Guitar Center Houston Store #442 Ordered Subwoofers Sat AM, Emailed 26+ hours later speakers already sold to somebody else! Houston Texas

On Saturday Morning, July 6th, I ordered online with my credit card 2 Used Electro Voice Eliminator kW Dual 18inch Subwoofers from GC Used Gear Website. Got Confirmation order #1xxxxxxx4. Email of my order Time Stamped:  Sat, 6 Jul 2013 15:12:34. GMT

Within the next 12 minute period, I then ordered 3 other used products from GC Used Gear Website based upon this purchase. 2 Crown Power Amps and an EV full range speaker.  I did all this Saturday morning before leaving town. Before I left and powered down my computer, I got back from Guitar Center via email...4 different " Thank You for Your Order" Replies. All with different order numbers and Saturday's date. Let the gear flow...to me... I then left town. without a computer.

Got back Tuesday, checking email, found that 3 orders have been shipped. Largest order has not shipped. In my email dated Sunday July 7th, I got an email support ticket  date/time stamped Sun, 7 Jul 2013 17:33:09 Support Ticket: 1xxxxx2

Mr Working Man 559

Thank you for your interest on our used pair of EV Eliminator Subs. Unfortunately these had already been sold to someone else a couple of hours before you requested them. At this point we can cancel the order or you and if you would like we can try and help you find something similar at one of out\r other locations. We apologize for the inconvenience and we will be happy to help you with your next purchase.

Mr Responder

Sales & Training Manager
Guitar Center Houston

different first name.
Guitar Center North Houston
16745 N. Freeway
Houston, TX 77090-5100
Phone: 281-537-9100

I called the phone number on the support ticket, I was told that Mr. Responder no longer worked at that GC store. When I explained why I had called, in response to a support ticket, the nice lady said that he had moved on and was working at a different GC.  That was the store that I had purchaced the Subs from. I thanked her for her help, I said I had the other store's phone number, and disconnected. The return contact information was for the responders previous GC North Houston Store.

I called the correct GC store and was transfered to Mr Responder. He said he had worked at the other GC store for 8 years before moving to his current location...I identified myself and the support ticket, and said that I was very dis-satisfied on several points:

a) That 3 other purchases totaling over $850. were made based upon the receipt of confirmation of the purchase of the 2 kW subs. 

b) That somebody from GC didn't call me as soon as their error was discovered.

c)  That their discovery of their error didn't trigger a phone call to me right away. I was instead sent an e-mail 20+ hours after I had made the purchase, and the e-mail had the wrong contact information on it.

d) That no other Used EV Eliminator kW subs are/were for sale Anywhere at Any Guitar Center Store in North America.

e) That my credit card still has the pending authorization against it for the 2 kW Subs, 2 Warranty Repairs, shipping & handling and Sales Tax totaling over $1200 dollars.

f)  That I had made rental commitments based upon their e-mailed Saturday Morning Purchase Confirmation

g) That I doubted the EV kW Subs were "actually / already sold to somebody else" a couple of hours before I requested them. 

I said that I doubted that the speakers were sold a couple of hours before I purchased them on Saturday at 812am pacific time, because that would have had the buyer instore at 8am Central Time, 2 hours before GC opens in Texas.  

By this time I was getting very angry and I didn't want to be profane or overly rude, so I asked for the store manager to call me back regarding this issue.

I didn't get a call back from anybody before 830pm local time tonight, so I called the Customer Service Number.

First I talked to Joe at a call center in Utah, btw: nice guy, but he didn't work with used gear purchases. He asked if he could put me on hold so he could get somebody from the Used Gear Dept to help, was back in under 45 seconds,  he then bridged me on with Katie who was looking at the Support ticket. In my restating points a-g, Katie said that Credit Card purchases over one thousand dollars get put under a 24 hold and/or are reviewed to minimize fraud. After the hold, the orders are released to the local store for processing...

WHAT A GLITCH! According to Katie, my purchace didn't hit the Houston Texas Guitar Center store's computer until Sunday Morning, yet I got a purchase confirmation Saturday Morning

I restated points a-g, and added:

h)  So if I had broken up the purchase into 2 smaller charges @ approx $625 ea, the kW Subs might already be mine and on the way to me in California, and we might have avoided this whole disappointing episode and instead would have me as a very satisfied customer. 

Katie said she would send an E-mail to the Store Manager regarding the situation.

I thanked her for her time and disconnected again.  

After calming down over a few hours...I Now Vent and add these advisory(s):

1)   For buying used Gear from GC....call the selling store & get the gear ordered and paid for with a live person over the phone...the website has MAJOR ISSUES.

2)   Don't spend over a thousand dollars on the GC Used Gear Website with a Credit Card or you Might not get what you ordered...even if you get a confirmation emailed to you.

I will update this after I get contacted by Guitar Center, Houston Texas...