Complain about a product or service

J.D. Marvel Returns as Save By Mail

Bankrupt Canadian Catalog Company Back in Business

March 10, 2006

Save By Mail Inc. • Consumers Grouse about Save By Mail • JD Marvel Returns as Save By Mail • Consumer Complaints --- • Tips for Shopping by Mail

The New York State Consumer Protection Board is warning consumers that Save by Mail, a mail-order company in Canada, is actually the former J D Marvel Inc., which advertised discounts on merchandise ranging from slippers to hearing aids before it was hit with criminal fraud charges last year.

Save by Mail is operated by John Dragan, the former owner of J D Marvel, a catalog company that earned a reputation for cashing customers' checks and failing to send them their merchandise.

Both J D Marvel and Save by Mail target senior citizens with offers on discount goods such as "Mini Ear" hearing aids ($12.95), cuckoo clocks ($29.95), and novelties like magnetic power bracelets ($9.95).

"Now consumers are lodging the same kinds of complaints against Save by Mail," said Teresa A. Santiago, Chairman and Executive Director of the New York State Consumer Protection Board ("CPB").

Canadian authorities have charged Dragan with engaging in deceptive marketing practices. The Competition Bureau, an independent law enforcement agency in Canada, named J D Marvel, CND Mail Order Exchange and Dragan in its action -- the second in the past eight years. The company has also used the name U.S. Mail Order Exchange and Canadian Mail Order Exchange.

Like J D Marvel, Save by Mail advertises in nationwide publications in the United States and Canada. It offers merchandise ranging from moccasins ($7.49) to mechanical garden owls ($52.65 a pair).

"Consumers say their checks are quickly cashed, but they wait several months before merchandise arrives, if ever," said Santiago.

The federal Mail Order Merchandise Rule requires merchants, in most cases, to ship merchandise within 30 days. After taking a customer's order, a merchant must obtain the customers consent if a shipment will take longer than 30 days.

"It wasn't that much money, but it's the idea that they were a crooked business, that's what bothered me," said Ted Davidson of Glens Falls, who ordered slippers in 2004. "I don't think they paid any attention to my letter (of complaint), but when (the CPB) sent a letter, I got one pair of slippers and then another pair a few weeks later."

"I was promised months ago that my order was in the mail," said a customer in Valley Springs, who asked not to be identified. He said he never received a hearing aid from J D Marvel and then ordered the same product from Save by Mail without realizing it is the same company in Montreal.

Consumers also complain that inquiries to the company about undelivered orders go unanswered. Orders for the company are sent to a post office box in Plattsburgh, which leads frustrated customers to believe the company is based in New York.

The CPB received more than 150 complaints against J D Marvel and related companies since 2003, including three complaints this year against Save By Mail.

"Save by Mail's low prices may initially seem like a bargain, but the trouble some consumers have to go through before they receive their merchandise or a refund leaves many people wishing they spent their money elsewhere," Santiago said.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Back to the top |