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A bad experience with The Good Cook book club

post #1 of 15
9/11/02 at 1:34pm
Thread Starter 
Got most of my "free" books up front, though they said one was backordered. Never showed up.

Ordered my full-fare book, a Korean cookbook.

Got a card a month later saying the book was backordered.

Got another card a month after that saying they no longer carried it.

Got no more mail to my house. Used their web site to opt out of the "selections."

Just got a letter demanding $27 or I would be turned over to a collection agency. Once they get their money they'll send me a voucher and a list of books I can choose from. They said they sent me a letter, but I did not receive one. The guy who answered the phone was unswayed.

I paid, because I always pay. I pay my bloody bills, which is why I have perfect credit.

I have no idea if my experience is typical, but I just ended up paying $27 to keep it. Maybe I'm the exception, but I felt like sharing.
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post #2 of 15
9/11/02 at 1:59pm
I got double-billed recently on one book, but I didn't notice immediately because one bill was for several books and the other was just for one. I paid both, so a credit is supposed to show on my account soon. I haven't had too many problems so far other than receiving one wrong book as part of my free selections. I ended up just keeping it and ordering the one I wanted. I realize now that I was stupid to do that because the one I paid for (Great Cakes by Carole Walter) is worth much more than the free one (Jim Coleman's Flavors).
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post #3 of 15
9/11/02 at 8:49pm
They seem to do that a lot. Took over 3 months to receive my selection premium. They kept delaying The Cake Bible. Then I received a letter saying that I had returned an item which I had never received. Told them I would not place any order until I receive my full selection premium and I meant it. After I received my full selection premium I ordered 4 more books and Goodbye!
I really don't think it's worth all the hassle.
Plus they sure nab you on shipping charges.
Since Amazon and Chapters are offering free shipping if you place $75 orders and have 30% discount on a lot of cookbooks, I'd rather deal with them. Oh the funny thing is that Good Cooks offered me "credit" for a book that they didn't owe me. Of course, I didn't take it. I had to deal with 2 different outfits - one in Canada and one in the US. I suppose there must be a lot of bad communication going between these 2 outfits.
To those who still have their membership, I strongly advise to keep track of everything you order, receive and pay.
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post #4 of 15
9/12/02 at 12:04am
Ive had bad experiences with the Good COok club. Paid up and never went back. I have a better time just bidding on ebay....more fun.
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post #5 of 15
9/12/02 at 5:32am
I had the same bad experience. I ordered several books. When they didn't arrive after a few weeks, I called them. They said the order probably got lost and didn't seem all that concerned. I told them to get lost. There are far too many other places to buy books.
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post #6 of 15
9/12/02 at 3:09pm
I never had problems with The Good Book, only with their shipping. I've received dammaged books, they were quick to replace.

What I don't like is that the majority of the books I received have dammaged dust cover, aren't the people doing the shipping looking at the books??



P.S. You should call and ask to speak to a manager.
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post #7 of 15
9/12/02 at 7:51pm
I also had a bad few experiences with this company. I was supposed to receive a number of books for a certain price, and they billed me double, then sent it to collections as well, before I had time to respond. Also,a book they touted highly "The French Laundry" cookbook was supposed to be available for less than the 50 dollar normal charge..I ordered it and was then told they were out of stock, but billed me for it anyway.
Shipping and handling, forget it.
I paid them off and walked away. They are a terrible organization.
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post #8 of 15
9/15/02 at 11:17pm

No problems... yet

I haven't had any problems with them... yet. It certainly sounds like I am the exception. I'll be keeping careful records, though.
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post #9 of 15
9/16/02 at 2:57pm
Maybe I am the lucky one, but I have never had a problem with the Good Cook ever. I have belonged twice and have been a member for many years, and I have yet to have any problems, other than a note reminding me of my responsibility to send in the response card even if I don't want the selection of the month.
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post #10 of 15
10/20/02 at 6:20pm
I've been going round and round with them for months now. They send books I don't want, I return them and still get billed.

I wrote them asking me to stop sending their"monthly selection"; if I want a book I'll order it. Their reply: no can do.

Offered to be a "product evaluator", or something like that...
Have yet recieved anything to "evaluate".
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post #11 of 15
10/21/02 at 5:31am
I have never had a major problem with them. Pay them late, send stuff back, I don't care. The books don't seem to be the best quality though. I don't know if that's my imagination, but you should see my copy of the French Laundry. Falling apart at the seams. I'm waiting right now on Malgieri's cake book.
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post #12 of 15
10/21/02 at 6:21am
Thread Starter 
Six weeks after they held me up and threatened to send me to a collection agency, they still haven't sent the voucher for the book they owe me.

Sent an email asking for my voucher, no response and no voucher.

Why am I not surprised?
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post #13 of 15
10/21/02 at 9:46am
If you don't want the books, just write on it "return to sender." That's what I did. Eventually they'll get the idea and put you on the opt-in list which means you don't have to send it back unless you really want the book they're touting. Worked for me.

Kuan
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post #14 of 15
10/21/02 at 1:45pm
Based on the substantial number of negative replies in this thread, I won't deal with that club. I find Jessica's Biscuit, Amazon.com and ebay all have worked quite satisfactory for me.
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post #15 of 15
10/23/02 at 12:05pm
I bought books from the Good Cook for years, then wanted to get books when I wanted, not when they wanted to send them to me! Yeah, amazon.com is the best. I just like books that aren't a recent release and the Good Cook doesn't do that.
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