Warning: Magma Grills

[higgs]

I ordered a new burner for my Magma grill last July for about $30. The manufacturer is Halling Enterprises and when ordering I had to go through Paypal. I have yet to recieve the part and w emails to Halling have gone unanswered. Looks to me like I am stuck, but I thought I would let the community know about their poor service.

 

[sand sailor]

did you contact paypal

*pop

 

[shorty]

Online Marine

I ordered parts through Online Marine (3/06)to retrofit the old style to the new. No problem, prompt, discounted. The folks at Magma were very helpful about confirming that I could do the conversion.

 

[higgs]

Getting frustrated

This is starting to get irritating, now. I just wrote Halling a 4th email and suggested they check out this link.The idea to contact PayPal is good, but I am apparently not smart enough to register with them. They keep rejecting my online application asking for a credit card type, but I cannot find a space for that anywhere on the form. Calling PayPal is a waste of time as ther automated system works like crap. Now it is getting to the point where I am getting determined because of the point of the issue - I can afford to get stiffed for $30 without missing a meal - but it is really irritating dealing with electronic businesses that don't seem to have any human employees.I had the same problem with the iTunes store when I got charged twice for a download. I wrote countless emails and when I called Apple I was told there was no phone customer service for iTunes. I did, after a lot of BS finally get that resoleved. I am ranting - sorry. Next step is to get Hallings (Magma) phone # which, of course, they don't put on their site. West Marine is often helpful so I will see if they can get me a number.

 

[GuyT]

Higgs, you dont make sense.

How can you order a part using Paypal if you are not registered with them?If you dont have an account with Paypal, you could not have paid for your merchandise - that's why it did not arrive.You need to register with them and supply them a credit card to get an account. No Credit card - no merchandise.You cant blame it on poor service - it looks like you are the one at fault here.

 

[higgs]

It is not Magmas fault

I do have a receipt from PayPal or so I thought. This makes me wonder if the place I am dealing with are crooks so my next step is to cancel my credit card.It turns out, after talking to Magma, that Hallings Enterprises, who supposedly deals their parts, is not part of Magma. Magma informs me that they are taking legal action against Hallings. Guy - thanks for the response because I have never used paypal and everthing looked to be on the up and up here. It appears that Hallings may be using a forged PayPal site.

 

[48dodge]

magmabbq.com

Did some searching and found where you ordered your parts.Definitely not Magma's website. Not to say it's an illegitimate site, just not Magma's. www.halling.com is the site that this is under. Of course, if Magma has problems with this site, then it is probably not someone I'd deal with. Did some clicking and it LOOKS like they use paypal that isn't forged. And I THINK you can use paypal without signing up for a membership. Good luck!

 

[jimq26]

I think the legal problem is their use of the name

The Magma name is trademarked, yet this Hallings outfit is using the name as though it belonged to them.

 

[higgs]

What Magma told me

When I first called Magma, they simply told me that Hallings was not their parent company. I had to ask a few questions to get the info I needed. Hallings had apparently been purchasing parts from Magma and then selling them.Halling's site certainly leads one to beleive they manufacture Magma. The site states "MagmaBarbeque.com is a division of Halling", which is technically true, but the real company's name (I now know) is Magma Products, Inc. Sneaky bastards, aren't they? I am sure the suite deals with that misrepresentation, which probably is a trademark violation - or it should be. http://www.magmabbq.com/ I tried to find out from PayPal if this site was on the level, but getting a person on the phone is very time consuming. I would like to know for sure if one can use paypal w/o registering when ordering something over the net like I did. I did email them but have not gotten a reply yet as it takes a couple of days. Paypal limits you to a one sentence inquiry, so this may go nowhere. I closed my credit card account, to be safe, and it appears no unauthorized charges were made. Halling phone number, which I got from Magma was 800 866 2462, but it is disconnected. Next time I order on line from a company I have not dealt with, I am going to research things a bit more closely. These guys fooled me and I am fortunate to have only lost $30.

 

[Ross]

Higgs I have had very good results in situations

like this when I tell the offending party that my next effort will be to file a complaint with the U.S. Attorney for wire fraud. They always sit up and take notice then.

 

[Rick Webb]

This May Help

To call PayPal 888‑221‑1161 Press 0 at each prompt, ignoring messages. http://www.gethuman.com/us/http://www.hardtofind800numbers.com/

 

[higgs]

I finally got some responses

At 5:11 pm today, PayPal wrote to tell me the seller (Halling) had provided them with shipping info.At 5:16 Halling answered one my emails saying they were sorry that they had somehow lost my order and was shipping it immediately.Interesting...I will keep you guys posted. Thanks for the suggestions and thanks for the gethuman website!

 

[Benny]

There is a thin line between dishonest and

incompetent folks. What surprises me is that the Magma company uses them as a distributor. Again there is a thin line.

 

[Ed Childres]

Spinniker Jim

I have had excellet service ordering BBQ parts from Spinniker Jim. No deception, personal service, less expensive & faster than quoted delivery.

 

[higgs]

My part came in!

Sure, I cancelled my credit card number and had to write a ton of emails, but I got the new burner today. I can hardly wait to grill out tomorrow. Of course, Hallings promised the part a long time ago and I was not able to grill on the boat during this year's cruise, but hey - mistakes happen.I will never deal with Halling again if for no other reason than their site leads one to believe they are Magma. Slime balls!When I called Magma they should have been more forthcoming with the problems of Halling - I had to dig a little bit to get my information. At any rate, all's well that ends well and this was a fun discussion.

 

[Jim]

I know how you feel...

Its is not the money but being cheated that brothers you!