Can Power-Trac at least move into the last millenium?

[catsco]

Today I am more angry with Power-Track than I have been with any person or company in 40 years.

I've been using a tire tread as a rubber lip for my plow (PT-425), but thought I might try PT's rubber edge and steel retainer.

Called PT, spoke with 'Keith' asking for a price for the rubber piece, steel piece and an ADDITIONAL rubber piece.

He said he would call back.

After a few days (with no call back) I discovered that they had charged me (by debit card) as follows:

$252.01 (apparently for the parts I asked for which I needed to know the price).
$6.50 for ADDITIONAL shipping for this oversize???? part.

Called and spoke with Keith who told me it was ready to ship; I told him he was supposed to call. After a short discussion, he said I could get just the rubber edge and retainer, that it was not a problem to change the 'order'.

I said fine...

Now, I've been charged another $151.95 for the $125.00 part, apparently because of the 'oversize' shipping. How big can this be?

So, I'm now out 252.01 + 6.50 + 151.95 + bank charge for overdrawn (I only have so much money) 2 @ $35.00 for a total of $480.46 for, so far, NOTHING.

Called and was routed to voicemail, called back and spoke to Christie and said I needed to speak to someone now, and she said 'they must be out to lunch'; don't want to be sour grapes, but this is outrageous!

Mostly because they have NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER responded to any e-mail, and only to voicemail after a week or so.

This and the minimum $50 order have just about pushed me over the edge.

What, if anything, could they be thinking?

 

[MossRoad]

Sometimes any company can do a bone headed thing like that. It doesn't sit well with the customer.

Calm down. Tell them you wanted a price and did not authorize a purchase. Tell your credit card company to dispute it. Get it all cancelled and all fees refunded... then start over with a fresh order.

 

[catsco]

Hi MR -

Thanks for the wise words.

Unfortunately, I used a debit card, which caused its own problems.

Fortunately, the bank immediately issued a credit when I called to contest charges, since I've been a customer for over 30 yrs.

Sorry if I sounded like I'm ranting, but I think I was!

How hard would it be for a company the size of PT (along with their mining equipment, which I've purchased in WV years ago) to have e-mail? Or know how to know that they've run a purchase through and not voided it as they claim?

Don't know if you're a Dilbert (comic strip) fan or not, but Sunday's summed up modern life's occasional problems. The text was:

"I'm like a fly stuck in the thick tar of despair."
"Incompetence hangs in the air like the cold stench of death."
"I'm drowning, and monkeys dress as lifeguards are throwing me anvils."
"My job has convinced me that life is a stale joke with no punchline."
"I long for the comfort of the grave."

Now I'm laughing!

Again, thanks!

Mark H.

 

[KMA]

I agree that Power Trac is now where near the best ran company... and I believe you asked them to call you before placing the order, but why would you give them your CC info before getting a price? It's probably because I don't trust anyone, but I definitely would not give them my card until we at least agreed on a total price including shipping.

Good luck and I hope things work out for you.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I was wondering that myself, why give credit card info if purchase wasn't made?
Many companies don't have email because of spam and abuse. Abusing email priveleges costs corporate America billions of dollars every year.
It does stink that they don't return phone calls. That's about the worst thing you can do in business. Even if you tell a customer to go scratch, at least you communicated.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Wayne County.

As you are considering a PT my experience is quite opposite. There is a point person, Terry, who if he ever quits / retires is going to leave the company hurting. Terry is the head of service, but I order all my parts through him.

He has always returned all phone calls and even ocassionally responds to an email. I also have his home number and he has made it clear if I am in a jam I can call him over the weekend for advice. I never would but i thought it was way, way cool.

Upsides and downsides to the PT for sure. I am a 3000 miles away from any help but they have seemed like next door.

Carl

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Carl, one man's experience will not sway my judgment one way or another. Now if 80 people came on with the same story, I would have to reconsider.

 

[catsco]

Thanks for the comments.

This started as ordering the lip kit, then just before hanging up, I asked about the ADDITIONAL rubber piece.

That is why they had the CC number (which I've used for purchases from them for years).

They did call back today to insist that they never submitted the charge to my bank.

The bank disagrees, since all three charges mentioned previously have been processed. The bank is now handling it after giving me a credit for them.

I've dealt with PT since early 2004, and Terry has been extrememly helpful the few times I've needed information or parts.

It is true that if he leaves, they will do poorly.

 

[J_J]

Thanks for the comments.

This started as ordering the lip kit, then just before hanging up, I asked about the ADDITIONAL rubber piece.



You know you all can make a difference. I think all it would take would be to email in mass and a phone call from each of you expressing your opinion, and the power we have to persuade other buyers about PT.

Terry does have an email, and so does PT. I think what it would take is to express your opinion about all things about the company that you don't like. No company likes that kind of publicity. It has to be the owner that has this certain attitude, that they have the only machine like this. Consider that $50.00 min, that sucks. Incomplete manuals or no manuals, and only one person knowledgeable about the PT's. I know some of you will sit back and do nothing, and maybe some of you have everything that you need. I am sure that other people reading this forum will be more informed about PT.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Interesting idea, and i support it.

My only issue is that there are maybe 30 active PT members on this forum and I am sure over 2000 PT's sold at this point. Doing the math we statistically don't mean squat.