What to do...

[Taff]

Alright guys and gals...... As you know, I've been providing reflective decals to FJR owners for about 4 years now. It started out as a favor, then as a hobby, and then finally it is developing into a small business. Every once in a while, you get the occasional customer that you just cannot please. Here is an example of the absolute worst case that I've had to deal with. This email is from today. (Presented to you in the same font and color)

[SIZE=18pt]ALEX, your last e-mail dates 21/01/2008 8:23 pm, this day 02/02/2008 no news, I am very irritated.[/SIZE]

If I have nothing on 09/02/2008, I previens all the buyers on the forums MOTORCYCLES and FJR and BMW in EUROPE and everywhere or I can in the world . I go dedicated the necessary time, I am very vindictive,I NEVER GIVE UP.

Here is some background on this order. The original order was placed on Nov 11th and shipped out on the 13th via USPS. It never arrived. So I then sent out another set (insured) on Dec 31. It never arrived. I then received the email:

[SIZE=18pt]I have not received my order of (22/11/2007),It is scandalous, I will prevent buyers on the forums FJR[/SIZE]

I then responded:

I assure you that this is not scandalous! I’ve sold hundreds of sets overseas and have taken care of every last one even if they were lost in transit. (it has happened just a few times) They end up showing up back here, or at the customer’s residence.

I would appreciate it if you would not drag my name through the mud on the FJR forums.

Well, since 2 sets were mailed out (my loss) I propose 1 of 2 things. Would you like a full refund, or can you offer me a different address (work, friends….) to mail another set at my cost. Please don’t accuse me of trying to take $20 from you. I understand your frustration and will make this right.

Alex

I then receive back:

I receive mail from the USA (N-Y, LA and Frisco) without problem...!

Can you ship with proof of delivery?

If not possible, I will give you an address in Poste Restante.

I wait for your reponse. Thank you

Ok, fair enough, a 3rd set goes out, Jan 21.

Now we are back to today’s email that is listed above. The only thing I responded with was:

"(his name), I give up. I’ve sent 3 sets with no success. I WILL GIVE YOU A FULL REFUND. I’m out 75+ dollars and will give you a full refund.

I’m not sure why your are expressing that you want to be vindictive and threaten me over email.

Put yourself in my position for one second."

Alex

So what can a guy do?

PS (I'm sorry if I made that hard to follow)

Alex,

This guy seems to be a scammer.

You have "gone the extra mile" from what I have read, so just put this behind you.

If you had numerous complaints then, as suggested in another reply, I would worry about my reputation.

I had a similar problem when buying off a private party (never received the goods) but then I had used my credit card and got a refund pronto.

Have a great ride and keep the good work on the up and up.

Ride safe.

 

[madmike2]

Alex, it sounds like you've done more than you had to before resorting to your final solution.

Some have never worked retail and have no idea how frustrating some customers can be.

IF this guy is a "scammer", he is one of the reasons prices are so high. Retailers have to "cover their loss" by raising their prices across their product line.

If there truly are postal problems, hopefully he is honest and will return your product or money when the "lost" shipment is found and delivered.

 

[James Burleigh]

Anyone who uses 24-pt red type and commits so many egregious grammatical errors is clearly a psychopath. Even if said psycho papered the physical and ether worlds with "Alex is the Devil" it would not matter because the world would see that Nutcase is the nutcase and not Alex. Don't let him pull you in. 10% of people are certifiable nuts (just look at this Forum ).

Jb

 

[jekirby]

Hey Alex,

I found your website/product just yesterday. Cool product and a nice service. I'll be doing business with you.

John

 

[mattster31]

I would not sweat about a customer (I would call him a PITA) like that. It sounds like his ego is larger than his brain :dribble: :dribble: Guys like that you end up seeing on the 10'oclock news, or Jerry Springer, or in front of Judge Judy............If you confronted him in person he would probably run away. Just a moron with a keyboard. Needs to work on his grammar also.

Oh, I will be purchasing a set of those reflectors, they look great!!

Take care,

Mattster

 

[radman]

I'm not laughing in the least. :angry:
PM sent.

[limey accent]Whats all this then?[/limey accent]

Oh, and I too think he got each and every one. Guys who can't spell/communicate worth a **** often work scams similar to this. Nigerian, anyone?

 

[Rogue]

He is a psyco or a scammer, either way dump him.

If the odds of an article being lost in the mail are 1 in 1000*, the odds of two independently shipped articles to the same guy being lost are 1 in 1 million (1000 * 1000). (1 in a million is very unlikely, if you're having trouble with the numbers). The odds of three articles, independently shipped to the same guy, all being lost are 1 in..... (anybody?) THAT'S RIGHT!!! 1 in a billion!

* I have no idea what the loss rates are in the postal service, but there's prolly a FAQ on the USPS site that reveals the number. I bet that the rate of loss is lower than 1 in 1000, by the way, so it's prolly a much bigger stretch that the three items were lost and not actually all in the possession of the scammer.

Well what I always tell my wife is.. "The US mail is way to vital to entrust to the USPS!"

It sometimes takes 5 weeks for my CycleNews to make it from Long Beach, CA to Los Angeles,CA!

 

[juniorfjr]

After meeting you in Reno, I said what a stand up guy. Then I bought the really cool reflecctors with the tuning forks. They fit perfectly, came timely and look really good.

I've been doing retail for 30 years and every now and again you come across a customer that cannot be pleased. Your best option is to do just what you have done, end the transaction, lick your wounds and prepare for the next guy. Just remind yourself, there has to be a worst customer and you just survived it. All will be better from now on (until the next one).

Oh, and I reccoment Alex for any product he sells.

Fred Jr.

 

[Bike Effects]

Are you serious guys? Alex is terrible to deal with and should be banned from this forum! OK, OK, I was just kidding! Alex is a stand up guy. Alex, send him on his way. Too bad there are people like this.

 

[Bull]

my bike wears Alex's reflectors - great kit, great pricing, great service.

I'd buy from him again in a heart-beat.

It wouldn't surprise me to see these 'lost' decals on flea-bay (new, never used, sold my bike, etc....)

 

[GunMD]

When I installed the reflectors from Alex my fuel economy increased 13%. Top speed is up 4mph, the bike is 4lbs lighter, corners like a 1098 on qualifying tires and I can't keep the hot chicks from groping me.

Cool product.

 

[dean]

He probably has all three sets, is going to sell 2 of them to his friends, and is going to continue to badger you for a refund.

agreed, but my guess is he's going to sell them on a website that rhymes with "teejay". and it might be one of the european ones (are there more than one?, i don't know). perhaps some of us trying to help out alex might be keeping an eye out for that...hypothetically, of course. ( :

oops, sorry, just saw bull's post of 6 minutes prior. oh well.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Anyone who uses 24-pt red type and commits so many egregious grammatical errors is clearly a psychopath. Even if said psycho papered the physical and ether worlds with "Alex is the Devil" it would not matter because the world would see that Nutcase is the nutcase and not Alex. Don't let him pull you in. 10% of people are certifiable nuts (just look at this Forum ).
Jb

Couldn't have said it better myself, JB. The purchaser reveals a lot about himself in the way he communicates. Perhaps if he continues with his scam, Alex might refer him to the credit card company. Mr. Angry can dispute the payment, then Alex can address a more rational person, when the CC representative contacts him.

Having read all the good stuff about Alex, and the reflectors, I'm now going to take a look at the product.

Jill

P.S. This couldn't possibly be a very subtle form of advertizing, could it? I'm falling for it, if it is.

 

[odot]

Good eye, penguin.....ML would be proud of you.

 

[Warchild]

Guys who can't spell/communicate worth a **** often work scams similar to this. Nigerian, anyone?

Well, not quite. The ****** in question is from France.

Um.... perhaps he's French Nigerian.

 

[madmike2]

Or, since English is his "second language", this is to be expected. He really doesn't "murderlize" grammar and spelling much worse than some 'Murican citizens.

 

[James Burleigh]

The ****** in question is from France.

France you say.... Hmmm.... If only we could get him to run from the cops on a motorcycle....

 

[Bull]

France you say.... Hmmm.... If only we could get him to run from the cops on a motorcycle....

.... then he'd be better off mounting his reflective stripes on the front of his bike.

 

[Alex]

When I installed the reflectors from Alex my fuel economy increased 13%. Top speed is up 4mph, the bike is 4lbs lighter, corners like a 1098 on qualifying tires and I can't keep the hot chicks from groping me.
Cool product.

You had me up until the part "I can't keep the hot chicks from groping me."

Now I know your pulling my leg :lol:

 

[madmike2]

When I installed the reflectors from Alex my fuel economy increased 13%. Top speed is up 4mph, the bike is 4lbs lighter, corners like a 1098 on qualifying tires and I can't keep the hot chicks from groping me.
Cool product.

Wellll, Mr. Newly-Engaged-Person, that "whirring" noise you hear in the garage is a hair dryer warming the decals for easy removal. Effective...and not as damaging as spray paint or a ball-peen hammer!