ComplaintsforMadCheetah

• Initial Complaint

  08/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My concern is price fixing. I have been a customer of **********************, but haven't ever purchased anything of substance. Recently I purchased a Dyson Cordless Vacuum which is expensive. The bidding went on forever. Whenever the bidding was close to closing on the vacuum - within a minute -it would be bid up. There were several vacuums for sale and it was happening on each one. When all the bids reached over $270, the bidding then closed for the evening. It all seemed very odd to me. I decided to look into it and share the information with the Attorney General which directed me to you. It seemed to me that someone internally was deliberately increasing the price to generate the desired profit.There are several more Dyson Vacuums for sale tonight at Mad Cheetah. It will be interesting to see if something similar happens. I did notice the one person would jump the price several dollars early in the bidding process. I cannot do that. It has to be someone internal.

  Business response

  08/18/2024

  While I understand the customer's concern, the accusations of "price fixing" are simply not accurate in this case.  While I can not share the details that we can see internally for these questions (as it would provide personal information for other customers of our site), there is simply no basis for the customer's accusations.  The reality of the situation is that the Dyson vacuums the customer was bidding on are simply very popular items among our customers, and at any given time, multiple customers were fighting over these items on our auction.  The jumps of multiple dollars that the customer Is referring to are caused by multiple customers setting "max bids", also referred to in auctions as "proxy bids".  The auction system we use allows bidders to set a maximum bid that they are willing to pay on a given lot, and every time a new bid is placed, the list of proxy bids is checked to see if any other bidder had already placed a proxy bid greater than the new bid that was just placed.  If so, the current bid on that item jumps to the point where the previous proxy bidder is the winning bidder on the item, at a bid higher than or equal to the "new" bid that is placed.  Considering that based on the customer's statement, each item ended at roughly the same dollar amount, it is likely that one or more bidders had decided that they were not willing to pay more than $270 for the item in question, which left just one winning bidder for these item(s) once that price point was reached.  The auction platform also tracks IP addresses of any bid placed, and we have confirmed that no bid on any of the items in question came from any IP address associated with MadCheetah.

  In addition, no employee of MadCheetah has access to the necessary data to perform the price fixing or internal bidding that we are being accused of.  The auction platform that runs our web site bid.madcheetah.com is actually run by a third party on our behalf, and no MadCheetah employee has access to see the maximum bids placed on an item.  The only thing that we can see is the full bid history (the non-redacted version of what the customer provided in their complaint), which only includes bids already placed, not any max bids set by a customer.  As such, we simply do not have the ability to "fix" prices in the way this customer is suggesting.

  In closing, on any given auction, we have ********* bidders fighting over items posted for sale.  That amount of traffic negates any need for us to "fix" the prices on items, as there is more than enough interest on the items we have listed for the prices to increase naturally, without any action on our part.

• Initial Complaint

  05/13/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Purchased 4 used pop up canopies from Mad Cheetah 2 stated condition used, dirty and scratched 1 stated condition used, dirty, scratched, bent bar 1 stated light use, *****. (This is correct)The 3 listed as used scratched and dirty and the one with a bent bar all have multiple bars that are completely broken with sharp jagged edges. These 3 units have significant damage and are completely non- usable. The frames can not be erected and the canopies have rips and tears. I contacted Mad Cheetah and was told that had I reported the damage within 30 days I could have gotten a reimbursement. I responded with I saw no 30 day return info only the multiple AS IS notices, the representative stated that they have a non published return policy for items that were not received as advertised.I dont believe the false advertising/description was intentional by Mad Cheetah, rather an employee who likely took a drop off customers word. There were no pictures on the listings.Auction date 3-21-2024 Called Mad Cheetah 5-13-2024

  Business response

  05/14/2024

  While we understand the customer's concern, as they stated in their original complaint, it is clearly posted on our web site that all items are sold AS IS, with no guarantees to condition, usability, or anything else - after all, we are an auction, not a retail store.  From our terms (in part):

  NO REFUNDS, RETURNS, OR EXCHANGES. All items sold "AS IS WHERE IS" with all faults.

  All items sell AS IS - WHERE IS WITH ALL FAULTS and with no warranty of any type expressed or implied as to the merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose of any goods offered in this sale. All sales are made on an AS IS - WHERE IS WITH ALL FAULTS basis. All buyers are urged to physically inspect the item prior to bidding during the inspection period. No bids can be withdrawn once submitted before, during or after the auction for any reason. ***** agrees that these terms as well as all other terms set forth below, can be amended or revised only in writing, signed by the auctioneer. ***** also agrees that any oral representation made by the auction company or its agents shall not modify these "AS IS - WHERE IS WITH ALL FAULTS" terms. BUYER understands that any description given, written on the equipment, or advertised by any other means is not guaranteed, and BUYER will rely entirely on their own inspection. All information and descriptions contained in advertising this sale are believed correct, but no responsibility is assumed by ************ or Seller for any errors or omissions.
  

  While we are willing to work with customers in some cases, we have limits both on how much we can do as well as how long after the item(s) are picked up that we are able to do something.  The deadline of 30 days that the customer was stated on the phone is pretty standard across the industry when returns are allowed.  We always recommend that customers open items as soon as possible after pickup, even if they don't intend to use them right away.  That way, any potential issues can be detected and addressed while we are still able to assist with resolving them.

  Unfortunately, in this particular matter, there is not anything that we are able to do to assist the customer.  These items were picked up on March 28, and so the customer is well outside of our ********************************************************* other resolution.

  Customer response

  05/14/2024

   
  Complaint: 21704723
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  The items bid on were fraudulently misrepresented and it is unfortunate that a company is willing to treat customers this way. When the items do not remotely resemble the descriptions there is a serious issue with the sellers business practices, or employees that are under performing. Whatever the reason it is unsatisfactory and disappointing. Not one time has an employee said to check the items let alone within ************************************************************ your pond, and as such I expect nothing to come of this but I hope that Mad Cheetah does better in the future.
  

  Sincerely,

  ***************************

  Business response

  06/18/2024

  While I understand the customer is not satisfied with our response, the fact remains that they agreed to our "AS IS, NO RETURNS" policy when signing up and bidding on our site. Customers have the option of requesting an inspection on product prior to bidding, and this customer did not choose to take advantage of that option.  We do not say "inspect within 30 days" because our only advertised policy is that all items are sold AS IS.  The 30 days rule previously mentioned is already an exception to our official policy, and as previously stated, that limit is in line with what you will find with a majority of online platforms and brick-and-mortar businesses.  From a business standpoint, we have to have some sort of limit, otherwise we could encounter extreme cases such as customers wanting to return items after almost a year (which we in fact recently had someone try to do).  

• Initial Complaint

  01/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  They advertised what appeared to most people as a single pair of *********************** driving gloves. They showed a picture of two gloves in the add. When I picked up the item it wasn't a single pair of gloves it was a single glove. They refused to refund my money. This is a very deceiving practice and I'm reporting this because of the principle of what they did.

  Business response

  01/22/2023

  The title of the item in question clearly stated "(SINGLE) *********************** Men's 981xl Driving Gloves, ********** ******* Pack of 1 US". You are welcome to bring it back for a full refund, however I think we won't be doing business with you anymore.

   

• Initial Complaint

  12/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased this item on 11/23/22 SWOMMOLY Wall Mount Spice Rack, 6 Pack Large-capacity Spice Racks, Stackable Foldable Organizer, Black, Large - UNUSED Condition: Open Box - Like New I paid $33.00 plus auction fees based on that there were 6 racks.I have already installed them when I realized I was shorted half of what I paid for.I contacted them and notified them of the shortage on December 1.I requested half of my money be refunded.They refused to do so, said I needed to return the other 3 for a full refund I want to keep the 3 units that I have all ready installed and be refunded the difference.

  Business response

  12/05/2022

  ***, I talked to our office manager and told me that you notoriously don't care about our auction terms and just call them "bad customer service". We state pretty clearly everywhere on the site that all items at our auction are sold as is and we DO NOT do partial refunds, and yet we offered you a return for a full refund, but you refused to bring the item back.

  We will do what you want here, but please note - this is one time courtesy. Any future requests from you that are outside of our policies will be denied.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩