Those of you out there in shelbysblog-land hopefully remember my previous rant against findingking.com, a seller of jeweller's supplies who does business on eBay as 'findingking'.
(Short story: I purchased a rock tumbler from them on eBay, hoping to give it to my brother as a Christmas present. Two weeks after winning the auction, I was despairing of seeing either my money or the rock tumbler ...)
Today: a positive resolution! Read on for the rest of the story.
Now that we're back in San Jose, today I went to see Sonny, our neighbor who helpfully watches our porch for left packages while we're away. One of the packages awaiting our return was the rock tumbler!
'Susana' - the findingking representative who had told me that the rock tumbler shipped on 12/19 - had told me the truth, more or less. The findingking invoice inside the box listed the shipping date as the 19th - however, UPS didn't actually get the box until the 22nd. The box arrived in San Jose on the 29th.
I'm pleased that the tumbler finally got here; I'm sorry that I wasn't able to give it to Zach on Christmas (not to mention that now I get to pay for shipping again, as I send it to him instead of bringing it down with us). I certainly won't do business with findingking/Phoenix Jewellers Supplies again - the small amount of money that I saved by going with this so-called "Power Seller" wasn't worth the frustration.
[ADDENDUM, 11/29/2005: A 'secret' findingking number — other than the customer sevice numbers that they publish on their Web site — used to be available in the user comments below. However, apparently so many frustrated people, searching for another avenue to resolve their shipping complaints, used that number that the findingking people got upset and reported me to eBay. Now eBay has given me a 24-hour ultimatum: remove the phone numbers, or my account is suspended. (Would that my eBay complaints receive such a speedy and forceful resolution!) So, there we are. It's been almost two years since I last dealt with findingking, but it seems like they're still dishing out the customer 'service' that made me frustrated enough to write this entry.]
Posted by at January 4, 2004 11:41 PMActually, that's not all. findingking is supposedly offering shipping refunds to all of us who had to wait longer than three days from payment to shipment in December and January.
Naturally, they aren't refunding shipping automatically. (Refunding shipping at time of shipment would make too much sense, wouldn't it? I mean, they should know when they ship a product out late, and be able to automatically refund accordingly ...) Nope. Instead, I have to send them an E-mail asking for a refund, and wait around up to two weeks for them to send me a refund via PayPal.
Neat. So they get to keep the 'float' on everyone's shipping money for two weeks, and they get to keep the shipping money of everyone who's eligible for the refund, but doesn't ask/doesn't know about it. (As far as I can tell, the only place the shipping refund is 'advertised' is in their responses to customers' negative comments on eBay ...)
I asked for my refund ten days ago. Watch this space ... again!
Posted by: Kevin at January 14, 2004 09:25 AMTwo weeks and no refund. I called their 'customer service' number -- and the phone was answered by a real person! I told her that I had asked for a refund two weeks ago and recieved no response; she took my information and said that she'd put in a refund request. She had no idea when I could expect to see my money back; apparently, she tells a mysterious "they" about refund requests, and "they" actually do the processing.
Posted by: Kevin at January 19, 2004 06:08 PMWell, today I got a response to the e-mail that I sent on the 19th:
Hello,
Your refund was issued out on 1/20
Thank you
Findingking
So I ran off to check my PayPal account (since the refund is supposed to be issued via PayPal). Just like last time I looked, there's been no activity on the account since early December . . . when I originally paid them!
That's the last straw -- it's negative feedback time. I've been infinitely patient with these people, and every turn in the journey leads to yet another runaround.
If you want to get what you ordered in a timely manner, and want to be treated with some intelligence and respect, avoid findingking.com!
Posted by: Kevin at January 26, 2004 11:30 AMI ordered some silversmithing equipment from them (about $40 USD worth) through their store front. Well They tacked on $18 dollars for domestic USPS shipping. I asked them if they could do something about the S&H charge and they said no. I told them I was refusing the package and expecting a full refund. Sounds like its going to be a huge headache. Luckily I payed directly with a credit card so Visa can deal with them :).
Does anyone have the phone number of findingking.com? If so, thanks in advance.
I've only had two bad experiences with sellers out of over a hundred eBay trasactions, and they were BOTH with findingking. In fact, the second time I bought from them, I didn't realize it was them until after I bid! (Yah, smart, I know.) Both times I was buying stuff to make gifts with, and both times the stuff took over a month to get to me, and was not in time for me to use it to that end. This last time, they sent me one of four items (all identical items, mind you) with no explaination, just a packing slip that said "one of four". Meanwhile, they still list the same items in auctions going on right now. It has been over a month, and I can't find their number to find out wtf is up.
Posted by: Paysh at March 9, 2004 08:27 PMI tried to pay findingking on the19th and I still don't even know if they have my credit card or not. the bad thing is that its a debit card and I can't use the money because they are liable to use it after I spend the money and cause me all kind of bank problems.I gave them my card # and it is posted on their web site but ive got no conformation at all. What can I do? they won't answer their phone and their computer keeps teling me to do the same thing every time I e-mail them>
Posted by: shawn Ermel at March 25, 2004 06:05 PMThank you, Shelby and Friends, for your helpful comments. I'm also sadder but wiser from my recent eBay experience with findingking: record management/inventory coordination problems on their part (I was told they have 3 warehouses in 3 different locations.) I do not plan on buying from them again. As of this writing, their phone # is: [REDACTED] (available from the operator). The phone rep. did listen, seemed concerned and did follow through, so your past efforts with them seem to have had some good effect, and for that I am really grateful. I was also told that findingking has a long backlog of emails, so unfortunately, phoning them might be the most direct way of contacting them for addressing immediate action. Be persistent, try to hang in there as best you can, and hopefully you'll get through soon.
Posted by: Louise at March 28, 2004 08:38 PMFindingking's telephone number is [REDACTED]
Posted by: Bill at April 2, 2004 05:24 AMDear valued customers,
My name is Suzanna and I am the Customer service Representative for Findingking. You can rest assure that we have made many changes in the past couple of months, to resolve any and all issues you may have had in the past. We, at Findingking, apologize to anyone who may have had setbacks with our company; as we strive to provide an enjoyable shopping experience, while maintaining a 100% positive feedback. We would like to thank customers like yourselves; whom are informing us of innovative ways to better serve you. Our Customer Service Team is here to provide the up most satisfying shopping experience to all of our current and returning customers. You can contact me directly and I will personally take care of each one of your needs. I make every effort to assure you will receive exceptional communication, thus providing a speedy and accurate delivery of your merchandise. If you would like to contact me directly, you can reach me at [REDACTED].
Respectfully,
Suzanna (CSR)
www.findingking.com
On the 9th of August this year, I purchased a watch band from Findingking on Ebay.
Some 6 weeks later I emailed asking about the status of my purchase and was advised that it had been posted on the 10th August.
Another follow up and I'm told it was posted on the 18th September.
Another email on the 26th Oct and the reply comes back from Suzanna saying there may be a holdup with customs.
I advise Suzanna that Australian Customs ALWAYS advise in writing if there is a problem or duty to be paid.
Then on 2nd of November my watchband arrives, good product, no problem in that regard.
It's feed back time, so, I did'nt have a good experience and was told untruths, so I left Negative feedback.
The next day I discover that negative feedback has been left for me and a message saying delay with customs.
I pride myself on the fact that I had 100 percent positive feedback, now I don't.
Consider the facts..
I paid for the item on the day I purchased it, I communicated on numerous occasions to try and resolve the situation and I get negative feedback.
This is nothing but a case of sour grapes, another seller who waits to see if what feedback you leave before they leave any regardless of how well you have fulfilled your responsibilities.
This attitude of FINDINGKING is a disgrace, I hope they sleep well.
Alan Haynes
Orange NSW Australia
Posted by: Alan Haynes at November 2, 2004 06:44 PMWell, I wish I would've found this website as well as read up on FindingKing's feedback. I purchased something on E-Bay on 11-02-04. Hadn't rec'd it by 11-11-04. I sent an email, but did not receive a reponse, so I tried to call using the phone # listed on the auction and got an answering machine. After reading up on here, I decided to try the [REDACTED] number and got through to someone who passed me on to Suzanne. She even asked how I got that number...lol. Probably because customers are not supposed to have it.
Anyhow, she said that they were running behind, but would go to the back and put an "urgent" on my item and would "move it to the front of the line." I needed it for a present, and when I asked if she could tell me for sure that it would go out today (11-11) she said she wasn't sure, but "they" would send me an email when it shipped. So I said ok and hung up. But after thinking about it for a few mins. I decided to cancel it because I couldn't get a satisfactory answer on the ship date and it all sounded just a little sketchy.
Now I just spoke with her, so I called the original phone # on the auction, and of course, got the answering machine, so I called back to the 222 # and was passed on to her. She said the refund would be issued via Paypal today. We'll see. Based on everyone's comments on here prior to mine, I might not see immediately, but either way, I'll be posting an update. Thanks for the reading material and for starting this website.
WOW, I'm impressed. Refund just came through. I did forget to mention that there is an auction currently going for the same item. I just don't understand why people "supposedly" have items in stock but can't ship right away. Oh well, time to look for another present.....
Posted by: Lisa at November 11, 2004 07:51 AM