SCOUTER Posted January 11, 2008 Report Posted January 11, 2008 I few weeks ago while reading some posts here I found out about Siegels of California, I went to there website and was impressed so I placed an order. About a week later I get part of my order and nothing to indicate that the other items were backordered. I was livid. I called their customer service number and they said that this was standard operating practice for them. I asked them "How is it that they have been in business for so many years?" I was still upset so I called Steve Siegel himself I told him that I ordered from his business because he is a leather supplier not a craft store who sells leather on the side, I don't want to hear that half my $170 order is out of stock! If you don't have it don't advertise it on your website. Well, after apologizing he assured me that that was being corrected as we speak. A week later I sent in another order and guess what! Yep, partial order shipped with no explanation. If you are going to order from Siegel's make sure you don't NEED the item!
Contributing Member wolvenstien Posted January 11, 2008 Contributing Member Report Posted January 11, 2008 Call him back and bitch some more..... I dont do business with places like that.... I get half my order, i am automatically assuming that I got screwed... You need to cal him back, tell him it happened again, you gave him a second chance because he said the issue was fixed, and apparently the folks down there that fill the orders either didnt get the memo, or just dont care what he says, they are going to do it their way regardless.... "The miracle is not how two adults can create a child, the phenomenon is how quickly a child can create two adults." -- VYBE Her: Hit Me Him: Do you want me to use the knife? Her: No, When you hit with a knife, that's STABBING!
Members Mike Posted January 11, 2008 Members Report Posted January 11, 2008 Call him back and bitch some more..... I dont do business with places like that.... I get half my order, i am automatically assuming that I got screwed... You need to cal him back, tell him it happened again, you gave him a second chance because he said the issue was fixed, and apparently the folks down there that fill the orders either didnt get the memo, or just dont care what he says, they are going to do it their way regardless.... I like to know when something is backordered. My last order from somewhere else was a partial order. I called and was told the items were backordered. It would have saved both me and the company time and money if they had just told me they were backordered. Is it frustrating when items are out of stock? Yes. But it happens. It is very hard to correctly predict demand and keep adequate inventory. The leather store may also be backordered with the manufacturer. I know some items only have a single manufacturer. The reseller is at their mercy. (Sometimes, of course, the reseller drops the ball.) So will I continue to purchase from the company who made me call them to find out the status? Yes. I hope they get their invoices/packing lists straightened out so I can see what was backordered and I hope the stock is replenished soon but I like the store and usually they get things right. Just my 2 cents. Mike
Contributing Member Regis Posted January 11, 2008 Contributing Member Report Posted January 11, 2008 (edited) I had same bad experience when I got about a 1/4th of oder I called in from their year end special. That was my very last order from them. I really liked the way Hidecrafters sent an e-mail confirming what was shipping but last couple times I called in order, they didn't have the items. I've had good service from Springfield and TLF. Those in areas where they can go pick up are fortunate. I think if I stepped up from hobby, I'd have to go with Ohiotravelbags, Weaver, and W&C. Edited January 11, 2008 by Regis God, Family, and Country (although liberals are attempting to destroy these in the USA)
Contributing Member wolvenstien Posted January 11, 2008 Contributing Member Report Posted January 11, 2008 Being back ordered is one thing, and is expected on occasion.... but send along a not with the package telling your customers that half the order is not included because it is on back order and that the customer will not be charged until the items are in stock ready to be shipped. I deal with an electronics supplier and I placed an order for a soldering iron, some solder and some liquid flux.... everything arrived except for the flux, and on the invoice was clearly stated that the flux was on back order and that I would not be charged for it until it was ready to be shipped.... They finally got it in stock 4 months later and I got a package with a bottle of liquid flux in it.... LOL But they let me know, I did not need to contact them to find out where it was... "The miracle is not how two adults can create a child, the phenomenon is how quickly a child can create two adults." -- VYBE Her: Hit Me Him: Do you want me to use the knife? Her: No, When you hit with a knife, that's STABBING!
Timbo Posted January 11, 2008 Report Posted January 11, 2008 Welcome to the way Seigel does business. I have ordered many times from them and usually end up very frustrated with what I get. Yes, it is what I ordered but only part of it. On a recent order, the awl haft was charged to me at full price (13.00) when it was on sale for 5 something. Didn't get the awl blade, nor was it on the order. Also ordered 5 soft rolled horse butts and got one, and it was useless as it had a huge black mark right down the center. I sent in 2 emails via the "contact us" link on there website and never got a response. Finally this week I got a BS email about the lucky 18 winner and I sent in a really smart aleck response to it. Well.......seems that Steven Seigel himself sends these emails out so he got my response and wondered what the problem was. So I spelled it out for him exactly what had happened. The next day he sent the email back to me and cc'd it to somebody named Christina and told her to send me 6 horse butts for free. Haven't gotten them yet but we'll see. They are a good business and somebody there does care, but it is just maddening to deal with the frustration of ship short orders. Hang in there Scouter they will eventually take care of you if you let them. You might give them a call too. Tim
Members jsutterby Posted January 11, 2008 Members Report Posted January 11, 2008 Same experience here. I have ordered from them several times in the past and it was typically quickly shipped, although they usually were out of one or more items. My last order was placed in the first week of Dec. First they lost my email, so I faxed it, then hadn't heard a word so I called a few days ago and was told many items were out/backordered and someone would call back to confirm details. Still haven't heard a word. It is disappointing to me, as a quick call or note would help let me know they care about the order. Hidecrafters has typically been out of some items when I order there as well. Maybe its just me, but it seems like this issue has gotten worse in the last couple of years.
Contributing Member wolvenstien Posted January 11, 2008 Contributing Member Report Posted January 11, 2008 I understand that these places can only keep x amount of stock... that is understood... and now with hidecrafter cutting inventory by half now since the buy out it is going to be worse for them with "back ordered" inventory. Stores like Tandy can send an order to any of 50 stores and if the store is out of an item, they can get it shipped from another store... SOC and HC cannot do this because they have only one building.... So... they need to be more thoughtful of the customers and be more customer committed to retain the customers instead of pissing them off and acting as if they do not care if you remain a customer or not by how they deal with you and your order. I might be an a**hole, and even though I am a penny pincher, I expect a certain level of customer service anywhere I spend money. I especially like to spend my money (for the best deal) locally at a place where the money will stay local, but I cant do that all the time, so i will venture out, but I still expect good service from the place I do choose to spend my money with. "The miracle is not how two adults can create a child, the phenomenon is how quickly a child can create two adults." -- VYBE Her: Hit Me Him: Do you want me to use the knife? Her: No, When you hit with a knife, that's STABBING!
Members whinewine Posted January 11, 2008 Members Report Posted January 11, 2008 I've always had good luck with Siegels. When something doesn't show up in the package, I assume that it has been backordered. If I'm really, really concerned because I need something, I call to find out when the item is expected. I mean, my God, the call is FREE! It's not like I've been stiffed. What pisses me off is when I call a company to order something, they tell me what I want to hear & then never send the items & deny ever having received the phone order... I've never had that problem with Siegels. Try walking into a tandy's for stuff that's on sale. Very often much of the merchandise is gone already, & you've spent & used how much??? in gas both ways at $3.+++ a gallon only to find out that stuff is gone or will not be available ever again because it's discontinued & that's why it's on sale... That's a hell of a lot more expensive than a FREE PHONE CALL.
Ambassador abn Posted January 11, 2008 Ambassador Report Posted January 11, 2008 It's true that Tandy isn't the cheapest supplier on the planet, but their prices aren't bad either if you're a member of their Wholesale Club. I've been dealing exclusively with Tandy's Richmond store for five years, and during that time there's only been one time they didn't have what I needed in the store. (And in that instance, they were able to get it within 3 days.) The problem is that some of us really need what we order when we order it. Especially hobbyists who don't have a fully stocked shop with thousands of pieces of hardware, multiple hides, etc. Under those circumstances, it's nice to deal with a company that has most everything it advertises in stock and ready to ship. -Alex
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