I want my $3.47...give me my $3.47!

Totally long I know, but don't you want to feel my pain?!?

So with Missy D now on the move, it became very necessary to accessorize our stairs with a little bling in the form of a gate. Not so hard...WRONG!!!

My sil Stacey had the perfect baby gate, and bonus...she has the same house that we have. I called her up, got the maker of the gate, Regalo, and the model number #1160. Next I ordered the gate via, Tooele's only shopping choice, Wal*mart.com. The gate came, whawhoo!! I put it up super fast, go me!! And it was too small...the pressure screws were fully extended and the gate would buckle if the kids leaned into it...I'm thinking that is NOT a feature we want. I tried to add the 6" extension piece, but that made it 2" too big. UGH!! So I left it up, better than nothin, and went back to the coutore store of Wal*mart and ordered the other gate that had 2 different sizes of extension pieces.

I waited 2 weeks and then voila, it came! Same problem...apparently even though the manufacturer swears no changes have been made to the gate in many, many, many years it is 2" bigger than Stacey's, hello I know how to use a tape measurer.

The solution? Get the #1165 model, apparently that is the only way to get the desperately needed 4" extension piece. I searched high and low and then the gate gods smiled upon me and there it was at Overstock.com for $52.99 plus $2.95 shipping and the icing I had a 10% coupon. (Insert angelic Ahhhhs here!) I ordered it on a Friday afternoon and thought all my wows were in the past.

Saturday morning my brother David called and said that they were no longer going to use the gate anymore and wanted to know if I wanted it. Heck ya!!! I "chatted" with Overstock, no phone numbers for them, I was told it was too late to cancel, but I could return the item once received. DO NOT refuse the delivery, it will mess up the return. Okay, got it. Put up the gate from my brother and it fit like a glove!! Gates from Wal*mart were going back!

I got the gate the following Wednesday, placed the UNOPENED box inside by the front door. Got online tried to start a return, had a glich and had to "chat" with customer service again. Yada, yada, yada I got a prepaid UPS shipping label, taped it on the UNOPENED box. Jason then took it to work with him (Go UPS!) the next day.

Fast forward to today... I see that the gate was delivered on March 12th. I went to Overstock.com to check the status...CLOSED, No tracking info available...WHAT?!? I got on the "chat" and this is what unfolded:

Danny: Thanks for contacting Overstock.com, this is Danny, how may I help you today?
you: hello, i was checking on the return status of 74193845
Danny: Hi, I will be happy to check and help you with that.
Danny: Thank you for the order number.
Danny: For security purposes, could you please verify the name and complete billing address ( with the zip code ) on the account?
you: julie ward
you: address divulged here
Danny: Thank you for verifying the details on the account, Julie.
Danny: Just to confirm, are you referring to 'Easy Step Extra Wide Metal Walk-Thru Gate'?
you: yes, that is correct
Danny: Thank you for confirming the item.
Danny: Would you mind holding online for 3 to 5 minutes while I check on this for you?
you: that is fine
Danny: Thank you for staying online, I really appreciate your patience.
you: yes
Danny: Julie, I see that your return has been completed on 03/12/2009.
you: okay and how much was credited back to my discover card
you: are you there??
Danny: Yes, I'm here.
you: can you tell me how much is going back on my discover card please
Danny: Julie, our trained specialists at our returns warehouse will evaluate the returned items, since our specialists found that the item is Not Restockable and Excessive Signs or Wear.
Danny: That's the reason we not issued you the refund.
you: THE BOX WAS NEVER OPENED!!!

It when on back and forth for an HOUR with me YELLING through CHAT that the gate was in BRAND NEW, UNUSED condition!!! He offered me $30 in-store credit! WHATEVER!!! Then he offered $35 in-store credit...YEAH RIGHT! I told him something unethical was going on in their return depart and threatened to get our local tv's Consumer Investigator to look into this. Then finally he wanted to know why I returned the gate, so I gave him the rundown. Then this is what happened:

Danny: Thank you for staying online, I really appreciate your patience.
you: yes. and looking back at my chat it was Malcolm that gave me the return label
Danny: Julie, since we value your business with us I'll go ahead and issue you the full refund back to your card.
Danny: That sounds good?
you: not that you just value our business, but because the item was never opened in the first place
you: but yes i will accept a full refund to my discover card
Danny: I do understand your concern.
Danny: Thank you.
Danny: I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused in this regard.
Danny: I am happy to help. Do you have any further questions for me?
you: how long will it take to process this credit to my card
Danny: Refund will be issued to your account right away by Overstock.com , however it depends on your financial institution as when the refund is issued to your card.
Danny: The chat conversation reference number is 090304-007132.
you: thank you

Then 3 hours later, I get an email from some Derek guy saying that Danny "miscommunicated" the refund amount. I would not be getting back my $2.95 shipping, fine, but then he said they were unable to refund my $3.47 in sales tax because state sales taxes are not refundable....WHAT? I always get them back elsewhere...plus no where in their refund policy is this stated!!! They are very shady...which brings me to my title! I want my $3.47!

***UPDATE*** They just emailed and said that they would issue a refund of $3.27 for the sales tax.....I want my 20 cents, give me my 20 cents! J/K They can keep my 2 lousy dimes!