RBM Merchandising Takes too long to send materials after check clears. Lake Zurich Illinois

In late 2007, I saw the ad for RBM Merchandising in an issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine. It said that it was free, and since I was in need of some supplemental income (and therefore without any extra cash to spend for starting anything), I thought I might check it out. I sent the information required by the ad into the address given.

A few weeks later, I received my SASE back, containing two fliers, one each about 1) their alarm systems, and 2) their light-up roses. I thought the light-up roses were more interesting than the alarm systems, so I filled out the application for that. On that application, I said that I could send about 250 "catalogues" per week, and sent in the $4 (in addition to the $25 start-up fee) extra for expedited shipping on 12/14/07.

The next correspondence I received from this company included two envelopes, two labels (printed on a dot-matrix printer--very low-tech), two stamps, two fliers printed on the front and back of glossy paper (supposedly catalogues), an order form and a price list with instructions on it for me.

I was a bit surprised to find that I was NOT sent 250 addresses, labels, "catalogues," envelopes and stamps to start with, and that I would have to pay for the labels and the catalogues too, but against my better judgment, I forked out $66 for 300 catalogues, 300 addresses, a rubber stamp with my address on it, and a foam stamp ink pad. This was on 2/2/2008.

As of today, 3/21/2008, the only part of my order which I have received is the rubber stamp (which, granted, is of the same quality as most custom stamps I have seen)--I was not even sent the ink pad to go with it, which seems a bit ridiculous, considering I cannot use the stamp without the ink. I received the stamp last week.

I find it absolutely unacceptable that it should take more than five weeks for simple paper products (plus an ink pad and stamp) to be delivered, especially considering that there is so little real transit time for the mail these days.

Given the small distance from Maryland to Illinois (compared to that from Illinois to Washington), I had originally expected my COMPLETE order to be delivered within two or three weeks at the most, and all at once in a box--preferably shipped UPS or FedEx, instead of through the United States Postal Service like the stamp was.

Either this company seriously needs to get into the 21st century when it comes to keeping track of their orders (how am I supposed to be able to mail their "catalogues" on a weekly basis when I don't even receive my orders on a MONTHLY one?), they have no intention of sending my complete order, or both.

DSDragon
Frederick, Maryland
U.S.A.