How to Respond When You Order Something and Get Nothing

Have you ever ordered something, faithfully paid for it and then waited, and waited, and waited until you realized that someone took your money and gave you nothing in return? It happens more often than you think, and it happened to me last year. I ordered a book from an author who self-publishes, and who rather than using a Print-On-Demand publisher instead chose to go the old-fashioned route and actually pay for a print run from the printer of her choice. In theory this is fine if you order enough books, and if you are willing to pay the packaging and shipping, however, this author who was a big name author before she decided to self-publish didn't do that. I ordered the book in March 2004. I still hadn't received the book in November 2006. Here's what I did, and what you too can do if you order something and the person or company you order from gives you nothing.

Step 1: Call or e-mail the person or company asking where the item is. Make sure you provide your name, the address you asked it to be sent to, and the order number or other identification number so they can easily look it up on their computer. Sometimes there is a valid reason for your not getting the item, maybe it is out of stock, or someone misplaced or misfiled your order. Ask them when you can expect it to arrive, and then hopefully they do send it.

Step 2: If the date it was expected to arrive comes and goes and you do not receive what you ordered, contact the company or person again and ask them where the item is in case the service they shipped it by is just taking longer than they thought.

Step 3: If the item still does not arrive at all and it becomes clear that you being given the run around, you next step is to send either an e-mail or a letter by certified return receipt so you have proof. Explain in the letter that you have given them more than enough opportunity to send what you ordered, and that if they do not send the item it is mail fraud. Give them 7 business days allowing for the mail if you send it that way to contact you and give you a tracking number so that you can track the package. This is one way to force them to ship the item if they have it and are holding on to it for some reason. Tell them you will be reporting them to the Attorney General of their state for mail fraud, if you they do not send it or are unwilling to give you a tracking number.

Step 4: If you still do not receive the item you ordered, and the company or person does not respond to your letter within the appropriate time frame, it is time to go about reporting them to the Attorney General of the state they live in for mail fraud. You can get the forms and instructions for how to do this on the Attorney General for their state's website.

I waited a year and a half before I did these things, in my case because I made the mistake of thinking that because this author had been a New York Times best selling author that he/she would do the right thing. I was wrong, even people who are famous will break the rules. Don't wait as long as I did. Give the person or company the maximum amount of time it takes for an item to arrive and then put these tips to good use. Paying for something and getting nothing is not acceptable.