Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 7:25 AM
Subject: Fw: WARNING> Buyer Beware Of Ranger Outdoors Dismal
Non-Refund Policy (12 April 2008)








Someone not very happy.


**** Buyer Beware Of Ranger Outdoors *****




Buyer Beware Of Ranger Outdoors Rigid No Money Refund Policy Before
You Buy Anything From Them !!!

To Ranger Outdoors and Cc. hundreds of consumers that will read this email.

I am writing about my conversations with staff and then the manager
of Ranger Outdoors O'Connor in WA on the 11th April 2008 in regards
to obtaining a refund on a generator I had bought a day earlier. The
unit was not suitable for the purpose for which it was bought and is
in 100% unused, untouched, still in box condition. The information
below is further to our conversations regarding a refund to which you
flatly refused to do.

The law in W.A. as I have found out from D.O.C.E.P say's, 'you as a
business have legal right to remedy when:



* The item has a fault the customer didn't notice when they bought
it'



* The item isn't the same as described by the sales staff or
in advertising' ; or



* *The item is not suitable for the purpose in which it was bought'.



The law then says, 'what settlement you receive when you take the
goods back depends on what consumer law describes as 'Fair and
Reasonable'

Ranger Outdoors do you think that when a customer (me) has made an
honest mistake and purchased a product that is not suitable for what I
bought it for (and you do not stock an appropriate replacement) that
the most 'fair and reasonable' remedy is to tell me you will not
refund one single cent of my $1399 that I gave you only 1 day earlier?

Instead, after much conversation and 2 calls to the store owner
from the manager the best you would finally offer was a $1399 voucher
to purchase other goods from your shop that as I tried so, so hard to
explain I SIMPLY DON'T NEED ! And after seeing 1st hand the way
Ranger Outdoors deals with attempted refunds I would not want to spend
it at your shop anyway. The manager did say a couple of times that he
could see my point but 'hey it is not worth losing my job over $1400
bucks'

Coincidently at the same time I was talking with staff another man was
trying (banging his head up against a brick wall) to also obtain a
refund on some jerry cans that he had purchased that did not fit into
his jerry can holders when he got them home. He was told by a female
staff member NO REFUNDS. He was very flustered and interrupted my
conversation with the manager and demanded that he have the owners
direct phone number, to which he was refused as I was.

Ranger Outdoors rule makers ask yourself how would you feel if you
paid $1400 for an item at a shop and when you got it home you found
out it was not suitable for your needs and you returned it? The staff
then tell you that they do not have an appropriate replacement and you
can't have ANY of your money back but here's a voucher for $1400 to
buy some stuff you simply don't need.

SECONDLY. Why hide your refund policy from the consumer? Is it because
of the utter unfairness in it? Your refund policy is not displayed
clearly in your shop. I did not see anything on the doors, nothing in
the isles, on the walls etc. (for good reason I suspect) When it was
bought to your attention that your refund policy was not clearly
displayed in your shop you pointed out that your refund policy is
'clearly written on the bottom of my docket' and this is just
stupidity as the money changes hands before the warning is given on
the receipt. Do you see my point ? If I did notice that your shops
have such a backwards non-refund policy I may not have purchased the
product in the first place (just in case) as maybe the man with the
jerry cans and many other people would not have either.

THIRDLY AND LASTLY. As Ranger Outdoors is clearly having troubles
displaying and telling people of their non-refund policy and what will
happen if you dare ask for your money back I will help you.

I have printed below the refund policies of some of the major
players in your industry as well as yours.

Here is B.C.F 's refund policy which reads : If you are not 100%
satisfied with your purchase just let us know .We'll sort out the
problem or give you your money back .

Mountain Designs refund policy reads : Should you change your mind
,you are welcome to return most products , together with your proof of
purchase within 30 days of purchase to receive an exchange, credit or
refund. Excludes products such as climbing gear and underwear.. If
unsure whether our return policy covers your purchase please check
with one of our friendly team members.

AND Ranger Outdoors refund policy : We trust you have made you
decision carefully as goods are non-refundable unless proven faulty
within warranty. In this event Ranger and supplier will access and
offer or replace, repair or credit.

Ranger Outdoors policy does not allow for any money on any item to be
refunded even if the item is found to be damaged when opened and they
don't have another in stock.. NO CASHBACK. The best you will get under
this policy is a credit. Make up your own mind who you purchase from.

Ranger Outdoors, as you are having difficulty displaying and letting
people know about your non-refund policy on the net (I could find many
others but not yours) and in your shops I WILL keep sending this email
many, many times to many different people to help you (and you can
count on it as I will send Ranger Outdoors Main office the sent list
when I have finished). Those customers can then make an informed
decision as to who they purchase goods from.

Mark my words I am going to email EVERY fishing club, fishing forum,
fishing charters, camping and scout clubs , tracking clubs, outdoor
education departments, 4WD clubs, Campervan and Motor-home club of
Australia and forums (they alone have 51500 members of which I am
one) and any and every potential customer so they can let their
members (your customers) know exactly what they are up against. I will
also email this to all competitors in this industry so if they have
fairer refund policies they can compare theirs to yours and others and
let their customers know if they choose. As many customers would agree
refund policies are important before choosing which shop to purchase
from.

CONCLUSION: Ranger Outdoors, if you do consider yourself 'Western
Australia's biggest and best retailer of outdoor products' and 'The
leader of the outdoor industry in the W.A. market' as your website
says then why not back your claims up with a refund policy to match?

Or if you do really think that your non-refund policy is fair and
that of the 'industry leader' then display it clearly for all to see
on the net and throughout your shops.

Note: The Department of Consumer and Employment Protection will send
to any business free signage to show people exactly where your policy
is written within your shop.

P.S. To all people concerned... If you have received this email and
you believe the content to be Fair and Reasonable please forward it
to everyone you know who purchases fishing, camping, 4WD or hiking gear.



Ray Simpson.

South Fremantle

W.A. 6162


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----- End forwarded message -----

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