Warning on Bellini's!

Before anyone gets alarmed, I just want to preface by saying that the dissatisfaction expressed in this post is solely based on my own experience, and not hearsay through others.

I will NEVER order another piece of furniture through Bellini's store again. They are rude and their lack of customer respect is appalling!

TWO months ago, my in-laws ordered and paid for a toy chest for Paul. At the time, the store manager told us 'they probably have it in stock, so it will take about a week' for us to receive the toy chest. No problem.

Two weeks later, still no phone call and no toy chest. So, I call to see what's up. They tell me, 'oh, there were none left in the warehouse, so we are waiting for some new ones to arrive.' How long will that take? 'We don't know,' he says. You don't know???? How come you don't know - don't you have new toy chests coming in all the time - I'm thinking this should be a pretty standard thing for them, no?

He proceeds to fight with me over why he doesn't have more insight into his own supply chain (Guy, you are talking to wrong person about this - me and my technology background!) Then he tells me, 'well, I don't have and answer for you, so I don't know what you want to do?'

WHAT I WANT TO DO?????? I WANT MY SON'S TOY CHEST that was PAID IN FULL two weeks ago!!!

Okay, I agree to call back in another week. Same conversation basically and now I am fuming even more! This goes on for about a month and 3 weeks until they finally call us that the toy chest has arrived. I ask delightedly, 'When will you deliver it?'

'Oh, we don't deliver toy chests - it's too small of an order for delivery.' WHAT - W T F ????!!!????! Mind you, we weren't TOLD that when we ordered - not that it would have changed much, but still - INFORM your customers!

This past weekend, we were in the area and decide to go pick up the chest. The guy wheels the thing out to our car on a dolly and WALKS AWAY!!! I was shocked!!! Here's my DH - in the blazing sun, heat and humidity struggling to try and fit this huge box in our modest car - I could not believe they did not offer to lend him a hand!

So, I march my a$$ right back into the store and demand to speak to the manager. The wimp comes out from the back muttering something about how he's not allowed to lift anything b/c he has a slipped disc. Poor baby! Why don't you HIRE someone that CAN - you work in a FURNITURE store!! So, I try to keep my cool and explain that we are just but a little annoyed b/c of the rude and non-customer oriented treatment we've received thus far. He comes out to our car and sees Jeff struggling and goes, (here's the kicker....)

'Oh. Don't you have a bigger car?'
Now I have HAD it! I simply cannot STAND RUDE people and this guy is the WORST. Mind you, I tried to explain that our car is not an SUV on the phone to him (when I had inquired about delivery).

I could go on and on about the rest of the ordeal, but the bottom line - Jeff got the box in the car by HIMSELF with no helping lifting or even suggesting from the stupid store manager. I will NEVER give them my business again, and I will warn all my friends and family not to either.

That is terrible. Is that a chain? Maybe you can write a letter to the headquarters.
If the man can't lift furniture,he should definately hire someone who can. The way they treated you just isn't write. I would write to his boss!

OMG CLAUDINE !!!!!!!!!!!

That is DISGUSTING !!! GOOD FOR YOU for at least speaking your mind when you needed to !


I HATE when stores/businesses are like that ! Maybe you can write a letter, sometimes ya get a little something out of complaining, LOL.

Your technology-thing reminded me of when I registered at Buy Buy Baby and 3-4 weeks later, it still wasnt online !!! So I called there LIVID that my registry wasnt online yet, and they were like 'it takes a few weeks to set you up online' I was like 'No, it takes a few minutes for someone to do that' Of course my complaining didnt get me far at that store. I hate them too ! Complete imbecils. I found like 4 price errors as I shopped there, I had to correct the cashier and salesperson PS-They emailed me that my registry was online, 4 days after my shower ! HAHHH. Looks like BRU got all the business on that one. (I had both reg)

Anyway, sorry for the tangent. Im glad precious Paulie has his toy chest, and I hope to can raise some hell over at their headquarters!

Big kisses!

I feel like you, Claud. There is positively no excuse for the mistreatment of customers!

This is not the first story that I've heard about them ... and I think they are a franchise, so each store is independently owned. And I wouldn't shop there now! There are plenty of other places to go where the prices and service are better.

Thanks for sharing ... so sorry that it was such a nightmare for you.

Wow
Thats a really horrible story.. I am shocked at the lack of respect they had for you.
I would write a letter to this guys boss and let them know the situation.
Sorry you went through all that.

Claud- that is awful, especially since Bellini's always seems to pride themselves on their great customer service! I guess the sales talk is just that, talk.
And to expect that ALL of their customers have pick-up trucks or even large cars is insane, plus your car is an Accord, not a Geo Prism! It is a nice side car.
You should write a formal letter of complaint.

And Anna- buybuybaby.com $ucks. They offer almost nothing online and their online registry never has photos or descriptions of items. They need a major overall if they want to compete with BRU online.

ANNOYING STORY. I HATE stuff like this....When places pride themselves on customer service and just have NO concept!!!

yep michele, I agree. I gave them my FULL opinion of their website, their employees, and their stores and customer service

I hate that store.

LOVEEE BRU

Rude
dont they want your business in the future

So sorry Claud!! That sukks!! Which store is it?? I've been dealing w/ the RVC store and it's been a really good experience so far.

What a shame.

How RUDE were they??
So aggravating!!!

Wow Claud that's really horrible. I've heard their name thrown around here alot but I've never been there (and maybe never will now that I hear that!)

Anna-I agree BBB's online registry is not with the times. Considering how much people buy on line these days, you'd think they would fix it. However Ive always had a great experience with the store and the employees seem to know alot about the products, which I found lacking at BRU. They were also very accomodating when my stroller broke and the manufacturer was being really really annoying (there's another bad customer service story) and I find that they carry some cute, 'different' stuff vs. BRU. I love them both though. I love to shop for my boy.

Thanks for that Claud, Steve and I were going to check them out next week. Now they can kiss our business goodbye

Thanks, I will never give them MY business

Oh my - sorry to hear about that idiot manager. I have to admit though, reading your re-cap gave me the chuckles The average encounter of 'customer service' these days can be quite appalling - from management too! It's very frustrating.

Oh Claud, so sorry you went through all that!! My friend told me that Bellini's customer service S U C K S!! She's had problems with her daughter's bed and never gets anywhere with them over the phone. When are companies going to realize that if they do not have good customer service, they will not have any more CUSTOMERS??!!!!!!

As for BBB registry -- I registered at both BRU and BBB and it was well over a week and my registry still wasn't up, so I went to another location on my way home from my MIL's house and found out that they SPELLED MY LAST NAME WRONG!!!!!! A DUH!!! And had my email address wrong as well, so that's why I couldn't log on either!!!! Once they fixed it, it was up the next day. But I agree with their website, there is hardly any stuff available on it and there are no pictures!!!!

Just wanted to clarify, in case anyone was wondering - this all happened at the Melville Bellini's on Route 110. I have no experience with any of their other NY area stores. So, if they are franchised (as someone suggested), than perhaps a DIFFERENT Bellini's will treat you nicer.

I think it's important not to label the whole company as rude, if it is only this one store.

Double thanks that was the store we were going too