We are working with our attorney and are taking legal actions against the BBB.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LETTER WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF OUR ATTORNEY

SEE THE LINKS BELOW REGARDING BBB'S TRUE BUSINESS PRACTICES. THESE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WE DECLINED MEMBERSHIP WITH THE BBB:

Rip Off Report Link 1 Regarding BBB - Click Here (This link has over 37 complaints alone against the BBB in Colton, CA (the one we would have had to register with)

Rip Off Report Link 2 Regarding BBB - Click Here
Link 3 Regarding BBB - Click Here
Link 4 Regarding BBB - Click Here
Rip Off Report Link 5 Regarding BBB - Click Here
Smartmoney.com report on BBB Link 6
Link 7 Regarding BBB - Click Here
Link 8 Regarding BBB - Click Here
Link 9 Regarding BBB - Click Here
Link 10 Regarding BBB - Click Here

There are many MANY more links regarding WHO the BBB really represents - that being companies that "pay to play". The BBB appears to have two different "grading" systems, one for paying members, and one for non paying businesses. Below are links to several Governent run organizations. It will take you a minute or two of your time, if you wish, to confirm the validity of our claims against the BBB:

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION - CLICK HERE
CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S - CLICK HERE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS - CLICK HERE
CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE BUSINESS PORTAL - CLICK HERE
FBI'S WEBSITE (FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS) - CLICK HERE

The Better Business Bureau is a privately owned conglomerate of multiple private entities (companies), each covering various areas throughout the United States. When we purchased Sunrise Lighting, its location and inventory, we contacted The Better Business Bureau to inquire about joining them. We were referred to their Colton, California office.

The Better Business Bureau of the Southland, Inc., a California corporation (hereinafter referred to as "BBB" or "Better Business Bureau"), is a private, non-governmental agency residing out of Colton, California. When we spoke to the BBB and inquired about membership, they somehow tied us to prior complaints sent in regarding Sunrise Lighting, a company from which we purchased the location, inventory from, etc. They told us that they will give us basic contact information regarding the complainants of Sunrise Lighting for a substantial fee. At first we were willing to pay these fees in the hopes that we could resolve this issue, but after we learned that a) the BBB was unable to do much regarding resolving the issue with the prior owner, and b) that the BBB was a private entity not affiliated with the government in any way, we declined. We don't feel the need to be basically extorted by a private organization that masquerades as a public, government-affiliated consumer affairs agency. The BBB will give you a "sales pitch", i.e. there have been numerous inquiries regarding your company, etc., then lure you in. It is a deceptive, horrible business practice and we refuse to be chumps. When we did an online Google search of the BBB, we discovered over 40 rip off reports regarding Better Business 's practices, among other links discussing their practices.

Also, the BBB has accused us of false advertising, i.e. stating we have a BBB membership logo on our website. This is not and has never been the case, feel free to look at our website in full and notice we do NOT have any BBB affiliated logo in any way.

Please also keep in mind that we strive for top customer service, and with over 35,000 customers that have placed orders with us over the years, we have about two (2) actual complaints from customers. One of these complaints involved a customer who called us about two months after receiving his order, claiming half of his $230 order was missing. We at first gave the gentleman the benefit of the doubt, even after such a long time frame. We re-created and re-weighed the box to determine that the customer received "half" of his order as he claimed, and his full order came out to 9 lbs. Removing the items the customer claimed he didn't receive, the box would have been 4 pounds. We verified that indeed the box delivered to this customer was 9 lbs. Although we try, we cannot make everyone happy, but our track record speaks for itself. Taking Two Months after receipt of the order to report missing items is just not fair. We cannot be responsible for something like that 60 days later! All we ask of you, the customer, is to read our Terms & Conditions. We usually ask customers to report any missing or damaged items within 48 hours after receipt, and in most cases will bend on that up to about 5-7 days after receipt. After an extended time after an order is delivered, we cannot file a claim with FedEx in cases of missing/damaged items, and frankly, it makes common sense to report missing/damaged item(s) ASAP, not 60 days!

The Better Business Brreau is a privately owned company that is out to make money, i.e. extorting local business owners to keep themselves afloat. Our business has been selling lighting fixtures for over 20 years, and these days because of how the internet works, ANYONE can say anything bad about you and it'll look "legitimate" i.e. competitors, former employees, etc. If we were an illegit company and we were trying to rip off a customer, why would we spend $2,000 - $3,000 a DAY with Google, Yahoo and Bing search engine pay-per-click advertising? In defense of the company we purchased, Sunrise Lighting, at the time we closed the acquisition of the company they had around 28,000 customers who bought from them and just 75 complaints to the BBB (all of which were resolved).  That's only 0.27% of their customer base!

If you would like to comment after reading our article, whether it be questions, concerns, or shared experiences with the BBB (whether you are a business or a customer), then please feel free to write us via email at: sales@socallighting.com