Sharper Image stores to be liquidated
Your final chance to buy a glowing LCD thermometer, vibrating pleather recliner or to pay $49.99 for a squidgy banana-shaped neck pillow is slipping away from you.
A federal bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of Sharper Image Corp to a joint venture, clearing the way for the liquidation of the gadget retailer's remaining stores.
Mixed feelings. The original gadget store disappearing: sad. Twenty-year old rubbish endlessly recycled: tragic. No more of those slobbery-dog ads for dangerous snake-oil air conditioners: yay!
Sharper Image deal cleared [Reuters]
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Thank. God.
I used to work at the Cincinnati, Ohio location (Within Kenwood Mall) from 2005-2006 and never before have I dealt with more annoying customers. I actually enjoyed my fellow employers however. Case in point: my manager, upon hiring me said "This job is easy. I mean, why stress over selling someone a vibrating Rubber Duck massager?"
The customers would, on a literal daily basis, try to haggle prices for Ionic Breezes. That alone wouldn't be so aggravating if it wasn't for the fact that Kenwood is a VERY well-to-do area of Cincinnati, and these customers could have bought every item in the store fivefold and still had pocket change.
Don't worry though, Ionic Breezes actually caught fire if they weren't cleaned properly. When I was alone with the customer, I'd inform them of this until they got the message, and told them exactly how to clean the units. A few associates did not do this.
Sharper Image Design products were about as reliable as food bought at your local Aldi discount grocer. I was glad to hear they were abandoned not long after I left, myself.
Ah, Richard Thalheimer. The former CEO and founder of The Sharper Image. The man actually jumped ship years ago..back in 2006, October. It was two weeks before my last day TO the day, and the same day I actually resigned. I got a kick out of that.
So, with a fond farewell to my days of selling $5,000 leather massage chairs to people that probably have never plugged them in, the groups of middle-aged women cackling around the vibrator display (come on, we all knew what they were) and the overpriced ($150????) robotic Chimpanzee heads, I say Bon Voyage, Sharper Image. I hope my former employees have found greener pastures, because I sure as hell have.
You were a good paycheck, at least.
Oh..and as for the 'snake oil' air purifiers:
The Ionic Breezes did...SOMETHING. I would guess that they at least caught particles in the air, if not clean it somewhat. Every day we'd get in what I'd call 'Nicotine Machines'- once white, now yellowed IB units that were coated in tar. So yes, trust me; they did something.
...They caught fire and emitted ozone. (Of those two points I can be sure of.)
For Christmas my husband received a stress reducing machine from Sharper Image. He used it for the trial period and it did not work for him. After following the instructions of Sharper Image I mailed it back on 2/8/08. On 4/22/08 I called Sharper Image to tell them I had not received the $323.95 merchandise credit. I was told it was mailed to me several weeks ago. They confirmed that they had the correct address (which they did) and told me they would send another merchandise credit to me. This they said would arrive between 10 to 15 business days. On 5/15/08 I called again to say I still had not received the credit. At this I was told it was only mailed out on 5/2/08 and would I please be patient and wait the 10 to 15 business days from this date. I called on 6/2/08 to say I still had not received the credit. This time what I was told blew me away. I think this borders on criminal. The customer service rep told me that the first time I called to say I did not receive the credit that customer service rep could have given me a number which I could have used to redeem merchandise online,in store, or by catalog. Unfortunately as of 5/31/08 (2 days ago) Sharper Image does not accept merchandise credit any longer. It is obvious they did not send out the credit either time. They continuously strung me along until it became too late to redeem my credit.
re: #3..
I'd file something with a lawyer for sure. Nothing that company was done with an inkling of intelligence.
Ronny, call your credit card company and see if it will reverse the charge (chargeback.)
Unfortunately, there is a time limit on this, usually 90 days. Usually, the tactics Sharper Image used on you are to keep you dangling as long as possible for precisely that reason.
I don't care what anybody says, those $7,500 massage chairs that spend thirty five minutes "learning" you are incredible. They even do the calves and feet!