GEARHOG is obviously having some issues, and I've chosen to unsubscribe from their mailing list.
I created my account in July 2011, shortly after they launched, and since then have purchased two small items and "bought" a chance at several freebies. This morning, the site wouldn't let me log-in: invalid email/password combination. Had to be somewhere at 8:00, so I figured I'd try again when I got home. Same error.
So I dutifully click the password reset link figuring I'd just generate a new password and away I go. Not so fast. When I enter my email address, I am informed that my email account does not exist in their system. Mind you, I had just logged in last
week.
I click on "User Support" and am presented a form to enter a support request. I enter a message subject, explain my situation in the body of the email form, enter my "From" email address, and guess what? The self-service customer support contact tool requires--you guessed it--a password.
The form errored out and presented me with a link to generate a new "UserNote" password. Clicked that. Entered my email address again, and clicked the submit button. Nothing happened. I figured a new password had been emailed to me. Waited a few minutes and refreshed my email. Nada. Went back and clicked the submit button again. Again nothing happened. Waited again, then checked email. Nada.
I'll draw the line there. There is no contact telephone number anywhere on the Website, and I was not interested in spending any more time seeking a resolution.
This is a Groupon-like business, which means that if something goes wrong with the fulfillment of an order, you have paid GEARHOG, not the merchant, and you will need to deal with GEARHOG to get the matter resolved.
My tail-chasing this morning was the first practical example I've had about trying to deal with a GEARHOG issue. If this is how easy it is for them to lose my account information, and how difficult they make it to seek a resolution, then there is
no way I'm interested in trusting them with any significant purchase.
Your mileage may vary, but I've chosen to steer clear of GEARHOG from now on.