ABC Distributing ripoff Internet

I have dealt with ABC Distributing for years & find their merchandise is the same as in stores - usually brand name. I have seen the exact same items in stores or other catalogs for 4 times the cost! I do think their prices are very low. I have always had an acceptable solution to a problem.

They send an invoice with the order - you pay from it. Why would you pay for something beforehand if you have this option? Perhaps the credit card is really a debit card, which they accepted. If it was really an ABC order charged to your credit card & you did not receive the merchandise, simply notify your card company & don't pay the charged amount.

The matter should be resolved quickly by the card company. If I have not received an item, I simply deduct the cost of it and pro-rated shipping charge from my payment & have never had it questionned. Often items are back-ordered, but you have the option of cancelling at any time. I always request that as many items as possible be shipped together to avoid additional shipping charges. It's easy to cancel an item online if you don't want to wait for it.

I just looked on their website (I have banned it for months), and it has been redesigned. The key statements I found interesting (from their FAQs):

"Does abc open accounts for individuals?

Please note that we are a business to business mail order catalog company and do not solicit residential customers."

--Up until Christmas they allowed individual customers. I guess we became too much for them to handle. Oh, well, if they don't want our business...(not that I want to do business with them, but still...)

"Why don't you take credit cards any longer?

We are focusing on our core business-to-business offering, to continue to provide customers with quality products at very competitive prices..."

--See the "any longer"? It shows they did accept them before. And they are focusing on their core B2B offering, showing again that they got tired of dealing with us individuals.

:)

Yes, I purchased from ABC Distributing using a credit card both in May and November of 2005. If you read down the list of postings, you will see mine (look for "Allen, TX" location).

They charged me for a package I did not receive (over $200), so after fighting for I think it was 6 weeks to get my money back, I put in a dispute with my credit card company (Citibank Mastercard). I received an immediate credit, and after 2 months, Citibank notified me that the dispute investigation had been closed and my credit stands.

Now, I am not sure, but I believe that if enough people "dispute" charges with their credit card companies, the credit card systems (i.e., Mastercard, VISA, Amex, etc.) can either 1) charge higher fees to the merchant, or 2) strip the merchant of their use priviledges. In other words, maybe ABC does not accept credit cards anymore because they had one too many disputes and were cut off!

But yes, I was able to use a credit card since I am an individual, not a company, and chose to use a credit card rather than be billed later and have a limit on my first few orders. Not that it matters, because, as you may view in my own post, I will not be ordering from them anymore.

btw, after I received that notice from my credit card issuer, I went online and cancelled my account with ABC, notifying them to stop all emails and catalog mailings. Just last week I received a catalog in the mail! Can you believe it? I cancelled, do not want to order from them, possibly got them into trouble with the credit card people, and they wasted their money sending me a catalog! It just went straight to the recycling bin - just a little smile swept my face, a little payback I guess, for all those outrageous shipping fees I paid!

:)

Yes, I purchased from ABC Distributing using a credit card both in May and November of 2005. If you read down the list of postings, you will see mine (look for "Allen, TX" location).

They charged me for a package I did not receive (over $200), so after fighting for I think it was 6 weeks to get my money back, I put in a dispute with my credit card company (Citibank Mastercard). I received an immediate credit, and after 2 months, Citibank notified me that the dispute investigation had been closed and my credit stands.

Now, I am not sure, but I believe that if enough people "dispute" charges with their credit card companies, the credit card systems (i.e., Mastercard, VISA, Amex, etc.) can either 1) charge higher fees to the merchant, or 2) strip the merchant of their use priviledges. In other words, maybe ABC does not accept credit cards anymore because they had one too many disputes and were cut off!

But yes, I was able to use a credit card since I am an individual, not a company, and chose to use a credit card rather than be billed later and have a limit on my first few orders. Not that it matters, because, as you may view in my own post, I will not be ordering from them anymore.

btw, after I received that notice from my credit card issuer, I went online and cancelled my account with ABC, notifying them to stop all emails and catalog mailings. Just last week I received a catalog in the mail! Can you believe it? I cancelled, do not want to order from them, possibly got them into trouble with the credit card people, and they wasted their money sending me a catalog! It just went straight to the recycling bin - just a little smile swept my face, a little payback I guess, for all those outrageous shipping fees I paid!

:)

Yes, I purchased from ABC Distributing using a credit card both in May and November of 2005. If you read down the list of postings, you will see mine (look for "Allen, TX" location).

They charged me for a package I did not receive (over $200), so after fighting for I think it was 6 weeks to get my money back, I put in a dispute with my credit card company (Citibank Mastercard). I received an immediate credit, and after 2 months, Citibank notified me that the dispute investigation had been closed and my credit stands.

Now, I am not sure, but I believe that if enough people "dispute" charges with their credit card companies, the credit card systems (i.e., Mastercard, VISA, Amex, etc.) can either 1) charge higher fees to the merchant, or 2) strip the merchant of their use priviledges. In other words, maybe ABC does not accept credit cards anymore because they had one too many disputes and were cut off!

But yes, I was able to use a credit card since I am an individual, not a company, and chose to use a credit card rather than be billed later and have a limit on my first few orders. Not that it matters, because, as you may view in my own post, I will not be ordering from them anymore.

btw, after I received that notice from my credit card issuer, I went online and cancelled my account with ABC, notifying them to stop all emails and catalog mailings. Just last week I received a catalog in the mail! Can you believe it? I cancelled, do not want to order from them, possibly got them into trouble with the credit card people, and they wasted their money sending me a catalog! It just went straight to the recycling bin - just a little smile swept my face, a little payback I guess, for all those outrageous shipping fees I paid!

:)

Yes, I purchased from ABC Distributing using a credit card both in May and November of 2005. If you read down the list of postings, you will see mine (look for "Allen, TX" location).

They charged me for a package I did not receive (over $200), so after fighting for I think it was 6 weeks to get my money back, I put in a dispute with my credit card company (Citibank Mastercard). I received an immediate credit, and after 2 months, Citibank notified me that the dispute investigation had been closed and my credit stands.

Now, I am not sure, but I believe that if enough people "dispute" charges with their credit card companies, the credit card systems (i.e., Mastercard, VISA, Amex, etc.) can either 1) charge higher fees to the merchant, or 2) strip the merchant of their use priviledges. In other words, maybe ABC does not accept credit cards anymore because they had one too many disputes and were cut off!

But yes, I was able to use a credit card since I am an individual, not a company, and chose to use a credit card rather than be billed later and have a limit on my first few orders. Not that it matters, because, as you may view in my own post, I will not be ordering from them anymore.

btw, after I received that notice from my credit card issuer, I went online and cancelled my account with ABC, notifying them to stop all emails and catalog mailings. Just last week I received a catalog in the mail! Can you believe it? I cancelled, do not want to order from them, possibly got them into trouble with the credit card people, and they wasted their money sending me a catalog! It just went straight to the recycling bin - just a little smile swept my face, a little payback I guess, for all those outrageous shipping fees I paid!

:)

First Regina is right, they do take credit cards AND TOOK MINE and charged me for my product that I haven't received yet.

I ordered 2 items in March, one was a summer item. Prior to the delivery date, I received a phone call about the item delivered on 6/8. I could hardly understand him cause of his broken English. On June 8, 2006 I received one of those items. I did NOT receive the summer item. On the phone call, I had told him I did order this in March...I hadn't received either item. He stated that was NOT a problem as they don't charge until the shipment comes. NOT TRUE, you all ready took my money AND I still don't have the items.

He said oh yes, you received the summer item all ready. NO I DID NOT. I am trying to reach them now via online. But their site seems to be "PARDON MY DUST"

So I am still on hold middle of June for an item I ordered and paid for in March for this summer.

I hope I do not become a victim. But from some of the stories I am reading.... I may likely become one.

Is this the website that everyone is talking about?

I've nver used them though I have heard of them. Copied and Pasted from their FAQ:



Do you accept credit cards?

We do not accept payment in the form of credit cards.

Please note that we accept payment in the form of check or money order. Be sure to include the payment copy of your invoice or statement with your payment, indicating the amount paid per invoice. This will help us process your payment faster and more accurately.

Why don't you take credit cards any longer?

We are focusing on our core business-to-business offering, to continue to provide customers with quality products at very competitive prices. Among those offerings are open payment terms (if approved.) With open terms, you will be able to pay for your order after you receive your merchandise!

I don't doubt that anyone here used a CC, its just weird that they state they don't take them if they do indeed take them. But maybe as Ginger said, we aren't all talking about the same company.

Even though I have read on their website abcdistributing.com that they don't accept credit cards. I will take a step down and let you all have your say in this matter.

Maybe you all are using a different web site than me. I don't know.

Ginger

Just wanted to drop in to say that Reniqua is absolutely right about being able to pay by credit card when ordering online. I have ordered items from ABC several times and have everytime used my credit card when ordering. Matter of fact I ordered online last month and paid by credit card. I have never had issues with ABC (knock on wood) but I just wanted to confirm that you may use your credit card when ordering online.

I just don't get it. I have read on their website that they do not accept credit cards. This was just the other day.

By the way Steve, I hope you weren't implying that I am employee of ABC Distributing. I am self employeed and don't work for them.

But for both Steve and Reniqua, it is best to file a dispute with your credit card company for any problems with any purchases. They are the only ones that will work on your behalf.

Ginger

To have an employee of abc distributing (abc) state that abc does not charge credit card accounts is false and misleading.

I have just filed a dispute with my credit card account for a charge to my credit card account by abc.

I just placed an order today out of curiousity. I did not have to use a credit card for an online order. I have confirmed with their website that they DO NOT accept credit cards. Only check or money order.

Are you reporting on the correct company? I feel sorry for your situation, but just want to make sure you have all of the facts on this company.

Ginger

I appreciate your response however, just to clarify ABC Distributing requires you to use a credit card when you are making an online order.

I appreciate your response however, just to clarify ABC Distributing requires you to use a credit card when you are making an online order.

I don't understand how you can have an invalid credit card number when ABC Distributing doesn't even accept credit cards. You order from their website, phone, fax or mail; then they bill you when you receive the order.

The only method of payment they accept is check by mail or electronic check from their web site.

Did you provide your checking info to them before receiving your invoice? I had a hard time using their electronic check payment system online. I would get an error message saying "not an authentic routing number".

So your story doesn't make sense in that aspect. But you are right about their customer service. They are awful to deal with and I personally think that their merchandise is cheap junk.