O' Halloran's Christmas Scam
Several lafayette residents were complaining about the local furniture store O'Halloran's. Complaints included the following:
- Delivers used furniture when new furniture is ordered
- Promises shipping dates that are not upheld
- Wrong furniture is shipped
- Horrible customer service
- Lost items after payment has been made
After hearing all of these complains from multiple sources I decided to visit the store. Here is my experience:
As soon as I walked into the store I was met by a salesman. The salesman followed my every move around the store instantly dropping prices before I even showed interest in items. I almost felt like I was in Walmart dodging "Falling Prices". After browsing the store for over an hour, I made the decision to purchase an entire bedroom set and a couch for the living room. Having all the pieces in stock, except for the bed, made it a very attractive offer. I was told the bed would be delivered mid December, and the remaining furniture that was in stock would be delivered the same weekend I purchased it. I pulled out $3000 cash and handed it over without a fight.
This is when everything took a turn for the worse!
The very next day I went visit the store to find out my beds exact shipping time. To my surprise the "Floor Model" couch was missing. I thought to myself, "There is no way these people would take me for a complete fool". I blew this off pretty quickly, hoping this was just a coincidence. I left the store with no definite shipping date, but they would contact me as soon as it was obtained.
That weekend the shippers arrived with my bedroom set and couch. The delivery truck arrived an hour before scheduled delivery. Normally early is a good thing, but an hour early caused me to leave my office, cancel my appointments, and run home to meet these guys. No big deal, or so I thought. Evidently these people took me for a complete idiot because they delivered the FLOOR MODEL couch which was dirty and full of stains. The other furniture arrived in new condition. I sent the couch right back to the store, while the manager apologized for the "Mistake".
The following week I called about my couch and no one could tell me where it was or when it was coming in. Several days later I called the store once again and was told that model was on BACKORDER. The manager assured me they would re-deliver the used couch until the other furniture was in. To my surprise the delivery company shows up with a chair and love seat! NO COUCH! Once again I called the store to find out what happened. The sales manager then lied to me and claimed he tried to contact me to let me know they sold the couch to a customer and would deliver something else. I gave this person 3 phone numbers to contact me. He did not call ONE of them.
I am writing this on January 4th, 2008 (21 days later) and still no couch, no bed, no tracking information, no shipping dates, NOTHING. This company has just verified every single complaint listed above:
- They DID deliver used furniture when I ordered new furniture
- They DID promise shipping dates and did not follow through
- They DID ship the wrong furniture
- They DID provide some of the worse customer service I have ever encountered
- They DID lose my items after I paid in cash
My next visit to the store was to collect my money. I was told all sales were final, and I could get an in store credit but NO refund. Take my money and hold me hostage. We will see what the Better Business Bureau has to say.
Better Business Bureau
Don't take my word for all of this. Read the Better Business Bureau's opinion: Better Business Bureau - O'Halloran's Furniture & Interior Market
Buyers Beware
|
