Beware: WWW.PETFOOD247.COM.AU

[Michelle]

Thank you all for your recent contributions.

I have noted that today is the first anniversary of the initial complaint - Let's hope that matters are resolved before the second.

[JanH]

Just an update. I received an "order confirmation email" from petfood247 this morning. The status on my account has also changed to "ready for dispatch", so we shall see.

I still have had no response to my emails or phone calls, not that I would expect any from what other people have gone through.

I did manage to find a couple of more bits of information for those out there still battling or who, like me, placed an order before they found this site and are just getting started in the struggle.

A check through Whois (http://whois.ausregistry.com.au/whois/whois_local.jsp?)
shows the following:
Registrant GARY MCDUFF
Registrant ID ABN 26215935282
Eligibility Type Sole Trader
Registrant Contact ID MCGA1105
Registrant Contact Name Gary McDuff
Registrant Contact Email [email protected]
His credit card transactions are processed through the Netregistry Payment Gateway (http://www.netregistry.com.au/ecommerce ... t-gateway/) which may provide another avenue to seek recovery of your funds.
I'll keep updating. Good Luck, everyone!

[kymbj]

Hello JanH. I guess, I too, am too trusting, and in Queensland. Now waiting (waiting... waiting... and waiting) for a potentially phantom order to arrive. I waited for about 10 days before the alarm bells started quietly tinkling in my brain and so Googled "petfood247" and found this forum. Enough to drive me back to bricks and mortar businesses!

I placed my order on 4 November 2010.

I have begun my futile contact with said company and was just wondering when you first put your order in, so I might be able to gauge if I may ever get this elusive and "exciting" "ready for dispatch" status on my account, sometime in the next millennium.

I received an order confirmation email almost immediately after I placed my order and was charged accordingly, but have had and heard nada since.

Thanks everyone for posting their experiences and advice. It is a huge shame that shoddy suppliers are allowed to give net shopping such a bad name. 99.9% of my online shopping experiences are more than satisfactory. I will be doing a little more research before I order anything from "new" places in future.

[mooresinoz]

I ordered two pet doors from PetFood 24/7 ($330) and didn't receive any reply to phone messages or emails when trying to figure out where my order was. After about a month I too googled and got this site and all the complaints & comments about the company. In a complete state of panic I rang the bank who said I could start the paperwork process to reverse the credit card transaction (which was debited from my account the day of the order) but it would take several months.
I called Fair Trading who were not helpful and basically said the knew of the company and reversing the transaction would be my best option.
I rang the home telephone number in some of the messages earlier in the post every day for two weeks, pleasantly asking Gary McDuff how much longer it would be before receiving my order. Various promises of "being couriered tomorrow" etc etc but FINALLY the package arrived (about two months from initial order). I would like to think that it was always going to come, but conclude that perhaps the owner of the company needs reminding that there are real people out there waiting for their goods...
Nonetheless, no more online purchases from me from now on... I hope you all receive your purchases too.

[JanH]

mooresinoz , I'm glad to hear that you finally received your items, but sorry to hear that this has put you off shopping online. I have been shopping online for years due to an injury that has left it very difficult for me to get around. I have made hundreds of purchases online from weekly groceries to major appliances, and can count the number of problems I've had on one hand, and have plenty of fingers left over! In fact, more often than not, the service is spectacular.
The majority of merchants and eBayers out there are good, honest people trying to provide good service and make a living. (No, I'm not one of them)
It would be a shame if this one "rotten apple" ruined it for the rest.
I only placed my order with petfood247.com.au on 10 November, but when I didn't receive any notice by phone or email within a couple of days (that other online merchants provide), I began digging around.
From what I've seen here, it appears that you receive your goods based on the order in which you become a major pain in the neck and refuse to be ignored any longer, IF you stick with it that long. It appears that the rest either get a refund from their bank or give up and let him keep their money because it's just too much trouble.
I think the latter is what he's hoping for.
In addition to filing a complaint with the Office of Fair Trading, please consider telling your stories to A Current Affair.
Good-luck to you.

[mabsy]

I ordered on the 26th of June. For months I have been trying to call and email - nothing! I just emailed again and gave them till Tuesday to respond otherwise I'm filing a complaint with office of fair trading. In the meantime, I'm about to do some background investigations about the company with a contact I have - let's see what we come up with... I wish I found this website sooner, I would not have been this patient.

[sarz]

I too, bought an item on the 6/11 and still have not received anything. I'v phoned the phone number on the website like you all have leaving numerous messages and emails and still no response! I'm so mad and wish I noticed this forum before hand. Has anyone been able to speak to this Gary Mcduff man yet or does anyone know if there has been any progress in getting this business no longer operating? I have phoned my bank who are investigating the matter. ANZ seem to be quite helpful. Thanks all.

[mish1409]

Still waiting.......and waiting......purchase date was 6 October 2010 $133.00 and still no reply. Have emailed numerous times and called. Pathetic, pathetic pathetic.....wish they would just shut this dodgy website down!!!

[RtD]

I've been done just like the rest of you 16th October 2010.

I called the ACCC & they informed me that the company Petfood247 has been in receivership for quite some time now & should not be accepting any money or trading. This is in convention of Section 58 of the trade practices act! The ACCC informed me they will follow up the breach.

I have placed a dispute with my credit card providor & ordered new cards.

It's not the loss of the money that riles me!!!!!!

Westpac temporarily credited my card the amount of the purchase until the dispute resolution date is reached (another 18 days), if there is no satisfactory reply I get to keep my money.

And Guess what (initial order 16/10 2010 & numerous wasted hours later) a package from guess who (date sent 25 November)? The product is what I ordered & in good shelf life date!

But I am not going to be in a hurry to say the issue is resolved. Let them do some time wasting. Hopefully they are too disorganised to respond to Westpac’s demand for 'proof of order'.

RtD

[JanH]

RtD,
I'm really glad to hear that you got your order. (I'm still waiting on mine even though it was marked "Ready for Dispatch" 2 weeks ago.)

This is how he manages to stay in business. He ships the orders to the customers who appear to be the biggest threat to his "legal" status or who pester him the most. This way every complaint that is made through official channels gets resolved and he gets to keep doing "business" his way.

He will never be shut down so long as he keeps doing this and people keep dropping the issue once they get their money or goods. As it has been said before in this thread, they can't shut a business down for bad customer service.

NO ONE should have to go to so much effort or wait so long to get their merchandise or money back from this guy. Can he keep doing it? Yes, almost indefinitely, so long as people like us keep dropping it once we get our own situation sorted out, or like the silent ones just let it go because it's too much trouble. Does he know that? Without a doubt, I'd say he's COUNTING on it!

Why should we, the customer, have to spend more time and money trying to call this guy, or go to the bank and fill out forms to force this guy to provide the goods agreed to for our money? We shouldn't.

How many people do you suppose are out there who have been taken in by this guy but have never found this site, or did but couldn't bring themselves to post to it? I'd bet there are A LOT!

The only way I see to stop this is to go to something like A Current Affair. But most people aren't willing to do that, especially once they manage to extract their merch. from this guy.
I've already contacted them (ACA), but I'm only one person. It'll take a lot of angry, disgusted people to get them to follow up on it.

Best of luck to all, but before you drop the issue, think about what you can do (legally) to prevent this from happening to someone else, maybe even someone you know: A Current Affair, a notice posted in your Vet's office, emails to everyone you know, tell your neighbours...be creative and help stop this guy. I personally will be doing all of the above and anything else I can think of to spread the word.
Just remember, IT'S NOT SLANDER OR LIBEL UNLESS IT'S FALSE.

[ottto]

Hi,

My advice to anyone that has a credit card based order with this website, is to call your bank & lodge a payment dispute. I've just done it (takes all of 3 minutes, and they knew petfood247 by name!), having waited a month, and no communication from them.
I'm not saying your goods won't (eventually) turn up, but they clearly do not deserve anyone's business. Cancel your payment, and take your money elsewhere.

Ironically, i shopped at the bricks&mortar store (mentioned on the first page of this thread) in Sutherland a few times, before it disappeared, and their pricing & service was always fine.
Just goes to show it always pays to do a little online research before handing over your hard-earned...places with a history like this one are plastered all over the net (which brought me to this fine forum .

[RtD]

I agree with the above but 'DON'T WAIT A MONTH', file your complaint to the credit card providor NOW! It doesn't take long.

I have used Petcareshop.com.au prior & sequent to my encounter with the unmentionable & in 3 days the goods are at my door.

[Jillian]

It's unbelievable to me that this has gone on for over a year and this topic has reached 25 pages. It's really appalling that so many people have had problems with this company and so many still continue to.
I applaud all of you who have taken the time to particpate in this thread, share your stories and share information that might help others. There are likely a lot of people who didn't register for our forum but did search, read this information and were helped by it.
Good luck to all of you who are still struggling to get your goods or a refund.

[Pit Bulls Bite]

I've been scammed too damn it! ordered sentinel chews over 2 weks ago. still nuffin! cant get an asnwer out of this freakshow.

better call the bank and start the proceedings. will be more careful in future. a good lesson to learn!

[Bubbles]

Welcome to ScamWarners Pit Bulls Bite.

We are sorry to are out money from this company. Sadly whether is is poor customer service or over marketing products, it feels the same. Several people who have posted in this thread have gotten satisfaction. Some waited it out and others requested refunds. You can work with your bank to get the funds back.

We are glad that you found us and found this information.

Best to you in getting your money back.