PLease note: I'm posting this here NOT to make trouble for Lightlens.com (they're not a NAM sponsor, but I still wouldn't want to make waves for a merchant), but because I fear that their email server at the very least may be compromised, and I know that they show up high on the list on Google searches for LED lamps and the like.

Here's why I'm concerned:

I ordered some items a few days back, then, when I saw that my order was still "pending" after 2 days, I sent them a mail to the email address listed on their web site:

My order is still showing in "Pending" status, even several days after placing it. Can you give me an ETA? If this is a back-order situation please let me know so I can cancel the order and place it elsewhere.

Thank you.


A few hours later, I got a reply from a Lightlens.com email address with a notification that they were cancelling my order. All well and good, I thought. Then, I got THIS from a HOTMAIL address (mildly edited by me for profanity):

Several days? Your $6.70 order is less than 48 hours old and you are already b*tching and lying. You are obviously a hysterical a**hole and we do not want your business. A full refund has been issued. Take your crap elsewhere, b*tch.

Hmmm... This didn't sound right. But, whoever this was DID send me back my message word-for-word in the reply, so they obviouslty saw it. I forwarded the mail to the official email address on the site, asking what was up with this, and I also direct-replied to the Hotmail user:

Um... OK?

I certainly hope this is a joke, and that you're just some trashy 14-year old that's trying to make touble for Lightlens, because that's how you sound. No serious online merchant I can imagine would respond to a customer inquiry like this. I've forwarded your mail to the official address I got from Lightlens, in the hopes that this is a gag. Perhaps it's time to refill your meds?

If this IS somehow serious, don't worry - if that's the case, not only will you not get any of my future business, but every car club forum I post on will be seeing a copy of this incredibly unprofessional email.

I then received back:

Time to refill meds, yes. But this is no joke. Refund was issued. Go ***** yourself, b*tch.

OK, so now I was convinced (or at least desperately hoping) that this was a hack incident, so I mailed Lightlens (the Jim referenced below is Jim Hall, the name on the official invoice I got from Lightlens) one last time with:

Jim,

While this is amusing, I'm worried about how this person knew a refund had been sent and how he got a copy of the mail that I sent to "status@lightlens.com"?

Assuming this is a malicious party trying to make trouble for you and your company, is there any possibility that they've somehow received my credit card info? The Hotmail extension tells me he's not an employee (I hope so, anyway), or that this is not an official Lightlens communication, but I'd like to be sure. Can you please get back to me on this ASAP?

Thanks so much,

-Matt C.

I received a reply the next day, from a really weird email address (jimhall2lightlens.com@host.4ua.com):

WE WERE OBVIOUSLY CORRECT IN CONCLUDING THAT YOU WOULD BE NOTHING BUT A PAIN IN THE A**. WE DO NOT WANT YOUR BUSINESS. GOOD RIDDANCE

So... one of two things are happening here... Either these guys are truly the biggest jerks ever, or their mail server is hacked and someone is intercepting and replying to their mails to hurt them. They have no phone number on their site, so I can't call them to warn them or inquire, and their address is a PO Box. Either way, this is NOT a merchant that I feel comfortable sharing my credit card info with any longer, so I thought I'd post this (very long) message. Good luck if you decide to order from them. Me, I found the same item on Autolumination.com (didn't see it when I first checked there and now I wish I'd looked closer). I wish they had a phone, because I'm sure they'd like to know about this.

 

I'm sure you're correct in assuming the site has been compromised. If it weren't for your credit card being at risk, it would be kinda funny.
Hopefully the vendor may see this post, or maybe Mark has a way to contact them.
Glad you got your lights, which bulbs are you changing out?
Annette

 

I just needed a pair of blue glass 194s for the door sills. I decided against LEDs because there's no reflector up in the housing. I missed that Autolumination carries them when I looked on there the first time, and Lightlens was like 3rd on the search list.

I agree - it actually is sort of amusing. I was laughing until I thought about my credit card. Hopefully the exposure is limited to email only. What's really weird is that they DID cancel the order, so SOMEONE there must be seeing my mails. Weird that nobody has replied. maybe it IS them... (shrug).

 

Here is the site registration info.

Domain: lightlens.com

Registrant
James Hall
James Hall
jimhall@lightlens.com
8359 Elm Ave.
San Gabriel, CA 91775 US
+1.6262859669

 

Crazy! Might not be a bad idea to change your cc number, those are some wacky emails..

 

Well, that's cool. I knew some web savvy person would find the info, but that was really quick!
Annette

 

Hopefully it is a hack and this guy gets some jail time. It could be from the ISP hosting the website, since 4ua.com appears to be the host.

I would definitely monitor your credit card. Hopefully you use one in which you have protection. If you find that it does get used then that adds to the guys list of charges.

Do not throw away the emails you recieved as they do contain more detailed tracking information.

 

Oh, delightful... I called him and he just cursed me out. Guess it IS legit... Well then, I guess that's one less online retailer that I need to think about.

 

Unreal...

 

We could all email him at the above email address with a message basically stating 'no class'?

 

That is horrible customer service. All you asked for was an order update and he responds so rudely?!?! WTF! Someone was having an extremely bad day!

 

I'd say yes but use his own language..."Go ***** yourself, b*tch!!!!!!!!!"

 

Nah, he's not worth it. The best way to get back at a merchant is to simply spend your money elsewhere... It's never plesant to have someone scream obsenities at you on the phone, particularly when you're expecting to reach a rational adult that will be glad to know that someone's trying to sabotage their busines, but the dude obviously has larger issues...

 

 

Wowza... In this day and age when businesses have SO much competition, I am stunned that someone would act this way....

So pooie to him

Donna

 

Wow!

Like someone said above... one less vendor to frequent.

 

Wow - This guys has gone off the deep end!

Needs to check himself in.

 

I DEFINITELY AM NOT accusing ImagoX here ...

But just reading this, about the early theories that maybe someone had hijacked the email to damage the suppliers reputation ...

It would be possible for similar damage to occur if someone made up the story and posted this thread!

As I say, no implication on ImagoX and I think the vendors attitude is horrifying - but if we ever read of this sort of thread from someone with no "NAM credibility", we'd have to be careful.


It's surely hard enough for vendors to sell stuff online these days - doesn't the guy realize how quickly a bad word spreads!?

 

We need someone then to call them up and confirm...

 

And if someone DOES confirm it, maybe ImagoX can "Release" the first post for repost elsewhere. I know a few forums that would appreciate this kind of heads-up

 

Geeze that guy sounds like a *****, thanks for the heads up Imagox

 

All we need is a couple of people to call up and inquire...

 

Does anyone think this is worth reporting to a better business bureau? I mean seriously, NO ONE in the customer service industry should ever call there customers bit*h or as&^ole or any of the things he said.

 

Lawdy OMG....this is totally crazy. Yes this merchant must be completly wack-a-doo. And yes I think that it only right to call and see if this is really legit. Hmm....but who do we make the sacraficial lamb for this mission? Hmm.....tune in tomorrow...."So are the Days of Our Lives". Cue theme.

 

All it would take is to email the business and ask a few questions to see how he responds. If he went off the deep end with Imagox asking about an order placed, I can only imagine what he'll do with an inquiry.