A collection of aggravations

[rachelmanija]

Chump change compared to some other things going on, but what do I really not need right now? Very aggravating things sucking up enormous amounts of my time that are still not fixed!

1. Chef Rip-Off.

Laura Shapiro very kindly offered to chip in for me to get a week of meals at a meal-delivery place as my foot is broken. She provided some links, and I selected Chef Nourish. Doesn't that look delicious and healthy, just what you'd want when both cooking and shopping have suddenly become very difficult?

Hahahaha right.

I thought the meals would be delivered hot. They're not. They're delivered cold in a cooler in the middle of the night (!), two days' worth at a time, and you reheat them. Consequently, all those photos of fried and soft-boiled eggs are false advertising. They don't do eggs at all, except in stuff like burritos, because obviously you can't reheat them.

My first delivery was for breakfast and lunch, when I'd ordered and paid for the more expensive lunch and dinner. Also, this is what I actually got.

This here is breakfast, consisting of an unpleasantly chemical-tasting slice of cake, a tiny cup of equally unpleasant yogurt, some raw walnuts, and two raspberries. Cost averages to $20.



This is dinner, a burger of mediocre quality on wilting iceberg lettuce, chips that are soggy because duh, they've been REFRIGERATED, and a raw tomato. I specifically requested no raw tomatoes. Cost averages to $24.



This all costs over $300 for ONE WEEK. I requested a refund minus the cost of the two delivered meals. They told me they'd refund the money tomorrow. That was last August three days ago. It has not been refunded, and my emails are getting ignored.

2. The Missing Bookcase Parts.

I ordered two bookcases from Amazon. Only one could be put together (by a Task Rabbit guy), as one arrived with the necessary parts missing. I have now spent literally hours and hours attempting to get a replacement for either the parts, or the entire bookcase (with parts included).

The sellers told me it's impossible to send me replacement parts (a bag of screws and stuff, which unfortunately are not generic ones but specifically for this bookcase - the TaskRabbit guy said I'd need those specific ones, and I trust him on that). They also won't send me a replacement bookcase (with parts included) or refund my money unless I return the one I have. The one I have is way too big for me to lift especially since my foot is broken, so if I want to return it apparently I have to hire someone to do that for me. I complained to Amazon and they said it's an independent seller and they can't do anything. I complained to the sellers, and they responded by telling me to call Fedex.

I would forget about the whole thing but I have one bookcase already installed and I need the matching second one. All they need to do is send me a goddamn bag of screws and bolts!

Comments

[yhlee]

That sounds so aggravating. I'm sorry you're dealing with stupidity!

[rachelmanija]

Does that look like a $23 burger to you? Or a $20 breakfast?

[sheron]

Are they paying YOU $300/week to eat that stuff? Yikes.

Tell them you'll post these accurate photos of food on yelp and things like that (social media) and see if the refund will process faster?

As for the other, I'm certain the bolts are not manufactured specifically for these bookcases so they must exist somewhere outside of the book case. Maybe try finding out their ids or something to search for them online?

[rachelmanija]

Unfortunately I think they actually are manufactured specifically for these bookcases. Both the guy who put the one together and the sellers said they were.

I'll make a Yelp threat tomorrow.

[alatefeline]

Hisssssss unfun and cheatery. *growls at them for you*

[naomikritzer]

Is the seller also the manufacturer? You might be able to get a pack of bolts if you dig out the assembly manual and find an 800-number in there and call it. (Or not. I have also been in the situation where I have an item that is 98% fine but in order to get the one component that arrived broken, I have to ship the whole goddamn thing back and get a replacement.)

[rachelmanija]

Hmm. I will hunt it out.

[movingfinger]

That doesn't even look like a $5 burger.

If the charge went on a credit card, you can open a dispute about it for a refund.

[rachelmanija]

PayPal.

I know! It looks like a burger from a pack of 20 frozen burgers from the supermarket (and very possibly was.)

[naomikritzer]

Also, that burger looks like something I've resentfully paid $12 for, fresh, at the overpriced snack bar at the local zoo. If you're delivering meals cold to be reheated and eaten later, burgers are a terrible option.

[rachelmanija]

It looks like the subject of a "Burger in freezer for 3+ years - should I eat it?" Reddit query.

I can't get over that the first THREE photos are of delectable-looking fried and soft-boiled eggs, which aren't served at all.

[monanotlisa]

ad 1. Wow, this looks worse than cafeteria food!

I suggest

a) Writing a letter to the (consumer division, whatever it is called) of the Attorney General's Office about Chef Nourish -- don't do any legal analysis; just present this shameful chain of facts of them exploiting consumers. Obviously, do stress that this seems to be a systemic treatment, not a one-off mistake on their part (essentially that their business model is to deceive consumers, but don't state that outright).

This is is low-pressure, high-reward. You WILL get a solution this way.

b) Complaining to the BBB. Now, they are another extortion-style site. But, established companies at least do fear an F or so rating on the site, and the glut of BBB complaints flooding Chef Nourish will probably make them re-think their approach (well, at least to you..).

This is low-pressure, medium-reward. Not likely as fulsome as involving a governmental agency that can severely hurt a business.

c) Complaining on social media, obviously only with clear evidence and a mental write-up, at the very least, in your back pocket. Only state truthful things...again, facts and figures, if accurate, are never defamation.

This is high-pressure, both for uncertainty and the fact you yourself has to communicate, versus some strongarm intermediary. But if it works it will give you very quick results, and those could be high-reward.

[rachelmanija]

Thanks. I will contemplate. There is a vast discrepancy between the photos (and even descriptions!) on the website and what's actually served, right? It's not just me?

If it was a restaurant, I would expect their food to look like it looks on their website, and in fact I don't recall ever noticing that it didn't.

[sartorias]

YUK. That food looks like hospital food!

I hope you leave a stinging review on the appropriate Amazon site. What bullshit.

[rachelmanija]

It tasted like it too.

[magistrate]

DEAR GOD.

I wish I were there to meal prep for you. If only to rebalance the universe from the disturbance-in-the-force that is that bullshit.

[rachelmanija]

I wish you were too!

[pameladean]

UGH, I'm so sorry. And yeah, the website photos are delectable. And they SAY THOSE ARE SAMPLE MENUS AND THEY LIST EGGS IN THEM. Not just liars but really blatant ones. My God.

P.

[rachelmanija]

I'm so exasperated. It was such a kind thought of Laura's and I really could have used some TLC in the form of delicious hot meals delivered to me without me having to lift a finger. Instead, I got that.

[grayswandir]

I'm glad you've gotten some helpful comments from other people, because pretty much all I've got to add is D:

That burger "meal" looks like it's worth about $2. You can order a whole pizza for like $8 and it's delivered hot and to made-to-order, so why on earth would anyone be willing to pay $25 for old refrigerated chips and a tomato?

[ironed_orchid]

That is terrible! The food on the website looks so good, but that looks so sad and kinda gross.

[movingfinger]

I bet that reverse image search on the website turns up stock photo hits.

I have trouble keeping poached eggs hot and palatable when I'm feeding a dozen people brunch in my own dining room. I do not see how they could ever deliver poached eggs. It's all made of lies.

[scioscribe]

That food looks vile, the burger especially. I've definitely had higher quality $5 frozen dinners than that. Yikes.

And the bookcase replacement thing is such a tear-your-own-hair-out aggravation. Take responsibility for your product, bookcase seller!

[rachelmanija]

I forgot to mention that they keep insisting that I have to mail them back the bookcase, but have not provided a mailing address. Multiple emails requesting one finally got me an email saying it's "Las Vegas, NV." That's it, that's the whole thing.

[musesfool]

Yikes! On all accounts.

[nenya_kanadka]

The quality of reaction icons in this thread is high. 😍

[mildred_of_midgard]

Wow. Fraud all around.

My collection of aggravations sympathizes with yours.

[havocthecat]

Jeez. I could personal chef that shit up for you (were I not in Illinois, anyway, and you in California, I believe) and things would be fresher and tastier and hella cheaper. I mean, mostly because I'm not a personal chef, I'd just be doing the "HI, I'M ITALIAN, LEMME COOK FOR YOU" thing. I do that a lot.

(P.S. You could make an entire fucking poundcake for $20 and have most of a bag of flour, sugar, and a whole bag of oranges left over. I definitely hate this meal place on your behalf.)

As to the bookcase, couldn't they just sell you the necessary replacement parts (as a compromise, because they should just send you stuff for free)? Assholes.

[rachelmanija]

No! They're absolutely refusing to send the replacement parts (which is all I want) and saying it's impossible.

Latest update: when I requested an address to mail back the entire bookcase, they informed me it was "Las Vegas, NV." That's it. That's the entire address.

[laurashapiro]

Oh my GAWD I'm sorry to hear that about Chef Nourish. It looked so good! It had great reviews! ARGH!

[rachelmanija]

I thought so too! And it was such a kind, thoughtful idea of yours! Such is my life.

If I ever pry your money back, should I just use it for Postmates regular restaurant/grocery delivery?

[carbonel]

I recognize the chips as Terra chips, which are one of my favorite things, except NOT WHEN THEY'RE SOGGY. Sheesh.

I second the recommendations to try for either action or a refund from PayPal, if that's where you paid for both items.

[rachelmanija]

WTFFFFF! Everything is supposed to be homemade!

ETA: I have now complained to PayPal and the consumer affairs dept of the Attorney General. Which may be using a cannon to swat a fly and me taking out my RAAAAAAAGE at other terrible people on Chef Nourish BUT REALLY.

[nenya_kanadka]

Oh my god the meals thing is bullshit!!!

Wtffff.

[rosefox]

If you're looking for a replacement for Chef Nourish, don't try Prepped. The food they sent was so bad that I texted their customer service asking for a refund. The CS person, who had clearly already quit and was just finishing their last shift, replied, "I'll see what I can do but tbh we get a lot of these types of complaints." No refund was received.

[rachelmanija]

GRRRR. I hope you gave them one star on Yelp.

No, my replacement will be delivery from my favorite restaurants via Postmates.