Canadian Business Model for Bad Customer Service

Beware of doing business with USB Depot.com, PromoPeople.com or their parent company Opie Marketing Group.

This collection of web sites and interrelated companies are owned by Jamie Opalchuk, a Canadian businessman who started Opie Marketing Group Inc. at his kitchen table a few years ago according to press releases available on their web site. Operations are based in Oakville Ontario, Canada a suburb of Toronto. The company claims to own and operate a network of over 75 niche-oriented web-based properties in select markets including consumer goods, financial services, and technology.

Before I describe my misadventures allow me be very clear. I don’t believe representatives of USB Depot.com, PromoPeople.com or their parent company Opie Marketing Group have done anything illegal by Canadian or US standards. However I did find these folks to be arrogant, ignorant and irresponsible.

The short version of a protracted story is….

I initiated a transaction to purchase 300 USB executive style pens with laser pointers. The pens were going to cost about $10 each with laser engraved logos and a 1GB USB drive  pre- loaded with the client’s presentation.

The dispute with the folks at USB-Depot.com and PromoPeople.com revolved around faulty merchandise and bad customer service.

After requesting and paying for samples to review the quality and functionality of the pens I placed an order.

The problems started with the original quote and order not being fulfilled due to a Chinese holiday interfering with the production schedule. Things got worse and went down hill from there. In one transaction I witnessed first hand just about every classic bad customer relations move there is including: bait and switch practices, missing parts, defective components, slow response from management, reluctance to address issue. and very slow to issue a refund.

The bottom line is, it took two months, numerous phone calls, emails and much extra effort on my part as the customer to complete a simple transaction. I can only imagine If I had not put forth the effort to hold these folks accountable, my client and I would have been out roughly $1,000.

If you choose to buy goods from USB-Depot.com or their parent comapny  PromoPeople.com do so with caution. The old sayings say it best  – All is not what it appears.   Buyer Beware, Shop Local, If it sounds to good to be true it probably isn’t.