Seattle Coffee Direct review: Rip off! 683

Like so many of the other complaints that I've read about this company I fell victim to a trial pay offer that, on the face of it, sounded like an outstanding offer for a software upgrade that I really needed. The offer was two bags of coffee, two coffee mugs and two travel mugs for $25. So I jumped at the offer and on Dec. 12th placed my order. On Monday the 15th I checked my account only to find that I was almost $40 short. I then looked at the itemized list of charges to my account only to find that I had indeed been charged the $25 but that I had also been charged an additional $38.95 on Sunday the 14th. I haven't yet tried to seek recourse and renumeration since it is only just now that I discovered this transgression, but I will do so immediately after posting this complaint.

I was offered a free download of McAfee virus protection if I signed up to order coffee. What I was not told was the exorbitant price of the coffee and that it would be sent out every week! For example, the first order was billed at $25.this amount bought 2 large nice coffee mugs, 2 metal coffee mugs and 2 bags (12 oz. each) of flavored coffee. I considered that a reasonable price. However, for the next 3 weeks, always on Friday, 2 12 oz. bags of coffee were delivered, by UPS so it was not easily returnable, and each batch was billed to my debit card for a whopping $38.95! 1 and 1/2 lbs of coffee is not worth anywhere NEAR $38.95! I called the company and was told that I needed to call UPS to pick the coffee up in order to return it and that I would get a refund within 10 days AFTER the coffee was received. Without a Return authorization number or any other way to verify that the company receives the return, I seriously doubt that I will ever see the money again. A word to the wise or to those who assume that a name such as McAfee would be associated with a legitimate company..

Yesterday I ordered a promotional item with Seattle Coffee Direct for $5.00. I looked at my account this morning and they have charged me $25.00. I am having a hard time finding a phone number. Please help!

This company says their hours are 10-6PM EST and yet they never answer their phone no matter what time I have called (10 times so far).
I canceled my account after getting the coffee because it was not what I expected. Two weeks later I $79.00 was debited from my checking account. I have never been able to contact them to get my money back. I chalked that up as money loss. It has been 9 months sine that fiasco. I check my account and there are 2 unauthorized charges of 79.00. I canceled my credit card now I travel the long journey of getting my money back.

I signed up for a "no purchase necessary" item - just pay shipping and handeling. I received 2 lbs of coffe and then 3 days later I received another 2 lbs. Two weeks later I had received 24 lbs of coffee in total. I called the company after I had receved 4 packages and they told me that I was signed up for their "membership" and that 2 lbs of coffe were being shipped every othere day! for each shipment I was charged 38.95. SCAM! SCAM ! SCAM! I returned all the coffe via USPS ($14.00) and I'm still waiting for a refund to my credit card... 3 week into waiting! Look luck to all that try this please learn from my huge mistake!

Scam, I was suppose to have a trial of two bags of coffee and two coffee mugs at a $5.00 charge. That turned into a $25.00 unauthorized charge. This all happened in March 2009, I cancelled on the internet after not recieving anything except an unauthorized charge. I had not heard anything from them until November 5, 2009, then out of the blue they charged me $79.00, for what I have no idea, I called my bank and had to put in for a fraudulent charge. Then yes on November 12, 2009 another $79.00 unauthorized charge.
Everyone be ware!

I got hooked up with this miserable excuse for a company thru a "survey" to earn a free set of Rachel Ray cookware which advertised, of all places... on a site I thought would have screened such a scammer! And that is the FOOD NETWORK SITE. After endless pages and pages of preference questions, demands to sign up for various offers etc - SEATTLE COFFEE DIRECT being one of them - I agreed to their introductory offer, thinking the sample shipment would be IT. OH NO, OH CONTRARY! they have been shipping me coffee faster than a coffeeholic (which I am not) could ever manage to use it - COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED. Who knew! How I wish I had found and read the complaints on this site first! And I learned of this site by googling SCD since their website, eerily... does NOT have ANY CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACT INFO! That should tell you a lot. DON'T EVER ORDER FROM THEM - I AM CONTACTING MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY TO CANCEL CHARGES and see where it goes from there.

I did not sign up for the coffee shipments. My credit card has been charged over $100.00 for coffee I did not order.

I purchased coffee from seattle coffee direct 2 bags and a coffee grinder for $9.00. When I received my billing it was 34.00, they charged 25.00 for shipping which was never disclosed. It is a complete rip off.

SCAMMERS AND CROOKS!
DO NOT SIGN-UP FOR ANY OF THEIR PROMOTIONS—DO NOT BUY THEIR COFFEE, MUGS, GRINDERS, ETC!
The first order was billed at $25.00 --this amount bought 2 coffee mugs, 2 metal coffee mugs and 2 bags (12 oz. each) of flavored coffee and no grinder which was offered in the sign-up order. I received my order quickly and then 2 days later on a Friday received more and checked my account and saw that they charged me $38.95 using the name “Bellezza Coffee” on the charge. They said if I returned the package (not the coffee) un-opened then they would refund me and not charge for shipping—I opened it to find out what or why it was sent so soon…so now I re-taped package and will try to put “return to sender” and take it to the post office. I have to now report to my bank and stop all payments from these crooks.

This company ripped me off! Their FREE coffee grinder and 2 bags of coffee beans for $9.00 is actually #34.00. They add a SMALL ONE TIME FEE OF $25.OO!

My total today is:

Sept 18 $34.00 FREE GRINDER!
Sept 27 $38.95 2-12 OZ BAGS OF COFFEE

SO, IT HAS COST ME $72.95 FOR 4 12 OUNCE BAGS OF COFFEE! That's just under $19.00 per 12 oz!

This company needs to be stopped!

I order the promotion (one delivery of 2lbs of coffee and grinder for 9.00) and got charged 160.00 for 4 WEEKLY packets of 2lbs of coffee. I called and they said to send it back and they would refund the money. I haven't heard a word about it and charges are still on the credit card... no refund yet. I live alone and could never drink 2lbs of coffee a week. They said I should have gone to another area of the web site and taken off the request for weekly delivery. I never had the option to do that and feel they "ripped me off". I plan to get my money back as I have no product since I returned it all. However, I did send it back at my charge via UPS so I have proof... I had UPS pack it for me and I am going to continue to seek refunds. I am retired and on social security and I am going to seek help with those that go after companies that prey on the elderly. Wish me luck...

I have an unauthorized charge on my credit card from Seattle coffee direct for 34.00. my credit card company is removing the charge from my bill, but i thought someone should know about this company.

I to have a similar complaint about this company. I originally joined as a trial; 2 bags of coffee and a grinder for 9.95. I received the grinder and coffee and my account was debited 3 times in 5 days. For a total of $119.00. I have filed a formal dispute. I have not been able to contact anyone at this company to explain why this has happened and to assist me in the matter.

It seems I'm not the only person who has been ripped off by Seattle Coffee Direct. I only wanted to try their coffee out. The promotional was for a grinder and two one-pound bags of coffee for $14.95. I received the coffee for the promotional, not the grinder. They charged my account on August 30 for this. Then on Sept. 4 they charged my account $34.95 and I received two more one-pound bags of coffee in the mail again today. When I checked my account online tonight I see that they have charged me $34.95 again today, Sept. 15. That's more than Starbucks charges for a bag of their beans - and they are better.

I accepted an introductory offer & did receive the coffee & 2 mugs however...I received 2 more bags of coffee 1 week later (9/18/08). I never asked for weekly shipments & was told this would be a monthly shipment. I called to cancel the account today (9/18/08) & was informed ANOTHER shipment of 2 more bags went out today!

Highly unethical business practices & quite frankly Gevalia is a better coffee & more reasonable priced.

I WAS DOING A SURVEY (LIKE AN IDIOT) AND SAW THEIR DEAL 5 FOR $5, THINKING I WAS GETTING A GOOD DEAL.I WAS CHARGED $25 .THEN TWO DAYS LATER . I WAS CHARGED AN ADDITIONAL $38.95. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE PEOPLE. THEY ARE BAD NEWS

Please be aware. Do not order anything from Seattle Coffee Direct.

I, like others, have ordered a small trial for a small amount of money. However, they charged more than they said. And then, they charged my account for more a few weeks later. I had never authorized them to charge my account or send me more. I sent the packages back "return to sender" and when I called to get a refund of my money the lady said that "as a courtesy" she would refund it. I laugh because she was doing me a "favor" for something that was not authorized in the first place.

Be very aware. Go to your local grocery store and buy coffee instead. Much safer and they won't over charge you for something you don't want!

The coffee came fast - two packages every week at $40 for less than two pounds! There was no disclosure, no information, no invoice, and no internet way to contact Seattle Coffee Direct (and now the charges are from Metro Coffee Roasters). Even an avid coffee fan could not use the coffee this fast, or would be willing to pay the exorbitant charge. It looks like my credit card will have to be canceled and reissued. Quite the scam.

I received an email for an introductory offer for Seattle Coffee Direct- for $5.00, I was supposed to get a pound of their coffee, 2 insulated travel mugs, and 2 coffee cups. I signed up online, and authorized ONLY a $5.00 charge.

When I got my credit card bill, Seattle Coffee Direct had charged my card $25.00 on 1/6/09, then $38.95 on 1/7/09. Then on 1/14/09, my card was charged $38.95 AGAIN by a company called Belleza Coffee that I can find NO information on (so I am assuming it is again Seattle Direct Coffee, since it is also based in Evanston, IL). At any rate, I have never placed an order with a company called Belleza Coffee, so- still fraudulent.

I tried to call Seattle Direct multiple times to get this straightened out, but always got a recording, even when I called during business hours. After calling 3 times, leaving my name and number each time, I left them a message letting them know I was alerting my credit card company, which I promptly did, reporting the activity as fraudulent and (on the advice of my credit card company) the card as stolen so that Seattle Direct couldn't try to rip me off any further.

STAY AWAY FROM THESE GUYS- They charged me all that money and never even sent the original order!

I just checked onlilne and they have charged me 38.95 in addition the $25. Apparently they have been placed in PENDING status by WaMu, so I am going to try to contact the bank and see if we can stop this before we get started. Thanks for the heads up!

4/1/09

This company is the biggest scam ever! I ordered a free trial offer that wasn't really free! It first cost me $25 for 2 mugs, 2 travel mugs, and one bag of coffee, which wasn't a bad deal. The scam was that the company IMMEDIATELY started CHARGING me for shipments of coffee every 2-3 days, charging my credit card $38.95 three times in six days! I called immediately and told them that I didn't order all that coffee and I wanted the charges credited right away. I still have NOT received my credit of $116.85! Everytime I call, which has been MULTIPLE times, I am told "It takes 10-14 days to receive a credit." And, not one person I have talked to had an EXPLANATION why they were CHARGING MY CREDIT CARD MULTIPLE TIMES! Well, it didn't take 10-14 days for them to receive the MONEY THEY STOLE FROM ME! I didn't order their products then decided that I didn't want them! THEY JUST CHARGED MY CARD 3 TIMES FOR COFFEE I THAT I DID NOT ORDER! I called again tonight and left a message on their machine again! They NEVER call back. So, I will call in the morning again! BEWARE OF SEATTLECOFFEEDIRECT.COM, THEY ARE HUGE SCAM ARTISTS. They should NOT be allowed to do business!

Sincerely,

Very P***ed off in Michigan.

UPS brought me a package that I signed for yesterday. When I opened the box--I thought I opened someone elses package. In the box was 2 bag's of gourmet coffee bean's-2coffee mug's and 2 travel mug's. I called the 800 number on the box and told them I did not order the content's--there was no receipt in the box-I was told it was ordered with my credit card and the man gave me the last 4 number's on my card. I don't drink coffee---I was told 25.00 was charged to my account and I would get credit back. I then had to call my credit card co. to get a new card--I have to wait 10-17 day's for a new card now.This purchase was made over the internet--I will ck. with my bank tomorrow to see if I was credited the 25.00--if not--I will go to the BBB and make a claim . This is outrageous--going through all this trouble because someone illegally used my credit card--gee could it have been theSeattle Coffee direct Co.? Pissed off in Indiana.

I've been dealing with Peel, Inc. (dba Seattle Coffee Direct and many other names) for about two and a half weeks regarding unauthorized charges. I signed up for a trial offer. The terms were clear. I was signing up to receive coffee twice a month. "Semi", according to the dictionary, means "twice." Imagine my surprise when I receive an overdraft notice for a $38.95 charge although I had yet to receive the trial offer. I contacted the company. Jason, the customer service representative, snidely asked, "You knew you were signing up for a coffee club, didn't you?" I replied I most certainly understood but that did not mean a charge before the initial trial offer was received. Jason said the company would do nothing until product was returned. I did not like his attitude and asked to speak to a supervisor. After argument, he connected me to Rebecca Ramirez' voicemail. I left a scathing message. The next day ANOTHER $38.95 charge appeared. I contacted the company, this time speaking to Yolanda. She informed she would credit one charge since nothing had been shipped but would do nothing until product was returned. I still had not received product. The following day the trial offer arrived. I refused the shipment. I found email addresses for the vice president of customer relations and the company president. My email to the company president bounced back. Ms. Ramirez had not returned my call, replied to my email and neither had the customer relations VP. The next day I received a coffee shipment. I refused the package again. I received two more packages -- one after the other. Four $38.95 charges (pluse the initial $25) posted to my account and $165 in overdraft charges. I paid for the coffee using an account I use solely for online shopping. I do not keep a lot of money in that account -- hence the overdraft charges. On July 1, Ms. Ramirez left a voicemail that monies charged had been refunded. On July 6, no refund posted to my account. I contiued to forward my initial emails each day. I filed a Better Business Bureau complaint and complaints with the attorney general in Illinois and California. I contacted the bank to dispute the charges. I closed the debit card. My bank advised me to contact the chamber of commerce in Evanston and applicable business licensing agency. On July 9, the promised refund posted to my account. I informed the company via email that reimbursement of overdraft charges was required. I have not yet received a reply. I've belonged to clubs of various sorts over the years and NEVER had issues with unauthorized charges. I am furious and will take this company to court if necessary. This is fraud and misrepresentation. I'm searching court records because I suspect there is a lot of dirty business at work. The main company Peel, Inc. has many DBAs. The Better Business Bureau rates the company "F" with more than 800 complaints filed. I did receive a reply from the Better Business Bureau with the company's reply on July 6. The company claimed refunds were processed. I replied to the Better Business Bureau that refunds had not been processed and the company owed me reimbursement of overdraft charges. I have not yet received a reply. Small claims is relatively inexpensive and a judgment can be docketed in every state. The only way to stop companies like this from defrauding consumers is people taking a stand against unethical business practices like Peel, Inc. and its many DBAs.

tried trial on coffee. Got two mugs and two bags of coffee for just shipping. Right after this had numerous charges I didn't agree to. I had cancelled over internet. I've been recieving packages through post office and they were sent back with cancelled wrote on them. Called company, Lady was rude and I told her I had cancelled and sent back packages recieved just about everyday. She stated I was suppose to call to cancel and they haven't recieved back any packages. I will have transactions tracked. So I supposely will get refund when they recieve packages. I am not doing anything over internet anymore because of stuff like this is not secure. Someone(who ever is in controll of this) needs to do something. I'm unemployed because of medical problems, so my husband is only income for family of four. Now we have numerous charges from being negative in bank($125.00). If anyone can tell me what to do email grubbworm_00@yahoo.com. Thank You, Angelene

Seattle Coffee Direct has a fabulous website. Inviting, appears very straight forward. Unfortunately it is all a lie.
I signed up with Seattle Coffee Direct for the $25 trial deal on 08/06/09. It was two packages of coffee and two nice mugs. I had 7 days to call and cancel my membership. This seemed reasonable to me. I like good coffee.
However, as of today they have charged me over $100 in a 7 day period and refuse to reverse charges or stop shipment. I have received nothing yet they say they have shipped 3 packages, but can't give me a tracking number!
I have already filed complaints with my bank and I will continue to let people know that this company is nothing but a scam.

I recently agreed to a trial from Seattle coffee direct. I placed order on 8/22/09 and it is now 8/26/09 and this morning there is a pending charge for $38.95 showing on my account. This charge has overdrawn my checking acct and caused a fee. They have gotten the initial payment of $2 for the trial. I haven't even recieved the trial shipment yet and when I called she tells me that I'm on a 4 day automatic shipment! I haven't gotten a chance to try the coffee yet so why would you charge me and ship out more?! This is not good business practice. Now I love coffee and probably would have bought more if I had gotten the chance to try your coffee. I'm disputing this charge with my bank and cancelled this account with Seattle.

I am experiencing similar problems as the ones posted in regards to this company and it's product. I keep recieving and getting billed for items that I am not ordering. There was a phone number listed to call the company on my credit card statement, but when I tried to call it, it was no longer in service. Rather then give up I tried again thinking that I may have dialed the wrong number but came up with the same results. I would like to get in contact with this company in order to stop any further orders without my approval. If anyone knows how to contact them please let me know. I wish that I had found this site and seen all of the complaints before I initially ordered from them.

Ordered $2.00 for initial free trial to pay shipping only for tea bags, with 30 days to cancel. The next day, I was charged $38.95, then the next day after that, my account was charged again for 2 charges of $38.95 each. This was not supposed to be charged until 30 days later "IF" I didn't cancel the account. I cancelled immediately after I saw the 3 charges on my account, and its now over 30 days later and I still do not have the refund. This is a total scam, do not order or try anything with this company.. I have called 3 times and yet to get any action on my account. I did receive one order, never opened it and sent it immediately back, since they never advertised the actual prices of their shipments, not to mention, I never got the free order that I paid $2.00 for! I threatened to report them to the Better Business Bureau, and there reply was, do what you have to do... great scam and they know it ! ( I wonder how many people actually go through all this to get their money back?)

I fought with this company once before to cancel my subscription and they began charging me again a few months later $79 each (two recent unauthorized charges)

Phone: [protected]
(10am - 6pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday )

Mailing Address:
SeattleCoffeeDirect
P.O. Box 4004
Evanston, IL 60204

i had signed up for something over 2 years ago with this company and then canceled right after the coffee came in the mail and they wanted a crazy amount of money for it. now 2 years later i find out this place charged my card $79 without telling me or even sending me a receipt or product. i had no idea until i started getting insufficiate fund fees in the mail. so i called seattle coffee direct and the first time someone answered and told me i'd be contacted my a manager that day about refunding my money. no one ever called back. i called all the next day got no answer. then the next day i got ahold of a man who told me that the reason a manager wont call me back is cause they are going out of business and they were doing this to alot of people just to get extra money. so now my account is negative $300 and i can't get it refunded. i did have to call the police to file fraud charges. so if this has happened to anyone else please do the same. and if you have ever been a member of this company my advice would be to cancel your card asap.

I to have been taken by this company. Charge of $79.00 on by checkcard in November 09 which was unauthorized and caused $105.00 in overdraft charges. My bank reversed all charges pending resolution of claim.
Check out their website. They are no longer taking orders by phone or customer service by phone. Have followed all directions they give and am forwarding to my bank.

I too have been a victim of Seattle Coffee Direct charging my account twice! I "refused" both shipments. The post office gave me a tracking number(s). I have not heard a word or seen a refund. If you go to their website, it states "no longer taking orders at this site". If you hit contact us, a box comes up with refund information. It states 30 -45 days to receive a refund.
Let see if I get any money back.
**Check your statement monthly.

this is the same thing that happend to me im still waiting for my refund

i sent back the coffee that i didnt want they said that i would get a refund of 150.00 its been a year still no refund what can i do about this ? sdckmc@cox.net

In addition, I called the company many times and have received conformation numbers on the credits I was to receive by managers. To date I have not received these credits. I had to cancel my credit card because of this company although my bank will still process the credit. I have moved in the last two months. I wonder how much money they have made on the consume with this scam. They guarantee customer satisfaction, but give e-tailing companies a bad name.

Refund Confirmation
...
From:
"CustomerService@seattlecoffeedirect.com"
...
View Contact
To: Not displayed for security reasons
Dear Cindy Dool, Seattle Coffee Direct greatly appreciates your business. You have been issued a refund in the amount of 233.70$ This will go back on to the card with which the initial order was placed, and should reflect in your account within the next 30-60 business days. Please do not reply to this email. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at: 888-217-CAFE. Your confirmation number is: 233114.

I am still waiting on my refund. Any recommendations?

Just trying to get some responses to my previously submitted complaints?

i was billed 45 dollars for damn near six months and kept getting the same coffee flavors, i tried three times a month for five months to cancel and they never answered...i'm extremely pissed..and now again i can't get ahold of them

Seattle Coffee only got me for $75 and every time I talk to them they tell me they are crediting my credit card with the $75.00. They also told me to send two shipments back to them in order to receive a refund, so I didn't even get to drink the poor quality of stale coffee. Six months later they said they were having trouble with refunding accounts direct and they would send me a check. It has now been a year since they told me they would refund the money to me, I can't even get a hold of them now.
I canceled my membership with Gevalia Coffee at the same time and had no problems. Gevalia sent me some really good coffee, but the coffee from Seattle Coffee was fair to poor.
If a company is going to make claims and promises they should be held them. I had no idea there were so many complaints. I wish we could do something about all these dishonest practices.
Nobody should mess with a persons coffee, there should be a law against it somewhere in the constitution.