Sage

Well, before you jump on the "sue everyone's pants off" bandwagon...

Did you take pictures of this case of stuff? Do you still have it in it's original condition after you opened the package? If you don't have the case with the words on it, then there's pretty much nothing you can do other than call the company and complain. If you still have the box JUST AS YOU OPENED IT, then you have more options.

First of all, get all the paperwork that has to do with that box of stuff together- the shipping recepit, the order number, that kind of thing. Then get it all together, sit down, write out EXACTALY what happened when you opened the box. The day, the time, who touched the box, everything that happened to the box from the time it was shipped to your door to the time your mom walked away in disgust. Once you have all that together, call the company you ordered it from.

DON'T GET ALL MAD. I know you want to yell at someone, but that will get you NOWHERE fast. Be polite, but firm. And WRITE DOWN the names of EVERYONE you talk to- this will come in handy later. Also, write down what they said, if they said they'd do something for you, if they said they'd talk to someone, etc etc. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. When the first company rep gets on the phone, explain that you have a very particular and strange situation and calmly tell them what you found on the inside of the box. DON'T MAKE SPECULATIONS, JUST TELL FACTS. "I got box XYZ on this date, my employee (tell them it was an employee, i'm assuming your mother works at your store, but don't tell them it was your mother- complicates things) opened it, there was a rude message spelled out in glue gun."

By sticking to the facts and just the facts you're putting the ball in their court. Don't demand they do anything, just say that you are very disappointed. Now, if the first person you talk to (the customer service peon) doesn't do anything than say "Oh, we're really sorry," thank them for their time and request to speak to a supervisor. As you go higher up on the food chain, flesh out your explination- for example, tell the supervisor that you are now opening up every case that comes into your store from their company and that is costing you time and money. DO NOT put down the phone until you've either A) gotten a sincere apology, talked to someone and gotten their name and PERSONAL office number, and gotten compensation in some form for the problem (to your satisfaction) --OR-- B) are made totally aware of the fact that no matter who you talk to, they simply don't really care.

Hopefully, the company will be amicable and willing to work with you. If they are not, don't get mad!!! Getting mad only makes you look like a loony. Be professional as possible- be Joe Cool the whole time. If they will not work with you, thank them for their time. Take all the notes you made from the phone conversation, put them together, then call the BBB. That's where I'd take it from there. Now, I don't know anything past this point, because all I've ever had to do is talk to the customer service people. But anywho, talk with the BBB, see what they can do- if anything. It is at this point you should seek legal counsel. Just go and talk to a lawyer, see if there's anything you can do through the courts.

Anyone with some expierence in this stuff wanna jump in?

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