Telebrands review: Cost Inflation 63

How much did it cost?

I appreciate the comment...but it would of been nice to have a break down of the charges. I know the comercial on t.v. says that you will recieve 2 pasta boats, 2 recipe books & a chopper for $10! But I know from previous orders on the Internet, that you will always have an additional charge for shipping and handling. And that usually means s & h for EACH pasta boat!

Here is the breakdown on the Pasta Boat Order because I printed it out after I ordered it.

Quantity Price Extended Price
1 Pasta Boat with steamer tray $10.00 $10.00
1 Bonus Pasta Boat + Kitchen chopper $0.00 $0.00

Sub total $10.00
shipping & handling $ 13.98
Total $ 23.98

I'm paying the $6.99 S&H for the extra Pasta Boat and Kitchen Chopper. I don't think the charge is outrageous!

I agree with the original complaint. The second comment is ridiculous. To not be informed of the entire amount BEFORE the order is place is most assuredly outrageous.

I agree with the complaints. I ordered the pasta boat online and when asked if I would like the additional pasta boat, I answered no. When the order was processed I was charged the additional $6.99 for shipping even though I declined the additional order. I did not know the total cost until after the order was submitted. I am now in the process of trying to get it canceled. If they are going to automatically send the additional pasta boat then they do not need to include the option of declining it during the order process.

I agree this product sucks ###

This product sucks ###. I doesnt cok anything. Dont buy it

All I wanted was the Pasta boat that they advertised for $10.00, plus 7.95 S&H. Order the 2nd one for free for $7.95 S&H. I was charged several weeks later for $80.43! I called and they said that they could not cancel my order even though the bank still had the charge as "pending". I really hate the fact that you just can't trust anyone anymore! I miss the days when you could place an order and you could trust the company that you were ordering from. No More Telebrand type ordering for me!

I also ordered the Pasta Boat. I was shocked when I pressed submit nothing happened so again nothing happened then finally the page changed and to my surprise I have an $80.00 dollar order which I can not edit or change. This was on Sunday. On Monday I called Pasta Boat. I said I needed to cancel that order because I could not afford $80.00 and had intended to order 2 paying $23.00. There was no way to edit the order or check it before it went through. The woman assured me the order was cancelled. I was told to call back on Wed to confirm the cancellation-I did and it was cancelled. I was cleaning out papers so I threw those papers out because that order had been cancelled. to my surprise the tues after I threw the papers away I see the money taken out of my bank account. I called and was on hold for an hour and a half waiting for some one to take care of my problem. Finally a gentleman answered listened to my complaint and said I order all those and I said oh no I did not and I needed that money back now. That was part of my rent money. That order had been cancelled and I called and it was cancelled but since it had been so long I threw out those papers because I did not need them. I trusted that company. Shame on me. The man said the order had been shipped out andto refuse it then I could my money back right away. I told him for a second time I needed that money for my rent. Two later I was notified the had just been shipped out. That man lied to me too. That order could have been cancelled. Now the order is expected August 02 to arrive after my rent is due-and then I will be at their mercy to get my money back if ever. I have asked them by email to notify Fedx to cancel delivery because they can but have not heard back from them. I tried to call and was on hold for a long time again so I have not made personal contact. Be careful dealing with this company they are not caring about their customers and have lousy customer service.

I was reading the complaint, and this would of been exactly my case word for word. Was charged $46, instead of like $12.99. When called to cancell was told to call back on Monday.

Well, I didn't call in Monday, and I didn't cancell, cause I knew it will not happen anyway. Well, the funniest part is I placed an order in February of 2010, and totaly forgot abou it. Today is July 23rd, and I got an email stating that my Pasta Boat was shipped. Yeh!
This is absurd, please dont order from them.

If there is an issue with your order, you can always go to your bank or credit card company and authorize a charge-back against the company - ANY company. By federal regulation, the bank/CC company MUST refund your money and any overdraft/over limit fees incurred within 24 hours while they investigate the matter.

The comment by jcho is completely wrong and misleading. If you pay by credit card you may dispute the charge and file a complaint. The company then gets to respond and will likely say they shipped the product and can document it. In most cases if the product was received you "lose" and they get paid. One of the first questions you will be asked by the CC company is if you returned the product. The CC company will not and can not refund your money for a product you still have. Also you can pretty much forget about not liking the product or the postage being too high as an acceptable reason for a refund.

I was a consumer protection agency director for 10 years and dealt with these problems. However, credit card or a service like Paypal is still the safest way to go for all purchases, particularly those that are not brick and mortar. Read or call your credit card company's rules. They always paint a rosier degree of protection than what is real. When you get specific with them on refunds, they will refer you to the long written nebulous policy.

I would like to know if anyone actually used the Pasta Boat and if it works like they claim it does. It certainly looks like a good idea.

I would like to know too...does the damn thing work like they say on TV? I almost went online...moments ago to order one via the web...this posting site caused me to pull the reins and hold back...I will wait to see some posts on what people think of how this thing works.

I ordered the Pasta Boat on Saturday. Website gives you NO review of charges and when you click to continue it goes through and charges you $13.98 for shipping charges! I called immediately to cancel. They said it wasn't in the system yet, please call back on Monday. I called on Monday morning, same story I was told to call on Tuesday. I called Tuesday morning, same story, I was told to call back on Wednesday. I just called today which is Wednesday in the AM and the order has already been processed! I was furious and asked numerous times to speak to a manager and there was none available. I will have to dispute this charge with my credit card company because they people are scam artists. DON'T BUY A PASTA BOAT OR ANY OTHER OFFER FROM THIS COMPANY!

I have one and I love using it. I have to cook gluten free and I have tried other products to cook my pasta but this works! I don't have to get out my great big pot. I don't remember where I bought it though. I doubt it was frm this company as I have read many stories about buying from the "AS SEEN OIN TV" sites. I avoid them. Look around. HSN, QVC, Amazon sometimes carry these products and they are very good at returns and don't charge outrageous shipping. Even check eBay.

I have found upon researching and listening to the news that ordering or dealing with any company in Florida is a risk. Their laws apparently do not protect the consumer very well and many shady companies are operated out of Forida. When deciding to order something or deal with a company, I check two things...one---what state are they operating out of at the time, and two---their Better Business Bureau rating via BBB.org. My husband works too hard for the money he makes to support us...it is my responsibility to make sure it is not wasted with unscrupulous companies.

This company is not servicing its customers well. As mentioned, the website only gives you one shot to get it right. I went online to order a Pasta Boat on Sunday, knowing about their "buy one get one free" promotion. I wanted one for myself and one for a friend. The first question on the web page is "how many do you want?" (No mention of the free promotion) so I indicated that I wanted 2. Click to the next page, where it says "We have a buy-one-get one free promotion. Do you want a bonus Pasta Bowl" (Ah, so the first page means "how many do you want to actually pay for?") Click back, correct to "one" click forward again, indicate that yes, I want the bonus. Input credit card (no indication here about how much the charges will be). Click ok. Next screen shows an order has been placed for Four sets + four free sets, and I have been charged $80. Obviously they have pasta boats to unload, but I don't need 8. Call customer service bright and early next business day. Talk to some guy with a thick accent who agrees to cancel my order. Then today I get a confirming email that my order has shipped, and confirming charges for $80.

Well, they don't advertise the extra charge amounts as well as they could, BUT...they DO say "just pay separate shipping and handling" for the bonus items in the commercials AND on the website. On the order page it shows the free bonus items and says right below it "just pay separate $6.99 shipping and handling." It says this clearly in two separate places on the order page. And I checked a couple different sites and they all explain the charges the same way. Obviously people need to read all the details before placing orders.

Sometimes Super Wal-marts will carry As Seen on TV products, if the product is popular or sells well. That is always a good place to look if you don't want to buy off the internet or phone.

At the bottom of the page, before you even order, it tells you the exact amount you will pay. It also tells you that you will receive an extra set so it's logical to order only one. Everyone knows that shipping and handling is extra. Even with the extra shipping charge it's still super cheap. Stop whining and pay attention.

I ordered the Telebrands Microwave Pastaboat on line and found the final charge to be over $40. more than quoted. This is yet another scam. I telephoned the company to cancel the order and will call back tomorrow to ensure that they have cancelled it.

the promblem seems to be with that particular company, not the product itself. The company wants to make a million bucks on a plastic container and very well may be on it's way thanks to many unsuspecting consumers. I just bought it on Amazon.com for $14.87 - $9.88 plus $4.99 shipping. No added or hidden costs or "extra" products.

You all REALLY need to do your research. I would never give anyone my credit card information without first doing research. It's your own fault you're going through this. The company puts all of the information right on their website! On the bottom of the pasta boat's homepage there is a link that says "Contact us & Refund Policy" (http://www.PastaBoat.com/contactus.jsp). It says:

"To male us your order:

If you wish to order by sending in a check or money order, please send
a total of $23.98 (that's $10 + $6.99 s&h + Bonus $6.99 s&h). Send Check or Money order to:

Pasta Boat, Dept.IPB-WEBMAIL
One TeleBrands Plaza
Fairfield, NJ 07004

You'll receive the Pasta Boat and the Bonus Pasta Boat and Food Chopper with your order (separate $6.99 s&h applies)."

and

"Refund Policy:

Your Satisfaction is 100% Guaranteed. If you are dissatisfied with any merchandise from TeleBrands for any reason, simply return the product within 30 days for an easy refund of your purchase price, excluding shipping and handling."

And, btw, the extra shipping and handling charge is a very common business practice. It's how the get the ignorant and irresponsible to buy their crap and get extra money off of YOUR stupidity.

Almost all those TV ads are shady, they stick you w/ extra stuff you don't want and end up charging you a huge amount for shipping. The ads should be made to clearly tell people up front how much it will really cost them in text big enough you can read it- text as big as the "low low" price. If you don't want the second one and a cheap chopper, you are forced to buy them & pay hefty shipping fees. If you want to cancel your order or return, expect a long hassle to get a refund.

My best friend was dumb enough to buy one (well, she was stuck w/ 2 of course) and it is slow for large amounts (she can cook a whole box faster on the stovetop, but speed would depend on your stove/ microwave too). It also has same problems- pasta can clump & pasta boat most certainly boils over and makes a big mess and you can burn yourself testing the pasta, pouing out hot water or cleaning up a boil over just like on stovetop in the ad. (Funny how they make cooking pasta on stovetop look like rocket science!) Unless you want to stand in front of the microwave and watch it (not doing anything else, which is real convenient when you are trying to get a meal on the table), it'll boil over and make a big mess before you can stop it. If you are cooking for a lasagna, you can't do a whole box of noodles in it- they'll just stick together. You have to do 2 separate batches, which takes more time thanne batch in a pot on the stove.

If you want to cook pasta in the microwave, just use a casserole dish & colander you already have and don't waste your money on a cheap made in China plastic thing you don't need. (Oh yeah, takes a lot of room to store & plastic will stain or forever pick up odors when you mix pasta dishes in it.) Save your money, you already have everything you need to cook pasta... well, except that degree in rocket science LOL!

I never like ordering from companies on the internet; I always check local stores first. Wal-Mart and Walgreens both carry "As Seen on TV" items, so it is cheaper to wait for them to come out into the stores. Once in the store, you only pay $10 plus whatever your local tax is; you don't get a free set from the store, but you can buy another set for $10 plus tax and avoid having to deal with the internet companies. Internet companies just want money and that is all they care about; they do not care about the customers especially in this economy. My solution is to save yourself some time and money by just waiting for it to come out into the stores. If it is something you absolutely have to have right away and cannot find anywhere other than the internet company, good luck dealing with them.

Great website. I was considering this product for my son. I don't usually fall for ads, but was almost fell for this one. I always check for information online and am glad that I did! While I'm sorry for those who are having/had problems, I'm thankful that you were willing to share. I was actually trying to figure out if the product worked as well as it showed on TV and then got an eye opener when I read your comments. THANKS!

Do yourselves a favor and wait for these products to show up on store shelves like wal-mart, walgreens, etc. Don't let these companies dupe you into spending more money than you have to.

If you read their ad carefully. It states its 10 dollar + shipping but since you get the extra Pasta Boat you have to pay the separate shipping and handling. That's where they get you. Probably better just going to CVS or other stores that carry As Seen On TV products and purchase one there.

Amazon has it for $11 with free shipping with an order of $25. I just put things on my wish list until it totals $25.

I called the Ph# advertised on TV for the Pasta Boat and later found out it is such a shady company to deal with! Here are the reasons why...
1 - the ordering system is totally automated with NO OPTION to speak w/ a live operator.
2 - from the start they ask you for your credit card info, now they've got you by the nuts, don't dare hang up otherwise you will automatically get charged for all the other offers they sign you up for... get ready to stay on the phone almost 20 minutes!
3 - they sign you up numberous offers, travel clubs, discount shopping clubs, etc... and if you don't press the right number to decline, you will automatically get charged for them by default... remember, they already have your card number!
4 - they try to get you to upgrade, go with the larger, go with another set, go for more then get the shipping waived, etc, etc...
5 - then they DO NOT SUMMARIZE your charges or give you the opportunity to review and change your mind
6 - once the solicitations stop, thats it! they DO NOT GIVE YOU A TOTAL on what to expect to pay, NOTHING!
7 - this is the worse... a few days later, you check your bank statement (like I did) and expect to see something in the range of $25-35 dollars... but nope >>>>>> $120.91 WHAT THE!?!?!?!

Called my bank asked if they could stop the payment... NOPE! So they gave me the phone number to call the merchant > [protected] (be prepared to wait as long as I did or more... 18 minutes!)

The guy told me i had the option to return it and get a FULL refund... yeah right, we'll see! He gave me a return auth # to write on the box and send back via US postal svc - with a Return to Sender stamped on the box. Told me not to open the box and I shouldn't be charged, but rather refunded the FULL $120.91 amount. I'm hoping this is true... will keep you all posted!

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR... DON'T ORDER THE PASTA BOAT! What a hassle. Maybe check ebay and order the 2nd unused one from someone else!

TO "PRACTICALITY"

Most of us DID do some research before ordering, like myself. No one mentioned the crap I went through via the phone order process, so I thought, why not give it a try. Now I'm here, along with some other considerate people to give a heads up and save others from going through the same ordeal. Why are you here?

Before you start calling others "STUPID" and "IGNORANT" try doing a little spell check! Ugh, gets my boat (pardon the pun... yeah, go look that one up P - U - N) when people misspell the easy ones!

"To MALE us your order" (yup, that was all you Einstein!)

It's funny when people sling dirt... all they do is lose ground in the process! Can you figure that one out genius!?

The exact same thing happened to me...what a scam. over $40 for what I thought would be $17. I called to to cancel immediately when I saw the amuont and the screen did NOT let me confirm. They told me to call next day, which I did. They said the order was not in the system and to call today. I did. they said the order left already. How could it not be in the system when it left already? I am so furious. I hope more complaints come in so that something could be done about this.

I was lucky - my order was cancelled. I see it is still being advertised. Hopefully word will get out.

I have this product and LOVE it, it works great ! However I NEVER buy from TV or interet, I usually wait to find things at BJ's or Walmart.

Order through amazon.com.

Order this item from amazon.com. I did and was not charged exorbitant fees.

I placed the order, before the shipment was even received I noticed a $73 plus charge. Was told that as soon as I received the order I can return the items I don't want.

As it turns out that not only did I not received the order, but I was charged another $23.o0 when I called to complain and they said that they would ship me the original order and I would receive a refund!

BTW: I placed the order over the phone and they didn't give me a price. I went under the assumption it would be $23.00 approximately!

BEWARE! This is one big FRAUD. I ordered by phone and it is "voice activated" so you do not speak to a real person. The first thing you answer is your CREDIT CARD NUMBER. Now you are stung. I wanted ONE boat (and a bonus boat - as advertised) plus two FREE choppers.
The price was $10.99 plus shipping and handling - under $20.00 right?
Well, when the charge came to almost $60.00 - which you don't know until you enquire from your card company - I was really mad. Tried to cancel and they could not cancel, but I could return the product and they would refund me $10.00! I fought for days with these people and it was useless - by the way the damn boat is USELESS TOO - piece of junk!

I purchased a Pasta Boat at Bed Bath and Beyond for $4.79 using a 20% off coupon. It works just the way it is supposed to - I love it.