Extremely Bad First Experience W/ Supplier

[Bar C Leather]

I have recently had an EXTREMELY bad experience with a leather supplier. I was very excited to place my first order and after I did, there were nothing but nightmares.

I really feel like I was treated poorly but I kept my composure... stayed very polite and courteous until about my 15th phone call to them to get things put right. Been going on since November and I won't know until a few days from now if they really did refund my money.

I don't want anyone else to have this experience but I'm not one to just run around spreading rumors either. What information is fair to share on the forum?? What do you think?

[Ferg]

I have recently had an EXTREMELY bad experience with a leather supplier. I was very excited to place my first order and after I did, there were nothing but nightmares.

I really feel like I was treated poorly but I kept my composure... stayed very polite and courteous until about my 15th phone call to them to get things put right. Been going on since November and I won't know until a few days from now if they really did refund my money.

I don't want anyone else to have this experience but I'm not one to just run around spreading rumors either. What information is fair to share on the forum?? What do you think?

Personally, I think you should tell it like it is

ferg

[rickeyfro]

I agree with Ferg, if someone cares about what the customers think they should act like it. No need to hold back the truth

[Spinner]

I agree. Just tell your side like it is and be truthful about the experience.

I know if one of my products or service left that bad of a taste in someone's mouth I'd want to know about it so it could be fixed straightaway.

Word of mouth is the best form of advertisement, but it can also cut both ways.

Edited February 12, 2011 by Spinner

[TwinOaks]

Just stick to the truth. Don't make accusations or write anything that isn't true. Tell the good with the bad and give an honest review. If you want to share any personal opinions or thoughts, just be sure to preface it with "I think....." or "I feel....." to avoid any issues of LIBEL (printing/publishing anything that isn't true and could cause 'damages').

[Pounder]

I have recently had an EXTREMELY bad experience with a leather supplier. I was very excited to place my first order and after I did, there were nothing but nightmares.

I really feel like I was treated poorly but I kept my composure... stayed very polite and courteous until about my 15th phone call to them to get things put right. Been going on since November and I won't know until a few days from now if they really did refund my money.

I don't want anyone else to have this experience but I'm not one to just run around spreading rumors either. What information is fair to share on the forum?? What do you think?

As everyone else has stated, be honest and forthright but above ll else tell it as it may save someone else a future problem, helping others is what this site is about.

[CitizenKate]

You can share your experiences, and express your opinions, positive or negative, as long as you tell the truth. I would go a bit further to suggest avoiding posting things you heard second or third hand, and don't know for a fact is true.

I will also mention that we tend to frown upon people who call out a supplier publicly without first having attempted to contact the supplier directly and resolve the issue privately. In your case, you have stated that you have contacted them numerous times. I just am pointing this out to anyone who considers posting a supplier review.

Aside from that, we consider honest consumer reviews of suppliers and products as vital information to our members.

Kate

[Bar C Leather]

The supplier that I had so much trouble with is Siegel of California

On November 17th I placed an online order for some work chap sides and I requested a color from their color swatches. The color swatches were in color groups and numbered. I chose green palette color #4. Normally I wouldn't make a special color request like that online but it was an 'online only' special. The package took longer than I expected to get here but I let that go because I figure that those things sometimes happen. When I got the package it was not even close to the shad of green that I requested. Their website states that they accept returns for any reason and will even pay return shipping. When I called to return it the lady I spoke with was not very friendly... rather the opposite; but I wrote that off to the lady having a bad day. She told me the swatches were wrong, that the website hadn't been updated and that the boss had not written my special color request on the order anyway. She told me she was arranging the return so I waited a few days thinking that they were sending the carrier to pick it up. Around 4 days and no pick up. I called back and they explained that they were sending a tag, not a pick up. So, I waited about another week and still no tag. I called back ...oops, they informed me that they never mailed the tag and promised to get it to me right away. Finally got the tag sometime around Dec 13th or 14th and shipped the box on Dec. 15th from our local pack-n-ship. I lost count (really should have been keeping notes at this point) of the calls I made but called several times to find out if they had received the box. The first time they said they had not received it yet and I got worried as it was now after Christmas. I gave it a few days and called back. I was told they would look into it that there were returns in the warehouse that needed to be checked in, they would call me to let me know. I did not receive a call back. I called back when I hadn't heard from them and was told they would track the package. In January I finally get to talk to someone who actually followed through on tracking the package to find they had received it but that it was still awaiting the 'boss' to approve the return. Again I called back and was told the boss would be notified again that I was awaiting my refund. No call back. I called again to find out that the 'boss' claims I have more than one account and he needs to look into it..delay...delay... no calls back, no respect. At this point it was a daily call ... the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Thursday Feb 10th I called and asked to speak to Steve ... aka the boss. I was told he'd be in the office in an hour. I set my timer and called in exactly an hour. He was on the phone and I chose to hold. When the line picked up it was the clerk again and said he left!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????

At this point I lost my marbles. I kindly let the lady know that I had family and friends in California and if Steve needed to see someone face to face to have a conversation, that I could send someone down there, no problem. I also told her that I was considering sharing this incident with all of my colleagues. The lady assured me he was planning on calling me Friday morning. Friday afternoon; STILL NO CALL. I called again and she told me that he had refunded my money and I informed her that I was extremely disappointed and that if it wasn't already crystal clear, I would NEVER do business with them again.

I am a patient and forgiving person and my husband claims I let people walk all over me, but even I have to draw the line. My biggest disappointment was that nobody .. not once, not one person EVER called me. All calls were from me to them and although the lady I dealt with from January on was kind to me, it took numerous daily calls to get results. I feel that if mine was a crazy case that just went all to heck wrong, I should have been given a courtesy call from Steve. Unfortunately the feeling I get is that the business just isn't organized and I don't get the feeling that the customer comes first. I feel that I should not have been avoided and that no matter what the case, I should have been given respect.

Now, if anyone is still awake... you know what happened!!

[Ferg]

The supplier that I had so much trouble with is Siegel of California

On November 17th I placed an online order for some work chap sides and I requested a color from their color swatches. The color swatches were in color groups and numbered. I chose green palette color #4. Normally I wouldn't make a special color request like that online but it was an 'online only' special. The package took longer than I expected to get here but I let that go because I figure that those things sometimes happen. When I got the package it was not even close to the shad of green that I requested. Their website states that they accept returns for any reason and will even pay return shipping. When I called to return it the lady I spoke with was not very friendly... rather the opposite; but I wrote that off to the lady having a bad day. She told me the swatches were wrong, that the website hadn't been updated and that the boss had not written my special color request on the order anyway. She told me she was arranging the return so I waited a few days thinking that they were sending the carrier to pick it up. Around 4 days and no pick up. I called back and they explained that they were sending a tag, not a pick up. So, I waited about another week and still no tag. I called back ...oops, they informed me that they never mailed the tag and promised to get it to me right away. Finally got the tag sometime around Dec 13th or 14th and shipped the box on Dec. 15th from our local pack-n-ship. I lost count (really should have been keeping notes at this point) of the calls I made but called several times to find out if they had received the box. The first time they said they had not received it yet and I got worried as it was now after Christmas. I gave it a few days and called back. I was told they would look into it that there were returns in the warehouse that needed to be checked in, they would call me to let me know. I did not receive a call back. I called back when I hadn't heard from them and was told they would track the package. In January I finally get to talk to someone who actually followed through on tracking the package to find they had received it but that it was still awaiting the 'boss' to approve the return. Again I called back and was told the boss would be notified again that I was awaiting my refund. No call back. I called again to find out that the 'boss' claims I have more than one account and he needs to look into it..delay...delay... no calls back, no respect. At this point it was a daily call ... the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Thursday Feb 10th I called and asked to speak to Steve ... aka the boss. I was told he'd be in the office in an hour. I set my timer and called in exactly an hour. He was on the phone and I chose to hold. When the line picked up it was the clerk again and said he left!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????

At this point I lost my marbles. I kindly let the lady know that I had family and friends in California and if Steve needed to see someone face to face to have a conversation, that I could send someone down there, no problem. I also told her that I was considering sharing this incident with all of my colleagues. The lady assured me he was planning on calling me Friday morning. Friday afternoon; STILL NO CALL. I called again and she told me that he had refunded my money and I informed her that I was extremely disappointed and that if it wasn't already crystal clear, I would NEVER do business with them again.

I am a patient and forgiving person and my husband claims I let people walk all over me, but even I have to draw the line. My biggest disappointment was that nobody .. not once, not one person EVER called me. All calls were from me to them and although the lady I dealt with from January on was kind to me, it took numerous daily calls to get results. I feel that if mine was a crazy case that just went all to heck wrong, I should have been given a courtesy call from Steve. Unfortunately the feeling I get is that the business just isn't organized and I don't get the feeling that the customer comes first. I feel that I should not have been avoided and that no matter what the case, I should have been given respect.

Now, if anyone is still awake... you know what happened!!

There are many folks that share your frustrations. I have to say also that there are some that have had very little to no hassle with them. The song and dance is ,"We couldn't find your e-mail."

ferg

[TwinOaks]

I think that qualifies as straight forward, sharing your experiences and what you were told through various communications. Thank you for sharing that. Hopefully, that post will get back to the boss at Siegel of Ca., and some actions will be taken to insure that it doesn't happen to anyone else.