They refuse to send phones or refund because they don't know where phones where sent and are not taking responsibilty. THEY SHOULD HAVE Worked beware of buying.
  • 0
    redessa osborne
    I was very satisfied with my phone that I purchased on 5/31/09 with a extended warranty, I called & explain I have warranty ,Iwas told no more of the same phones in stock, & to send phone back foe refund. I explain what was I suppose to do in the meantime,either order another phone now with them or purchase one locally,I was told either way I would have to pay for return shipping.  I was not HAPPY with either option.
  • 0
    John Gentelia
    I ordered 2 identical speaker sets a total quantity of 4 speakers that were priced a $39.99ea.  These speakers were on closeout and since the price was something I could afford due to needing to order 4 I put my internet order in as soon as I received the mailer.  I was so happy I mistakenly signed up for value club membership and bought 2 additional items for a grand total of $228.99.  I received order confirmation and shipping information for 1 box.  The items arrived in 1 big box but were missing 2 of the 4 speakers and of course when I phoned customer service to alert them they agreed 2 were missing but they were sold out and there was nothing they could do but refund the 2 missing speaker charge.  I checked on their website and find the same size same mfg speaker but a newer model which was $30.00 more and a suitable replacement as far as not looking like I picked a bunch of speakers up at at least 2 different garage sales.  No they were not going to make a happy likely to return customer instead they have made an unhappy and tell everyone not to order from them customer?
  • 0
    John Gentelia
    It just keeps getting better.  I go to try the 2 speakers I did get and after setting the first one up I go to remove the second from the packaging and the dreaded re-taping on the plastic wrap indicating a return and sure enough there is something rattling around the speaker cabinet.  Then since I want to hear them I go to hook up the speaker wires and one of the places to slip the wire in is missing the screw used to hold the wire in place.  Now it is either toss them across the room or finish hooking them up just to hear them.  I do and it does sound as if the returned speaker is without bass?
  • 0
    Leslie Notaro
    | 1 reply
    I tried placing an order for two umbrellas on the website.    When the price that showed was not what was in the catalog, I called the 800 order number.    I was told that the published price included a rebate and that I could only get one rebate per order.     I told the operator that I did not want to place the online order, but would order through her.   I placed two order over the phone --- one umbrella to be shipped to me, and one umbrella to be shipped to my husband.    
    Imagine my surprise when I received 4 umbrellas shipped to me!   None to my husband.    
    After numerous phone calls, I was told to contact the famous "Richard Winters" at rwinters@heartlandamerica.com.   Sent an email almost 3 weeks ago, and still no reply.  (See the comment by Edward Holman above.)

    I was also told that I would need to pay to return the 2 extra umbrellas.    I told them that since I had not ordered the other 2 umbrellas, I would consider them a gift.  
    When I protested, they sent one return label.    
    like many of the other comments above, I do not intend to ever do business with Heartland America again.
    • 0
      Jason replies to Leslie Notaro
      Well I am yet another victim that has fallen prey to Heartland America.  This is just ridiculous.  When I was told to email Richard Winters, I was actually given two different emails for him.  So they can't even get their stories straight.
  • 0
    Nobodyknowsme
    The catalog is not deciteful. Everything is included on the catalog. Shipping charges, rebates, processing fee. All you have to do is really look through the catalog and ALWAYS look at the order form. The represenatives will also tell you about any additional charges they are supposed to its apart of their job. The employees are monitored on calls by supervisors.

Post a new comment