Bad Business at Kite shop with BUGGY -warning!

So here's the story.

Several months back, I was looking to sell one of my modified Flexi kitebuggies. A friend at the local kite shop said to bring it in to the shop because maybe a friend of his might buy it. I only had the frame (with the modifications I added) (see my "Flexi mods" post on this site) so I left it with him to see if his friend was interested.

Later, he called, and said the person backed out of the deal. No problem, I said. If he changes his mind, or someone else wants it GREAT! Otherwise, I'll come in and pick it up sometime. No hurry, he'd been there for years, and practically every buggier in town knew that buggy, and who it belonged to.

So about a month ago, I heard that my friend was no longer working there. I thought "I'd better go get my buggy" since new people were now managing the store.

I came in and explained the situation, described the parts and the modifications to them.

The manager (who was new in town) said "Ya we have them, they're in the back corner. But you can't have them!"

Why not?

"Because I don't know if they're yours!"

Fine enough. "Please have the owner give me a call, and we'll straighten this out!"

3 weeks later - no phone call

I come in again "No one called!

The manager says "You can't have them until you get written statement from (my friend) saying that these are your parts!!

I heard he left town. Do you know where he is?

"NO!!"

Do you have a number?

"NO!" (Apparently some bad blood)

(seeing that this was going nowhere) O.K. can I have a number for the OWNER of the kite shop?

NO!! (apparently REALLY bad blood!)

This was ridiculous! I needed to track down someone with no phone number, no address, not even a city or state- and get him to sign a paper stating that those buggy parts were mine!! (Apparantly photos and receipts aren't good enough)

So after a few other times sending emails and calling the shop with no success, I came in day before yesterday with Receipts, photos, the missing pieces. (all of which I showed the manager before) and demanded my buggy parts back.

She AGAIN refused! Seeing no other option, I calmly walked to the back of the store, picked up my buggy parts myself and started to walk out!

The manager started yelling WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!

I calmly said "I'm just leaving with my buggy parts."

IF YOU WALK OUT OF THAT DOOR, I'M CALLING THE POLICE!!!

"Thats fine, I'll be waiting outside, with my buggy, photos, receipts, and all the compatible parts. And you can show them??????"

The police showed up. I showed all my paperwork. They agreed that it was MORE than adequate proof of ownership. They asked the manager if she had any contradictory paperwork such as a sales receipt, or if I owed any money to the shop? She admitted that she had none, and that she no documentation WHATSOEVER that those pieces should have even been in there at all!!

Needless to say, I got my buggy parts back. But I do have one less place that I will EVER bring my business to again!!!!

(And to the kite shop owners, if you're reading this

Now I don't know if you were just really pissed at (my friend), or you were trying to use me to find him, or you were just trying to score some free buggy parts?!? Regardless, that's a pretty piss-poor way to run a business, and (for the manager) a pretty stupid way of introducing yourself to a community!! Going out your way to alienate and piss off the local kiters!! WAY TO GO!!! You just converted yet another former customer to online shopping!!

By the way. In case you don't know me, I'm the one, during the summer, thats always flying my powerkites (the ones I used to buy from you) right by the "turnaround" in front of ALL the tourists, and USED TO RECOMMEND YOUR STORE to interested folks, as a good place to get set up with starter kite! But you know what?? I have a whole NEW STORY to tell them NOW!!! (hint... your reading it)

I even got a new t-shirt that a shop in town made me for FREE!! (Guess I'm not the only one you've managed to piss off) I'm wearing it EVERY NIGHT at work! (Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you) I play music at the big dance club just down the street.

Now I haven't named names, but I live in SEASIDE, OREGON and they're the only kite shop in town! I'll leave it to you to figure out who this is!!

p.s. By the way, I need some new MBS hubs for my board. What's a cheap place online? I was going to buy them at the local kite shop, but....... .......No really!!! I do them.

Wow... thats crazy. I've been to the store you are talking about, about 6 months ago. Really good people there, or so it seemed. Sorry to hear about your bad experience. Guess I will not be going back to that store next time I am in Seaside...

bucky
FYI did a search and only found three listings re: this current thread.
no biggie, i'm interested in a 'jumping' buggy.

I've been to the one in Newport before. Nice place. Really nice people. You're lucky.

That's what we used to have here as well. New people bought it about a year and a half ago. They also own one in Longbeach, Washington. At first, it wasn't bad. Still a lot of familiar faces. then a few months ago, this new manager comes in (who incidentally, lives in Washington, and knows none of the local kiters) - everyone else either quits or is fired - and well.... it starts sucking!

A friend of mine yesterday related a story to me. He had gone into the shop about a month ago looking for a new bar to convert his 4 line handle setup to a "x crossover" bar setup (easier on his wrists). He asked the manager about which particular bar would be good for that.

She looks at him and snydly says "Well if don't already know, I guess you have no business buying one. !?!?!?!?

Needless to say, he left and vowed never to return.

He also told me several other recent equally shocking stories about some of his friend's recent experiences with the shop (I won't quote them - third hand information's too vague - But apparently, I'm not alone in my recent problems) In fact, of everyone I've talked to around town and in the shops on Broadway (kiters and non kiters) has described her as "caustic", "arrogant", "rude"

I'm not sure if her behavior in condoned by the owners (I can't imagine why it would be) Maybe she's related to the owners? Maybe they've got some other agenda? Maybe she's just really pissed that her bosses sent her to work in Seaside? Who knows?!? Regardless - she seems to have very little people-skills, zero regard our kiting community, and little if any kiting knowledge beyond stunts and single liners (what their Longbeach shop almost exclusively sells.)

Luckily, Cleanline Surfshop in town sells mountainboards and parts for them. A VERY cool shop, and some of most helpful, nice people you'll ever meet! I prefer to buy local, so I'll get my hubs and board parts from them. Jon Ellis is also a great local supplier for buggies, parts, and kites! Super helpful, friendly, knowledgable, and respectful (even despite the fact that I don't own a Libre....yet, and only have 2 older Jojo's....so far) So you see, life is still good in Seaside for kiters.

I know Ellis is a member here, so.... to you! And I'm sure at least one of the guys at Cleanline comes on here too, so.... to you guys as well!

"OBLIVIOUS TO IT ALL KITES" or how about "ABOVE THE LAW KITES" (I'm not which I like better - still thinking... any suggestions? I'll put it on a T shirt and post it!) Well anyway :moon: :P

BUMP


I am shocked that You can be aware that this thread is at well over 1,000 hits and growing daily and you aren't concerned enough to hit an internet Cafe on your vacation. :shocked2:

That alone tells me a lot about how interested you are in our business.

The problems with Bucky are only one issue.

The issue that concerns ALL of us is that you will continue selling powerkite gear to the power kite community and yet won't have the passion and up to date knowledge to further the sport . Turning our people away rather than admitting you don't have the answers he needs.

We need to know that when people see us out on the beach and want to buy a complete set up RIGHT NOW that we can tell them to just head in to AIAK up there on Broadway and they will set you up! Nice folks that won't do you wrong .
Do you not see how we are your FRONT LINE down there on the beach?

I hope this post ends up with 3,000 hits and is the 1st thing that comes up when they Google your store !

With what I'm finding I would hope the the Sunset crew are directing people to other local sources for those items. I know I would make sure the tourists knew that online here we think Above You All Kites might be a more accurate choice of names. I would inform them that there are other sources in town for everything from the one liners to the big ticket items.

BUMP

Admin note: please do not bump threads. PKF

Hey Bucky,

Man I am sorry I truly am. I was having a bad day and was not myself. I had some personal issues going on and they got in the way of business. Let me take you out for a bite to eat and lets talk about our next buggy session :wee:

I was trying to stay out of this but I couldn't resist. I was thinking maybe if I gave you a apology for something I had nothing to do with you might bring your business down to Cali.

Quote:

Originally posted by DAKITEZ might bring your business down to Cali.

I sure hope it never comes to THAT!!!.... :P

Sorry, I couldn't resist either..;-)

CYA in a few days.

if you go to seaside, or sunset, call me if you've got the number. I bounce around a ton, from Woodland - Sunset - Beaverton looking for 'opportunity/biz'. It's going well so far, and I see buggies/sailors at the beach quite a bit. I've got stuff and I know a guy with a ton of libre gear for sale.

Lets hook up, u2 bucky.

Hey DAKITES,

No plans on moving to Cali just yet (I still like my beaches uncrowded and 100% public accessible), but thank you nevertheless, for your ulteriorly motivated, yet brilliantly worded apology.

And because of that, I FORGIVE YOU!!!!!

Double thumbs up for DAKITEZ

HEAR YE! HEAR YE! DAKITEZ AND I ARE NOW FRIENDS......NAY.......BROTHERS ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!

Oh and next time I'm visiting Cali, I need to find your shop. I'll just walk in and say "Hi! I'm Bucky! I just wanted you to know that everything is OK between us now!........................Appparently you guys owe me lunch."


Hey Eli,

Hope you're feeling better. If you're in town anytime soon, drop by Girtle's to say "Hi."

I miss you, man :sniff:

Oh and just in case you're interested, did you know that just east of Woodland, near Chelatchie Prairie, is the site of Bungee Masters own bungee jumping bridge - the highest bridge bungee jump in North America! Over a 200 ft freefall!! I thought an adrenalin junkie like you might find that interesting.

Maybe if your bored one day........ :wee:

Hello aboveitallkites:

Hello, and welcome back! Before I say what I came here to say, I would like to clarify a few things:

First; I you are mistaken in your notion that I provided no documentation to your employee or the police. I showed them my Paypal receipts for that EXACT type of buggy, dated photos of that exact buggy, WITH those EXACT modifications, the EXACT missing pieces to make it a complete buggy, some of the identical modified parts that I had previously removed, etc, etc, etc.... The problem wasn't that I failed to provide adequate proof to your employee. No. The problem was that your employee refused to consider any proof that I did provide, and refused me even the simple courtesy of providing a phone number to help resolve the situation. I have not deceived anyone, and there is nothing I need to "fess up" about. In fact to prove it, I'll take photos of everything, and post it later today, lest anyone think I was being less than truthful. That way, we can be done with speculation and "he said" "she said" nonsense.

Second; The fact that they were placed in police custody temporarily (a few days) is simply a formality, to give any opposing party the opportunity to provide evidence to contradict my claim, nothing more It in no way, diminishes the legitimacy of my claim, or the overwhelming evidence that I provided. It says something when the police arrive at a "robbery in progress", find the person responsible, shake his hand, say "come and pickup the parts in a couple of days." No handcuffs.... No arrest.... No detainment.... If there was even the slightest doubt in their minds...

And just for clarity, I respond on this site because I find it interesting, informative, and amusing... I'm at home alone during the day... the weather's crappy... I'm bored.... and I don't have cable. It occupies only a small portion of my thoughts. Ranking somewhere between "planning next summers garage sale" and "eventually changing the air filter in the furnace." It however, is NOT because I JUST CAN"T SEEM TO GET OVER THIS THING!!!........................... I'm a little more mentally stable that that........ a little. :wink:

And YES Jon, you are correct. It would have been much less hassle if I had just contacted Eli. Unfortunately, don't have his number. My method for contacting him, had always been through the kite shop! Who's employee, as you might have read earlier, was not exactly eager to provide me with ANY information as to his whereabouts. I did what I did only because the "obvious" and "hassle free" option was made exceedingly difficult for me.



That being said... I want to thank ABOVE IT ALL KITES for having the intergity and moxy to admit that they made some mistakes. I agree with "BeemerBob": That apology sounded sincere and heartfelt.

This kind of response definately sheds new light on ABOVE IT ALL KITES for me..... Because frankly, I didn't expect it.... I don't mean that in a negative way, though... What I'm trying to say is that there was quite a bit of negativity and anger expressed by me and others on this forum towards them.... To come on here after all that, and essentially say "WE ADMIT WE WERE WRONG and WERE SORRY"....Well, that takes guts. I honestly don't know many business owners that would actually do that. "Deny" or "Say Nothing" tends to be the order of the day. Like I said before, "Instant respect."

I'm sorry to hear that your employee has been so problematic for you. She seem to have caused quite a bit of hard feelings amongst your customers. It's one thing to have little or no knowledge of the products you sell (particularly ones that can cause serious harm if used improperly), but to be caustic and rude to those customers as well.... I certainly hope that she can get with the program before she causes even more damage. In her short time here, her attitude has unfortunately garnered her (and by proxy, Above It All Kites) a bit of a soured reputation in Seaside (i.e. "Loop's" comment above).

In fact, as a gesture of goodwill, I would be more than happy to have her meet me at the turnaround a few times on nice flying days this spring or summer, let her try it out a few kites, give her a few pointers.... Who knows, maybe she'll become an avid powerkiter? At the very least, she'll get some information, some first hand knowledge of the sport, a better understanding of the excitement and dangers involved, all of which will make her a better salesperson. As a bonus, its a great mood enhancer (I know I always feel pretty happy after a session), which can't hurt...........And YES, I am serious.... I don't hold grudges.

Next time I'm out on Broadway, I'll drop by (if thats OK), and we can chat, do lunch at Sam's (Order whatever you want. Its OK, "DAKITEZ" is buying ) or whatever. Put the past behind us

And YES IT"S OVER YAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. Friday is supposed to be 17 to 23 knts west wind AND only 20% chance of rain (for you non-Oregonians, thats practically a drought,) So "Loop", "Sunset Jim", Eli, Jon, Dave from Above It All Kites, "Bladerunner", "Scudley", "vwbrian", and anyone else who can make it: Sunset Beach!!!!!! I be there most of the morning and afternoon. I've got some new kites to try and I'm sooooooo ready for winter to be over!

Ahhh, I love it when things come together.

Now if Mother Nature would be so kind, we can all go out and have a group fly!

Quote:

Originally posted by USA_Eli_A AVOID 'THEM'. Kent is much more of a 'business man' and 'friend' not too mention he offers service that can't be beat. He offers everything under the sun, and has a Yakuza GT for a Demo. If you're heading to the coast, call or email me, OR order your stuff from AWOC before you come to the coast that way you won't need to go in 'THERE'. Bucky, lets go ride, we have much more to do, and if you ever need a witness, I'm on your side, as I've been burned by them too!

I would like to make a complaint about AWOC. After Kent hooked me up big time and me ordering my MTB. I still havent been able to ride it!!!! Its all his fault

Just kiddin Kent haha

As for the OP. Im sorry bud. I havent been up here in a long time and to come on here and see how much things have changed for the worse is pretty saddening to say the least.

I hope this all gets resolved.

Quote:

Originally posted by _____ Quote: Originally posted by USA_Eli_A AVOID 'THEM'. Kent is much more of a 'business man' and 'friend' not too mention he offers service that can't be beat. He offers everything under the sun, and has a Yakuza GT for a Demo. If you're heading to the coast, call or email me, OR order your stuff from AWOC before you come to the coast that way you won't need to go in 'THERE'. Bucky, lets go ride, we have much more to do, and if you ever need a witness, I'm on your side, as I've been burned by them too! I would like to make a complaint about AWOC. After Kent hooked me up big time and me ordering my MTB. I still havent been able to ride it!!!! Its all his fault Just kiddin Kent haha As for the OP. Im sorry bud. I havent been up here in a long time and to come on here and see how much things have changed for the worse is pretty saddening to say the least. I hope this all gets resolved.

Wow, had me worried there for a minute! hahaha

Thanks for the kind words Eli, it was great to see you again at NABX. We definitely need to hook up and ride more often than just once a year! Already looking forward to NABX '10

I don't think anyone was hurt , sounds like the fire started small but there was some panic and then it got out of control .they are already getting things together to reopen at a different location.we should band together and give some support .everyone buy a single line kite and then find a youngster who would enjoy it and pass it on to them .AOXOMOXOA p.s. the broken spine of mine is well on its way to mending and i can now take a few steps but the wife/doc. has said no kiting for at least 4 monthsand it has been only 3 so far .i want to kite my wheel chair with my new 4m kite :tumble:

see you on the beach with the wind in your hair Jim