Marrs up on Fraud Charges (Don't buy there!)

It just seems to me that if they were a little more communicative and courteous they would have a lot less angry customers. OK.. it will take a very long time to fill your order. If I knew going in that it would take 10 weeks to fill my order, and I made the order anyway, then it makes no sense for me to be angry when 9 weeks rolls around and I haven't gotten my order. But it would be nice if 9 1/2 weeks (yes... this entire post was only to be able to write 9 1/2 Weeks ans snicker at it) later I should get a notice that my order is shipping or that it will take another week, 10 days whatever. AND if they can't get the belts shipped by the 10th week then I should have the option to request a refund. No harm no foul. This isn't hard stuff.
 
It has been five weeks today, since I placed a $50 order with immediate payment in full. My greatest regret is that I didn't complete my normal due diligence with seller reviews & research. I rarely buy from anyone on ebay with less than 100% positive feedback, and, from what I can tell, this company would likely be 50% or less.

I sent an email after two weeks inquiring about the status and got the normal response from them, along these lines:
Hello you Idiot. Don't you know we have the bestest, most amazing and miraculous items available in the entire universe? You sir, are a moron who cannot do elementary mathematics, or you have simply had an aneurysm and did not realise it has ONLY been TEN BUSINESS DAYS since you placed your dinky worthless order. ONLY TEN BUSINESS DAYS for our perfect products! Do you realize, sir, that we serve millions upon millions of much more worthy customers - or maybe it's five or six per day - yet we are just a miniscule tiny almost microscopic family of three Etruscan shrews fulfilling this mission, forced upon us from heaven.

Now, you loser ne'er-do-well, return to the hermitage from which you emerged and sit in silence until we, the officiants of your destiny, decide you are worthy to receive our perfect products. Then, IF we decide to bestow upon you the appropriate size and number of our miracle belts, you might enjoy once again wonderful music from your equipment. We MIGHT ship your puny order in a couple days ... or whatever. Don't EVER write to us again, challenging our integrity and business acumen. If you do, no doubt you will unleash the wrath of our shrew overlord, and you don't want that. You will get it when you get it! Maybe. You stooge.
Click to expand...

This was three weeks ago. In my opinion, this behavior from them is tantamount to "Calling in dead" at work. Has anyone considered the manufacturer relationship with their sole US distributor, and that they may want sever ties? Time to attempt a refund with Paypal.

GL everyone.
Z
 
WeAreZilla said:
It has been five weeks today, since I placed a $50 order with immediate payment in full. My greatest regret is that I didn't complete my normal due diligence with seller reviews & research. I rarely buy from anyone on ebay with less than 100% positive feedback, and, from what I can tell, this company would likely be 50% or less.

I sent an email after two weeks inquiring about the status and got the normal response from them, along these lines:


This was three weeks ago. In my opinion, this behavior from them is tantamount to "Calling in dead" at work. Has anyone considered the manufacturer relationship with their sole US distributor, and that they may want sever ties? Time to attempt a refund with Paypal.

GL everyone.
Z
Click to expand...
But what was their actual reply?


Yes there is a reason he doesn't sell on sleazebay and cutting ties with paypal.
 
This is the reason I don't have a lot of cassettes. I found a working Nakamichi at a thrift and my 2006 Lexus has a cassette deck so I have a few, but without a reliable source for maintenance parts, vintage decks are just going to become paperweights. It's funny that my 100+ year old cylinder player will keep going for another 100 years but a 30 year old Nak is doomed.

I think there is a vacuum and it will eventually be filled.
 
drumbum said:
But what was their actual reply?
Click to expand...
>> Verbatim response. Keep in mind this was three weeks ago ... and two weeks after ordering. <<

Subject: 8-27-18 PAYMENT RECEIVED AUGUST 11TH ! 10 BUSINESS DAYS BX-125 D5 FACTORY KIT

8-27-18 BX-125 D5 FACTORY KIT !

Hi Al,

It has been 10 Business Days since payment was received.

You Order should mail in a couple of Days



8-27-18

SHIP ESTIMATE

0-10 Business Days
 
My saga is goes as this , my third order with Marrs , placed in July 2018 ,late august sent emails asking what was going on , no reply. finally I opened a PayPal dispute . They replied right way through PayPal saying there had been health issues and if I closed the dispute they would ship next day with tracking . So being a good fellow I closed the dispute , bad idea !! Weeks goes by , no tracking , send another email " I am not at my computer but will send the tracking tonight " weeks go by , more emails sent to them with no reply . I can not re-open PayPal case once it is closed . So went to the BBB and started with them , a few weeks later they say Marrs has not replied , case closed .These belts were for a simple Yamaha KX300 that I can get anywhere but I wanted what is supposed to be the best . I am in Canada so maybe US law does not cover me but I will make it my mission to get my lousy $50 backs . So if they ever ask you to close the paypal dispute don't do it .
 
There is no way an order placed in July isn't fulfilled by August. Sucks. I'm starting to get the itch to do some research when I go to Japan next year. Maybe I'll fill that vacuum myself.
 
MannyE said:
There is no way an order placed in July isn't fulfilled by August. Sucks. I'm starting to get the itch to do some research when I go to Japan next year. Maybe I'll fill that vacuum myself.
Click to expand...

The Tapeheads.net thread (well the latest one) is growing by leaps and bounds.
 
Amazing, bordering on bait and switch or out and out fraud. It seems that some folks still defend this company for some reason.
 
Hajidub said:
The Tapeheads.net thread (well the latest one) is growing by leaps and bounds.
Click to expand...
Yes , I was glad to see I was not the only one conned into closing the paypal dispute with a promise they would ship " the very next day , been sick " line . That does make me feel a bit better I guess ? I have a nephew in the US so he is talking to his lawyer to see what it cost me to get my $50 back , at this point it is not about the money .
 
Here is another custom
guygo said:
So it looks like Marrs Communications has stopped shipping anything or responding to customers whatsoever. They are still taking PayPal money, yet any inquiries to the "orders" email get bounced as "Address not found".
Marrs has turned into nothing but a scam. I am very surprised PayPal wants to maintain any association with them.
Whatever you do, DON"T ORDER FROM MARRS! Vintage Audio and CEI are shipping the next day.
Click to expand...
Here is the story of my friend that confirms the bad experience with Marrs Communications.

Hello cassette lovers,

My name is Anatoliy. I live in Moscow. And I'm cassette decks (especially Nakamichi) and other tape recorders enthusiast. I’m a member of this Russian Hi-Fi forum. I want to tell you about my long experience with Marrs Communications. I had deals with them since 2008. All was great before Fred's house washed away during the flooding in Texas in May 2016. After that problems begined. One time I even opened PayPal dispute and returned my money. But even after that I have continued to deal with them. My last order fr om Marrs communications I've made and paid for was on April, 27 2018 for about $1000. And till now they didn’t complete it. They have sent the first part (of value about $100) in the late of May 2018. During June I’ve written several email to them but had no reply. Then I wrote I will open PayPal dispute again if they won’t to meet engagement. I got the answer very quickly: “Don’t worry dear friend! I PROMISE... and so on...”
No problem. I’m not in a hurry and I have time to wait. PayPal returns money during 180 days of the payment has been made. September came. I wrote to Fred (by that moment Krista totally had ignored me): “Where are my belts? The deadline of returning my money is coming.” After that they sent me the second part for amount about $150. Then I’ve called Fred by phone and left a message on the answering machine. Fred called me back in about 30 minutes, told me about how he wants me to be a distributor of his belts here in Russia. I told him that I don’t want to resell them by myself but I know a person who can do this. And we will think about his proposal. Also he told me not to worry about my order and in a short time Krista will send all that they should. He told how he appreciate to have a business with me and how good we will work together. So he is ready to give me big discount and ready to send an invoice to me to pay for more belts, and he told me another bullshit...
Time have passed and I skipped the deadline of PayPal. After that they started totally ignore me. I’ve sent them many emails but got no replies. He replied me again in December. Here is his letter:
“Anatoliy,
Not to Worry ! We are aware we owe you inventory and you WILL
receive it. We have been doing business too long for us to take advantage of you ! That is a PROMISE !
Fred ( Been in the Hospital kidney failure ) I am Ok.
cc: Krista please follow up !! “

Two months later in late February I asked him: “Hello Fred, is it time to get worried?”
He answered another bullshit like he is sick, Krista will send the postage soon and so on...
That time I had a trip to the continental USA and Alaska. I wrote him about it, told that I am in the USA now, will stay here for a long period and threatened him to take an action and go to a court. I think he didn’t believe me and wrote me several emails asking to give my American phone number.
“Anatoliy,
Please forward a US Phone number so we can call you.
As mentioned I have been sick and in the hospital.
We will issue a Refund OR ship the product.
Krista or I will call you when we receive the phone number here in the usa !
Fred”
What did he want to talk about? I had no idea. I wrote that I have not a cellular phone number and gave him the hotel’s phone number and my room number in Seattle where I stayed that time, gave him my Skype and attached my fresh photo in New York City. Nobody called. Here is one of my emails:
“Fred,
This situation lasts for almost a year! I want you to refund or send the rest belts in the next five days. Or I will go to a court. So only let me know about your decision.
Regards,
Anatoliy.”
In a few days Krista had sent me the tracking number of the postage to Moscow. When I returned home and got the parcel I’ve find out that they didn’t send me all they owed. They stay owed me about $200.
After that I wrote them, Krista answered me several times, lied... Below are two letters from her. The first one had been written on April, 4:
“Anatoliy,
Hello my friend. I hope you and your family are doing well. I just
wanted to give you a quick update on the belts for the remainder of your
order. I spoke to the factory last Thursday, March 28. My most recent
order of belts has been shipped and is on it's way to me. I should be
receiving them within the next few days. As soon as they come in I will
inspect them to ensure that they meet our specifications. Once they've
been approved and added in to my stock I will pull the belts for the
remainder of your order and prepare them for shipping. I intend on
having your belts shipped out to you no later than April 15, but am
going to try very hard to ship them even sooner than that. It will just
depend on what day I receive them followed by the completion of the
inspection process.

Anatoliy, again I sincerely apologize to you for such a long delay. I
WILL be refunding you the shipping charges you paid when the order was
placed along with a percentage of your order total in return for your
patience and understanding. We are happy to have you as our customer
and friend and we feel that we owe you something in return for any
inconvenience the delays in shipping may have caused you. Once I have
received the belts and have the remainder of your order together I will
follow up with you to give you your tracking number and the final
details of your partial refund. If you have any questions or need any
further information please feel free to contact me. I look forward to
speaking with you soon. Take care.
Thank you,
Krista”

And the second one on May, 6. After my question: “Do you ignore me again?”.
“Hello Anatoliy,
No sir, I am defintely not ignoring you. I apologize for my delayed response. But I am not in the office on Saturdays so I did not get your email ‪until this morning‬. I have shipped your belts.
I had to bring Fred to his dialysis treatment today so I am out of the office right now. But when I get back this afternoon I will send you the tracking number for your shipment. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you,
Krista”
It is interesting that Fred lives in Kentucky, Krista lives in Texas and she had to bring Fred to dialysis treatment... After that I wrote several emails to Krista and then to Fred. No reply, no tracking number... I wrote my last letter them on May, 14 and gave them 24 hours to send me the tracking number or to refund. Or I will start a campaign against their thievish business. No reply. That was their decision...

Thanks for your patience reading this very long story!

Don’t have any deals with these people. If you are waiting for a shipment from them don’t wait, demand a refund immediately. Krista and Fred are liars and freaking crooks! Don’t believe any their word.

They made their new site only to find new customers and to steal as much money as they can! I think so.

I very tired of all of this shit and just wanted to warn you not to get in the situation like me. I don’t believe they will return the rest of my money or ship something. I don’t need that money now. They can leave it if they need it so much. It is not my personal revenge. They have made their decision. They believed I will do nothing like many people who had bad experience with them.
I’m sure they don’t have belts on stock, or they have less than they need for the normal operation. So they need to collect customer’s money to partially complete orders. Or they try to steal that money if they can.
There are many stories about Marrs Communications on the Web. But usually people will seek for such stories only after they already being in situation like me. Not before.

Excuse me for so long story.
icon_smile.gif
I only wanted you to completely understand the situation and not to make my mistakes.

Anatoliy.
Click to expand...

https://www.hi-fi.ru/forum/forum46/topic87764/
 
With so many complaints here it is just time to shut them down... STOP ORDERING!!!!

Let the sales that may go through E-Pay put an end to them.

Too many threads here for anyone that has read here to give money to a company that will not deliver.
 
He does sell the best belts for decks, it's just a matter of getting them. Someone needs an "in" with the Japanese manufacturers. Wonder if there's decent money involved with this business?
 
alteclipsch said:
I'd disagree with that. He says he sells belts, but it appears he just takes people's money and sells excuses.
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I do believe that is because the hundreds of orders that are received by customers each month are not here mentioning the issue, only those that have not received the order.

It is up to the buyer to jump through those amazingly complicated hoops to report to them the lack of receipt of an order but after doing that they come here and complain. Then disappear when the order arrives.

Marrs posted a phone number on tapeheads for those so inclined to get their order cleared up. Those overseas, maybe send your information to a friendly AKer that might help with a phone call or use cheap phone service for int'l calls.

I have no idea if it is still that way but Marrs was proud of never having taken the money and not sent the belts on a completed transaction. But sometimes that sending the belts seems to take months and months. With proper documentation, one should be able to get the product due or a refund.

Just coming to AK to complain is not a way to move forward on a resolution to the problem but it may make the aggrieved party feel better. With a small percentage of complainers, it will be very hard to shut down the supplier of the best belts for gear. I'd just contact Marrs and see what is up. Don't forget to follow the rules however unusual they are.
 
Blue Shadow said:
I do believe that is because the hundreds of orders that are received by customers each month are not here mentioning the issue, only those that have not received the order.

It is up to the buyer to jump through those amazingly complicated hoops to report to them the lack of receipt of an order but after doing that they come here and complain. Then disappear when the order arrives.

Marrs posted a phone number on tapeheads for those so inclined to get their order cleared up. Those overseas, maybe send your information to a friendly AKer that might help with a phone call or use cheap phone service for int'l calls.

I have no idea if it is still that way but Marrs was proud of never having taken the money and not sent the belts on a completed transaction. But sometimes that sending the belts seems to take months and months. With proper documentation, one should be able to get the product due or a refund.

Just coming to AK to complain is not a way to move forward on a resolution to the problem but it may make the aggrieved party feel better. With a small percentage of complainers, it will be very hard to shut down the supplier of the best belts for gear. I'd just contact Marrs and see what is up. Don't forget to follow the rules however unusual they are.
Click to expand...

This sounds like a very good passive aggressive method of dealing with a situation. This would not be my method though.
 
Zenith4me said:
This sounds like a very good passive aggressive method of dealing with a situation. This would not be my method though.
Click to expand...
It has the vendors rules mentioned. If they don't do anything not following the rules, maybe starting over following the rules will get a response. I'd call Krista and see what is up with info available so she can look it up.
 
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Blue Shadow said:
I do believe that is because the hundreds of orders that are received by customers each month are not here mentioning the issue, only those that have not received the order.

It is up to the buyer to jump through those amazingly complicated hoops to report to them the lack of receipt of an order but after doing that they come here and complain. Then disappear when the order arrives.

Marrs posted a phone number on tapeheads for those so inclined to get their order cleared up. Those overseas, maybe send your information to a friendly AKer that might help with a phone call or use cheap phone service for int'l calls.

I have no idea if it is still that way but Marrs was proud of never having taken the money and not sent the belts on a completed transaction. But sometimes that sending the belts seems to take months and months. With proper documentation, one should be able to get the product due or a refund.

Just coming to AK to complain is not a way to move forward on a resolution to the problem but it may make the aggrieved party feel better. With a small percentage of complainers, it will be very hard to shut down the supplier of the best belts for gear. I'd just contact Marrs and see what is up. Don't forget to follow the rules however unusual they are.
Click to expand...
Have you read my story? It would be very interesting to you. I think there are no hundreds of orders. Krista lied me several times. These people couldn’t complete my order during a year. It’s unbelievable for normal business and normal people. And they send me the large part of my order (very quickly) only after I threatened them going to a court. They became swindlers. They need money very much and can’t serve all of their customers.
What about their phones. You can try to call. You will always talk to an answering machine. You can leave a message of course. And they will decide to call you back or not. Krista never called me back. Fred did only once. When he wanted me to be became his dealer in Russia. That means me to buy belts with discount (for my money of course) and resell them here for his regular price.
 
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I've been through one of his previous rounds of flaking, despite his hoops, and I'll go elsewhere.
 
For the life of me I can't understand why anyone would take the risk of doing business with these people. They do sound like swindlers.
 
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