Unethical business practices?

[Ming]

Ok, tell me if I'm wrong in this situation. I recently placed an order for some gaming cards at an online retailer that I have ordered with before and with relatively no problems. The place is called Gaming Etc.

On October 30, I placed an order for some cards. 3 of which are fairly hot right now, and are now listed at $9.99. When I placed my order, however, they were listed at $1.99. So naturally, when I saw them go up in value, I was pleased that I had placed my order just in time. After a week of my order still being pending, I sent an e-mail, which was ignored. I finally gave a call yesterday (November 11), and spoke with a woman who works there. She checked on my order and saw that it was not back-ordered or anything, and told me that that meant it should be shipping by Monday. Today, I finally received my confirmation e-mail that my order has FINALLY been processed, however the hot cards have been voided from the order. Why? I ordered them at $1.99, and I should be getting them for $1.99. Don't you think? And here's my reasoning:

About a month ago, I placed another order with Gaming Etc for 2 cards at $8.99 each. After a few days, I saw that my order had not been processed, and that the card had gone up to $14.99. I sent an e-mail, which was ignored. I waited a few more days, then called the store. I spoke to Howard (the owner), who assured me that my order was backordered because of the cards that I had ordered, but that I would get them as soon as they got them in stock, and for the price I ordered them for, $8.99. "Coincidentally" my ordered was approved and shipped the day after I called to inquire.

What's the difference in this situation now? Why are my cards being voided from the order? And more, why was I not informed? In the confirmation e-mails I received, it says "In the case of products being back ordered, you will be notified via e-mail." That is a lie. It's not MY problem that I had forsesight enough to place my order before the price skyrocketed, it's theirs as far as I'm concerned, and they should be expected to provide the product at the price stated at the time I placed the order, especially since this happened in a previous situation that was like a month ago! And since they decided to just cancel the part of my order that was convenient for them (and without informing me), what makes them think that I still want the rest of the order in the first place, and that I want to continue doing business with them? I'm sure if I placed the order now, Howard would be more than happy to sell me the cards in question for $9.99 each, and that I do not appreciate. It's unethical business practice, and I plan on notifying the proper autorities about this.

And what's more, I live in the next town over from Gaming Etc. I've enjoyed doing business with them in the past because they had reasonable prices and they let me just pick the cards up from their office to avoid shipping. I hang around at the two local stores that are in the area, and I've know the owners for a long time now (as well as many of the players), and I will most definitely be letting them know about this. I know who Howard, the owner, is. He used to hang around the aforementioned game shops, and still does, as his office is practically across the street from one of them.

Am I wrong in this situation by getting upset and threatening to seek action? It's only $2 cards that I'm arguing about, but it's the principle of the thing. If I placed the order at $2, you should be expected to fill the order at $2...right? And it can't be that he voided them because they're out of stock and don't plan on EVER getting more of them in. Like I said, the card is very popular right now, and he'd be stupid not to continue to stock them because he'd lose hundreds of dollars as a result.

[Blackmage]

Talk with the better business beaural <sp>

[underpants]

That's so weird since something like that happened before and they gave you the cards at the price you ordered them, which they should. I would go to the store and talk ot Howard, it could be more intimidating that way.


Good Luck!!

[Silver Adept]

If they advertised at that price, (and you can prove it - very difficult, sometimes), then you are entitled to the object at that price.

However, since it appears they've violated their stated policies, you can register a complaint with the BBB, and hound them to give you the cards you ordered at the price you ordered. If this is a common complaint, you might be able to invoke an investigation of some sort.

[reaper]

Lol just so u guys know the Better Business Bureau can't do shit.

[kei]

You want to talk about unethical bussiness practice, try working at the theater I work at their always full of shit.

[Andsectoid]

[Ming]

Well, I called Gaming Etc. and spoke with another guy there who was very nice and helpful. I explained everything to him, and he told me that the void was because the card that I had oredered is in crazy demand right now. He told me that before the weekend that I ordered them, they had 30 in stock, and over that weekend, there were orders placed for 150 of them. He said that they even set a limit on the number that could be ordered, and was suprised that my order wasn't filled provided I had only ordered 3. He also said that they had lost a lot of money as a result, although that's not my problem. I played the secondary card market and won...they lost.

I explained to him the situation that happened last month that was very similar, and he told me that that particular card that I had ordered had calmed down significantly. I also told him how I was very displeased that I was never contacted about any of this, and he said that he was very sorry, and that they usually contact people. I know, however, that he was probably just "sorrying" me to death, because I wasn't contacted last month either, and another guy on their forum was complaining about the same situation of not being contacted.

He said that there wasn't really anything that they could do because they don't have any in stock because of the demand being so high, except that he could place a standing order for me, meaning that when they finally do get them in, they'll send me my copies. He said that he couldn't guarantee when that would happen due to the demand for the card, and being as I'm not in a rush to get the particular card, I asked him if he would guarantee that I get the card PERIOD, and he said yes. Also, he guaranteed me at the original $1.99 price that I initially ordered the cards for, and said they wouldn't charge me for the shipping either, which I thought was nice. He kept emphasizing how he can't guarantee when, but that's fine with me. As long as I get the card, and for $1.99, I feel like I have won in this situation.

[Andsectoid]

Grats. 3 years from now you get a package... "What is this?" lol