topic Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare. in Home

Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

FiddleDeeDee — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 19:36:58 GMT

I know they don't do sales. I know they occasionally will have free shipping. I know lots of people love them. I used to. I am no longer one of them.

The passive-aggressive "aw gee shucks" is just.....come on. What matters is getting the customer the order in a timely fashion, sending the RIGHT items and then, if necessary, refunding the money to the customer.

Vermont Country Store failed in all 3 categories. Wrong item sent. Didn't apply the free shipping code. Item to replace is backordered (they told me this after I sent it back at MY cost when I asked for a tracking number for the replacement item). It's been a month....no refund. Why? Because they use the USPS and a 3rd party shipper (sound familiar?) and it hasn't arrived yet to their warehouse.

33 days. Yep. Hey Orton Brothers, maybe you should work on getting your customer service up to par instead of playing those loud 1940's or whatever it is tinny commercials while you keep people on hold for 25 minutes plus....just saying.

*crosses them off my list*

That was my experience with them! Rude, insensitive and...

Sooner — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 19:27:41 GMT

@FiddleDeeDee That was my experience with them! Rude, insensitive and angry was the best I could say about their so-called customer service.

I ordered a dress for my mom and it didn't fit. I sent it back and you would have thought I had come in and shop lifted it and asked for a refund. They were awful and I really doubted I'd ever get my money back.

Bunch of crooks as far as I'm concerned!

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

candyagain — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 19:57:23 GMT

Yeah, no longer a customer. All of a sudden I couldn't "see" their website to order something I've ordered before. I emailed customer service for help. The rep was okay. Got back to me with the answer that it must be both of my browsers. Said their IT dept would get back to me. That was awhile ago.

Meanwhile saving money and wondering why they are the only website in the hundreds I visit with this problem....I don't think it's me.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

Jackyl — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 20:07:34 GMT

This is good to know, thanks. I've always considered buying from them when I get their catalogs, but just haven't. Now, I definitely won't.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

jackthebear — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 20:21:01 GMT

@FiddleDeeDee wrote:
I know they don't do sales. I know they occasionally will have free shipping. I know lots of people love them. I used to. I am no longer one of them.

The passive-aggressive "aw gee shucks" is just.....come on. What matters is getting the customer the order in a timely fashion, sending the RIGHT items and then, if necessary, refunding the money to the customer.

Vermont Country Store failed in all 3 categories. Wrong item sent. Didn't apply the free shipping code. Item to replace is backordered (they told me this after I sent it back at MY cost when I asked for a tracking number for the replacement item). It's been a month....no refund. Why? Because they use the USPS and a 3rd party shipper (sound familiar?) and it hasn't arrived yet to their warehouse.

33 days. Yep. Hey Orton Brothers, maybe you should work on getting your customer service up to par instead of playing those loud 1940's or whatever it is tinny commercials while you keep people on hold for 25 minutes plus....just saying.

*crosses them off my list*

twitter facebook Instagram can be useful here.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

Kachina624 — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 20:31:05 GMT

@FiddleDeeDee I'd send a copy of your post to their "contact us" and tell them it was posted on a widely read bulletin board. You don't have to say which one. Do they have a Facebook page? I'd put it there too.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

geezerette — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 20:36:35 GMT

@candyagain wrote:
Yeah, no longer a customer. All of a sudden I couldn't "see" their website to order something I've ordered before. I emailed customer service for help. The rep was okay. Got back to me with the answer that it must be both of my browsers. Said their IT dept would get back to me. That was awhile ago.

Meanwhile saving money and wondering why they are the only website in the hundreds I visit with this problem....I don't think it's me.

@candyagain

I had that trouble with another website. I went back and forth with them for a while and when it got to the point that I couldn't even order with them over the phone anymore, I found another place to order from. They lost a very lucrative and dependable customer.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

stevieb — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 20:40:04 GMT

Nostalgia only goes so far. Their prices have always been ludicrous and if their service matches their prices, then yes, that's one catalog I can begin tossing without looking... Too many businesses are struggling to reward those that don't deserve to be rewarded with our patronage...

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

jackthebear — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 21:33:42 GMT

I just looked at their webpage

they are on Fbk, Twtr, and IG

get busy posting OP

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

jackthebear — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 21:34:58 GMT

from their home page !!!!!

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

stevieb — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 22:32:31 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
I just looked at their webpage
they are on Fbk, Twtr, and IG
get busy posting OP

They also have an email address for those, like me, who avoid social media... Of course, public shaming might garner more attention... Clearly, that customer bill of rights needs to be revisited, and badly so...

customerservice@vermontcountrystore.com

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

NickNack — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 22:38:19 GMT

I'm so glad I read this post. I got their catalog yesterday and was thinking of ordering a ceramic Christmas tree and some pajamas. I had some trouble with their website and hadn't ordered yet. Since reading your post I found a ceramic Christmas tree on Amazon and ordered it. Thank you for posting this.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

mspatmac — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 22:56:02 GMT

Guess I'm the outlier here. I have ordered from them for years and have never had a problem with returns, exchanges for size or anything else. The few times I have spoken to customer service they have been courteous and helpful. Sorry you have had issues. I'm expecting a package from them next week.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

Snoopp — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 23:05:51 GMT

Sometimes you need to speak with a supervisor to get satisfaction. I haven’t purchased anything recently from them.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

colliemom4 — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 00:02:16 GMT

They have some bad reviews on the BBB website. I've never purchased from them before.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

godi — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 01:29:37 GMT

Boy I gotta be honest I never had a problem with this catalog. I have ordered a lot of stuff. So sorry your experience was so bad.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

FiddleDeeDee — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 02:33:30 GMT

A few things:

When you call their CS number, you may or may NOT get CS. I was informed, repeatedly, that their ORDER TAKERS answer the CS number and then inform the customer that CS is busy so they'll "make a note and have someone call you in 24 hours". I have done this more than 8 times with NO return call. The only reason I was able to get a CS rep was due to calling very early in the morning, otherwise, I have never reached someone.

I've used their Live Chat. I'm told "so sorry. Yes, we're doing the best we can. Someone will call you back". Nobody calls.

I've used their customer service email. In fact, I sent what I posted here to them and received a form letter response repeating what I've been told when I leave a message with the Order Takers:

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Customer Service is our number 1 priority. Someone will be in touch soon.

That's it. DID cut and paste what I wrote in my original post on their Facebook page. Notice that EVERYTHING there is happiness and sunshine and raves. My post lasted MAYBE 5 minutes (or less) and then it was poofed. I don't have Instagram or I would have posted there but I think it would have been removed as well.

I just want my $135 back, thank you very much. I'll call again in the morning and continue to do so daily until I see the refund. Shame, as I've ordered for years from them without issue...never had to return something until now. Obviously being a long-standing customer means nothing (my parents used to order from them in 70's. They had candy my Dad loved and soap my grandmother remembered from her childhood going WAY back). Won't order from them again.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

ValuSkr — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 02:39:46 GMT

Thank you for telling us about your experience. I too get their catalogs, since they picked up Country Curtains' lines when C.C. closed. I thought I'd order from them someday when I needed curtains or bed coverings. But now ... maybe not.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

FiddleDeeDee — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 03:25:56 GMT

@ValuSkr I didn't know that VCS had picked up Country Curtains lines; darn. I LOVED so many thing from that company (as did so many family members and friends). But I'll tell you, the experiencing I'm having with VCS, there is NO WAY I'd order from them again especially when it comes to window and bedding; size and color can be so iffy and well....I'll find good stuff elsewhere, I know I will.

Re: Vermont Country Store. Nightmare.

AngelPuppy1 — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 11:25:40 GMT

Oh, shoot. This is disappointing to read this. I always love getting their catalog but never ordered, due to the fact that I think most of the prices are rather high. I have one of their books on my table right now and was seriously thinking of biting the bullet and ordering some candy, etc. Now, I'm thinking ---- hmmm --- maybe I better not. This makes me sad.