100,000 cameras given away

By NANCY PARADIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 18, 2000

I have enclosed a copy of the official confirmation card I received from International Home Shopping in Canton, Ohio, which states that a free Benz-Gant camera was scheduled to arrive at my address as promised within eight weeks of the Feb. 14 ship date. I wrote to the service director at the beginning of May and have not had a reply. I just wanted to know if the camera had been shipped already or whether the public's response to the large ad in your paper offering this "free" camera meant it has been rescheduled. Bud Peterson

Response: In her letter to you, International Home Shopping customer service manager Valerie Moreland said she was sorry to learn that you had not received your free camera, since all requests have been fulfilled. As of April 30, 99,445 people had received free Benz-Gant cameras from the 30-year-old company, she said.

Since you were inconvenienced, a free camera plus the optional $29 accessory package have been sent to you. She also said the company received and responded to your first inquiry, and that its answer must have crossed in the mail with your letter to Action.

We were glad to learn that you received your camera package and have shot your first roll of film. For readers who might wonder how a company can give away nearly 100,000 cameras, the company's newspaper ad quotes its executive director Charles T. Stewart: "We know that the new customer contacts and word-of-mouth publicity we will receive in return is invaluable and makes all of our trouble well worth it."

Is chair valuable?

I have a dark mahogany chair that was given to my father more than 50 years ago. The identification on the bottom of the chair is from Sikes Chair Co., Buffalo. Someone told me a couple of years ago that it might be worth something. Is this chair an antique? Is it worth any money? Elinore Melilli

Response: Unfortunately we are not antiques experts, but we can give you a bit of information and tell you where to go for more. The Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society confirmed that there was a Sikes Chair Co. in Buffalo, although it no longer exists. The society can send you photocopies of some clips it has on the company for $1 for photocopying and $2 for postage. Contact the society at 25 Nottingham Court, Buffalo, NY 14216; (716) 873-9644.

Closer to home, you can check the Yellow Pages under appraisers or do some research yourself in books on antiques and collectibles at your library or bookstore.

Ill temper isn't illegal

I was employed by a doctor who treated me so badly that I had to leave my job of 13 years. I wrote to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and also went to speak to someone at its office. I was told there was nothing it could do for me. Can you help me or at least point me in the direction of getting help? This doctor should not be able to get away with this, as he is still mistreating other employees. Veronica Skelly

Response: Unless the doctor is discriminating against you because of age, race, religion or disability, his actions are not covered by the EEOC. Being an arrogant and ill-tempered employer is not illegal. You took the best possible course of action by leaving his office and finding another job. As for helping your former fellow employees, with today's low unemployment rate it is a job seeker's market, so perhaps they will follow your example and seek employment elsewhere.

Tough refund to get

I purchased a Pulaski cherry curio cabinet from Roberds on Dec. 11, for which I paid $324.52 by credit card. I was told it was going to be delivered in January. When this did not happen, I called and returned to the store and was told it would be delivered in February. When this did not happen either, I decided to cancel the order and request my money back.

By then, I had also learned that Roberds was in financial trouble and would most likely file for bankruptcy. Upon canceling my order, I was assured on more than one occasion that my refund was being processed. Well, so far I have received nothing.

Can you help me recover my money? If you cannot, can you direct me to the government agency that handles cases like this? Lile Quintero

Response: Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to help you directly, since Roberds filed for bankruptcy through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District in Ohio. We can tell you what to do, however, although we have to add that there is no guarantee that you will ever see all, or even any, of your money.

Pick up a proof of claim form at a local office supply store, download one from the Internet at http://www.ohnb.uscourts.gov/proofofclaim.htm, or call the bankruptcy court at (937) 225-7274 and press 5 to have one mailed to you. Mail the completed form to U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 120 W Third St., Dayton, OH 45402. The case number is 00-30194.

For service, contract or other information, call the Roberds liquidation customer service line at (800) 686-6814, ext. 2510. We were told that some deliveries are still being made through the liquidators and that the paperwork for refunds of purchases after Jan. 19 is being processed by the customer service center. Claims for purchases made on Jan. 18 or earlier must go through the court.

The bankruptcy court suggests that all proofs of claim be filed with it, regardless of purchase date.

To cover all your bases, we also suggest that you write your credit card company outlining the situation and asking it to charge back your purchase amount. Good luck and let us know what happens.

Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, (800) 333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check.

We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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