You will hear us saying this often, because it is true: Internet shopping is the 21st century version of mail order and telemarketing. With 32 years of experience helping Maine people with consumer problems, COMBAT is in a unique position to know just how true that statement is. But we must also warn our readers that the Federal Trade Commission’s 30-day mail-order delivery rule does not apply to Internet purchases. Further, both the FTC and the Maine attorney general have indicated that they do not become involved in Internet transactions. COMBAT, however, does not mind at all becoming involved when it comes to securing fair treatment for Maine consumers.

Consider Sharon Berry, former Bar Harbor resident, who ordered a quilting kit from A Stitch in Time of Madison, Wis., for $152, paying by direct withdrawal from her checking account through Paypal, the online payment service. Her account was immediately debited, but within a week Stitch notified Sharon the quilt kit was not in stock and gave no expected shipping date.

Sharon waited patiently for six weeks when, with no quilt kit in sight, she e-mailed Stitch requesting a refund. When two more weeks passed and her e-mail had gone unanswered, as had her request that Paypal intervene, she asked COMBAT for help.

Knowing that Sharon had no state or federal protections through the FTC, a COMBAT dispute intervention volunteer e-mailed Stitch telling them to cough up the quilt kit or a refund. Yeah, it was a bluff, but we threatened to contact the Wisconsin attorney general’s office, Federal Trade Commission, Madison Chamber of Commerce, and to send a “letter of concern” to numerous state and national quilting societies if Sharon didn’t have her merchandise or a refund tout suite (and the touter, the sweeter).

Within 24 hours, COMBAT received an e-mail from Stitch saying the quilt kit had been shipped by UPS. Roughly five days later, Sharon received her merchandise.

Hot on the heels of Sharon’s case, Sally Porter of Van Buren “won” (as high bidder) an antique child’s rocking chair on eBay. The total price was $137.60, which included postage, handling and insurance. She, too, paid the seller “MaximumValue,” located in Phoenix, Ariz., through Paypal. Ten weeks went by and neither Maximum or Paypal had answered Sally’s e-mails asking for the status of her order. That’s when she turned to COMBAT.

Hey, it worked for Sharon Berry’s quilt-kit problem, so why not take a shot? COMBAT e-mailed Maximum asking for their help in resolving Sally’s problem. When Maximum didn’t respond to us in two weeks, we called out the phantom artillery, telling the company (seller) pretty much what we had told Stitch. It’s amazing how companies are more likely to respond when an organization contacts them.

Seven days later, Sally’s daughter was sitting in her pretty, new (if late) birthday chair that played “Rock-a-bye Baby.” COMBAT loves happy babies, especially when they are Maine ones.

Volunteers needed! Would you like to help us help Maine consumers as a COMBAT volunteer? The workload and expenses for our nonprofit organization are growing as more and more people turn to the Internet for shopping. If you have secretarial experience and can commit to at least one-half day per week, we need you. If you have grant-writing skills, we need you. If you can sell memberships (business and professional), we need you. Call 947-3331, mailbox No. 3, and leave contact information or e-mail volunteer@consumerprotect.org and provide your name, home address, phone number, and a bit about you.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual membership $25, business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.