It started with a letter from Sears saying if I didn't use one of my Sears cards (Sears Plus card) by the end of the year it would be cancelled because of inactivity. Right off I would like to say that this is no way to do business, we normally buy major appliances from Sears but don't do so often. However we would prefer to keep the card active without being hassled. But I can always use clothing items so I searched the Sears site and ordered three pairs of men's pants but inadvertently used the wrong credit card (I have three Sears Credit cards). I was ordering only to keep the Sears Plus card active so I called the order center and talked to someone who retook the order and said she would cancel the first order. The reorder would go on the proper card (that was to be cancelled if I didn't use it soon). Long story made short, she didn't cancel the first order, both were shipped, (first order number 432356532 was online, the replacement order number, from the phone order, was never emailed as promised, both orders were made on 11/23/12). I called after I received both of the orders, three pants each, I didn't need 6 pairs and only ordered the 3 to keep my Sears card active. After talking to an agent and her supervisor/manager it was agreed they would have UPS pick up the second order. But they did not agree to this without an extensive discussion and my arguing that it was Sears fault. i waited, called UPS after a few days (they couldn't project a pickup time without a tracking number) and finally I called Sears again. This last call got lengthy, basically the lady wasn't sure if I would have to pay for the return shipment, I couldn't talk to her manager this time but she did several times, putting me on hold. I was not notified or called about why they did not arrange for the UPS pickup as I was told they would do. It got very confusing because on the original order I had ordered three different colored pairs of pants, on the second phone order they only had two colors, I agreed to take two Navy Blues. That is the order I wanted to return. However, because of the color difference that was not possible, again she talked to her manager and tried to help but I finally got tired of being on hold and spending a great deal of time on the phone (for the third time) and told her I would just keep all 6 pairs of the pants. I was also thinking that these two orders were charged to two different cards and if I disputed one based on a projected return it would only cause more confusion. The phone order (11/23/12) was with Agent ID 22440 and I am sorry to say she was difficult to understand and didn't cancel the online order as she said she would. The second phone contact, to return half of the double order (12/4/12) was Agent ID 11243 and I ended up talking with her manager whom I cannot identify but she was impatient and only complied to have UPS pick up the duplicate order when I insisted. The third call (12/15/12) Agent ID 19689, tried very hard to help but with the color differences and the question if I would be charged for the return...she ended up not being able to help. That is why I finally just decided to keep all 6 pairs of pants. Needless to say it will be a long time before I order from Sears again. And I still don't appreciate the threat to cancel my card due to inactivity. The we have used it before for both a washer and dryer, later a new stove, also a dishwasher. I was told you can't cancel an order placed on line. I told them their agent should have known that, I called and asked to cancel while realizing it may not be possible. She offered to cancel and took a replacement order. The first manager arranged for a UPS pickup cost free, the last lady didn't know about return charges for sure and thought I would be charged for the return. All 6 pairs of pants were the same price but I couldn't return the second order (two Navy blue and one other color) because the numbers (colors) have to match the order exactly to properly credit to the proper card, she said. I was told to return them to Sears or Kmart, which is very difficult for me. It was a Sears agent error. If I had been able to return to a local store I am sure the color difference would not have mattered and they would have credited either card. I decided to report this to Angies list, others should know what a mess you can get into with a simple order. The last lady told me the first order went through Sears the second through Kmart! I should cancel all three of my Sears cards or just not pay for the second order but that would not be very rational or honest. I order a lot online and have to say that generally you get first class attention without problems like this from most online companies. I sent the above to a SVP & President of Marketing, Imran Jooma,
[email protected] on 12/17/12 to help them prevent future problems like this. I don't necessarily expect a resolution from Sears, but do feel some sort of compensation is probably in order. For instance, they routinely offer 10% off an order, which would be about $10 on the two orders I am keeping. And because I saved them the return UPS fees by keeping the pants they could credit that $8 (or more) fee to my card account also. Mostly, however, I wanted them and other customers to know how frustrating a simple order can be, even with an old standby company like Sears. best, Gerald Wakeen
Description of Work: Ordered online, called to cancel and reorder using another Sears card. Both orders shipped. Called twice more, finally gave up, see story from start to finish.