Cellular Distribution Strategies

Review: Order: [redacted]

Company received my phone on November 19th and sent email stating so. They promised to get back to me within 2 business days and check of $170 will be sent out within 2 business days as well. As of 11/28/13, I haven't heard a single thing from them. A lot of people make the same complaint about this company as well[redacted]Desired Settlement: Company send money order of $170 or paypal at [redacted]

Business

Response:

Payment was issued today. We believe this issue to be resolved.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,

Review: Initially offered a quote of $135 for my Iphone and was sent a mailer to send my iphone into Totem to purchase and remit a check to me. After mailing into Totem I was sent an email stating that the quote was revised and that they would only offer me $40 for my iphone, and that it was broken. The iphone was in excellent working condition with only minor scratches on the surface and was not broken, a completely false statement from Totem. I refused their purchase offer and was offered in the same email an option to have the iphone returned to me. I have contacted them numerous times via email about the return of my phone. No response. I have tried to find their phone number to contact them, and it is not a working number. I have searched for other ways to contact Totem with no success. They are no longer on twitter, facebook or any other type of contact information to find a resolution for me. I would appreciate any help in resolving this issue.Desired Settlement: I would like my iphone returned to me. I am more than willing to pay for the shipping costs, as long as they are not inflated to the point of unreasonable. USPS or UPS regular rates. No extreme handling costs from Totem.

Business

Response:

EMailed Customer - will honor original quote of $125 and fix speaker internally for resale.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,

Review: I mailed them my ipad and was to be paid $205 with in 2 weeks. It has now been 3 months. They won't respond to me even after multiple attempts.Desired Settlement: For them to pay me..

Review: I have sent an iPad and iPhone to Totem under the agreement that they would pay me for them. I have yet to see any money after more than 2 months

I agreed to sale 2 items to Totem 1. Order [redacted] IPhone 4S Item received 11/12/2013. Agreed price $155.00 2. Order [redacted] IPAD 1 32GB Item received 12/02/2013 Agreed Price $75.00. In the past few weeks I have sent 2 different emails and gotten no response beyond an auto response that basically said they would contact me within 48 hours. First email was sent on 02/03/2014 and Second email was sent on 02/16/2014.Desired Settlement: I would like check(s) for the agreed upon price(s).

Review: I have contacted Hello Totem (Cellular Distribution Strategies) 3 times with no response at all. After receiving a quote for $215 for my IPhone, I sent it in on 10/11 and on 10/24 I received an email saying they received it, but no check has been sent. I have enquired via email - both their email they had in their email they sent, ([email protected]) and also through their ticket process they direct you to, all with no response. All 3 'ticket' inquiries dating back to 10/4 note 'Awaiting assignment to a support agent'. I called the number they list on their site, which is also the one you have listed on the official Revdex.com site (###-###-####) and it says 'this number has not been activated'. They are completely unresponsive as though they are out of business.Desired Settlement: I would like either a check for the promised $215 for my Iphone 4s or it's return.

Business

Response:

Customer emailed 12/10/13 - check has been mailed 12/10/13.

Review: I sent two iphones, a iphone 4 and an mint condition iphone 5 to totem last month. The phones were marked as received by totem on their website on 10/31/13. I was sent a requote for the value of the iphones on 11/4, but later that day I was sent an email saying the requote was a mistake and the phones were fine. Totem agreed to give me $335 for my iphone 5 in mint condition and $75 for my good condition for my iphone 4. Subsequent to the requote I have heard nothing from the company. The website states that payments can be issued in as little as 48 hours. The website also states that my requote was accepted on the same day 11/4. I emailed a support ticket to the company on 11/8. I emailed on the same day. I have heard back from neither inquiry. The ticket still reads, awaiting assignment to a technician. I have found that is a common problem with their support tickets. I haven't heard anything else. The phone number listed doesn't work. When you call it says, "this number is not registered." It appears the company's Twitter has been deactivated. Given the number of complaints on this site, I'm concerned that they have stolen my phone and will neither send payment, nor return my phone.Desired Settlement: I would like my phones sent back to me, or a check for the quote for $335 for my iphone 5 and $75 for my iphone 4 in the mail. I would be VERY happy just to have my phones back.

Business

Response:

We have issued a new payment on 11.19.13 for $75. We believe this issue to be resolved.

Review: I started this process back in April when I went onto www.hellototem.com where I got a quote for an Iphone 4s 16gb (Sprint). I was quoted $220. They sent me a box to send my phone which I did and the device was received on 4/29/2013. I didn't receive payment and so I started a ticket (order number is [redacted]) on 6/6/13. I was contact by [redacted] who said that [redacted] would get back to me. I didn't receive any contact from [redacted] so I sent another email and I finally got a response from [redacted] on 6/21/13 who said that a check was mailed that day. Thery had updated my account that a check was mailed out on 6/21/13. I waited about a week and didn't get anything so I email [redacted] back. She told me it takes 14 working days for a check to get to me, so I waited the extra week. No payment received so reached out to [redacted] again. She responds 3 days later and says she is looking into this for me. Three days later on 7/18/13 she sends me an email that my case had to be transferred to [redacted]. I never heard from [redacted]. I replied with an an email to [redacted] to advise her that I still haven't had any contact from [redacted]. I also posted a statement on their message board for [redacted] but still no email or phone call. It's now almost 6 months later and I still haven't received payment or contact from them. All attempts to contact the company by phone or email have failed. This has been a very disappointing experience and in the meantime I'm out an Iphone 4s.Desired Settlement: I want them to either send me a check for $220 for the original quote, in a trackable method or send me back my Iphone in a trackable method.

Business

Response:

We have issued a new check in the amount of $220 to the customer. The customer has been emailed as well to let him know the check was sent today.

Review: Sent my iPhone to company after they stated they would give me $170.00 for it within 3-4 business days of receiving my phone. One month later I have received nothing and the company will not answer my emails and the only phone number listed is bogus. There are many many complaints about this company on line (Google Totem and scam). All I want is my phone back.Desired Settlement: Either I get my phone back or my $170.00

Review: I sent my iPhone to Totem on Sept 20, 2013 and received an invoice number and receipt. They received my phone on 10/7 per their website but I have received no word with a status of "Pending". I have sent repeated emails and sent a message to them on social networking sites to try to get some information on the status of my phone. I haven't heard back from anyone. I am now going into the 2nd month of having my phone in their hands and it is lowering the potential value it would have had as time goes on. The essentially took my phone from me with the promise that they will review it, provide and estimate of its value, and either send me a check or return my phone.Desired Settlement: I want either a check sent to me for the advertised value of my phone($205.00) or send me my phone back.

Review: I received a quote from HelloTotem (Cellular Distribution Strategies) to buy my iPhone5 fro $335, if the received my phone by Nov 6. I sent the phone using the pre-paid mailer they provided on October 15 2013, and received an email that my phone had arrived on October 30, promising payment would be processed within 48 hours. To date, according to the tracking feature on their website, they have not processed my phone or sent a check, and numerous emails and "service tickets" submitted as instructed on the website have been ignored. I also tried getting in touch with them by Twitter after seeing they had responded to other customers' tweets, but they recently deleted their Twitter account.

I sent emails to HelloTotem on Oct 19, Oct 28, and Nov 4, and submitted a service request on their website, #[redacted] on Nov 5, followed up on Nov 11 (and previously #[redacted] on Oct 19, updated on Oct 27)--none of which have been responded to at all.Desired Settlement: A check or PayPal payment from $335 as promised.

Review: I sent in an Apple iPhone 4s 16GB [redacted] to this company early November, with the promise of receiving $205 in return. On 11/15/2013, I received notification that my device was reviewed and an updated quote was provided for $145. The quote was accepted (by default because the revised quote went to my spam folder). It has now been 6 months and I still have not received payment. I have sent several emails through the website, and I have tried contacting thecompany by phone, but it appears the advertised number is disconnected. This company clearly seems to be a scam! They should not be trusted!! There are plenty of other legitimate cell-phone trade in companies, but this is not one!Desired Settlement: For the stress that this company caused me after 6 months of no responses to my phone calls and emails, I expect prompt payment in the original quoted amount of $205.

Review: In November 2013, I sent my iPhone 4s (16gb) to this company (aka "Totem") after the company had agreed to pay me $170.00 in exchange for the phone. The company, Totem, received my iPhone 4s on November 6, 2013, as it indicated on its website (i.e., [redacted]). When I did not receive payment for the iPhone, I contacted the company by submitting a "ticket" multiple times and was told that payment had been sent, but that if I did receive it within a few weeks, a new check would be reissued. I contacted the company multiple times thereafter noting that I had not received payment and asking that a new check be issued for $170.00. The company stopped returning my messages, even as my account still appears active on their tracking website. I have maintained copies of all correspondence with this company and I have copies of the company's status updates regarding my iPhone that they received. Again, I have received no compensation whatsoever for my property in this matter.Desired Settlement: I wish to receive the $170.00 for the iPhone 4s (16gb) I am owed by this company, as per our agreement, which I have in written form. Five months have passed since the company received this iPhone on November 6, 2013 and I have received no specific explanation or compensation from them!

Review: Totem (hellototem.com), purportedly a service that purchases [redacted]s and other mobile devices and resells/recycles them, is a complete scam.

I received a quote from Hello Totem for my [redacted] (pristine condition) for $185. They then sent a pre-paid mailer which I shipped to them, and since then I haven't heard back (with payment or otherwise). Since their site does not contain any direct contact information, I've sent in a number of support tickets that remained unanswered. The number they've provided is out of service (I get a prompt that the number dialed is not activated). There are essentially no channels to get in contact with them (at least successfully). I even tracked down an email and sent them my complaint (along with my order number) yet have not heard back.

There have been PLENTY of complaints and unresolved damages as listed on sites such as [redacted], and the Revdex.com. Totem needs to be shutdown as many continue to believe this 'business' to be legitimate.Desired Settlement: To receive the $185 I am owed or have Totem shutdown.

Business

Response:

Device lost with [redacted] - we have filed claim and will honor the quote and pay customer. We believe this issue to be resolved.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

Until I receive a check from Totem honoring the quote, this issue is not resolved. I want to see proof that a claim has indeed been filed, otherwise there is no assurance that Totem is a legitimate business.

Regards,

Review: They lost my IPhone. To resell your phone you get a postage paid mailer sent to your home you place your phone in the package and they tell you to place the package in any mailbox to send it to them, then you get paid. The problem is you cant just place it into any mailbox, it has to be mailed via [redacted].

I placed my package into a mailbox and I haven't seen it since because it was mailed and lost in the US Postal system since it was a [redacted] package. Nowhere on the mailing package does it say its a [redacted] box and they tell you to "simply drop the package into any mailbox" therefore my phone is lost.Desired Settlement: Find my phone or pay me the quoted selling price AND change your advertising so this doesn't happen in the future.

Business

Response:

Paypal payment was made on 11/6/13. We believe this complaint to be resolved.

Review: Totem claims to be a company that pays cash for used smart phones. They also claim to be a member of the Revdex.com. I sent my phone to them, and I am able to track it on their website and see that it was received on 10/16. The evaluation stage of the process is supposed to take 2-4 days, and it is 10/23 and payment is yet to be sent (let alone received). I was quoted $125 for my iPhone 4. I am having trouble finding an accurate phone number to contact them with and no one responds to my emails.Desired Settlement: I would like my check for $125 to be sent promptly.

Business

Response:

Customer was emailed and explained that payment was processed and sent

out 10/31/13. We have asked customer to close Revdex.com complaint upon

receipt of check.

Review: On July 1,2013 the Iphone was received by the company, (per e-mail), on July 18th ,2013 the company sent by e-mail the agreed upon price for my Iphone4 of 145.00 and stated in the e-mail that the check for 145.00 "is in the mail" August 18th, 2013 I sent a e-mail request #[redacted] that I had not gotten the 145.00 check, the company responded that it is being reviewed by the support staff, no response since, I also e-mailed August 21, 2013 request # [redacted] of which I have gotten the same response. My order number is [redacted]Desired Settlement: I either want my cell phone back or the 145.00 my order number is [redacted], I am concerned that they have already sold my phone and I have not been compensated for it.

Business

Response:

Sent new check and emailed customer that payment has been sent.

Review: I sent my Apple IPhone 4S 16GB to HelloTotem for agreed upon offer of $180.00 by check and they received it 11/11/2013, order #[redacted]. Their website says payment will be mailed out 48 hours after receiving it. I have received no status update from them in over a month. I have copies of emails and a copy of the phone being received by them, a screen-capture of the status of my order stating phone was received. They still are taking orders online, yet they will not send me payment nor answer my emails.Desired Settlement: I would like them to complete their contract and send me $180.00 by check.

Review: I sent my iphone 4 to HelloTotem on 10/23. They promised me that they would send me $130.00 within 48 hours. Today is November 7, 2013 and I still have not received anything.Desired Settlement: I want the check in the amount of $130.00 or my IPhone 4 back.

Business

Response:

We have contacted the customer and customer confirmed receipt of check. We believe this to be resolved.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,

Review: Hello Totem quoted me a price to buy my iphone 4 for $150. I mailed the phone to them. They received my phone on 7/25/13 and promised to send a check within 48 hours. I have not received a check. I emailed them several times. They have not responded. I demanded return of my phone. They have not responded.Desired Settlement: I would like my phone returned or my $150.

Review: I read about Hello Totem on the Huffington Post as a place to sell your Iphone before the new Iphone 5. I filled out the forms on the website and then waited for the shipping box to arrive. Before sending I took a few photographs showing my phone and all the materials provided w/ the box including the unique ID. I then mailed the phone to the company and awaited the confirmation and then sending of the check. Instead all I see is a page that shows they have my phone but nothing about payment. I have a screenshot of this page as well. As seen on Revdex.com and other sites now, there is no real way to contact them. I have sent numerous emails with nothing back.Desired Settlement: I expect either the check for $220 as promised or a return of my brand new never used (still had plastic) Iphone 4S.

Business

Response:

We have communicated to the customer that a paypal payment was sent. He acknowledged that he would be satisfied with the payment and close this complaint. We believe this matter to be resolved.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,