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Very good to know! But the phrase is "on the lam". It has nothing to do with a baby sheep.

I had a friend who ordered a sofa from another company (I think Workbench furniture)and they went bankrupt before she got her order...she was out her initial downpayment of $500. It's just so wrong! How do you protect yourself from that kind of stuff when ordering furniture? I ordered from Storehouse, which seems good enough--but then again, so did Workbench!

I think that if you pay on a credit card, you're insured against that kind of thing. Credit cards don't like to make too big of a thing about it, but they usually will replace things for very specific reasons.

One of my bosses years ago got reimbursed for an kiddie swimming pool that was eaten by possums, or something like that.

And a friend got a pair of designer pair of pants replaced that had gotten some horrible stain on them, or something -- OK, the person he spoke to on the phone let out quite the geshrei (sp?) at how much the pants had cost because she'd never heard of a pair of pants costing that much, but I think he did get them replaced.

I ordered a sofabed directly from a manufacturer in March and received it in April. When I got it, the cushions did not fit right, so I immediately contacted the rep I bought from, who told me to send back the cushions, which I did right after she sent me a UPS tag in May. The rep told me that I should be receiving the replacements in about 2 weeks. When they didn't arrive after 3 weeks, I had to pester her for the next 3 months, and after threatening to contact the BBB, I finally received cushions in September, but they are the wrong type. I have a 3-cushion sofabed, but they sent me cushions for a 2-cushion model. Now I've been trying for the last 2-3 weeks to get in touch with the rep, but she no longer answers nor returns my calls. The manufacturer is in LA, and I'm in NYC.

I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau a week ago, but so far the manufacturer hasn't responded. Also, I noticed that the manufacturer has an F rating (the worst) from the BBB. When I originally bought my sofabed, the company had a C rating.

I bought the sofabed with a credit card, but I had paid off the charges back in April. I contacted my credit-card company, who will be giving me a temporary credit for the amount of the sofabed, but they said if they can't get the issue resolved with the manufacturer, then I'll have to work it out on my own.

I will hold off on naming the manufacturer for now, but its furniture is sold at many nice places, several of which have been discussed on AT.

Does anybody have any suggestions on what else I could do? Thanks in advance.

Yes, definitely pay by credit card when you're purchasing through mail order (or really, when you're making a big purchase and you're not sure of the seller.) Your credit card should protect you against stuff like merchandise not being sent or the item you receive being substantially different from the one you ordered. Your paper statement usually includes on the reverse a form to fill out to dispute a charge. When you dispute, the charge does not accrue interest while your card company investigates.

I know all this through a bad experience trying to buy some antique McGuire chairs from an out-of-state seller. It tooks months to clear it up but ultimately I was able to recoup my charges.

k, I think you should publish the name of the company here. Others should now if a vendor has an "F" rating with BBB.

My thoughts are to keep pushing your credit card company. Have you filed an "official" dispute report? Have you provided copies of correspondence, a timeline of what you received and when, that sort of thing? I would do that, and if you're not getting a good response from the phone rep, ask to speak with a manager. All credit card companies are different to some extent, but I would think you should be protected. (Unless the purchase falls outside of some set period of time for guarantees.)

Is there someone else you can speak to at the manufacturer that would supervise the person you've been dealing with? Do they have a public relations person? You might want to work that angle, saying how you were referred to this company and you will publicize your bad experience to others if they don't rectify the situation.

Also, give these people (manufacturer) deadlines. Tell them by when you expect your complaint resolved. I find in work and in life people never hop to do anything unless there is a deadline.

Good luck.

K - what is the name of the manufacturer? I don't see waiting for them to continue to ignore you for much longer before it's justified to let others know so they don't get screwed as well, especially since you say this is a well known manufacturer that sells in many locales.

contact a local tv news consumer reporter -- I've found that's the only thing that works fast!

Keri, Thanks for responding. Again, I will wait to see what happens before posting the manufacturer's name. I want to see if the BBB filing and my credit-card company can resolve this issue.

I did file the official dispute form with my credit-card company, providing a detailed timeline, all of my receipts and lots of e-mail correspondence that detail the whole affair. I just mailed everything out on Monday, so I'll give them some time before contacting them again.

The receptionist at the manufacturer seems to be screening my calls, or possibly warning my rep not to pick up before transferring me to her.
I've tried to speak to the rep's supervisor, but the receptionist told me that she has nobody above her. I've also tried calling the president of the company several times. The last time, the receptionist transferred me and I waited on hold for 30 minutes before giving up. I called back immediately, and then nobody, not even the receptionist, would answer the phone.

I'll keep in mind your tip about warning the manufacturer about going public with this to try to spur them to action.

Didn't someone say on AT recently that he/she had a problem with some company, posted negative comments about the company on the Garden Web, and then the company said that because of the posting, would no longer help out the customer? I thought I read something like that in the last 2-3 weeks here, but I can't find it.

Sneaky tip from someone who does PR: If this company has a public relations rep, they have undoubtedly sent out press releases. Google around--or maybe just check the company's Web site. Just about any press release you can find should list the DIRECT phone number for their PR person.

Just make sure you have prepared what you are going to say before call: what you want the company to do and what you will do if the problem isn't resolved. Be polite but firm.

I probably get half a dozen calls like this each year. If someone is reasonable, I do what I can to help.

I don't think threatening to go to the media really helps. I hear this all the time*, but the fact is, most reporters are not interested in one person's bad experience, unless it is really dramatic and life-alteringly awful. Just watch the news. Most consumer fraud stories involved several customers.

I do think, though, if you said you got their name from an Internet community dedicated to home decorating and that you will publicize your negative experience would be a reasonable thing to say.

*Not to make it sound like my company is awful. They're pretty great, but I work in healthcare and we do get some complaints.

Keri, Thanks again for the tips. I will try contacting other people within the company and seeing if they can help. Unfortunately, the receptionist at the company seems to be blocking my calls, so I'm not sure if I can get through to anyone. However, the company's website does give e-mail addresses of everyone. I've tried contacting the president, but that doesn't do anything.

I only just now noticed the change in the spelling, due to my little post. I feel a little bit like David Schwimmer's Ross Geller character on "Friends", who constantly corrects everybody's grammar. Not sure if I'm proud or not! He he he he.

k,
you may want to try from another phone, or give another name when you get a hold of the receptionist...may at least get you through to the rep

just a thought

Kristen, I've thought about doing what you suggested, but I haven't done it yet.

I think that thinking that buying on your credit card will protect you from scamming companies is dangerous...my friend had NO luck with that in her sofa dispute, and neither did I when I was charged for a hotel room in France that I cancelled. The hotel eventually refunded my money, after many long distance phone calls, but my credit card basically said they could do nothing about it without a "cancellation number," which that small hotel really didn't use...anyway, caveat emptor.

I am a total shopaholic and have ordered on line, in stores, through catalogues, etc. and have been through similar situations quite a few times. Ninety-nine percent of the time when people at companies who owed me something, etc., I do the following:

Ask the person who answers (usually the receptionist) that it is important to speak to the person in charge. If - as they did to you K, keep you on hold call, or not call you back, etc. *67 to hide your phone number.

Explain to the receptionist that no one has called you back and you now want to speak to their legal department. (Remember be nice to the receiptionship/switchboard operator they are pretty much the low man on the totem pole at these places) Once you have reached the legal department it is important that you use something along the the following lines: I am putting you on notice that I have not received the proper cushions nor has anyone from the company called to explain when I will receive the new ones. I consider this fraud and a misrepresentation by this company. I will have no other alternative but to continue in small claims court unless this situation can be rectified within the next ten business days. Make sure you get hte person's name, address and direct phone number of the person in the legal department. I would then put the same thing in writing and mail it certified mail return, receipt requested.


Good luck

I had a very similar thing happen- I ordered a chair from Portico and paid the customary 1/2 of the price deposit at the time of my order. When delivery time came, there was no word from the company, and after I contacted them was informed shipment would be delayed 2 weeks. Another 3 weeks went by and still nothing, this time around after I contacte them, I was informed by a shop clerk (the customer service dept. no longer existed) that the company was going bankrupt and I would have to complete a claims form. Translation: several years after bankrupcty litigation I might get a percentage of the money I had paid from the settlement. After a very long explanation (with proper documentation) that it is customary in furniture purchase to place a deposit and have to wait 2-3 months or longer for manufacture and delivery, I was able to get a refund from my credit card company (YEAH!). Bottom line was I paid for goods that I never received. After sharing my story with other merchants, I have been told that American Express offers the best fraud protection to its customers, and even though I used Visa, I did receive a credit. Good Luck.

i've been waiting three months for a table from Terence Conran . (That's three months after the three month standard waiting period). They've waived the delivery fee but promise me its coming. BBB says there are no complaints but I am growing increasingly annoyed.

cristy--
I've had really good luck with Conrans (delivery-wise, that is... the follow-up skills of their sometimes-haughty employees leaves a bit to be desired), but since they carry a huge range of manufacturers, I'm guessing the experiences will vary based on level of customization and individaul vendor.

I ordered the Rolly shelving unit from there, and literally had to stall THEM... expecting a 6-week delivery or worse, I was shocked (and unprepared) for their answer of "How's this Wednesday?"

And their delivery process was without a hitch, and the guys were great.

Regarding complaining back to a comapny, or escalating the problem... put it in writing.

I got great (nervous, apologetic, solution-offering) responses from two letters I sent to Bloomingdale's.

I doubt a phone call would have yielded the same response.

Update: Last Friday, I sent e-mail to the president, the media contact, the VP of operations, and the CFO stating that if I didn't get a response by the end of Tuesday, I would post all of the details of this episode on various interior-design websites. To my utter surprise, I actually got a call from someone at the company today, who said that he was going to straighten things out tomorrow. Given all of the broken promises so far, I'm still somewhat skeptical that something will get done, but we'll see.

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. I hope it all works out. I'll keep you posted.

Maxwell,

Thank you for putting this post up. I ordered a dresser in September that has not arrived - and after several rounds with her and finding at least 10 other people similarly defrauded by Didi I do not expect to - but I'll keep hoping. Didi consistently says that other people were supposed to do this or that and now claims she does not own Haute Decor (Mirrored Furniture when I started dealing with her) and is not responsible. So that other people will not be ripped off as we all have been it is important to make this as public as possible. I will learn to check with the BBB before sending a check to someone. It is awfully that there are people with so little regard for others out there - don't know how they sleep at night.

didi rainey is wanted for fta,s in huntsville,al. she no longer is living at her posted address.{she was evicted}.do not believe anything this lady says.she is a fraud..

Re Mirrored Furniture, there is a Company called www.Fairgreenco.com who make fantastic custom items and ship them anywhere you want and they always deliver.

where is didi rainey now. i've been trying to recover 2,000 since january of 2005.

I might have some information regarding Didi Rainey. Please contact me at 256-348-6141.

I have read through the emails posted above and the only legitimate person who oredered from Haute Deor is Dana Hayes. Do not know Nadia, E, etc...

Again, I can do nothing but apologize to the customers who were affected by this fraudelent business. And I do admit it was fraudelent. I hope no lady ever has to deal with the circumstances and liability that I shall have to overcome.

Not only did I invest my mother's money and savings but took in your money, only to have others embezzle (sp) it for their own good. I was being paid $350.00 a week of which I had to beg for...

Maxwell,

Hope this website address will help all the people who were taken for a ride...such as yourself! Customers will be able to submit a claim form, etc.

Didi

Ordered 2 chairs from storehouse in early August. Paid balance in full and was told I'd have them in 4-6 weeks. Followed up again this weekend and was told the parent company is bankrupt and they can't issue credit. Beware of this company!

You all should really think before you start putting out horrible posts and fraud charges against this woman. Did you all ever think it's possible that it's not HER fault?
I think you all are pathetic.
Think before you start doing all this cruel judging and pointing.
Didi Rainey is not a fraud.

I worked for Didi Rainey April and May of 2005. She seemed so legitimate and was so talented! She's from a wealthy background, Mother's a doctor, solid family here, and she seemed to be solid. Was I ever wrong! She never paid all my wages and owes me a bundle! After all her "promises," she still owes me a lot!!!

I like the many posted here have also been a victim of Didi Rainey. I use to live with Didi Rainey in Florida in 2002. Both of our names were on the lease for the apartment. She wrote me several bad checks and left the apartment without notice, leaving me with having to pay her share in order to save my credit. She owes me a few thousand dollars, which I have a judgment against her for. If anyone knows where I might find her, so I am able to collect on this judgment; I would be willing to give you $1000. My email is tris7654@gmail.com and my name is Tristan. I have been trying to track her down for many years now.

Di Di was living with her aunt in Athens Alabama summer of 2007. Not sure where she is now. No telling!!

Good Luck finding her.

Didi is now living in Springfield Mo-I had posted an ad on Craigslist to rent out a room in my home and she responded-hey believe me she is a scam artist-she does not pay her rent so currently he belongings are on my porch-she is still in Springfield staying with a friend of hers -the friends name is Stacy Inmon