Ubid.com - site glitch with shipping method - charged $ 35.91 for unwanted second day air shipping for $ 39.00 VCR

# 1 for May 17, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on May 16, 2003:

From: Warren, Gregory [Email User]

RE: Ubid.com - site glitch with shipping method - charged $ 35.91 for unwanted second day air shipping for $ 39.00 VCR

I work overnight on Wednesday and Thursday - Since there is not a lot going on at work during those hours, I use that time to pay bills, cruise the internet and make purchases my busy schedule doesn't give me time to make in person. On May 15th, at approximately 3am, I happened upon the Ubid.com site. I was in the market for a 2nd VCR and decided to enter into one of the auctions, which had a 4 head VCR with the highest bid price of $39.00. The first time I bid, the bid never took. I bid a second time being sure to check the box "Standard ground", which was the cheapest shipping method. It seemed a little ridiculous after winning the bid for just $40.00 to pay almost the same cost to ship it 2nd day air! Well, as soon as I received a confirmation that I'd been the successful bidder, I checked over all the incidentals to make sure everything was correct.

Well, what do you know...The shipping now read 2nd day air at a cost of $35.91!!!!!!! I immediately email the site that this was an error, and I wanted it corrected prior to shipping. Especially since the confirmation email advised nothing would be done until confirmation on the next business day. I emailed them at 2:00am/est and then again at 5:14am/est., as I'd left out the order number. I received an email in reply to my first email from Credit Representative, David S, at 9:56am. I received a reply to my second email from Randy T, Customer Care Representative at 2:34pm - Both emails stating it was too late to change the shipping method as the item had already been shipped. And the email advising me of the status of my item, a Sony 4 head VCR, order B8736202, stated the following: "Please be advised that your order, number B8736202, has been sent to our supplier to ship from their warehouse...".

This email was sent at 11:22am. Why then did the person, who'd just come into the office advise it was too late at that time? Isn't 8 hours enough time to correct and error of this magnitude. Obviously if I was going to pay over 36.00 in shipping cost for a $40.00 item, I might as well just purchase it at a retail store such as Circuit City for $69.00!!!! I want this item shipped ground as I checked off, and I want my money returned if they do send it by air. This company had more than enough time to make the correction. When I emailed they weren't even open to process the order, nor was my credit card charged......Why should I suffer because of a site glitch? I want whatever help I can get to get this issue resolved. Thank you. Greg Warren