Ordered run-of-the-mill items from Midland True Value Hardware (Grandview, MO) online for our…read morebusiness. Items never arrived. FedEx tracking info indicated delivered, but our security video on day of claimed delivery showed no deliveries. Probably not Midland's fault.
I was asked by Midland, in response to both email and Facebook Messenger inquiries, if we wanted to cancel the order or have it re-shipped. We responded to BOTH to double-confirm we wanted the item re-shipped.
Then we received an email stating the original fulfillment warehouse was out of stock and the order was being processed through another warehouse ... and that we'd receive our shipment in 3 to 5 business days.
Monday, six business days later, I emailed customer service to request tracking info on the second shipment -- ignored. Today, EIGHT BUSINESS DAYS LATER, I asked, via FB messenger, for tracking information on the second shipment.
The response was, "we forgot to process the second order" ...
I then replied that I might let that excuse slide if it came from a 5-year-old, but not from an online merchant.
Then, they changed their claim by blaming me, THE CUSTOMER, for opening two communications with them (email and Facebook Messenger -- in both communications I CONFIRMED that we wanted the order re-shipped ... and they ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONFIRMED that the order was being re-shipped).
Today they said that because I had two channels of communication open on the matter they "got confused and were waiting for me to confirm" ... even though, again, they had responded and confirmed that the order was being processed and re-shipped ... and that we would receive in 3 to 5 business days.
Today, I said I wanted it re-shipped overnight delivery at their expense, otherwise I'd turn the matter over to True Value Hardware Corporate Customer Relations, their local BBB, and any other appropriate consumer advocacy and regulating authorities.
They refused to ship any faster than ground service.
I complained and expressed my frustration and indicated I would proceed with reporting and online reviews.
They replied, "order cancelled" ...
I see in other reviews that this is typical.
Blaming the customer for this nonsense is inexcusable.
Not accepting responsibility and not doing what's right to make it right with a customer represents the attitude that will ruin small local businesses who refuse to invest common courtesy, care, and value-added practices to ensure survival against box stores and large online retailers who are doing it right (better).
When I called them out on their self-contradictory claims, they replied, "Goodbye" ...
Yeah ... It's only a matter of time before their practices and poor customer service result in a chorus of "goodbye" from customers who will shop elsewhere!
This reflects poorly on the True Value brand.