Story Created:
Aug 26, 2008 at 5:24 AM CST
Story Updated:
Aug 26, 2008 at 7:12 AM CST
(August 26, 2008)
Q - Our local BBB has just become larger, what has happened?
A- The Corpus Christi BBB has expanded its reach to include 62 counties. This means that both businesses and consumers will receive new and enhanced BBB programs and services that will benefit people in Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas. The national BBB headquarters has approved a plan to partner the service areas of the BBB office in Corpus Christi and the BBB Serving Central and South Central Texas. This newly combined territory boasts a membership of more than 8,000 Accredited Businesses. The governing bodies of both organizations believe that the public will be better served by a single entity. We'll be able to build on each other's strengths, combine resources and initiate new programs to meet the needs of today's businesses and consumers.
New programs that will be possible through the partnership include:
Mediation program to address consumer/business disputes. Currently the BBB offers reconciliation and arbitration. Mediation will be a great enhancement to the dispute resolution program.
Disaster response program to address post disaster needs of residents.
Q-What is our scam of the week?
A- The BBB is alerting consumers about the business practices of Autumn Ridge Nursery, located in McMinnville, TN. This company offers the sale of nursery stock via its catalog and website. Autumn Ridge Nursery advertises luscious plants and trees with 72 hour shipping; however, patterns of complaint on file with the BBB allege the nursery stock arrives as dead, dry sticks. In addition, consumers complain that their ordered items never arrive, or they arrived much later than the guaranteed delivery period. Most consumers request refunds which they do not receive. Since August 2005 the BBB has received 219 complaints of which 132 were received in 2008.
The bottom line is that consumers really need to check out nurseries before ordering, especially those online companies. Consumers should go to bbb.org and check them out. Often online cheap prices in these cases mean poor products and service.
