Shaws Jewelers Unauthorized debit of my checking account/misleading sale pricing Fairfax Virginia

While shopping for a Valentine's gift, I stopped into Shaw's Jewelry in the Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA. I found what I thought would be a nice pendant necklace, and the salesgirl said the price included a lifetime warranty. I had no desire for the warranty, but it was included in the price, and the sale price for the jewelry was OK. so I said OK.

She took my charge card and after a few minutes, produced the invoice for me to sign. The invoice included a separate line item for the warranty, that was about 20% of the cost of the jewelry.

I said I did not want the warranty, and would she remove the item from the bill. She refused, saying the sale price included the warranty. I showed her clearly where the sale price for the jewlry was stated on the first line, the warranty was clearly shown on the second line of the invoice...I did not want the warranty.

Her manager came over and explained that it was company policy that they break out the cost of the warranty separately, that the bottom line price was the sale price and the bottom line did include the warranty - regardless of how it was described on the top part of the invoice.

This is not the way I do business! You charge for what you sell, and you pay for what is listed. I did not want the warranty. I told her to forget the sale, and cancel the transaction.

Turns out they already debited my account! It was never authorized...no signature...no check of my ID to ensure I was the real owner of the card...nothing! But she said they would do a credit to my account.

I have the reciept for the credit. I left and went to another store and bought a gift.

So now I get home, and go to my online bank account, and see the debit, but no credit. And the debit not being credited, has me overdrawn in my account!

It's been three days, including one full business day. I have emailed the bank, and they have not replied. I have an email to Shaw's main corporate office, and only an auto-reply. I have sent a second email to Shaws, and have left a voice mail to the bank.

Bottom line, NO retailer with such policies should be permitted to have customers in the current economic times we live. They scam on their advertised sale, then debit accounts without authorization. I should think that anyone with a stolen credit card would have a wonderful time at Shaw's Jewelry...they don't need signatures, and they don't check IDs!

Beware!

John
Fairfax, Virginia
U.S.A.