SC KIOSKS, INC. E-MAIL SENT 1/18/08 TO RADIOSHACK CUSTOMER CARE COLUMBIA South Carolina

Sent the following message to Radioshack customer care on 1/18/2008:

RE: SC KIOSKS, INC. @ Sam's Club 6203
350 HARBISON BLVD
COLUMBIA, SC 29212

SALES MANAGER: SANDRA JOYNER
DISTRICT MANAGER: CHRIS COFFEE

PROBLEM: SC KIOSKS AND ALLTEL 15 DAY RETURN POLICY NOT HONORED FOR A DEFECTIVE ITEM (AS VERIFIED BY THE SALES ASSOCIATE) THAT WAS PURCHASED FROM SC KIOSKS ON 1/3/2008 AND RETURNED TO THE STORE 1/18/2008 (ALLTEL WIRELESS LG AX275)

SC Kiosks, Inc., subsiduary of Radioshack states that their return policy does not allow for the defective item (listed above) to be returned to the place of purchase (listed above) for replacement, although Alltel policy allows for defective items to be returned to place of purchase for exchange. On 1/18/2008, while in the store, I contacted two different technical agents (T. J. and Michelle) employed with Alltel to verify with the sales associate that the phone was defective (blank screen) and that no damage was found. Alltel has documented the witnessed verbal interaction and refusal of the mangers listed above of this Kiosk to allow the sales associate, Zack , to replace the defective item and/or offer to send for repair. Zack remained professional and truly concerned for the inabilty to provide customer satisfaction. Fortunately, Alltel offers better customer service and has arranged for an exchange at the local Alltel retail store for the defective wireless LG phone. Please forward this complaint to your policy department for review and consideration of current polcies that do not comply with the policies of the businesses that SC Kiosks, Inc. represents.

Update: On 1/19/08 visited local Alltel Store on Harbison Blvd in Columbia SC. Manager there stated that could not honor information that an Alltel customer rep placed in the Alltel system on our account instructing the local store to assist in replacing the defective item.... I called Alltel again and the customer rep stated that the store should replace the item, but obviously could not make them, and that over the phone, Alltel system did not allow them t replace the item because it had only been 15 days and not 30 yet, so it should be replaced by the store/place where it was purchased.

In the end, Alltel did have a solution and is sending a new phone. To top it off, the Kiosks charged 10 more dollars for the phone than Alltel and did not offer the rebate for the same phone if bought at the Alltel store. Naturally the 10 dollars is to make some profit, but the are not there to help a customer when there is a problem with an item as it would cut into that 10 dollars to send the defective phone back. Corporate business is ruining customer confidence in America's retail world and will ultimately be selling out to all overseas countries if they don't learn more honesty, accountability and that the customer comes first.
Moral if this exchange: Never purchase items from Rsubsiduaries as they do not honor their 30 day return policy nor policies of the businesses that they represent.

Nik
Little Mountain, South Carolina
U.S.A.