SPECIALTY MERCHANDISE CORPORATION ripoff prompt refund of money-back guarantee is a joke CHATSWORTH California

I made the downpayment to smc, received my membership kit, looked at the products and website, decided it looked pretty crappy, called smc within the 30-day examination period, cancelled membership, mailed membership kit back to smc via usps-priority mail, and waited.

one week later I called smc customer service at: 1-800-345-4762, waited for a 25 minute on hold waiting period, finally was able to speak to a representative. I was asked if I had returned my membership kit, told rep that it was returned usps-priority mail, which delivers next day mail. smc had no record of receiving kit. Called again on 12-22-2003, asked about my refund. customer serv-rep advised that the warehouse had not received the kit until 12-12-3003 after being mailed on 12-03-2003. usps does not take 9 days from oregon to california.

cust-serv-rep then advised me that i would receive my refund after january 01-2004, a 14-16 day period takes place to refund my money as per smc policy.
I attempted 6-times to report smc to the BBB and all 6 times received a "program error" "unable to submit" message each time because smc is and upstanding member of the bbb. I even emailed the webmaster of the bbb and was ignored. two other businesses that ripped me off were reported to the same bbb as smc is a member, although the other two businesses were not bbb member, and the complaint process went right through. imagine that.

the bbb of southland-cal is a joke and so is the smc. I only hope that the guy who does the advertisements on tv telling folks how wonderful smc is, gets paid plenty because he is advertising the worst company to come along in ages.. that being smc- specialty merchandising corporation. during the final phone call with smc-cust-serv-rep i informed them what i thought of their company, i would be posting the real smc on Rip-off Report, and was laughed at and told to have a merry christmas. buyer beware!!

Clay
Waldport, Oregon
U.S.A.