Seattle Coffee Direct review: Rip off! 683

I signed up for a once a month "coffee club", so I thought. I received 6 shipments in less than 1 month, each shipment cost me $39.95 for less than a pound of coffee. This is not what I agreed to, I shipped everything back to the company, they acknowledged recieving all shipment in their warehouse on May 2, 2009. I still have not received any refund at all. I contacted my credit card company and they said to wait and give them 30 more days. I feel I'm not going to get my money back at all and in the meantime I'm paying itnerest on about $200 worth of stuff I didn't order or want. There is no supervisor or manager to speak with in the Co., each time I call I get a different story like they havent gotten the shipments back or their return policy has changed. Each listing on my credit card statement is different also, they also bill under Bellezza Coffee, Global Coffee Direct, Metro Coffee. They should not be allowed to get away with this any more, especially after reading all the other complaints, there are pages of them.

I've been dealing with Peel, Inc. (dba Seattle Coffee Direct and many other names) for about two and a half weeks regarding unauthorized charges. I signed up for a trial offer. The terms were clear. I was signing up to receive coffee twice a month. "Semi", according to the dictionary, means "twice." Imagine my surprise when I receive an overdraft notice for a $38.95 charge although I had yet to receive the trial offer. I contacted the company. Jason, the customer service representative, snidely asked, "You knew you were signing up for a coffee club, didn't you?" I replied I most certainly understood but that did not mean a charge before the initial trial offer was received. Jason said the company would do nothing until product was returned. I did not like his attitude and asked to speak to a supervisor. After argument, he connected me to Rebecca Ramirez' voicemail. I left a scathing message. The next day ANOTHER $38.95 charge appeared. I contacted the company, this time speaking to Yolanda. She informed she would credit one charge since nothing had been shipped but would do nothing until product was returned. I still had not received product. The following day the trial offer arrived. I refused the shipment. I found email addresses for the vice president of customer relations and the company president. My email to the company president bounced back. Ms. Ramirez had not returned my call, replied to my email and neither had the customer relations VP. The next day I received a coffee shipment. I refused the package again. I received two more packages -- one after the other. Four $38.95 charges (pluse the initial $25) posted to my account and $165 in overdraft charges. I paid for the coffee using an account I use solely for online shopping. I do not keep a lot of money in that account -- hence the overdraft charges. On July 1, Ms. Ramirez left a voicemail that monies charged had been refunded. On July 6, no refund posted to my account. I contiued to forward my initial emails each day. I filed a Better Business Bureau complaint and complaints with the attorney general in Illinois and California. I contacted the bank to dispute the charges. I closed the debit card. My bank advised me to contact the chamber of commerce in Evanston and applicable business licensing agency. On July 9, the promised refund posted to my account. I informed the company via email that reimbursement of overdraft charges was required. I have not yet received a reply. I've belonged to clubs of various sorts over the years and NEVER had issues with unauthorized charges. I am furious and will take this company to court if necessary. This is fraud and misrepresentation. I'm searching court records because I suspect there is a lot of dirty business at work. The main company Peel, Inc. has many DBAs. The Better Business Bureau rates the company "F" with more than 800 complaints filed. I did receive a reply from the Better Business Bureau with the company's reply on July 6. The company claimed refunds were processed. I replied to the Better Business Bureau that refunds had not been processed and the company owed me reimbursement of overdraft charges. I have not yet received a reply. Small claims is relatively inexpensive and a judgment can be docketed in every state. The only way to stop companies like this from defrauding consumers is people taking a stand against unethical business practices like Peel, Inc. and its many DBAs.

My husband signed up for the coffee deal, not realizing they were going to charge $145.00 total to our card (more like $5.oo). They told us if we send all the packages back, we would receive a refund. This happened in early May. I called back to ask where my refund was after waiting a few weeks. They said the money would be refunded in my bank account the next month (June). It never showed up. I called back again...and then again... Finally, someone told me it would either be on June or July's statement. June is gone, and July is here...and still no money. I called back again, and now they claim we will be receiving a refund at the end of July. I'll be back to post whether or not I received the refund! This is getting ridiculous, and it is a ripoff!

I had the same experience as everyone else on this board. I accepted a 5 items for $5 to try out their coffee. No mention of a membership, no confirmation e-mail. Three days after receiving the 'sample' order, I got two additional bags of coffee in the mail with no packing slip or bill of any kind. Since I did not order a membership from them and received no invoicel in the box, I checked out the internet and found this company to be a SCAM. I immediately closed the Credit Card that I had on file with FB and called the company to cancel my supposed 'order'. The customer service lady was very rude, told me that there was NO REFUND allowed at all and that I had two more charges each over $39! I called my bank - Thank God my card that I checked this company out because they canceled my card before the charges came through! WARNING...THIS COMPANY IS A MAJOR SCAM AND SHOULD BE ILLIGAL!

I complete an offer for a $2.00 trial sample of coffee along with 2 travel mugs. My checking account was charged for two shipments of product not ordered at the full price of $38.68 that very evening, before I'd even completed the offer. Not impressed with Seattle Coffee Direct.

This company employs a marketing technique called, "The dangling carrot". If you READ the fine print on the promotion, you will see that in fact you agree to a recurring subscription. Cancel it immediately after receiving your trial offer. The company was in the right, you just didn't read the fine print.

I placed the initial order ($15 deal), and NEVER saw anywhere that I could set up a shipment schedule.
My order arrived in 3 days, TOTALLY the wrong items (I would NEVER purchase caffeinated coffee, yet that is what I was sent!)

Immediately I called to not only complain, but to cancel my account. How surprized was I when I spoke with Marlene to find that another order @$38.95 was already sent out! I was told by this Marlene that I could have set the frequency of shipments when I signed up. So not true.
At my request, my account was cancelled, and I was told just refuse shipment, and I would be refunded promptly.
I refused delivery, and both were sent back the way they came, by UPS.

Today I called to find out if the packages were received and to ask when I would see my money refunded. Anna told me that it takes 3-4 weeks for the packages to be returned to them, and then 1-2 billing cycles for a refund! Why so long to get the packages back? Some lame story that no matter the method used to return the packages, they go to a post office first, and are then sent back in bulk.

The way I figure, this will take 3 months to POSSIBLY see my money returned.

Stay away from this company, stay FAR AWAY!

Today I placed a call to check the status of my refund.
I noticed that when I called using my home telephone number (the one I put on my application for the trial offer), the phone call would click off when picked up, but when I switched to another telephone, the call was picked up.
Are they perhaps screening for previously identified unsatisfied customers in order to dodge the phone calls?

My husband signed up for this on a website offering promotiona deals it was a 5 for $25 deal. After we received the initial promotional offer 2 days later we received 2 bags of coffee with no reciept. When he called he found they had charged our bank account $38.00. They then told he they would not refund our money but they would send a grinder and another bag of coffee for our trouble and we were taken off the mailing list. Four days later 2 more bags of coffee arrived in the mail with yet another $38.00 charge. He called again to complain and was told the second shipment had been sent out before he had made the earlier call to complain. We ended up having to file a complaint with the bank regarding these charges. When he spoke to the company and told them we were going to do this their response was "go ahead."

I recently signed up for the Seattle Coffee Direct program and was hosed! My first shipment did indeed arrive in record speed, I was impressed. However, what I received was not at all worth the $25 I was charged, in my opinion. A couple of days later, not weeks, I received another shipment...a few days later I received another shipment...a week later I received another shipment. I immediately logged onto my online bank account to see if I was charged for any of these unsolicited shipments. To my dismay, my account had been charged 3 times for the amount of $34.68...I was livid. I contacted the company and was told to return the shipments to them and I would be refunded for all costs. I did but after 2 weeks I had not received a refund or confirmation that the shipments were received. When I contacted them again I was told that the shipments were received but my refund would not be processed for another 10-14 business days. That was over 3 weeks ago so I called again this morning. The representative I spoke to today told me that the person I spoke to before did not know what they were talking about and my refund could take up to 2 billing cycles (60 days). This confused me because the charges weren't made on a credit card, it was made through my bank account so what "billing cycle" were they referring to? I protested his response and informed him that they've had their merchandise back for over a month and I have nothing to show for returning it to them in a timely manner. I was then told that he would send me a confirmation email to show that the merchandise was received and a refund has been processed. I ask you, how is that giving me back my money? I still have not reached a satisfactory conclusion to this dilemma and plan to go to my bank this evening to see what can be done on their end. To say the least, I am very disappointed with my experience with this company and will NEVER participate in any program of this sort again.

I contacted the BBB bureau and the very next day ... seattle coffee Direct agreed to a refund of my money ... I am suppose to get this refund within 72 Hours. Hopes this helps.
http://www.chicago.bbb.org

tried trial on coffee. Got two mugs and two bags of coffee for just shipping. Right after this had numerous charges I didn't agree to. I had cancelled over internet. I've been recieving packages through post office and they were sent back with cancelled wrote on them. Called company, Lady was rude and I told her I had cancelled and sent back packages recieved just about everyday. She stated I was suppose to call to cancel and they haven't recieved back any packages. I will have transactions tracked. So I supposely will get refund when they recieve packages. I am not doing anything over internet anymore because of stuff like this is not secure. Someone(who ever is in controll of this) needs to do something. I'm unemployed because of medical problems, so my husband is only income for family of four. Now we have numerous charges from being negative in bank($125.00). If anyone can tell me what to do email grubbworm_00@yahoo.com. Thank You, Angelene

I ordered a promotional set of two travel mugs and a trial two 12 oz packages of coffee beans with the understanding that future shipments could be cancelled at anytime. On July 7, three days after I ordered the promo on July 4, the Company already dinged my credit for 38.95 for the first "future" shipment. The promo hadn't even arrived. On July 11, I was dinged again for another 38.95 for the second "future" shipment, and the promo had not arrived.

On July 13, I received the promo. It was great coffee; however, I realized that 12 oz. for my husband and myself was too much especially if I would be receiving it every month or so. I called the company and asked them if they could deliver every 90 days. I was told they do not extend it that long, and was given the opportunity to just order it whenever I wanted, and they would send me a confirmation email that I cancelled the membership.

It was only after I reviewed my transaction history did I see that the Company had already billed me $90 (before I even received my first bag of coffee!). Also, I did not see an email confirmation that I cancelled the membership. Wish me luck that I can get out of this mess.

I am fighting with them now. They keep telling me my refund was processed for the $38.95 on June 17, 2009... Then they stupidly tell me that it will take 30 to 60 days to show up on my card. My bank say's that's BS and that they show NO refund coming through.

Any refunds I have gotten from legitimate companies have shown up on my card in 3 days or less. It's a debit card, not a credit card.

I'm on disability so I am also going to report them to Social Security and AARP. Those folks like to know when Seniors and/or disabled people are getting scammed.

I hope you all get your money back.

I fell for the same deal. The wording on the agreement is a little vague. They claim they can change the frequency whenever they want. Within one week of signing up, they had dinged me 4 times for $38.95 a pop. Plus if you look at their return policy, you only get "store credit" not a refund. What a rip-off. With the size of the bags of coffee you get and the frequency of the deliveries, what do they think I'm a restaurant? It is very apparent they aren't in this business to satisfy customers, but to gouge them to death until the customer leaves. I'm very surprised that this company is still in business. I'm warning all my friends and am going to plaster stuff everywhere on the internet about this company.

You know I think how dumb I must be to believe that someone is going to give me something for nothing. I, in response to trying to get a $50 restaurant card, checked a Seattle coffee ad. I use a lot of coffee and mistakenly thought it was the original Seattle coffee. I checked "ground" and they sent me "whole beans" and directions for using the coffee bean grinder--but no grinder. I called to request replacement bags of coffee and asked where could I send the wrong ones. They said just keep them. Got the new two bags within days and my Visa bill with an additional $38 charge from Seattle. How dumb am I? Or how greedy--is it free?

Seattle Coffe offers an inexpensive sample and then will send two monthly packages. Don't fall for it. They immediately start shipping before the sample is even received and will send you 3 more at an their inflated price within days of original order, not the month following as they lead you to believe.

I authorized only a promotional offer of two bags of coffee two travel mugs and two coffee mugs. I have already received two more shipments that are not authorized. and I spoke with Brian at Seattle Direct Coffee by phone and he said that they do not have a return policy and when I asked to speak to a supervisor she was "busy" and then she would be out of the office for lunch. This is bad customer service all the way around.

I don't even drink coffee! I ordered some mugs for gifts, and i guess in the fine print I agreed to become a member and within 15 DAYS! THEY HAD SHIPPED ME 4 SHIPPMENTS 39 BUCKS EACH. I should have caught it sooner. The fact that they don't offer refunds only in store credit shows they know exactly what they are doing.

Did you read the terms on this product I did and when I got my first shippment I called right away to cancel and got thru and the person was really nice to me and canceled my order and was not charged I also told them that i googled them and that there was alot of complaints about them and thats why i was cancalling and she was very understanding

I think I like to walk the edge of being foolish or wise with my money all the time. I know every "free trial offer" you ever sign up for will lull you into a false sense of "I got something for free" until the smack a $30-60 charge on you the very next month for their auto-shipping program you signed up for under their fine print. I know that they will make you jump through hoops and wait on hold when you wisely cancel your account with them before they do that. I know my way around these things, I know how to play by the rules they don't like to abide by, but MUST.

Seattle Coffee Direct is the biggest fraud I have ever seen in my life.

The deal I signed up for was two bags of coffee (admittedly delicious), two dollar-store coffee mugs, and two wal-mart style thermoses for $25. The website states a return policy of a full refund on return of product, and says you can expect shipment twice a month. I give myself ten days from first shipment to call back and cancel. That sounds about right. The shipment shows up with no identifying invoice (weird), a broken mug, and a customer service number.

Not even a week later, I'm on my credit card account to pay my bill and there are three charges on it, totaling $116.85, on my account. I call them and say, "wtf?" They replied, "You didn't make a selection for how often you wanted it, so we default to every two days."
"But there was no option for frequency. The website says twice a month, not fifteen."
"You didn't select that."
"I want my money back."
"Send back the product."
"I don't' have it."
"Your three packages are pending shipment. Send it when you get it."
ONE bag was left at my front door. I returned it. Two charges are in dispute with my credit card for non-receipt. I'm expecting one legitimate refund, at least.

It's been two months, so I called again.
"Where's my refund?"
"We never got your return."
"I returned it to (address) and delivery confirmation is (tracking number) just so you can't make that claim."
"That's the wrong address."
"That's where it came from, and you told me to return it!"
"Fine, we'll give you your refund. Just wait 60-90 days."
"How do you sleep at night?"

So now I made a complaint with the BBB, requesting my dispute charges cleared off my account (and no longer being "still investigating"), refund of their charges plus interest, and NOW. As in, don't let it sit in your bank account collecting interest for two months, give it back. I never wanted any of the packages in the first place.

Since my last call, they have changed their return policy to "Store credit only" and changed their customer service phone number. The fine print still says "ships twice a month" but in a pop-up window there is now a disclaimer saying "it may be more or less frequent, " which is ALL sorts of misleading. That's like saying "You can expect to buy this TV for about $200" and then charging you $3, 000 for it. Nice estimation skills, champ.

The president of the company, I see where this scam artist gets his money. People don't always check their credit cards until the next statement comes in, which can take up to a month. More if people are slow to open their mail, or have their accounts on auto-pay. This guy can potentially drain bank accounts and credit limits for hundreds of dollars at a time, keep the money for people who can't find him (changing contact numbers and all) or can't figure out what to do.. And even for the people who find out what's going on, keep their money for months at a time, storing all the scammed-up money in an interest account for which the interest at least is basically free money for him.

I'm just asking for my money back, but someone needs to take this guy DOWN.

I keep receiving a package of coffee every other day that I did not order.

you may want to actually contact the company...

I too have been a victim of Seattle Coffee Direct.com I too have been receiving shipments which are unauthorized. I canceled after receiving the very 1st shipment which was not what I ordered Kept receiving shipments every other day. I called again and again was told if I sent them back I would not receive a refund only a store credit. Have never received the grinder. Every 2 days a shipment comes with a knock @ my door. I call again. They have drained my checking acct.

Same thing has happened to me! Original offer was $2.00, since then my account has been hit 6 times for $38.95 each. Had to cancel my debit card to get this to stop. These people are nothing but scam artists..DO NOT BE FOOLED like I was.

After a complaint to the BBB, I got my refund in a matter of days, not months. Plus the original "special offer" purchase was refunded.

http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/posters/peel-in-evanston-il-36000239 more info on the company. Apparently the same company runs several other services, so avoid like hell ANY of these URLs:
Peel.com
Danielle Janine Jewelry
PosterPass.com
publicationsmax.com
SeattleCoffeeDirect.com
Coffee Roasters Direct, Inc.
ShopDani.com
HollywoodJewelryStore.com
PerfectlyPendants.com
RelationshipSpot.com
RingingCell.com
Superduperfree.com
MagazineBurst.com
VermontRoastingCo.com
Homeartsdirect.com
Art Print World
MetroCoffeeDirect
Global Coffee Direct

I just got off the phone with them this morning, clearly no one gave them any form of customer service training. I have in essence paid $120 for approx 2 lbs of coffee. I am beyond irritated at them, after the first shipment was charged to my account, within 2 days another $38.95 was charged to my account, and then within 5 days of that charge another 38>95 was charged to my account. I contacted them after the 2nd shipment and asked them to stop sending any, and then the third charge and shipment arrived. I then returned shipments 2 & 3, that was 3 weeks ago, they can't refund me until they recieve the shipment back, spoke w/UPS and they said it takes max 10 days for the return to arrive at the company. Ok, so where is my refund? According to the rude CSR I spoke with, it will take 4-6 weeks to credit my account. Okay, how is that even possible, the bank says refunds take 24-48 hours to appear on my account. This is clearly a rip-off!

I like the comment above: We are Seattle Gormet Coffee and not Seattle Coffee Direct. Well the bags that were sent to my house were labeled as: Seattle Gormet Coffee. So nice try; but I don't buy it. You should be made aware of who is using your name and ruining your reputation and do something about it; if truly not you. Doing nothing makes you as guilty.

This company is shameful to say the least. I've been charged four times for nothing under two different names. They didn't even send a product. They told me they would refund my card. Never did. I have worked with my credit card company to get these charges removed. It is a hassle for sure. I believe this company tries to screw folks out of their money and has no true intention of providing a product. It is a scam. Period. It has been four months and I'm still trying to resolve one of the four charges; where they used Metro Coffee Direct instead. Same company; same problem.

My advice to you all is simply to dispute the charges and cost them money in the long haul with the disputes. Maybe in time; these scams will no longer be profitable and stop. I hope in the end; it cost them more than they received; as they clearly deserve it. Karma at its best.

I ordered a coffee sample on 7/7. I received the sample several days later, but then received another shipment of coffee a couple of days after that. The shipment contained no bill, no invoice, and no information.

I called the company right away, and they advised that they would stop sending me coffee. However, they said that although I had not received them yet, 2 more shipments had already been sent out to me and I would be receiving them soon. They advised that the charge for each shipment was $38.95, and that they were absolutely non-refundable. They also advised that even if I wrote “CANCEL” on the shipment and returned it unopened, the most I could possibly get would be store credit (for more coffee products).

I was completely shocked by this, as I had not signed up for such an arrangement. After a very long conversation with management, they refused to offer any refund whatsoever.

I feel very strongly that I was deliberately misled. This is so upsetting. I feel that this company got my credit card information from the sample purchase, and then started making shipments to me as quickly as possible so that they could charge as much as possible before I noticed the activity on my bill. I am paying over $140 for 6 bags of coffee that I never asked for.

The company claims that they send a shipment of 2 large bags of coffee every 3 days. This is extremely suspicious to me, as no one could possibly use that much coffee and therefore would never enroll in such a program if they KNEW THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT.

What’s more, when looking them up on a complaints board, there were over 400 of the EXACT SAME complaints. I am appalled that this company is getting away with this.

Get in touch with the other 400 folks and hire a lawyer. It is companies like this that make the good ones look bad.

When I signed up for coffee direct I thought I would get coffee every 2 weeks (its in their terms). I received coffee every 2 days and my account was charged 38.95 every 2 days! I canceled my membership on June 11, its now Aug 12 still no refund! I have tried talking to a manager there is never one available, have been hung up on repeatedly by their representatives! Stay away from Seattle Coffee Direct!

I also have not recieved a refund and that was 2 years ago when they pulled the same stunt on me... Good Luck with your refund

Seattle Coffee Direct has a fabulous website. Inviting, appears very straight forward. Unfortunately it is all a lie.
I signed up with Seattle Coffee Direct for the $25 trial deal on 08/06/09. It was two packages of coffee and two nice mugs. I had 7 days to call and cancel my membership. This seemed reasonable to me. I like good coffee.
However, as of today they have charged me over $100 in a 7 day period and refuse to reverse charges or stop shipment. I have received nothing yet they say they have shipped 3 packages, but can't give me a tracking number!
I have already filed complaints with my bank and I will continue to let people know that this company is nothing but a scam.

YUP! It's all very true! They billed me for 3 additional shipments in less than 10 days! As above, I do not even drink coffee and it was a gift for my son. When I called I was told that they only give store credit - who wants credit with a crook? So I informed them that if I did not get a refund I would A) call my credit card company B) call the Better Business Bureau and C) call the local TV consumer group until I received my cash refund. I asked if store credit was her final answer or was I to start my calls. She basically said "Go for it". I then called my credit card company and disputed the charges. The very nice woman I spoke to said she was just shaking her head at all that coffee and what was I going to do with it all? Told her I had enough to open a Coffee Shop - LOL. Then I called the Better Business Bureau and found out there was over 924 complaints against this company in the past 36 months and was instructed on how to file one on-line. Within 24 hours of writing my complaint I was contacted by the BBB and told that Seattle Direct had agreed to refund my money since I was an unhappy customer. I am now waiting to make sure the charges are indeed off my card before I mail back these multiple bags of coffee. I will NEVER sign up for another trial offer again...except with Gevalia Coffee which always did exactly as they promised. Good luck to the rest of you and I would suggest the BBB for the fastest results.
Pinkcloudz

i am disabled so ordering on line has been a god send, until now. i live on $800.00 a month and seattle coffee direct has taken at least $150.00 this week, that means i don't eat this month.

I'm currently wrestling the Identical issue.
Wish I had read your post BEFORE I agreed to the $2.00 deal.
Thanks for posting.

As soon as I noticed the first $38.95 fee, I contacted them at [protected]-CAFE. The representative stated that another $38.95 was also charged onto my account and explained that I subscribed to their company. Then she asked why I am cancelling my subscription, from which I answered that I never intended to subscribe and only wanted to trial the $5 promotion for my wife (who is a coffee lover).

The representative was actually pretty nice and helped me cancel my subscription and immediately submitted a request to refund the additional $38.95. Unfortunately, on the first order; I will have to send back the shipment and pay for the fees to do so. As soon as they receive the returned shipment, she promised I would receive my refund.

I will let you know what comes out of this and know to look at the fine print going forward.

This company is a total scam! Not only did I not receive my original shipment of 4 bags and 2 mugs (the promi shipment), but I was sent out 2 bags and charged full price instead. Then they started sending 2 bags every 3 days at $39 a shipment. Every 3 days? That's an insane amount of coffee! I was promised a refund, which I never received. I have filed with my credit card company this morning.

I have just completed a complaint form to be sent to the Illinois Attorney General's office, the State where this so-called business operates.
I encourage all other "victims" to do the same.
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/conscomp.pdf
Meantime, I hope you all have cancelled your credit cards!

This place is a joke, the promotion said 2 bags of coffee and a set of mugs and 2 travel mugs, I got the crappy coffee and the travel mugs, no ceramic mugs. now I look at my statement and they charged me 39.84 3days ago and 38.95 today when I called the lady was extremly rude. And said to me" were you not aware that this is a membership service and we can charge you and ship you when we want to. STAY AWAY FROM THESE JACK ###'S THEY WILL CHARGE YOU FOR CRAP COFFEE AND CHARGE YOU A LOT...

I can get better Coffee at WalMart the sam's choice Arabica coffee is alot better then the house crap or the columbian that I received that looked at tasted old. Am I Bitter HELL YES I am Bitter I Got Ripped Off.