I ordered a water meter box & cast iron lid for a local College Station, TX store. The price on the Ewing web site was about $80 combined. It was not something that the local store had in stock, so I was told it would take a few days to arrive. After a week I called to check the status and was told it was on the way; I was also told at that time that I'd have to pay $20 for shipping. That was never mentioned previously. I was not happy to hear about this extra cost, but I knew the water meter box was heavy (about 90 lbs) and agreed. When it arrived I went to pick it up. As the salesman went to retrieve the parts I looked at the receipt and was shocked to see a total of $180! There was an added cost of $80 for shipping. When I told the salesman there was a mistake, that shipping was supposed to be $20 (and explaining that they never told me I'd have to pay shipping in the first place) he went to talk to the manager. Salesman came back, said $40 shipping was the best they could do. I told him, no, not charging me for shipping in the first place was the best they could do, but I'd still take it for $20. He went to talk to the manager again and I asked if the manager would come talk to me. Salesman came out again, said $40 was the best they could do. Again, I asked for the manager, but he was "busy" (I could see him in the office, talking to another employee). Salesman told me they had to order a minimum of 4 units and the shipping was $80 - so they wanted to stick ME with the entire cost of shipping for all of their order! I again said I'd pay for $20 shipping (or 1/4 of the shipment) and asked for the manager but was again told $40 was the best they could do, and that the manager was still busy. I told the salesman it was wrong to try to rip off the customer by not telling them there was an additional shipping fee after the fact, then not honoring that fee, and then trying to charge an outrageous amount. I was told, "That's the cost of doing business" - Well, not with me. I won't do business with these liars.
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