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Business Profile

Catalog Shopping

Kenmore Philatelic, Inc.

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 2 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 0 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/08/2023

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Answered
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Judging by the numerous complaints already presented on this page for Kenmore Philatelic Inc, I'm sure you are very familiar with the situation. This complaint is regarding Order # ****** for the product titled "44 Mint U.S. Stamps - Only $2.00" (note that this is the name Kenmore Stamp Co. themselves chose) in which I received several other packages unrelated to the 44 Mint U.S. Stamps. According to United States Code, 2006 Edition, Supplement 5, Title 39, Sec. 3009 - Mailing of unordered merchandise, these extra packages do indeed constitute as unordered merchandise. The code further clarifies:
    "the recipient that he may treat the [unordered] merchandise as a gift to him and has the right to retain, use, discard, or dispose of it in any manner he sees fit without any obligation whatsoever to the sender."
    So the fact that I have received numerous bills demanding payment for the extraneous merchandise is completely unreasonable. The most recent attempt to solicit payment out of me even included a threat of legal action as an intimidation tactic. I am familiar with the "products-on-approval" tactic used by some other companies but at least they had the decency to offer return postage in the situation that I wanted to return the unordered merchandise. Kenmore Stamp Co. requests that I return the unordered merchandise at my own expense. And as a stamp collection company, you may see how they would gain from the fact that I have to provide my own postage when mailing something back to them. To quote one of the other complaints regarding this exact same issue: "Based on other customer complaints, this appears to be a common scam perpetuated by this company."

    Business Response

    Date: 05/17/2023

    To whom it may concern,

    Your E-Mail was received concerning the account of ****** ****. Mr. **** filed a claim with you concerning a packet of stamps that was sent to them from our company.

    The original advertisement responded to by ****** **** was from our Internet Website, a link is enclosed for your reviewing matter.  We do not, as a matter of company policy, send unsolicited stamps to anyone.

    Please note that the offer clearly states that "You'll also receive our Collectors Catalog, plus other fascinating stamps on 15-Day Free Examination with no obligation to buy."  As promised a Sample Approval Selection of stamps valued at $18.80 was enclosed along with the Free Catalog. We also include a link in the description of the item for those people who do not wish to receive the stamp on 15-day examination. This selection was returned and another shipment was sent based on notes received from Mr. ****.

    The program can be stopped at any time, the customer simply needs to let us know that they are no longer interested and we will stop all shipments. We had not heard any such message from Mr. **** before this. We have now cancelled this program and have closed his account with Kenmore

    Kenmore Stamp Company has been in business for over 80 years.  We have used this method of introducing people … like ****** ****… to the joys of stamp collecting through our shop-at-home approval stamp service.  We do not as a matter of company policy send unsolicited merchandise to anyone as it is against our company ethics as well as against the mailing laws.

    If you have any further questions please contact me.

    Sincerely,

    Edward H***
    General Manager

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:03/13/2023

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    This is regarding order #****** on Jan 7, 2023, wherein I purchased a selection of 44 US stamps for $2.00 plus $4.00 shipping & handling. I received a bill in the mail today (3/12/2023) for $18.80 for other stamps I did not consent to receive as part of the "15-day free examination" period. This company has sent me unordered merchandise and is now demanding payment or for its return at my time and expense. Per the Federal Trade Commission, I do not need to return unordered merchandise at my expense, especially when I never consented to receive them in the first place. This appears to be a common scam by this company, I hope to receive help closing my account and refuting these fraudulent charges. Based on other customer complaints, this appears to be a common scam perpetuated by this company.

    Business Response

    Date: 03/22/2023


    RE:  *********** ******
            Complaint # ********

    To whom it may concern,

    Your E-Mail was received concerning the account of ****** **********. Ms. ********** filed a claim with you concerning a packet of stamps that was sent to them from our company.

    The original advertisement responded to by ****** ********** was from our Internet Website, a link is enclosed for your reviewing matter.  We do not, as a matter of company policy, send unsolicited stamps to anyone.

    Please note that the offer clearly states that "You'll also receive our Collectors Catalog, plus other fascinating stamps on 15-Day Free Examination with no obligation to buy."  As promised a Sample Approval Selection of stamps valued at $18.80 was enclosed along with the Free Catalog. We also include a link in the description of the item for those people who do not wish to receive the stamp on 15-day examination.

    It was not necessary for her to purchase any of the Approval Selections; she could pick and choose those sets most desired for her collection. She could also have purchased none of the selection and simply returned the stamps to us.

    The program can be stopped at any time, the customer simply needs to let us know that they are no longer interested and we will stop all shipments. We had not heard any such message from Ms. ********** before this. We have now cancelled this program and have closed her account with Kenmore

    Kenmore Stamp Company has been in business for over 80 years.  We have used this method of introducing people … like ****** **********… to the joys of stamp collecting through our shop-at-home approval stamp service.  We do not as a matter of company policy send unsolicited merchandise to anyone as it is against our company ethics as well as against the mailing laws.

    If you have any further questions please contact me.

    Sincerely,


    Edward H***
    General Manager

    Customer Answer

    Date: 03/22/2023



    Better Business Bureau:



    I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me on the condition that my account has been closed and bills to my address stopped. This is even though the company fails to admit wrongdoing on their part, as seen clearly in my receipt from them it makes no mention of purchasing into a "15-day free examination" program. If there is such wording somewhere, it is hidden or purposefully misleading as this company has now received numerous complaints about this same issue.



    Sincerely,



    ****** **********

Kenmore Philatelic, Inc. is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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