BBB® Serving New Hampshire Warning: Local auto parts dealer found not to be as it seems
(Getty Images)
BBB Serving New Hampshire has received several inquiries and complaints regarding Sam Auto Recyclers, a used auto parts dealer in Berlin, NH.
After paying, consumers have purchased replacement transmissions, engines, and other car parts but have not received the auto parts. One consumer attempted to purchase a part and was sent photos that BBB later found in public postings for the same parts on other websites. They were asked to pay through the company Zelle. While the first part of their payment went through, their bank flagged the second part of the attempted payment as fraud and did not send it on. This consumer requested a refund from the company but was refused multiple times.
When a BBB Serving New Hampshire representative posed as a customer interested in doing business with Sam Auto Recyclers and asked if they could pick up a part they wished to purchase in person, they were told that the parts are not kept on-site. They were also told that the physical location is closed to the public. The only way to purchase from them is sight unseen, with at least 50% of the purchase price paid upfront.
According to the Berlin, New Hampshire Police Department, the address listed on Sam Auto Recycler’s webpage was a private residential address currently occupied by residents without affiliation with this business.
Upon further investigation, BBB Serving New Hampshire found that the customer reviews on the business’s website that are supposedly from Google and Yelp are fabricated, pulled from reviews of legitimate businesses in the same industry. These review sites do not have profiles for this business in the first place.
BBB advises consumers to use extreme caution when making large purchases from online businesses sight unseen.
BBB recommends the following tips for safe online shopping:
- Know the advertiser. Some of the best deals are only available online but be careful. It’s easy for a fake site to mimic a legitimate website, so make sure you shop with a legitimate site.
- Check a site’s security settings. If the site is secure, its URL (web address) should start with “https://” and include a lock icon on the purchase or shopping cart page.
- Protect personal information. Read a site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is requested and how it will be used. If a site doesn’t have a privacy policy, that’s a big red flag that it may be a scam.
- Shop with a credit card. In a fraudulent transaction, a credit card provides additional protection; it’s easier to dispute charges you didn’t approve or to get your money back if there is a problem. Debit, prepaid, or gift cards don’t have the same protections as credit cards.
- Keep documentation of your order. Save a copy of the confirmation page or email confirmation until you receive the item and are satisfied. Know and understand the return policy and keep this documented with your purchase records.
Always do business with companies that adhere to BBB Accreditation Standards and BBB Standards for Trust.
Check BBB.org to see if the business is credible.
Still Need Assistance?
Contact Your Local BBB
Your local Better Business Bureau can assist you with finding businesses you can trust. Start With Trust®.
Additional Resources
Central Ohio BBB Business Podcast