Question re ordering online with a credit card

[ailsagirl]

I bought something a few weeks ago and haven't received it yet. But I HAVE already been billed. Aren't merchants supposed to wait until a shipment is out before charging the customer's credit card?

I emailed the merchant about it but no response... yet

Just wondered

[fleur-de-lisa]

1. That has ben my experience. Billed after item is shipped. n/t

[trixie2]

2. I have never heard of this

I would be freaked out. Was the website "secure"? Have you received an email with a shipping number?

[Arkansas Granny]

3. If you are unable to contact the merchant, call your credit card co. to dispute the charges.

[PoliticAverse]

4. That's the policy at many merchants (to wait until item is shippped) but...

that's not the policy everywhere.

Does the merchant have a website? What are they showing for the order status?

[dameatball]

5. This is correct.

[ailsagirl]

7. They're not showing anything under order status

Such as, shipping info

Rather odd

[PoliticAverse]

8. Do they have a phone number for customer service? n/t

[ailsagirl]

10. Yep, but all I heard was "this voicemail box is full..."

rather suspicious

I called my credit card so they are aware of the problem should I need to cancel the order

Sheesh!!

[ailsagirl]

6. Thank you, everyone, for responding

Just tried calling the merchant-- got, "this voicemail box is full" message

Kind of suspicious

[PoliticAverse]

9. Yeah that is sketchy. Is this a one-person "company"? Might be time to contact your credit-card

company and file a dispute.

[ailsagirl]

11. Not at all-- it's coldwatercreek.com

they sell (rather pricey) women's clothing

[PoliticAverse]

12. You called them at 1-888-678-5576 ?

[ailsagirl]

14. No

Their bill had [phone] on it

I'll try the number you provided

Thanks!

[ailsagirl]

16. That did the trick!

I called the number and inquired about the order and was told it will arrive Monday.

All's well that ends well!

[PoliticAverse]

17. If it arrives Monday. Best wishes! n/t

[KayF]

18. they may have forgotten to send it

I waited two months for an order (I waited because they said there was a "lead time" of 4-6 weeks). Then as soon as I called them I got it 3 days later. I'm sure they forgot to send it. But they didn't forget to charge me!

[ailsagirl]

19. That's right-- they never forget to charge!

The difficult part is when you need to return something-- for the most part it's always a hassle. Some places (zappos, chewy, amazon) make it very easy to return items, but the bulk of merchants have very rigid rules and inevitably stick you with the shipping costs.

I'm sure you've been welcomed but I thought I'd do it anyway

Welcome to DU!

[PennyK]

15. It depends

I buy wigs from an online-only shop. BUT most of the merchandise is sent directly to you from the manufacturer. They bill me right away, and then I get notification of shipping. It's how that whole industry works, apparently.