I went into Artiques on August 4th and purchased a few items that I took with me that day, as well as a large hutch that I was told was their hottest selling item. I was not able to take delivery of that item due to there only being one in the store. I was told this item shipped from North Carolina.
Less than 30 days later, I had lost my job quite unexpectedly and went to the store and asked if an exception could be made to return the merchandise I bought, which was still in the original bags, as well as the piece I had not taken receipt of yet. Don took the merchandise back and marked returned. He told me I would have to speak with the owner regarding the hutch.
I reached out to the owner and did get her on the phone eventually, at which point she told me she would have to inquire with her vendor to check the status of the hutch. She never provided any follow up, despite several more attempts on my behalf to reach her. During our conversation she never said she would not provide a refund.
I went into the store another time and spoke with another clerk who advised it was possible I had not heard back from the owner because she was busy with a shoot for Housewives of Orange County.
Following this, I filed a dispute with my bank because I had exhausted all attempts to reach the owner. Today, several months later I was advised that the credit I received from my bank was reversed. The documentation that was read to me by the Chase representative as provided by the owner stated: "I came into the store after 30 days and wanted to return the merchandise. Don took the merchandise and called the owner who said it could not be returned. I said I would talk with her directly and asked him to hold the merchandise while I went to lunch, and that I never returned. Further, it stated, the item was shipping from India." The rebuttal provided by the owner of Artiques is a complete lie.
Don never tried to call her, nor did I tell him I would be back after lunch. Had he tried to call her, I would have personally asked to speak with her. He told me she was in the Las Vegas store, and not easily reachable. He took the merchandise and marked returned on the receipt. Why would there be any reason to return based on an interaction like that?? (Further, I was told by the owner's husband that the hutch was shipping from North Carolina, yet the owner says it ships from India)
In the one phone conversation I had with the owner, I asked her for discretion on her store credit only policy within 30 days due to the loss of my job and a parent within weeks of each other. I understood I was at her mercy at this point and was hopeful that she would make an exception. She never told me she would not, and never mentioned giving me a store credit. Further, I had a friend with me from the east coast the same day I made the purchase, who also patronized her store for more than $1300.00. So essentially, I brought her business that she would otherwise not have had.
At this point, not only do I not have the merchandise I paid for, Artiques also has my $1759.15, for which I have nothing to show. I have all the phone records to show my attempts to reach the owner, as well as records that indicate I did in fact come into the store within the 30 day period.
Not only do these folks operate without compassion or understanding for mitigating circumstances, they also operate without integrity. read more
