TORONTO – A Global News investigation into the online group buying site DealTicker has found the Toronto company continues to take orders without the capacity to deliver goods to consumers.
The company terminated nearly its entire staff in recent weeks, including those responsible for fulfilling product orders.
Global News was invited to see the empty office space and warehouse area Monday; Hundreds of products, from scissors to iPhone cases, line the shelves. Hundreds more bubble-wrapped envelopes stuffed with goods have been labelled and sealed for mail out, but remain in boxes.
Judy Tallevi of Pickering placed three orders to DealTicker in late 2013 but hasn’t received any products.
“It’s only $60, but for a worker like me I expect to get the product or my money back,” said Tallevi.
Global News has received hundreds of written complaints like Tallevi’s from consumers alleging they paid for products but did not receive them.
Ontario’s consumer ministry says it has received 17 formal complaints about DealTicker since 2013. However, the agency has not taken any legal action against the company.
DealTicker was acquired by Las Vegas-based LiveDeal Inc. in May. Dealticker’s co-founder and chief financial officer Daniel Abramov is the only employee left working at the company’s office. He says he has not been paid for three weeks.
“We have faced some financial difficulties,” said Abramov while at the abandoned offices.
LiveDeal did not respond to requests for an interview.
Now, without staff or the money to send out orders, the company’s future is in doubt. But while DealTicker can’t fulfill orders now, its Las Vegas owners continue to operate the DealTicker website which is accepting orders from consumers and credit card payments.
Rob Bryson, a DealTicker customer in Calgary who didn’t receive what he paid for, was frustrated with the company’s inaction.
“This is not how a proper business should be conducting themselves,” Bryson said.
Comments