Shopss.CoN, the saga continues, # 5

[JJordan]

Time for a new thread. Let's try to keep track of Shopss.Con and CC disputes. Also, has anyone else filed an on-line complaint atgainst them ? If so, I would be interested to know if anyone has heard anything. I have heard nothing from mine. Post Away !

Oh, and here is the link to the last thread in case someone missed it http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=176936

Edit 6/22: My dispuite was filed 5/31. Finally today (6/22) I received a provisional credit. Since I had paid the bill I had a credit balance in my account. I called the CC Company and they are going to send me a check. They said it was not final and that shopss.con could try to recharge the card, but they would send me the check now. Take the money and RUN !!!!!! -- Now I just have to wait to see what Shopss.CoN does.

Edit 6/26: Got my check from the CC Company today, but also got a letter saying that Shops.CoN has 45 days to "recharge the account." Guess I have to wait 45 days to spend the cash on a new processor.

 

[hkchan]

I asked this question before and since there was no response I'll ask again.

Has anyone who received the complete pc months ago been able to sucessfully dispute the charge based on the argument that the web site's been down for months?

 

[webviperr]

Hey JJordan, its already in FAT32. Wierd y it keeps showing only 2 gigs in my computer since it always shows 13 gig on boot up.

 

[pyr]

webviperr: I am making some assumptions in my reply to you because I am just guessing what you are talking about. the 13gb showing up on boot is just your BIOS detecting that it is a 13gb drive. now if windows is finding 2gb then I can almost assure you that it is partitioned improperly. run fdisk from a dos prompt and see what partitions you have setup on the drive. if you just have a 2gb partition then you need to redo everything *or* use the rest of the drive for another partition

 

[hychka]

hkchan,
No, but I'm trying.

 

[StupidAsStupidIs]

webviperr, try fdisk and format again. Could you start another thread like tech. problem associated with shopss-PC?

Let's keep this thread related to CC dispute only, please.

I filed my dispute two months ago and got conditional credit a week later. However I received a letter asking me to return the PC box back to shopss.com, otherwise CC company (Citibank, damned) will take the credit back. I rewrite a letter asking refund of 299 and attached the 10K report. Hope it is worthy the postage!

JJordan, what's your CC bank? Seems better than mine.

 

[M O M O]

hum..So some of your credit companys are asking that you return the compture... I've gotten a letter stating that my dispute is over. I wonder if they will ask me to return it..

 

[pyr]

If you are asked to send the PC back by your CC, You could quite possibly tell your CC company that you are unable to do so because you cannot reach anyone. or you could just say you did and since the CC co will never be able to find out anyways how will they know?

 

[randypj]

M O M O--I would say your letter makes it pretty durn final.

For those whose cc is telling you that you need to return it. I don't remember what the contract said, but I would think you would have to get an RMA. So, probably just an email requesting an RMA from whomever you are supposed to request RMA from. Be sure and include a drop dead date, maybe 5 days from date you send the email. If they don't reply, a copy of that with non-response should convince your cc. Always show all headers with copies you send to the cc.
--Randy

 

[JJordan]

My CC Company appears to be Travelers Bank on the CC, but the letter I got acknowledging the dispute was from the CC Processing Center and says "Thank you for your recent request regarding your Citibank USA Account." -- I have no idea -- it is an old card, so maybe the bank was bought out.

From my earlier posts, you may recall that when I called my CC Company, they told me that I had to ship back the computer if I was complaining that I did not get what I ordered. As such I structured my dispute as a dispute of the $299 membership fee (check out the earlier threads, I explained what I did). Most people are disputing it all and that is great, however, if you are having trouble with the CC Company requiring you to return the computer, maybe you should consider focusing on the membership and total failure of Shopss.Con to even be open, much less provide what they promised in the form of service. I also pointed out the PC was Free a LOT in mine -- I did not buy a PC -- I bought a prepaid membership. Also quoted the part of the contract that said I get to lkeep the PC, so why would CC Company require me to return it.

That prepaid membership is what I lost out on. My provisional credit is only $299 becuase I conceded that I agreed to accept the CPU'less computer, so I agreed to pay shipping. I wanted to make as sure as I could that my CC Company could not tie my dispute to the computer becuase they had already told me I had to ship it back to get credit.

A provisional credit does not mean that I Win. It can still be reversed, so I do not consider myself out of the woods yet.

 

[StupidAsStupidIs]

Pyr, my CC asked shipping postage receipt.

randypj, what's RMA?

JJordan, for the second time, I did exactly what you did. I only asked $299 this time just want get away of the returning issue. However, i am having bad feeling with my CC. They never call me, just sent me forms like "__ I never received the item" or " __ I shiped the item back on __ ". I doubt they ever had a look at my letters! I guess I had better to call them?

 

[JJordan]

RMA is Returned Merchandise Authorization. It is what many companies require before you return someth8ing to them -- you have to get an RMA Number. I do not recall anything like that from Shops.CoN's agreement/policies, but request one in an e-mail if you really want to send it back. I know you focused on the $299. Return their form explaining that you did not buy a computer and are contesting the charges for the $299 prepaid membership fee becuase Shopss.Com is Out Of Business and has no services to provide for the fee -- basically just send back the form telling them what you said the first time and state your dispute is not about the FREE COMPUTER that is yours to keep under the contract -- quote the contract that says it is yours so they can't miss it. May not help, but that is all I can tell ya. Good Luck to us all !.

 

[randypj]

JJordan--yeah maybe bought out or they 3rd party disputes? Prob. bought out. I believe provisional is while they are in "holding pattern" looking into it, notifying the company. So, if you get the $299 back, you're still ahead, just a lot of aggravation?

StupidAsStupidIs--JJordan correct me if I'm wrong. I believe your cc should credit you while the dispute is pending? Just remember, a call "might" give you some info, but hard copy proof of delivery of letter(s) is needed. IME, it has been best to bombard them with all the paperwork you have, including a cover letter succinctly stating for what and why you want credit, and that copies of documents are attached that show you are entitled to credit. Heck, you could even attach full header copies of their spam emails and point out that you only received x amount. LOL..using their non-spam against them.

I usually highlight all the points in the documents that support my position, and mention that I have highlighted pertinent points in documentation. The paperwork has never failed to overwhelm them.

JJordan--I am disputing a CompScrewUSA charge now. It'll be interesting to see if I can "paperwork swamp" them.
--Randy

 

[M O M O]

hum.. i disputed the full amount 371.. I told them the story and I made it clear that I had made many attempts to contact Shopss.con. I told them the story about their lack of responce and their empty promises of a cpu.

I coudnt send it back anyways.. I've already sold the zip drive

Hope everyone gets their money back

 

[conroeguy]

It took me 4 months but I came out of this smelling like a rose. I got all my money back. All $371 from Webcertificate. So I bought a PIII 700mhz flipchip for about $212 after rebates.

So it all has a happy ending for me. Best of luck to the rest of you!

 

[bigdaddynobucks]

I have complained online to the bbb, and the ftc, is there anywhere else to do it? Get this, I called shops and put in sandys ext. and someone picked up the phone???!!!! Of course it wasent sandy, and the person told me she would give a message. Has shops responded to anyones emails, or phone calls lately,? How many people singed up for the shops deal? could it be that they were just trying to get extra cash for the tele-communications comp. they just bought? hehe well if anyone can answer these questions ( and more ) please email me at whendrix@plba.com

and by the way, even if you did dis the credit charges, go ahead and file with the bbb and ftc, lets show shopss.com just how far we can shuv the broom stick up there////////

 

[AaronP]

I hope you guys come out on top, but man I gotta say, I am sure glad that I didn't partake in this deal. I remember when everyone was talking so positivly about it like 6 months ago, and I just knew that some crap was gonna happen.

 

[UKnowWhat]

I dispute with BofA based on the premise that I have canceled the contract with shopss.con and withdrawed my authorization for shopss.com to charge my card (4/5). They have not charged my card till 4/13 a week after my email of cancellation. They then send me a pc without a cpu/ no speaker/ no keyboard. Of course I asked them to send because I was concerned I might lose everything if they go under, so at least I can have a pc sans CPU etc.
The dispute has started on April 16th and I have not heard anything from BofA. Anyway, JJordan do you think if BofA asked me to send the pc back, can I try a second dispute based on the membership contract?

Thanks

 

[pyr]

AaronP: I came out on top and im sure others did as well. i got a free CPUless computer out of the deal and all my money back

 

[vipersky]

Hi everyone:
I signed up using Webcertificate at the end of Febuary, requested and received the CPU-less computer around April, and disputed the webcertificate charges several weeks ago. It took them about 5 days to credit back my account, they seemed to be definitely aware of ShopSS's situation. Hey Conroeguy, I saw in your other post that you didn't get the P-3 700Mhz to work, did you try this in the ShopSS computer with the Aopen MB? And is anyone else out there having problems with the Aopen MB, P-3 700Mhz, and MSI 6905 slocket like I am?

 

[JJordan]

UKnowWhat, I would just "modify" the dispuite and explain why you do not need to send it back -- Just point them to the contract that says the Computer is FREE (i.e., you did not buy a computer) and that the membership is what you are not getting. The computer is yours to keep in the event of a breach (quote the contract). I suspect Shopss.Com will be responding to all these diputes in the near future (they are busy now with their "acquisition" I suspect) and when they do, the banks will start acting on them more defeinitvely and we will know what we have to do. Just Hang On !!!!!!!

 

[prontospyder]

Hey everyone:

Can someone update me on this shopss situation? I was one of the first to sign up for the deal and got the computer a month later. But I haven't been getting their emails or advertisements recently. Have they gone out of business?

Will I be affected by these recent developments? Thx.

 

[bigdaddynobucks]

Hang on you say jjor. we have been hanging on for about 6months!
This is the worst comp. i have seen in my life. They have taken our cash, and gained intrest (sp) on it. prob about $35 each! while im
stuck here with no computer no cash, and no compineey that i was going to start when the computer arrived! I am realy ticked off.
I have been sending emils and leaving phone messages to shops for
weeks, with no reply. Is this illegal? should i contact the law.
or is all i can do is notify the bbb, ftc,. what about the atorney gen. of ny, has anyone told them about this. this is just crazy!
all the cash i have in the whole world (prty sad isent it) is tied up
with shops. *sigh* I guess there is not much else to do but hope for the best.

 

[JKurtz]

Your best bet:

The FBI has a web site devoted to internet fraud:

http://www.ifccfbi.gov

Or, the Federal Trade Commission

http://www.ftc.gov

I posted a complait at the FTC, but haven't done the FBI one yet. I'll probably do it this weekend.

BTW: My credit card company (Citibank Platinum Select) is really (really!) dragging their feet on my dispute, so, I'm faxing them the two latest SEC filings that basically says that Shopss.com is insolvent and can't fulfill orders (in their own words none-the-less).

 

[JJordan]

The "Just Hang On" comment meant "Don't Give Up," not "Be Patient." Sorry for the confusion. I have filed complaints with the FTC and the IFCC. I did this long ago and think EVRYONE SHOULD ! I update my IFCC complaint with new information when I have it. I have heard from them and don't know how to find out the status of either complaint, but I keep sending stuff along. In case you have not read all the hundreds of posts in these dozens of Shopss.Com threads since February, I have been railing against these guys for months. I want people to fight and file complaints and make it known these guys are liars and frauds. They lied to us about the processors to get us to take computers w/o CPU's becuase in my opinion they KNEW from the Shops.Isreal fiasco that doing so would make it harder to dispute CC charges. Did they lie abut processor shortages ? Of course they did. Read the 10K. They admit that at the time they told us they were not being shipped becuase of a shortage and were just waiting on the supplier, THEY HAD NO CASH and COULD BUY NO GOODS. And of course, where is the shortage on speakers and keyboards -- heck, Rockeboard gives them away FREE and Shopss.Com cannot ship me one. Bull Crap. Make it clear when you file the complaint that the lied to us and cheated us for $$$$ to try to save a failing company at our expense. There defense of "Ship back the computer and we will give you credit" -- Yipee -- make us pay $50 shipping and HOPE this defunct company will someday give us credit. Fat Chance. They knew what they were doing to hoard cash at the end. Who they paid, I have no idea, but is was not us. The 10k has plenty of good stuff to support a complaint.

There, does that sound like I am saying be patient