Ripped off by internet retailer? What should I do?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
I've seen some hefty charges where the shipping and insurance were listed separately -- it's another way to bump up the cost to the unaware.

Sometimes they do that so they can sell items cheaper, so they pay less commission.

[optimus2861]

Tingkai, by "thigh protector" do you mean the portion (flap) of the pad that extends above the knee to cover your upper leg when you go down for a save, or the portion that covers the inside of the leg? The former would be considered optional; the latter most definitely would not.

And cloth straps? Definitely got hosed there. I've never come across goalie pads that sell without leather straps, it's not even a question you should have to ask.

Ultimately you may just have found an unreputable dealer. If their website is now kaput perhaps they just went out of business. I'd think they deserve to for selling pads in that state. At the very least, put the word out to anyone else you know in the market that these guys aren't to be trusted.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
The point is NOT that he got a bargain on his pads, the point is that he thought he'd also recieve other goods for his purchase and he did not recieve that.

Exactly.

The retailer said they were selling me Vaughn 1400 leg pads. The picture of the pads on the site was a standard one from the company. There was nothing on the website that said some parts are optional. At the same time, there wasn't full description of the pads, but the standard description used on some other sites say the pads have thigh guards.

I'll contact the manufacturer to see what they say (Thanks Mad Monk for the suggestion). If it turns out the leather straps and thigh guards are optional then I guess I'll have to look at it from Nye's perspective. It's that even if I buy the "extra" stuff, I still got a bargain (but I'll be paying more than I intended to spend).

As for the shipping costs, it seems straight forward. The pads were sent through the US postal service. The postage stamp and the post office shipping bill says $65.40. There's no justification for charging me $100 for shipping.

The retailer said they would check into the shipping costs so I'll see what they do. If they don't do anything then I guess I'll try contacting my credit card company. Thanks for the idea SpencerH, and thanks to everyone for their comments.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The retailer said they were selling me Vaughn 1400 leg pads. The picture of the pads on the site was a standard one from the company. There was nothing on the website that said some parts are optional. At the same time, there wasn't full description of the pads, but the standard description used on some other sites say the pads have thigh guards.

Bingo... you may have something there if the manufacturer can verify they aren't 'options'. Even if they are, the PICTURES of the pads indicate that you were getting those things and it wasn't stated that protectors and straps were optional. They definetly did hose you over, but without any proof of it (and the manufacturer saying that they aren't optional is proof of screwing you over), I'm not sure what you can do.

From optimus' post it seems that leather straps are expected, so on that basis, you did get hosed.

If you can get more info (from the manfacturer) I suggest you raise a stink with them. To prevent you from going further, they may just give you those things.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
If you can get more info (from the manfacturer) I suggest you raise a stink with them. To prevent you from going further, they may just give you those things.

Thanks Imran, that's sounds like the best way to start.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by optimus2861
Tingkai, by "thigh protector" do you mean the portion (flap) of the pad that extends above the knee to cover your upper leg when you go down for a save, or the portion that covers the inside of the leg? The former would be considered optional; the latter most definitely would not.

I'm referring to the flap above the knee.

It seems odd that it would be optional because other websites list it as a standard part of the pads, but I guess I'll have to wait to see what Vaughn says.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Thanks Imran, that's sounds like the best way to start.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen my dad get his way because he yelled and screamed and asked for the manager, etc. It doesn't matter if you are an ******* over the phone... you'll never meet them .

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by Tingkai
I need advice about how to deal with an internet retailer that may have ripped me off.

I order goalie pads from an Internet retailer. The pads arrived yesterday and there were three problems:
1) I was charged US$100 for shipping, but the shipping bill on the box said it cost US$64 to ship it.
2) The pads did not have a thigh protector, a small peice of padding that is tied onto the pads.
3) The pads have cloth straps with plastic click-in buckles instead of leather straps with metal buckles.

I called the company and they said
a) they'll look into the shipping costs
b) Thigh protectors are optional
c) leather straps are optional

The company's website did not list a full description of the pads and the web page for the pads is no longer on the site. They were a discontinued model so maybe the pads are sold out. Other websites list the pads as having thigh protectors and photos show the pads appear to have leather straps.

I did get a good price on the pads: US$299 compared to other websites that sell them for $550 - $600. Buying the thigh protectors and leather straps will cost about $175.

So what should I do? How does a consumer fight back against internet retailers?

about the Cost of shiping, many internet stores do this. They sell they products really cheap then make up for it when they charge you to ship the item you buy. This is a comon pratice.

[optimus2861]

Originally posted by Tingkai
I'm referring to the flap above the knee.

It seems odd that it would be optional because other websites list it as a standard part of the pads, but I guess I'll have to wait to see what Vaughn says.

Well, for those particular pads the thigh protector might be standard equipment, but in general they're not, in my experience. I don't usually opt for them after a bad experience with one set of pads that had them (the protector continued down the inside of the pad to knee-level, and I blistered both knees something awful the first time I wore them for a game. Cut the protectors off those pads and haven't used them since, even though I'm quite sure that that particular configuration wasn't factory-standard, it was somebody's personal modification as I'd bought them second-hand.)

[chequita guevara]

Contact your credit card company. (You did use a credit card, not a debit card, didn't you?) Explain the situation to them and tell them you want to contest the charges.

Also, check your computer's cache for the webpage and the picture.