a note to my real secret santa

[a52-830]

so, sometime on black friday, someone ordered (at least) two items that have been delivered to me (so far) this week.

on tuesday, i got a package from weldfabulous.com, with an expensive bessey web clamp in it. i tried calling, but it dumped me into voice mail (-1), and suggested i use the web site, so i did. they cannot help me at all. they dont know how it was paid for (-1), there was no packing slip (-1), and they can't generate an invoice (-1). if i want, i can send the package back on my nickel(-2).

they get points for: sending it out quickly.

they lose points for: customer service, which they completely lack (see above).

today, i got a package from rockler.com. in it was a porter cable sander. so i called them, and they were very helpful. i told them that the phone number listed on their packing list (+1) was not a real number, since i had called it, and it doesn't exist. they could not tell me the last four digits of the credit card for "security reasons", not a completely unreasonable position, but would tell me what kind of card it was (+1) and told me that the last four digits i gave them were not the ones on the card used (+1).

i gave rocker.com my phone number to leave in the record, and told them if someone called looking for it, and they could explain to me how this happened, i would gladly return the sander.

they get points for: customer service, see above.

they lose points for: actually, shipping. it took a week, after all. of course, they took the time to pack it well, and included a packing slip with a reasonable amount of information on it, including instructions for returning it on the back. so maybe, really, they dont lose points for anything.

so, there are no unknown hits on my credit cards or paypal. the names used were clearly enough me, but not the one i use.

interestingly enough, both companies are from MN. i dont know if that has something to do with it.

so, if this is some secret santa thing, thanx, but please send me a message (anonymous if you must), so i know i can just keep this stuff, and if i should expect any more.

(and no, i didnt sign up for any secret santa's)

 

[WWheeler]

You must have been a really good boy this year.

Yea for dyslexic neighbors ordering tools to the wrong address!

Seriously though, there's laws that say if you receive something you did not order, it's yours to keep that unless I misunderstand it (very possible) I believe that would apply in your case:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0181-unordered-merchandise

 

[a52-830]

You must have been a really good boy this year.

if that is what is going on, they *really* have me confused with someone else.

Seriously though, there's laws that say if you receive something you did not order, it's yours to keep that unless I misunderstand it (very possible) I believe that would apply in your case:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0181-unordered-merchandise

yeah, i know about that. i used to get expensive technical journals for a month or two for free, and then a "renewal" bill would show up. i think they hoped that the groups' admin would just pay it. nnnoooopppppeeeeee.

but these are two relatively expensive things, and if an honest mistake was made, i would certainly be willing to tape the boxes back up and tape on a prepaid return label to send them back. but someone needs to explain to me what happened, and assure me i won't be getting charged for these things later.

we shall see what happens. since they are sort of related (a wood camp and a sander) i bet there is someone, somewhere, wondering where their stuff is, and it is all a coincidence.

but we shall see . . . . . .

 

[Al G]

It could be that they were ordered with a stolen credit card and shipped to your address with the intent of stealing the packages off your front steps. I've read these things happen.

 

[T45]

Yeah, this is interesting. I would still be worried about potential identity theft. Folks that may have access to a compromised database would explain the pattern of info. Or it could be something else, but you are well within your rights to be on guard abit .

 

[a52-830]

It could be that they were ordered with a stolen credit card and shipped to your address with the intent of stealing the packages off your front steps. I've read these things happen.

interesting scam. that never occurred to me. but they would really need to be brave, my driveway is a quarter mile long, thru the trees, can't see anything from the road. even if you knew what you would find down there, you would never know *who* you might find down there.

i have read recently that theft of packages off door stoops is growing in the US. this does make more sense, instead of picking up random packages, and hoping you find something valuable.