Well, another update to this one. I decided to give Aldo a try again, as I've been shopping elsewhere since the last experiences. So, I ordered some more. This time, I learned from my previous experiences and called in the order.
The good: The guy taking the order was congenial and seemed to be efficient, and confirmed that the pieces I wanted were, in fact, in stock (although the website didn't agree). I gave my information, being clear to point out that I had moved, and I wanted them to use the billing address as my shipping address. I seem to recall being told that I'd be sent an email, and that it would process on the next business day (having called on Friday the 16th, that meant it should process Monday, which was exactly what I was told).
Monday rolls around, and no emails arrive, but I do get a tracking number generated by the FedEX system. Here's where the further woes start to appear: the city it's being shipped to is wrong; it's going to an old address that I no longer live at. It being late, I use the web contact form to send a message, rather than call. I was gratified to get a call and an apology first thing the next day, and was told that FedEX had been contacted, and the steel would get redirected, and I should see an update in the tracking the next day. Good times. That was a quick resolution to my problem. Well, it looks like certain people at FedEX didn't get the memo. My package continued to move, but the delivery address didn't get updated. Eventually it arrives in my old state, making it clear that they had not changed the delivery. Well, I contact NJSB again, and don't get a response, but the package gets a delivery exception in the tracking number (fortunately; I was afraid it was going to get left on the doorstep of my old address). Now it's stuck in limbo. I'm hoping to see an update, but I'm again left pretty unhappy.
Now, I should be clear that all appearances suggest that NJSB made a good faith attempt to resolve their mistake, or at least, that's what I was told on the phone, and I DO appreciate the quick response. That was one of my issues before, and I'm pleased to see that the new web contact does seem to generate a response this time. It's a shame, however, that that response hasn't made its way to the FedEX system, and perhaps it might be worth following up with FedEX and finding out why it took so long to actually change the delivery. But there are a number of problems worth highlighting here.
The major issues, as I seem them, are that first, the website STILL isn't providing accurate information (2 years later). However, having called in my order, I then ended up in the position of having a mistake made with the delivery address. I'm also unhappy that I got no order confirmation, invoice, or any communication regarding my order (or its contents) from New Jersey Steel Baron. I don't have any idea if my order, if it ever arrives, will even contain what I had ordered. They didn't stay on top of the delivery reroute, requiring me to contact them again, and didn't even bother to respond to my second attempt to contact them, despite the package having made it to the wrong state and been close to being sent out for delivery, at which point it would have been left on the doorstep of the wrong house, and they would have then been in even more dire straits. This is all assuming I didn't/don't have to file a chargeback, as I have no evidence that I ever placed an order at all, thanks to their lack of contact with me. And, let's bear in mind, this is the third failed order in a row.
I will likely not be doing further business with NJSB. At this point, I don't know what it would take to get me to go back. Aldo's prices may be slightly better than the competition, but since my order seems to get screwed up EVERY time, and either never arrive, or get delayed by weeks, I'd rather pay the extra to get my order in a predictable fashion. For reference, the competition usually gets my orders to me within 4 days of placing the order, 5 if it's over the weekend.
