Here's a copy, URL is good, just an extremely slow site in the
evenings....
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here's what other people on the Net have to say about CCI
(these articles were posted on the Usenet):
Subject: Beware Wax Cylinder & Compact Connection, Inc.
From: LBuras <lburas@lsumc.edu>
Date: 1997/03/19
Newsgroups: rec.music.marketplace.cd
I sent a check for 2 CDs back in January to Wax Cylinder Music
(http://www.waxcylinder.com). I still have not received the CDs, but my check cleared the
bank in January. Compact Connection is supposedly the distributor for Wax Cylinder. They
won't return my phone calls asking what happened to the cds. I have asked for my money
back, but seriously doubt that I will get it. Wax Cylinder's home page is now gone. The
owner of Wax Cylinder is Robert Engbers. The owner of Compact Connection, Inc. is Darrell
Pearcy. I would advise everyone to stay away from them.
Subject: Re: DON'T get ripped off! Beware of Compact Connection!
From: Toby <l_savage@beutel-can.com>
Date: 1997/01/27
Newsgroups: rec.music.marketplace.cd,rec.music.marketplace.misc,
alt.forsale,alt.consumers.experiences,alt.music.tapes,alt.binaries.sounds.music,alt.music.world,alt.flame,misc.forsale.non-computer,
news.newusers.questions,rec.music.misc
srp wrote:
>
> couldn't agree more, CCI is bad news!
>
> caveat emptor!
> btw it's 'Irvine' CA
>
> /steve
It's too bad, because there are many legitimate businesses on the net, and rip off artists like
this just ruin it for everyone.
Subject: Beware of Compact Connection
From: Daniella Thompson <daniv@mail.telis.org>
Date: 1996/12/30
Newsgroups: rec.music.afro-latin
I bought a MusicCard through MusicWorks that supposedly enables me to order CDs at
$8.99 +$1 S+H each (single CDs only-sets cost $8.99 x number of CDs in the set).
The CD seller is Compact Connection (1-800-795-1578) in Irvine, California, allegedly a
wholesaler with connections to all the distributors.
They claim to have been in business for 4 years, but since introducing the MusicCard last
March they've been inundated with orders they have trouble filling.
Here's my side of the story: I purchased the card in late October. Since then I phoned in 2
orders and e-mailed another 2--altogether seven CDs.
I have yet to receive a single CD I ordered.
Compact Connection didn't charge my credit card for any of the orders, so I'm out just the
$10 for the card (good for 20 CDs). My e-mail communications with their agent
(MusicWorks) revealed that Compact Connection is severely understaffed. Perhaps those
people who order best-sellers and run-of-the-mill CDs get served quickly, but I ordered
mostly imports and fairly esoteric stuff (for the American palate) and that requires more
hands-on time than they can spare.
Compact Connection has never returned my phone calls.
Daniella
Subject: Re: Beware of Compact Connection
From: Daniella Thompson <daniv@mail.telis.org>
Date: 1996/12/30
Newsgroups: rec.music.marketplace.cd
To my prior (semi-benign though annoying) experience with Compact Connection, I'd like to
add that today I received a credit-card statement showing a charge from Compact
Connection posted 11/20/96 (six weeks ago!) for two CDs that were never delivered.
Tread carefully. Spread the word.
Daniella
Subject: Re: Beware of Compact Connection
From: Rutman <Rutman@concentric.net>
Date: 1997/01/02
Newsgroups: rec.music.collecting.cd
[More Headers]
I too have been served VERY BADLY by Compact Connection. After several months I
finally got my first order filled. However, after 6 months I'm still trying to get my second
order filled. Your only hope is to talk
to a real live person. Leaving a message on the answering service has NEVER produced a
call back from CCI. The prices are great, but the service is awful. This outfit may not be
around much longer.
Subject: Re: Beware of Compact Connection
From: David Rutman <Rutman@concentric.net>
Date: 1997/02/01
Newsgroups: rec.music.collecting.cd
CCI's customer service story continues:
I finally got more than a recording today (2/01/97). Today I called 1-800-795-1578, the
customer service number, and talked to a live body!
However, she politely told me that this number was now only for orders!!! She referred me to
(714) 757-4679 for customer service.
Notice, this is no longer toll free. But, low and behold, there was also a live body at this
number. Of course, I got the same answer that I've gotten before. Namely, "We'll ship that
out in 10 days. We will expedite it right away, Mr. Rutman." Yeh, right. Prove it!!!!!!! I
think the Better Business Bureau in Irvine, CA needs to hear from all of
us.
Subject: Re: Beware of Compact Connection
From: Daniella Thompson <daniv@mail.telis.org>
Date: 1997/01/30
Newsgroups: rec.music.collecting.cd
To Rutman's post I'll add this:
Of the seven CDs I have ordered from Compact Connection during November and early
December 1996, only two were shipped.
Compact Connection charged my credit card for seven CDs.
They shipped two and charged for seven.
That's the story in a nutshell.
Daniella
Subject: Re: Beware of Compact Connection
From: dattier@sashimi.wwa.com (David W. Tamkin)
Date: 1997/01/03
Newsgroups: rec.music.collecting.cd
I'm another whom they have cheated. Unfortunately, to save 50c on the order, I made the
stupid mistake of paying by check instead of credit card.
If you're lucky enough to call when the voice mailbox isn't full and you can leave a message,
they don't return calls anyway. If you reach a live person, she tells you that the computer is
busy with some other function and they can't look up customer orders right then, but
someone will call you back; of course, no one does.
The only thing they did diligently was to cash my check. Two months later I asked to have
the order canceled and was promised a refund within two weeks.
(The rep told me I ought to try their service again in a month or two, when they'd be out of
their growing pains; I suggested that better yet, they could just send me my money back and
I'd never darken their door again.) Another two months after that the CDs showed up, I
suppose; at least I got a package from them with something inside it. But I had already
bought the CDs in a store, so I refused the package and returned it unopened. More than
two months have passed since then.
The call I ever received came a month after I asked for the refund, and the person who
called made promises that my order would come soon, having no idea that I had canceled it
and wanted my money back. It was a routine call making excuses for being behind in filling
orders that included no particulars about my case.
The dealer who sold me their coupon book did give me a refund of what I paid him, and he
told me he was very disgusted, getting nothing but complaints from customers. He had
hoped that a franchise from them would be a way to supplement his income, but in the end he
not only had negligible revenues but was out his franchise fee and a big chunk of his life
(during which he probably aged ten times as much).
And to conclude, a funny experience from one of CCI's customers:
Subject: Re: Classical Retail Anecdotes
From: David Rutman <rutman@concentric.net>
Date: 1997/04/10
Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.choral
My favorite story involves the all-time worst mail order supplier:
Compact Connection, Inc. (CCI). After calling to check on my order for the fifth time and
telling the sales rep everything I could about a particular album of choral music by Healey
Willan, she replied, "Is this classical music?" I told her, "Yes. I suppose it is." She
explained that their classical catalog was rather limited and I explained that my classical
tastes were VERY particular. After this she proudly announced, "I DO have an album by
Mozart. Do you want that one instead?" Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is from a link on the previously mentioned URL.
Hope this helps,
Rick |
