I think the key here is this:
My credit card was processed on Jan. 25. I've sent an e-mail asking for confirmation of my order, but have gotten no response.
Someone did take the time to bill the card. It would only be fair to follow through. I once ran a web-based business. My products were vastly more expensive (both to sell and build) than firecracker cannons. I NEVER billed anyone before the product shipped. I would get a total and run the card, if it was good, the stuff went on the brown truck. I did sell a few "special" items. These would be in the $7k range. My outlay to start the project was at least 1/2 of the selling price. For these I would get a DEPOSIT. It was made clear that it was a deposit. I'm not sure, but I doubt this is the case here. Unless it was made clear it was a deposit, or, that he was paying for something that would not ship immediately, the card should never have been billed. If you want to BILL someone for for work you didn't intend to do right away, you should at least tell them.
I've sent an e-mail asking for confirmation of my order, but have gotten no response.
Not knocking the Irishman, more like advise. We should treat each of our customers as we want to be treated. If you are doing something that you would not like to happen to you, you know it. I used to dislike making the calls (or e-mails), but that was my JOB. And if you are not checking your e-mails in 2 weeks, you should not be a web-based business.
I'm actually sorry I made this post, I'm not TRYING to create contention. It is a sore-spot for me though. Web whor3s sucked the life out of my business. It is because of this that a relatively good guy like Brooks has customers like Kenny worried to do business with him. It is up to web busineses (SP?), that really care, to raise themselves above EBay et al.
Excuse the rant, thanks for the soapbox, MIKE
PS, my Real Name, Phone, Real Address and more were on every page of my website...
(
http://www.accuratepower.com/Machine is the site I do for my "partner" and the mother of my former busness. )