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stircrazzzy · 01-21-2008, 05:08 PM

This post is just a rant, and nobody will likely read it, but I have to rant somewhere!

By the way, AAFES is the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. It is basically like a giant Walmart style conglomerate for military personnel. You can order stuff in a catalog, online, or buy stuff in person at a local PX or Commissary.

Here's the story. I needed a laptop. On January 3rd, I bought a laptop online for something close to $1500. Actually, it was like $1440 but that is not the point. It is a brand new Apple Macbook.

Purchasing the item was fine, and I received an email immediately as a receipt. I was told it would take a week or two for delivery, and it would ship to my apartment directly from a distributor.

Anyway, the next day I received an email from the distributor. This is a company called "Ingram Micro". This would be on January 4th, 2008, that my computer shipped from the distributor.

Ingram Micro has failed to provide myself or AAFES with any tracking information, numbers, or method of shipment. I've called AAFES now three times to try to get them to help me. The first time, they said they'd send them a message requesting they forward me the tracking information. That was on the 16th of January. I was told it would be a 1-4 day turnaround for their customer service rep to respond.

It is now the evening of the 21st. I haven't received any emails. I called the company twice more, but all they could tell me is that they also have not received a response. This is not very pro-active customer service.

I also called Ingram Micro. I dialed a 1-800- number from their website, which told me to call another one. I did. I wound up on hold for quite some time. Finally, someone talked to me. I told him my ordeal, and he asked me which retailer I was. I re-explained everything to him, that I am the end-consumer. He said that unless I'm the retailer, he can't release any information from me.

WHAT?!

I can pay for a product, they can ship a product directly to me at my place of residence...why can't they give me (or anyone else) a tracking number??!

Now, I live on the east coast, and this company appears to ship products out of California. I'm no rocket scientist, but I don't know of any method of shipment that takes an excess of 17 days to ship coast to coast. I feel like I've been robbed. I find it likely that my package got lost, or some idiot couldn't find the place and wrote "Undeliverable" on it, and it got sent back or something. There's something not right here. And I'm out $1440, with nothing I can possibly do about it.

Never use AAFES.com. This is for those military types and their families. You will get screwed for those tax-free purchases. Just pay the consumer tax and be able to walk out of a store with your purchase. It's worth the peace-of-mind.

And never work with a company affiliated with Ingram Micro. They have the worst customer service in the world.

01-21-2008, 05:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
stircrazzzy MCB Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 175	AAFES and Ingram Micro This post is just a rant, and nobody will likely read it, but I have to rant somewhere! By the way, AAFES is the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. It is basically like a giant Walmart style conglomerate for military personnel. You can order stuff in a catalog, online, or buy stuff in person at a local PX or Commissary. Here's the story. I needed a laptop. On January 3rd, I bought a laptop online for something close to $1500. Actually, it was like $1440 but that is not the point. It is a brand new Apple Macbook. Purchasing the item was fine, and I received an email immediately as a receipt. I was told it would take a week or two for delivery, and it would ship to my apartment directly from a distributor. Anyway, the next day I received an email from the distributor. This is a company called "Ingram Micro". This would be on January 4th, 2008, that my computer shipped from the distributor. Ingram Micro has failed to provide myself or AAFES with any tracking information, numbers, or method of shipment. I've called AAFES now three times to try to get them to help me. The first time, they said they'd send them a message requesting they forward me the tracking information. That was on the 16th of January. I was told it would be a 1-4 day turnaround for their customer service rep to respond. It is now the evening of the 21st. I haven't received any emails. I called the company twice more, but all they could tell me is that they also have not received a response. This is not very pro-active customer service. I also called Ingram Micro. I dialed a 1-800- number from their website, which told me to call another one. I did. I wound up on hold for quite some time. Finally, someone talked to me. I told him my ordeal, and he asked me which retailer I was. I re-explained everything to him, that I am the end-consumer. He said that unless I'm the retailer, he can't release any information from me. WHAT?! I can pay for a product, they can ship a product directly to me at my place of residence...why can't they give me (or anyone else) a tracking number??! Now, I live on the east coast, and this company appears to ship products out of California. I'm no rocket scientist, but I don't know of any method of shipment that takes an excess of 17 days to ship coast to coast. I feel like I've been robbed. I find it likely that my package got lost, or some idiot couldn't find the place and wrote "Undeliverable" on it, and it got sent back or something. There's something not right here. And I'm out $1440, with nothing I can possibly do about it. Never use AAFES.com. This is for those military types and their families. You will get screwed for those tax-free purchases. Just pay the consumer tax and be able to walk out of a store with your purchase. It's worth the peace-of-mind. And never work with a company affiliated with Ingram Micro. They have the worst customer service in the world.