Home Cinema Center - They threatened me with Legal Action if I didnt remove a negative review!
I originally ordered because the items I wanted said free shipping in 2-3 days. It took almost 12 weeks to get my items.
Ok, Covid, I get it. I let that slide. Now, we start to go downhill again. After so many weeks, I finally call to inquire about my order.
After being on hold for 40 minutes, a very rude customer service person answers. I explain the nature of my call. He simply says, someone will get back to you within 5 days and hangs up. End of call!
Five days later, I get an email that says, my order has shipped. A few days before I received my order, I read thru their "rules". In small print it stated, you MUST write on the delivery ticket that the box is damaged in order for them to warranty. (You are not allowed to refuse delivery) Thank God I read this.
Sure enough, when my two boxes arrived, one was severely damaged. It was a cabinet, damaged beyond repair on all four sides. The entire frame was cracked, (it appeared to have been crushed or dropped) I read thru my paperwork and for damages, you have to email. I emailed HCC with their required pictures of the damage and a description of all of the damages.
My cabinet was severely damaged, I sent pictures, one of damage on each side, one showing the entire frame cracked, one showing the top, the bottom corner, it was damaged everywhere! Five days later, I get an email that says, "your damage seems minor", here are your options: 1. We will credit you $125 ($829 cabinet) 2. We will repair the item, 3.
We will replace with another 12 week wait and you must store the item until your new one arrives. I chose to replace since in my opinion a cracked frame is not repairable. Refund was not an option! Some time later, I get an email that my replacement item has shipped and to check tracking in six days and item will be delivered within 14 days.
15 days later, tracking still says "invalid number" and I still dont have my item. Again, I call HCC, but this time I know how they quickly speak and then hang up. I explain what is happening, again, the customer service rep says, "someone will get back to you within 5 days". Quickly, i said, wait!
I would like to speak to someone please. He says, Ok, i will place you on hold, its a 3 to 4 hour wait, and bam!, he puts me on hold. This is when I left my first review. Ironically, after leaving that review, I received an email not five days later but within an hour!
The email said, LEGAL NOTICE, Since you have resorted to company defamation, you now have 1 option. You may remove the social media reviews within 24 hours (11/5 5pm est). Should you choose not to do so, your contact information and social profiles will be added to national registries and in this case turned over to our attorney for processing of slander and defamation. This will carry a minimum damages penalty of $50,000 and you to appear in SC state court.
This is a threatening email and I was not intimidated by it, although I think a lot of people probably remove their negative reviews. I, however, decided to remove the review until I received my replacement item. That item was received yesterday and today I am reposting my review. It is not slander or defamation if it is all true.
Nothing I said in my review is slanderous. It is fact. This is the worst company I have ever dealt with, they are rude, unprofessional and threatening. I wish I had looked around for more reviews and gone to the BBB.
I will NEVER order from them again, and I will surely let everyone I know of my experience with them.
Stay away. They are not worth your hard earned money.
User's recommendation: Steer Clear!
Home Cinema Center Pros: Great website, Good prices.
Home Cinema Center Cons: Horrible customer service, Rude customer service, Threats of legal action if leaving a negative review, Too many hoops to jump thru for returns, No refund offered for severely damaged item.
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Linda, were you able to find out any contact information for anyone who may be a supervisor to the man that handles customer service? I would like to pursue an official complaint but the only number I can find is the one he answers.
I was not. I did receive an email from the company that was just as rude.
They were supposed to pick up the broken cabinet when they delivered the new one. They didnโt. When I inquired, I got a very rude email that said I had to store it until the case was closed. (The case is closed when a new one was delivered).
I emailed them back and said you have 48 hours to arrange a pick up or I will dispose of it.
I never heard from them again. (Itโs now four months)
The person answering the phone is Marc Burnetter who is listed as the โownerโ. He uses fake names, such as Kelly, John, etc., to make it appear as if he is a company with multiple employee.
He is the only employee and heโs just a middle man between furniture companies (dented and damaged departments) and the consumer. VA Law Enforcement was in the process of investigating his โillegal business practiceโ before he fled to SC.
Donโt worry, Marc Burnetter is not going to show up in court to sue anyone because he knows they are going to arrest HIM the second he walks in the courthouse because HE is the criminal that has stolen money from people for several years. It appears that heโs about to flee the country or send his cash to the Caymans since he and his MO Bride Anna Kozlowska, have just unloaded/sold 10+ Properties across the country in 2020. Iโm sure these properties were purchased with HCC stolen $$$.