I emailed Charlie but I somehow don't think he will give a copy to his manager. I wanted to post this in the market place (since the old thread no longer exists and to get attention) but then I thought that would probably be irresponsible of me, so I will post it here. I just hope people read it. I'm not going to go into the details really, but the email I wrote should give you a good enough idea of what transpired. It's pretty simple, really. I also know that it seems like a big deal for a small amount of money, but my complaint is the service. I sincerely regret ever having stepped foot even in the thread, ignorance really would've been bliss this time.
I'm also backing up all the emails backwards and forwards in case I need them... I was seriously hoping I could save the space, I hate having extra messages here and there, but this is something I cannot delete. I'm really annoyed about that. Anyway, here's the email...
So I hope that this helps someone to make a better decision in the future regarding anything from group buys to working with Guitar Center. I'm sure many many many purchases through them have gone fine, but there really should never be even one hiccup. I think companies need to learn some feeling, some morals, and pay out of pocket for mistakes they make.Charlie,
I must say, the wonderful United States of America really mustn't speak English, or perhaps I do not speak English. Or perhaps Guitar Center are indeed swindlers.
I do thank you for the majority of my money back, or rather I thank you for assisting in the process. Naturally Guitar Center's accountants etc. would've handled the actual transfers of funds. However, because I never trust anyone completely, and from my experience this is extremely wise, I decided to double-check the funds transferred.
Unless the Australian dollar has suddenly dropped in value compared to the U.S. dollar between the time that the money was sent and the time I checked the values, I was not sent $290.00 USD. I was sent $280.00 USD. I possibly was sent even less, unless my bank charged me more than they originally told me the fee was. While this is possible, I find it highly unlikely since I was receiving, not sending. That costs less.
However, I shan't bother chasing it up. Please give my regards to anyone involved in short-changing me, they worked out that I was an international that cannot really cause enough of a problem to warrant covering the cost of me getting the money I gave for no product back into my own account, since I am too far away to be able to really do anything. I suppose I should be glad I even have 1 cent back, however I do understand that being a prestigious company such as Guitar Center, you (the company) would have to pay at least the originally paid value back.
I'm sure that the response I would get were I to pose the above more as a question would be that I originally agreed to pay $280.00 USD and therefore this is the amount I should receive back. I disagree. I paid for a service/product that was guaranteed to me. I never received it and in fact I had to chase it up to find out what had happened. If I hadn't paid I wouldn't have bothered. I had actually disappeared off a list, or been forgotten, and there my money was sitting in someone else's account. I finally arrange to get the money back, and of all things I am sent a cheque. Not even an international cheque, a local cheque. A U.S. cheque sent to Australia. To me, this makes little sense. Why not wire the money to my account in the first place? Why not ask me first? So I contact, I end up having to ring and speak to someone, who I could not make out properly and who undoubtedly could not make me out properly, so I could argue my case. Then I have to send the cheque back. You could've just cancelled the number, I could've scanned it, or taken photos of it, but instead I had to wait to post it back. The cheque is received finally and then I receive money a few days later.
I had asked for $290.00 USD to cover the cost of getting my money back. I didn't ask the cost of originally sending the money to Guitar Center back, I didn't ask for postage or the phonecall or the amount of time that has been wasted of mine, just a small amount to get the money back in to my account.
Well since it is too much to ask, I ask you please forward this email and hand it to your manager. Better yet, print it out and give him/her a hard copy.
Or you could just delete this email like most people would do.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to have had my money back. Most of it, anyway. I know I am talking about "merely" $10.00 USD, but I'm really displeased with the lack of customer care Guitar Center seem to have. Or perhaps it is just you, but I am giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming it is Guitar Center in general.
Unfortunately, I send this to you instead of your manager since you are the only point of contact I really have.
This is partly my fault for believing that international deals like this are safe and handled properly. I shall try to never make that mistake again.
Sincerely,
Robin Clarke
Before anyone says it, I am also aware this was not an official Guitar Center group buy, which also places more weight of responsibility on Charlie... While he seemed helpful enough, at least in words, I really don't think it got through to the people with whom he works. I have no idea whether this is his fault for not bothering or their fault for not listening, but I don't really care - what's happened has happened and they can sort out the blame between them.
I just wish I knew how to get this information to the Guitar Center Boston manager... But naturally manager's email addresses don't just come up to you and say "hi", and I've been waiting months for this, feels like half a year or more, and I'm just going to leave it now except for the letter/email.
