d**k's Sporting Goods Misleading advertising and shipping information ripoff Internet

On 21 December, 2006 I was shopping online for last minute gifts. I was trying to locate my last two items for Christmas, which were not located in near-by stores. The first item was purchased from Amazon.com, and sent to me.

My second purchase was from d**k's Sporting Goods. This purchase was offered with overnight shipping, as was my first purchase from Amazon.com. The cost for the 2nd purchase charged a $34.99 "Overnight" shipping costs fee. I paid for the item and as with Amazon, expected it to come the next day. About 5 minutes later I received an e-mail confirmation from d**k's Sporting Goods. In the e-mail it stated the item would be shipped within 4-5 days from the warehouse. I about fell out of my chair.

I immediately called d**k's Sporting Goods online, and told them I was charged for overnight shipping. The lady stated that if I would have read the web page, it clearly stated that all shipping items will take 4-5 business days to leave the warehouse, and then it will be overnighted. PLEASE! I told them it was Christmas and to refund my money to me since it had only been 10 minutes since the order was processed.

The representative stated "too late". I was then told that at my cost, I could return the item, and I would lose my shipping fees, plus have to pay new ones to get the item back. I then went to the website and it is not clear that an item will be shipped within 4-5 business days. In fact under the "Bill me Later" section, it states 4-5 days on the shipping.

This would make since on that section since this is a credit approval process step, and verifying a person's credit and processing could legitimately take a few additional days. However, on the shipping side, it DOES not state this 4-5 day clause. Furthermore, if the company is not trying to mislead customers, then why at checkout does the customer not have to option to check a box indicating they understand this policy?

Finally, the customer service representative was very defensive and a bit rude. I do not think Dicks Sporting Goods clearly defines their shipping policies, and for this reason I have to wait until after Christmas to get my loved one a gift.

Chad
Jamestown, Ohio
U.S.A.