Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/17/2025

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  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.

  I was in their store today (Feb. 11, 2025) I was browsing the store and found the prices and information on some of the items to be strange.
  When I asked about why such high prices I was told that a lot of item are collectible or valuable antique or vintage pieces. They claimed that they do research on items and base the cost (low in their opinion) on the information they get on line. I know a bit about this sort of thing myself and saw that quite a few items appeared to be knock-offs or outright fakes. The one that completely verified this to me was this, they have a small statuette of an Egyptian cat in heir display case. This is a cast resin replica that one can purchase from ****** for super cheap.
  price for 125 dollars for this piece of plastic that you can buy anywhere. I'm sure you can purchase this anywhere from large e-commerce retailers. I asked the manager if this was a ticket typo as I could not believe what they were asking. She claimed that not only was it not a mistake, but that price was super inexpensive for a " rare and one of a kind antique." I felt so outraged that I said nothing and simply left the store. It upsets me to think that they are scamming the unsuspecting public with these deceptions. Most of the customers in the store were middle aged to elderly and would be easily fooled by this. Of course a retailer can price something however they want, I think it's a scam to straight up lie about what the item is, it's rarity, and all of that. Please, have someone look into this as I hate to think that some poor elderly person is going to spend and loose their hard earned and/or saved money on such an obvious rip-off scam that these managers are so far getting away with. It would be or has been a shock for some poor individual to think they are investing in something valuable, try to resell the item because they need money to pay bills or buy medicines, just to find out that they got scammed and the item is worth nowhere near what they paid

  Business Response

  Date: 03/04/2025

  The collectable donations are verified and researched ,using many sources.   Pricing is based o a formula off of these sources.  This is primarily done with volunteers and as the store manager , I  do not necessarily see every single item that reaches our sales floor. 

   

  I am always open to having a civil discussion regarding any of our policies and procedures but the customer never gave me the opportunity to set up a meeting time when I could give her my undivided attention.  I encourage anyone with concerns to reach me by email and encourage them to come in and volunteer to see how our back room operates. 

  We aim to honor each donor and get as much money as reasonable  to support our mission, which is supporting the Humane Society and all of our furry residents at the shelter.    As with any retail establishment, it is up to each consumer as to whether or not they deem something worth paying asking price for. If not, they just move on.   Our intent is never to defraud anyone.  After the customer left the store, iI did take another look at the item and did adjust the price but it is up to each collector to decide what they are willing to pay for anything.   The item may have seemed overpriced to this particular customer, but another one may have gladly paid it. 

   

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/04/2025

  
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  this manager is not being truthful about the interaction that happened on that day, they are now only being polite because he BBB are now involved. There was no offer of explanation, no offer to a private conversation or any of that. I had indeed simply left because of the rude way I was talked to and dismissed, yes completely rudely dismissed by the woman who called herself the manager. She behaved as if my questions were beneath her  as was I .She also claimed that she knows “ for a fact” that all the items have been carefully researched. She is now claiming that she doesn’t see all of the items or how they are researched before they go onto the sales floor. To me her explanation is still an excuse to commit a fraud on unsuspecting customers by claiming that certain items are collectible and valuable when they are .

  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  **** *********