A Perfect Example

I can't think of a more perfect example of why we were comfortable leaving everything we knew for the unknown. I hate to sound like my granny, reminiscing about the good ole days, but that is what the USA has become for me.

I remember having "the customer is always right" drilled into me when I first became part of the world of retail. Yet, now that couldn't be further from the truth. Stockholders and CEOs hold all of the power. Consumers have just become a means to an end. Build a rich company no matter the costs. Declining health, declining weath, declining service and make sure your product doesn't last (if it does how can you sell more).

As I write this I am torn as to using company names, I guess I am holding out hope for another couple days that we can reach a resolution of sorts, highly unlikely, but hope springs eternal.

We gave our moving company a few extra weeks due to the state of the world and shipping concerns as they currently are. A few weeks ago we started trying to reach out. All email addresses we had for the company were bouncing back. The only person we were able to reach and who responded promptly was the third party company they contracted here in South Africa. Any and all parties in the US silent... We held out hope that things were on the way.

Until this week... Tom received a FB message from a moving and storage company in Grand Rapids, Michigan letting him know that our goods were still there, less 100 miles from origin, and come to find out, won't be released until their fees are paid. According to them the original company used them for the pick up and then ghosted them. Now we are supposedly on the hook for the pickup and packing as well as 5 months of storage fees (over $3600USD). This is pure madness!

This is after paying the international movers full fees for door to door shipping. Nearly$9000USD, and there is of course the priceless worth of the items they were contracted to transfer. And negligently left unpaid with a third party we had no knowledge of.

As I am researching our consumer rights and the best steps to move forward I am seeing that since the end of last year this company has left 100's of people in the same boat, and their goods not in any boats! How is it possible that a company can get away with defrauding 100's of people for hundreds of thousands of dollars and there is very little any of us can do about it?

Even worse they seem to still be "in business" although I use that term loosely. I think they are continuing the same fraudulent practices.

They are taking advantage of very vulnerable individuals in the midst of what is likely one of the most difficult life transitions that they will make. I am flabbergasted! In the US there are little to no avenues for those of us they have taken advantage of. Consumers in the US have fewer and fewer rights every day.

The power has shifted. The individual no longer matters. Only the almighty dollar has any rights or protections.

There are very few countries in the World that would allow a company to take advantage of its citizens in this manner. Many of you know, we have had issues with our seller and struggled with finalizing our home purchase, but throughout this process we have had a team of people verifying claims and ensuring that the transaction is concluded equitably, at no additional charge.

Every company we have dealt with since the move has been beyond helpful and supportive. We have dealt with plumbers, electricians, had solar installed and so much more. All concerned about ensuring that their services were up to standards. Yet, so many in the USA look down their noses at countries like South Africa.

I will take this country and its humanity any day over where we came from. Companies could not exist without consumers (human beings). When a country worships the dollar over the individual it is the beginning of the end. A civilization can not exist without empathy and respect. I am so glad we have found a place where humanity thrives and UBUNTU rules.

Wish us luck, and if you are planning an international move reach out and I will let you know who NOT to use.