Wickes Furniture kicked my trust out the window.
Yesterday I wrote about how Wickes Furniture had “done me wrong” in keeping my $2083.40 refund for furniture I’d cancelled. I was angry yesterday and even said a few choice “bad” words. I felt so helpless that I couldn’t get my money, or an answer as to ‘if’ I would ever get it or the feeling that Wickes really wants to serve the consumer.
I had trouble sleeping last night. I feel guilty with all the problems in the world that losing my money is bothering me so badly. This amount, $2,083.40 is an awfully lot of money to me. But it’s not just the money that’s bothering me. Today I woke up feeling so violated and that the rug of trust had certainly been pulled out from under me. I started thinking of other transactions I have going and wondered if they’d be safe or if I could lose that too. I’m wary of having any repairs done to my home – will I be ripped off and lose money from that? Is my money safe in the bank? Will I wake up one morning to find out the banks have closed their doors.
I know, I’m getting a little crazy here, but I think these are the feelings one’s left with after a robbery, a rape or losing a loved one to a violent crime (certainly NOT on the same level), but terribly violated, nonetheless.
If you went into Wickes today to buy new furniture, do you know for sure it’ll be delivered or that you’re plunking down your hard earned money only to be told – “sorry, we’ve decided not to deliver your furniture and you’re out $XXX amount of dollars”. Of course you’ll be smarter than I was in using an electronic check. Credit cards only so you can have that added protection.
Where was the human decency that those in the corporate office wouldn’t treat me as though I were a pest asking about my refund? Why couldn’t they say that I could go get the furniture I had ordered and that they’d take care of everything? Why did they think I was taking up their time when I got upset that I was not only losing my money but that they said I couldn’t get my furniture?
What’s happening that a huge company can advertise with false promises? When they say that the consumer is their most important asset, why aren’t they?
What is the difference if someone at Wickes ran by me and stole my purse with my money in it? I think of them now as the legitimate thieves who are backed up by the courts and law enforcement. I can’t do a thing. The helplessness is painful. Who can we trust? Who are we truly safe from?
I’m dealing with a lot of questions right now. I was vulnerable, and I was basically robbed. Robbed of the faith I once had in businesses and robbed of my being able to trust the businesses who have told me I’m important to them. And, robbed of my $2,083.40.
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I just got hit for $3100 – paid cash in early December for furniture that was supposed to be delivered early January – oops backordered till 2/8 – oops they called last week and wanted to schedule delivery for 4/4 – I got angry, cancelled, and was told Wickes would send a refund check that I should receive in seven days – will call customer service first thing in the morning – but I suppose, I too have been duped!! I can’t afford to throw away that much money either………disgusting, just highway robbery….
Diane, I’m so sorry you’re going through this too. I have talked to several people there and the employees have been absolutely wonderful. Their hands are basically tied and they’re losing their jobs so also have a lot on their plates. There are some wonderful people working there. I think if they could do it – they’d make things better. I wish you the best of luck with this. For sure.
Ladies I am so very sorry for all that has happened to you.
We (the employees) were not even aware of the Bankruptcy until that Monday morning when we came in. Our lovely Corporate Office had just informed us that we were laying off 5 great people in our store (none of our choosing) and over 50+ people from the Corporate Level were let go as well, again without notice nor with out vacation pay and severance pay.
We at the store levels are doing our best (some will even swtich orders for items that are in stock if you want to reselect to other room groups), but alas, yes Refunds are block from us.
Wickes duped us all. I am again so sorry for your hassle and I hope that through the Court you may obtain your funds back.
Rusty, I know you and other employees are the ones who are getting the angry people to deal with. I commented on a blog saying that – http://www.furninfo.com/forum/message_view.asp?TID=22298&TPN=1 so please check it out to know that others know that you’re not responsible for this and have your own hassles to deal with. I’m okay now and have gotten the furniture. So, I consider myself lucky in that respect. Good luck to you.
I am sorry to hear about all the issues you have been experiencing with Wicks. I am in the same shoe as you are, but not to the same degree.
I purchased furniture from them and put it on differed billing plan. I also paid in advance for Leather Care Warranty and service plan. After 4 months there was an accident on my couch and some ink was spilled on it. I placed a call to Wicks store where I purchased the set from and they gave me an 800 number to call that turned out to be a different company entirely that handled the service call. Then I got a third number from that company to contact and so on.
After several calls, I finally arrange for their rep to come and check out the couch and tell me what shall be done. He tried spraying stuff on it and then he said they have to either change the couch or repair it.
Since then I have called the store and actually went to the store twice and talked to the staff there. But nothing was done.
I told the store manager on duty that she should arrange for their delivery personnel to come and haul away the furniture, if they are unable to honor their services that I paid for, but they ignored it completely.
Now after 11 months, I am getting calls from the financing agency and demanding payment for damaged furniture that I have been storing i9n my house for them to come and pick up.
All above said, I have told the finance company that I am not paying for product that was not handled properly and I am sending copies of all the documents (I have documented all the correspondences) to the Minnesota State Attorney General’s office, as well as my local newspaper Consumer Watchdog.
Again sorry to see you all go through the pain and perhaps mine is not as bad.
Parviz
Parviz, can you please share with me the 800 number you called regarding your leather sofa warranty? I also have that warranty, and need to contact that company since I can no longer contact Wickes. Thank you in advance.
I feel all of your pain. I have had junky furniture from them for 3 years. I don’t know what’s worse. Having the furniture not be delivered and lose the money or having it delivered and feeling you threw the money away. I think I have averaged a service call to their customer serviceless department every month for the past 36 months. Now I need to make another service call for the same part that has broke 6 times now. Then I find out they are filing chapter 11 and none of their phone numbers work. I’ll make everyone a deal. If anyone has a phone number for Wickes that works, I will have my Lawyer begin a class action lawsuit for the owners of Wickes. If no one has a number, well I probably will just proceed with the lawsuit anyways as I am very angry I can’t get a hold of them. I have been calling 800-942-5372 for the last 5 days and the number is busy every day, all day. Any suggestions??
I purchased some furniture from wickes about a year ago and I have not had a problem but I purchased a fabric protection plan and now I cant have my furniture cleaned or serviced because I cant reach them with a number…
We bought a dining room table and three year warranty on December 26, 2008. Wicks started it’s going out of business in March. It is now July and our dining room table chairs are now broke. We can’t even sit on them and the varnish is coming off the table top. We have no one to call to fix it and all the numbers we did have don’t work. With all of the angry customers there has to be something that needs to be done.
Sam happened to me they ripped me off paid cash for furniture and no furniture no refund. When is this lawsuit happening?
Wickes going out of business has been a great burden for my husband and I, not to get into the gorry details but the account balance was turned over to CitiFinancial and CitiFinancial will not honor any of the agreements made with Wickes. They are ripping us off of over a thousand dollars and will not listen to anything we have to explain or say.
UPDATE WICKS BANKRUPTCY !!!!!!! I paid for funiture about 1,500 and never got my furniture or money back they took my order 2 days before knowing they would go bankrupt. For anyone that has the same thing happen to them IF YOU FILED A CLAIM WITH THE BANKRUPTCY COURT …. READ THIS …… I receved legal papaers and I have until the 4/9/09 to respond they are trying to pay me .04% of the money they owe people. For me this means 40.00 so basically they are trying to steal my money. If you received leagl papaers respond if the courts get enough responses and enough declined to the offer they will over turn WICKS OFFER
IS there a number to contact regarding furniture repair warranty? I have something that needs to be cleaned and repaired. ????????