More Unhappy RadioReference Customers

[blantonl]

Want to see some additional frivolous claims and crazy stuff people have been doing lately, check out this.

Background.

This person purchased a premium subscription for $15.00 to this Web site, then immediately requested a refund through Paypal. This was the first communication that I had received regarding any problems or issues, and it was through a passive-aggressive Paypal dispute:

In order to access your scanner frequencies files I was required to upgrade to a "Premium Membership" and paid the $15.00 fee.I was provided a link from your site to a free software that was formatted to be compatible with my scanner. I was not aware until after paying the required upgrade fee, that the additional "Web service capable software required" did not include the free software you had provided to me through a link on your website. The list of Software listed and needed to run and read these files were offered through a 3rd party and requiring an additional fee. None of which were compatible with the scanner I own, making it impossible for me to use anyway. I have tried to contact you to resolve this and only receive a generic message referring me to the "forum" (additional registration required), for help from other public users. I feel I was mislead into upgrading and paying for this "Premium Membership" by offering me a service that was unobtainable by me. Therefore, I am requesting to be refunded the $15.00 upgrade fee immediately through Paypal.

After requesting the refund with and filing a dispute with Paypal, I then received this email 3 times in about 24 hours, once at 8pm, then at midnight, and then at 1pm the next day, with the message just continually forwarded to me as if I had not received it. I guess this person thought I work 24 hours a day. I had no idea that the two were the same person, since it appears a husband and wife share the same email address and the first name on the email didn't match the Paypal dispute.

From: xxxx < xxxx@yahoo.com>
Subject: Need help please
To: webmaster@radioreference.com
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2009, 6:01 PM

I have a Pro-2053 and using Win93 software. Please tell me how to download the xxxx County, California Frequencies from your site. I think I need a .p93 file type, is there a way to convert a .cvs file type? Am I looking in the wrong place? Do you even have download accessability to these county frequencies other then manually putting them in? I have searched your forum for three days without any luck finding the answers. I am so frustrated as it seems I upgraded in order to access this information and have been unable to do so.
I look forward to your responce...
xxxxxxx

So at this point, not knowing these folks are the same person, I respond to the email first, then the Paypal dispute

My email back to this person:

xxxxx,

Be patient with us here, It’s been a busy week.

First, I don’t believe that Win93 supports the RadioReference.com Web service, which allows for automatic downloads from the site into your scanner. The list of supported applications are on the following page:

RadioReference.com Web Service - The RadioReference Wiki

I’d strongly encourage you to post a message in the RadioReference.com forums regarding programming your scanner as there might be some assistance from the software developers there that can tell you when they plan to support our Web service.

Scanning Software Discussion and Support - The RadioReference.com Forums

Warm regards,

Then I respond to the Paypal dispute indicating that no one mislead them, and that frankly it is up to the buyer to understand what they are purchasing before they commit their $$ to a subscription payment. At this point I still have no idea that these two are the same person.

I then receive this in reply in the dispute

Lindsay Blanton,

Yes, I read all the information that was available. Unfortunately ALL the information is not available until after the upgrade fee is paid. As for the emails you say you didn't get, I do have dated copies showing they were sent and based on your statement in the email that I finally received from you today (02/20/09), I believe you to know that you have received them. I Quote "Be patient with us here, it's been a busy week". I apologize, I've tried to be patient but become frustrated when you don't respond. So apparently it is true, you cannot supply the service that you led me to believe I would get. This I base on your statement (also in today's email), I quote again "I don't believe that Win93 supports the RadioReference.com Web service, which allows for automatic downloads from the site into your scanner." Why did your site link me to the win93 software if it doesn't work with your program and why doesn't it say anywhere that it won't work with your program? I don't even see a disclosure that reads "all software offered doesn't work with all programs" or anything even similar to that. This I'm afraid is very misleading! Especially when the information that is posted reads as follows:

Want to automatically program information from this page into your radio?

Follow these Steps

Step-1: Become a RadioReference Premium Subscriber

Step-2: Choose and install an application from the supported list of RadioReference Web service capable software.

Step-3: Follow the software's instructions for accessing the RadioReference Web service.

I am again requesting to have my $15.00 refunded.

So, as you can see, this person even had the opportunity to read the steps we've outlined, but still didn't take the time to review the list of RadioReference Web service capable software, and also claims that we withhold crucial information from users that aren't premium subscribers. wtf?

Initially, I fought the dispute, but unfortunately in most cases when a buyer disputes anything with their Credit Card company or Paypal, you are almost 100% of the time going to lose the battle, even though it is clearly outlined that no refunds are available for premium subscribers. So I said screw it and refunded the person's money.

Sometimes one shakes their head in amazement at how customers act with vendors.

Want another one, check this out. I received these emails yesterday from what I would describe as a professional individual (judging by their signature line in their emails)

I have been trying to renew my subscription and your site won’t let me use my credit card because I have a Pay Pal Account. I don’t want to use my Pay Pal account. I simply want to enter my credit card number. Obviously you don’t need my money that bad. I’ve screwed with it for 45 minutes and don’t care to continue.

and then after telling the person that their Paypal account is linked to a credit card and it would be the same as just entering their info, I get this response

1. It is linked, I don’t’ have the password to get in, I thought I did, but it’s not the correct one apparently so I can’ use it.

2. You obviously want me to use my Visa or I wouldn’t be having this conversation.

3. If I remember to look for the stuff I was hunting when I get home and have access to my AOL account so I can reset my paypal account, I will do it. Actually that will probably be the next time I need something in a couple of months and see the expired account again. Until then you will not get the use of my money, and since I don’t use it everyday, it won’t make much difference to me.

So I said screw it... I've had enough:

This conversation is fascinating. You do what you want. I’ve tried to help you, yet it’s like beating my head against a brick wall. And then you hold this subscription payment item over me like I’m some puppy and you’ve got a treat.

You do what you want regarding the subscription payment. I can’t help it that you lost your password and refuse to follow the process that we have available. I wonder if you take this kind of attitude with other businesses in your local area. I’m really disappointed in this whole discussion.

Have a good weekend.

[davidmc36]

OMFG!!

That reminds me so much of a colleuge of mine. He had a greivance in with the union over an issue that 99% of people would find trivial. No mind, our local rep took the matter to the company and came back with three suggested solutions. He whined and cried for nearly an hour with ten reasons for each solution as to why they were not acceptable to him. Eventually the rep went back to the company and got two more suggestions. Still no good. The rep lost it then, told him "Ya know John Doe, there are some people that either cannot be pleased or just don't want to be pleased, I am not sure which you are." Buddy tried to come and cry on my shoulder about how bad he was getting treated over the situation. I can't print here what I said to him. Makes you mad people like that tie up the time of guys like you or our rep that could be used fixing real problems.

[hoser147]

Cant please them all, the PayPal dispute really wasn't necessary. I think I would have refunded it an said Enuff of that too.

[gmclam]

And to think we're only talking $15 or so. Imagine if it was $150, or more. I am seeing a lot more spam and a lot more attempts at fraud lately, especially involving PayPal. I just received one this morning that was obvious to me, but might not be to others. If these people put as much effort into WORK as they do trying to get something for nothing, they'd all be millionaires.

[hotdjdave]

We should create an RR Complaints Department and forward them to the most agressive members to resond to these jackasses.

Just a joke.

[chrismol1]

Looks like another "Me Me Me and Me" person, wanting a response after a few emails in little time, all about me. Then wanting someone else to make everything right after they didn't read everything, blames you for everything wrong and doesn't take any responsibility themself. I have them sometimes on ebay, very annoying, you can only help them so much, and then they have to do the rest for themselves

[jnewell]

There are lots of others out there in the forums that are almost as bad. I read them and think that some of these people shouldn't be allowed to own a computer - really. The subscription price is very fair, the service works great and you have our thanks for putting up with all the cr@p.

[gc505]

Yep, there's some real bright ones out there...

Lindsay, I'd like to pay with $15 worth of arcade tokens. What? You you don't accept that type of payment? Well I guess you don't get my tokens! HUMPH! [storming off]

[blinddog50]

Originally Posted by hotdjdave

We should create an RR Complaints Department and forward them to the most agressive members to resond to these jackasses.

Just a joke.

Put N_Jay in charge of it.

Or bring back grog.

[rafdav]

Put N_Jay AND Grog both in the complaints department. I know ol' Grog gone and all, but him and N_Jay sure could make the complaintant feel uptight and somewhat of an a#$h#@*$! Just my worthless 2 cents. On the other hand, it seems you go out of your way to deal with these people. Kudos for your talent.

[joe_disco_electronics]

Originally Posted by hotdjdave

We should create an RR Complaints Department and forward them to the most agressive members to resond to these jackasses.

Just a joke.

Refer them to Ray_Air! 2 or 3 messages from him and the complaining customer will do anything to stop the onslaught.

[chrismol1]

Originally Posted by blinddog50

Put N_Jay in charge of it.

Or bring back grog.

I don't know, do these people really deserve that kind of abuse and torture? its immoral, these people were just stupid lol ahaha

[NeFire242]

LOL @ Grog & N_Jay in charge of complaints. That'd work great!

Yeah its sad to see people do stuff like this. Try working in a store sometime, these people just aren't online. Its amazing.

[kb2vxa]

This reminds me of a dinosaur with his first computer who refused to listen to me or follow my most important suggestion; "read HELP". He would much rather bash the keyboard and scream obscenities at the monitor, you know the type. Skipping ahead in this long but amusing story, in a few months he got a job as a tech writer for a major electronics firm. Uh oh and go figure, mostly uh oh.

"We should create an RR Complaints Department and forward them to the most aggressive members to respond to these jackasses."
(Fixed your lousy spelling, now get with it!)

Oh I'm well up to the task and need an outlet for the frustrations you guys give me. How 'bout it N_Jay? Ray Air? Polter? Cummon, stop fighting amongst yourselves and give me a hand here, there are a lot of alpha hotels out there so wash and press your foxtrot uniforms and hit the deck for action!

[chrismol1]

An RR Complaints/Questions Department with your questions would be nice, its called the RR Forum right here. If this guy would have done a quick registering and posted a question with his scanner, a bunch of people would respond and give him help, but this guy didn't want to signup here, he wanted to complain more to Lindsay

[hotdjdave]

Originally Posted by kb2vxa

"We should create an RR Complaints Department and forward them to the most aggressive members to respond to these jackasses."
(Fixed your lousy spelling, now get with it!)

LOL. Yep, I forgot a "g" and a "p." It was a quick post as I was on my way out...I need to slow down and pay more attention to the detail. Usually it's me correcting everyones' spelling.

Good ting I alwys spel corectly...most of teh tiem.

[57Bill]

It's not the amount involved, but rather the principle (from his perspective). The guy "believed" he got ripped off, and the squeaky wheel got the grease.

[burner50]

Never underestimate the stupidity and tenacity of stupid people...

[MaxMan1986]

Originally Posted by NeFire242

Try working in a store sometime, these people just aren't online. Its amazing.

Indeed. Not Always Right | Funny & Stupid Customer Quotes

[b7spectra]

I think that you ought to turn them over to your SAPS (Self Appointed Police/Sheriffs). I even gave them their badges, but they threw them back at me and said "Badges? We don't need no stinkin badges!"