woodworkt
super member
Reged: 06/07/06
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
#5570095 - 12/13/12 10:45 PM
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Guys, the vendor in question contacted me off list and seems to be trying to resolve it. Thanks again for your insights.
I left the long term question in my post below -- more about thinking about the industry and the future of the hobby in this kind of economy -- because it's probably relevant beyond this case. But if the moderators want to pull the thread, I'm cool with that as well. Thanks again.
Edited by woodworkt (12/14/12 09:51 AM)
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Dennis_S253
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/22/11
Loc: West Central Florida
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: woodworkt]
#5570116 - 12/13/12 10:57 PM
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Well I'd sure like to know who it is. Did u pay cash? If you paid with a credit card, you can call them "credit co." and tell them the situation. They should take care of it.
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BigC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/29/10
Loc: SE Indiana
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: woodworkt]
#5570126 - 12/13/12 11:05 PM
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Businesses fail for many reasons but mis -mangement is probably number one.And creditors of failed businesses seldom recover all their money. Can't get what isn't there.
A lawyer might write a letter demanding your refund for a hour's fee.The question is:does that vendor have any funds now?
If he didn't have actual product there might be charges of fraud,check with the police in his town,and the post office if the transaction ionvolved the mail.Have you spoke with your bank,they are more familiar with moving money.
Caveat emptor is still good advice after 2000 years.
You might as well consider the money gone ,and be pleasantly shocked if some later date he actually completes the refund.
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: BigC]
#5570420 - 12/14/12 07:44 AM
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The only way you will likely get your money back from this loser is in small claims court, if you want to go that way. HOWEVER, as above, a letter from a lawyer might persuade him, and might even encourage him not to steal the money of his next victim. 
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: rmollise]
#5570495 - 12/14/12 09:09 AM
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Here's a silly thought... if the mount that you originally ordered is now shipping ask the vendor to re-instate your original order and consider the money already paid (the unreturned ballance from your orignal order) as a deposit, the ballance due when your mount ships. I suspect that this will be the closest you'll get to getting your money back.
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skybsd
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/01/08
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: woodworkt]
#5570515 - 12/14/12 09:24 AM
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WOW!  Patience of Job, for sure..,
Personally, I'd have lawyered up a long time ago..,
My $0.02..,
Best of luck - whichever way you decide to go in the end..,
Regards,
skybsd
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woodworkt
super member
Reged: 06/07/06
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: rmollise]
#5570517 - 12/14/12 09:25 AM
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I don't know I'd phrase it as a matter of victims. I think BigC had it right that you "can't get what isn't there." In the end, guess I really think he's probably just a guy who's trying to be a perfectionist about his products, because he thinks that's the right thing to do, but hasn't quite learned how detrimental it can be to his customers or how to manage the advertising/setting expectations side of running a business so people don't find themselves in this kind of situation without warning.
In the end, maybe this is almost more of a tough, long term question. What is it worth to try and support this hobby and promote innovation? What is it fair to expect from an individual proprietor in this kind of circumstance? How do you help someone you want to see succeed learn to change? And where do you draw the line?
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astro_baby
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/17/08
Loc: United Kingdom
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: woodworkt]
#5570896 - 12/14/12 01:56 PM
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Personally I'd worry more about ME than taking on some kind of altruistic role as a benefactor of astronomy.
Its not down tou you as a client to support the guys business beyond placing an order. If he cant run a business then he goes under, thats hardball but its what capitalism is all about at the end of the day.
I Think it was General Grant who said " war is the remedy our enemies have choisen and ai say give them all they want" to me a breach of trust by a supplier is in most cases a statement they dont care about me so I dont feel any obligation to care much about them past getting my cash back.
I'd never be an early adopeter or even a Beta tester with my own cash for sure.
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Agatha
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/04/12
Loc: Minneapolis, MN
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: woodworkt]
#5570979 - 12/14/12 02:55 PM
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I know which mount and also the vendor that you are referring to. I think you have been very kind and diplomatic. I know that you do not wish to bash him in any way. I don't own one of his mounts nor have I seen one in person. I have only admired the design.
I hope this is resolved in a positive manner for both you and him.
Good luck.
Best, Linda B.
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: Agatha]
#5572331 - 12/15/12 10:41 AM
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Quote:
I know which mount and also the vendor that you are referring to. I think you have been very kind and diplomatic. I know that you do not wish to bash him in any way. I don't own one of his mounts nor have I seen one in person. I have only admired the design.
I hope this is resolved in a positive manner for both you and him.
Good luck.
Best, Linda B.
I have seen and used his mounts. Nice enough. But the bottom line is that he was asked to refund this person's money a long time ago, and despite remaining in business has not done so.
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Agatha
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/04/12
Loc: Minneapolis, MN
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: rmollise]
#5572519 - 12/15/12 12:26 PM
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Agreed. It is all so unfortunate.
Best, Linda B.
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CounterWeight
Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/08
Loc: Cloudyopolis, OR.
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: Agatha]
#5572592 - 12/15/12 01:15 PM
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This is unfortunate. If he's eating, and has a roof over his head, driving around town with gas in the tank and dough in his wallet, and not your money or mount - that is fraud, pure and simple. I can think of no good reason or that it's doing anyone a favor not to go 'on the record' with it with your appropriate authorities. Thankfully the body of law is pretty blind to a nice person comitting fraud or a not so nice person - it's the act/action you need to address.
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woodworkt
super member
Reged: 06/07/06
Loc: Northern Virginia
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: woodworkt]
#5573855 - 12/16/12 10:07 AM
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Thanks everyone for the support, advice, and kind words here and in PMs. Things are being resolved to my satisfaction, and we've even talked about ideas and things he's doing to keep anyone from being in my situation again, like only taking small deposits when orders are placed, which I think speaks well of him.
In the end, I'm comfortable that I've been dealt with honestly, if not always optimally, and I'm mindful of the fact that he can't respond or comment without violating the forum rules. So, at this stage, I really think it might make sense (if the moderators wouldn't mind) to delete or close this thread.
Thanks again.
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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan
Reged: 02/28/06
Loc: Petaluma, CA
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: woodworkt]
#5573910 - 12/16/12 10:42 AM
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Gosh, I wish you'd have left the vendor's name in the thread. One of the main functions of forums such as this is to "get the word out" as to who is good to do business with and who is not. By obfuscating the identity of a bad vendor, you leave others vulnerable to the same maltreatment. It's certainly not "bashing" to factually relay an experience with a vendor and how the issue was resolved.
Regards,
Jim
Edited by jrbarnett (12/16/12 10:47 AM)
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psandelle
sage
Reged: 06/18/08
Loc: Los Angeles
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: jrbarnett]
#5573942 - 12/16/12 11:01 AM
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Jim - I was wondering the same thing myself. Not saying this dealer's "bad," but if I were looking for a mount right now, I'd want to know.
woodwrkt - could you possibly explain the final situation that got this resolved? Is he getting you your money back? Giving you a new mount? This whole thread just made my stomach knot up reading it - hate this stuff, but it happens.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Paul
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David Pavlich
Transmographied
Reged: 05/18/05
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA
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Re: Somewhat hesitant post -- what would you do?
[Re: woodworkt]
#5573960 - 12/16/12 11:09 AM
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Since the issue has been resolved, the OP requested that the thread be locked. I agree.
David
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