Beware to deal with Metrodeal

I’m sure most of you are aware of the rapid mushrooming of Group Buying sites.  Here in the Philippines, there are a good number of them which have quite made a name. Surprisingly, one of them is Metrodeal.  I wonder how they were able to build a name when this group buying site is absolutely ignorant of the proper way of handling their business/ customer service.

I have bought a voucher from this site before because the price was so enticingly low apart from the fact that travel promos are a bit hard to resist for me.  Likewise, it is stated in their website that they will refund the amount paid in case the customer changed mind.  That gives a feeling of security to customers like me.    The first deal was delivered quite smoothly with only insignificant snags on booking.  I won’t deny that we enjoyed that Casa Ibiza promo l bought from them.  Thus, when I saw the El Nido Palawan  advert for Php9,900 for a 3D/2N accommodation, airport transfers, island hopping,  etc.  for  2/pax , no batting of eyelash, I paid for two (2) vouchers amounting to Php19,800. through Paypal.  Deal was completed in a breeze.  Payment was confirmed by Paypal and acknowledged by Metrodeal in just few minutes. 

How excited I was with the great deal I got!  Or so I thought.   Unluckily, it turned out that the mentioned accommodation in the purchased Promo isn’t worth the price I paid.  It’s only a cheap cottage/Inn by the beach and not a hotel that I expected it to be.  What do you think should be my next action?  Of course, I immediately emailed them and demanded refund!  Got an automatic reply that says they will attend to my inquiries within the next working day.  Zilch reply after that!   I religiously followed up thru emails each day but was only totally ignored until I realized they really wouldn’t want to release the money they already have in their hands.  I then requested for convertion from El Nido to Apo Island, Dumaguete deal with same value.  How quickly they replied with matching smiley emoticon thanking me for patronizing Metrodeal.  So, I was right!  They really wouldn’t want to part with my money.   I thought that ended my problem.  ..but no!  I was back to my nerve-wracking moments when the voucher for the converted deal was nowhere to be found. Endless emails were sent again everyday but to no avail.  They were on a "Hide n Seek" mode once more. Then I panicked.  Don't want to think I just blew my money away!  Anxiety engulfed my being.  Boiling mad inside, I sent a number of furious letters reiterating payment refund. Made clear to them that I don’t want any deal conversion anymore.  I only want my payment back, no more, no less!!  Then to my surprise, the vouchers became available in an instant!  See?  It’s that simple to issue the voucher but took them ages to have it done?!   Thanks but no thanks!  Didn't accept it.  Don’t want to deal with them any further. Enough is enough!  All I want is to get my money back. Then they can add me to the long list of irate customers they had.  As I've discovered them here,

Yesterday, I received Paypal’s  notification of Metrodeals refund for two (2) Php9,900. or a total of Php19,800.  Hallelujah!!  I think notifying Paypal and my Credit card bank about the dispute helped in a way. Nonetheless, despite those stressful days and sleepless nights I went through with this group buying site,  I wanna thank them still because they taught me a big lesson.  I'd be very cautious to transact business online next time around.    And not to commit mistake of dealing with Metrodeal again. Not even with the most tempting offer! No way!