Hello All, actually I’m not having the issues with a supporting vendor, a member is having issues with me as a supporting vendor. The member (who will remain nameless) has accused me of false advertising and hassling him around. I’ve only been a supporting vendor for the past 3 weeks now, and want to do my very best to be one of best vendors on this forum. But I don’t have all the answers, so I’m asking your opinion of this particular situation. I don’t believe that I’m in the wrong, but if I am for any reason, I’ll do my best to make good for this person. Below is the only correspondence that took place between us, and they were all in the form of Private Messages.

1st Black Out inquiry from Member:
Subject: Blacked Out Front Lenses? @ 11:44 am
Message: I have the acrylic covers currently but really like your product. How much for new front signal lenses that are BLACK and I mean really black so they look like mine do now but w/o the issue of the tape comming loose? Do you offer a core refund... so that if I mail you my stockers after I get yours and install them I get some money back? I can't let my car sit while I ship mine out to you.

1st Response from Vendor (Me): 12:21 pm
Hello XXXXXX, I do have one untreated set of New OEM front markers left in stock. These would be $125.00 plus $15.00 Shipping via UPS Ground. These front makers are not a good investment for us to buy used. We frequently find fracture cracks that cause them to be untreatable. Then there's the issue of housing brittlement due to the bulbs heat. We've actually had some so brittle that you could push your thumb right through! You would do much better listing them on eBay. They typically sell from $50.00 to $65.00 for the pair. Hell, they're only $75.00 new, so I'm not sure why anybody would pay $65 + shipping for used, but they do. Let me know if you want the remaining set that I have, before somebody else asks for them. We'll make them VERY BLACK for you
Thank you,
Richard

Members Reply: while I was working in the shop on more Black Outs and went out to lunch.
Subject: Blacked Out Front Lenses? @ 1:17 pm
I thought your other tread said they were $100 a set + shipping?

Members Reply: while I was still away from computer: @ 1:19 pm
Subject Changed to: …?
(Below is where he cut & paste from my original thread, as another response.)
Outright purchase of our blacked out light housings "When Available"
TAIL LIGHTS (4) 175.00
THIRD BRAKE (1) 75.00
REAR MARKERS (2) 55.00
FRONT MARKERS (2) 100.00
REVERSE LIGHTS (2) 85.00 total = 490.00

Members Reply: while I was still away from computer: @ 2:15 pm
Subject Changed to: Well?
I like the product, and I'd like to take that set from you, but the post does say $100... so...

My Reply: @ 4:38 pm
Subject: Well?
Hi XXXXXX, the prices you referred to below are for used parts "When Available". I have no used front markers available. Therefore your options are to either send us yours to treat, or buy new to treat. We simply can't offer you new for $100.00 and work 3 hours on the set to earn $25.00. Hopefully you understand. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I was working in the shop on more black outs.
Have a great weekend,
Richard
Outright purchase of our blacked out light housings "When Available"
TAIL LIGHTS (4) 175.00
THIRD BRAKE (1) 75.00
REAR MARKERS (2) 55.00
FRONT MARKERS (2) 100.00
REVERSE LIGHTS (2) 85.00 total = 490.00

Members Reply Next Day: @ 3:14
Subject: Well?
No I dont' understand... your advertised price says nothing about new vs. used it simply says "when available" w/o any distinction. Furthermore, in your first PM you said that you do not "buy" used lenses because of quality concerns; now you're saying that the cheaper lenses are used ones. This does not add up and is false advertising. Your original post on this forum stated a price of $100 w/o any distinction of new vs. used... No thank you, I'll stick with what I currently have... I do not like getting hassled around. You should edit your post if this is how you are going to do business.

End of Correspondence.
My question is simple. Did I say or do anything wrong within these PM’s? Did I do anything that can be construed as “False Advertising”? Did I “Hassle him around? Please poll or state your opinions. The link below is the thread in which he referred to.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...s&forum_id=103
Thank you for helping me to sort this out,
Richard Todd

 

Dont worry about it, but If i were you i would make your pricing list a little more clear, just to rule out confusion and unwanted trouble in the future. Welcome as a supporting vendor

 

Don't worry, there is always one bitch in the pile. Of course there are a lot of piles out there. People will gripe about anything, it sometimes amazes me. It is almost not even safe to own a business anymore. It's rediculous how some business owners are treated. In any event, I would say don't worry about it. This is of course if all of this info you provided is accurate. Personally I would not gripe over $25.00. I think vendors like you should have more of a premium since the stuff is handmade, not the other way around like big guys like Ecklers and MadVet that sell mass produced stuff probably made in China.

 

I certainly don't think you hassled him around, but after reading the original thread, I couldn't tell that you were refering to used lens either. I personally would have accepted your explanation and chalked it up to a miscommunication, but that's just me.

 

Richard, we have never met, but I am convinced that you are as honest as the day is long. Your eBay auctions prior to becoming a forum vendor were smooth as silk, and I was really impressed with your (higher) counter-offer for the purchase of my 3rd brake light core, to be "a bit more fair" for me.

I think that both of you should chalk it up to a simple misunderstanding and move on.

 

I wouldn't worry about it. If you've been in business very long you know there's always someone that wants your product for nothing. You clearly said "when available" and you didn't currently have any. What doesn't he understand about that?

 

Your explanation seems very satisfactory to me. A customer has a couple of options at their disposal. The option this particular customer desires is simply not available. ( Any business selling fifty-cent dollars will soon cease to be a business. ) Best wishes in your new endeavor. This is a good forum and I suspect your sponsorship will prove to be a positive step.

 

 

I think even if he didn't understand you...you did not jerk him around...you even tried to explain it very nicely...Keep doing your best to calmly explain things if someone does not understand and you will get plenty of business. Ignor all *****...and there are plenty of them out there

 

Richard, do sweat it.....we have been talking for a few weeks now about my project and have nothing but good things to say
You have a great product and you an even better person to deal with.!!
PS, my lenses are being shipped UPS to you tomarrow.
Bill

 

Sounds like a misunderstanding that you were not able to clear up. Move on and forget about it. Good luck with your future endeavers here on the forum.

 

 

I personally think you are right on with your responses and you should just chaulk it up as "one of those" !!! You listed the front markers at $100.00 "when available". There aren't any available!!! What part of that doesn't he understand. He should just choose another one of your options.

Best of luck to you!!



Russ...

 

Obviously the individual is one of those folks doesn't understand that businesses are just that and not charities. Let him go else where. You probably got off easy. Just imagine what the e-mails would look like when he got them and "they aren't as black as I thought they should be", etc, etc....

 

Personally Richard,if it were me,and I was starting a relatively new business in a new venue.
I may have done that one set for the 100,and then edited my advertising to "clearly "state the terms,


Now,I may get flack for this,but when I read your original post you did refer to used lights at one point.And in all fairness you sorta contradicted your ad in your e-mail by saying that about some used ones being inferior,and that you don't use them( at least that's what I comprehended you said )

That is really the only area I see any potential conflict in

25 bucks either way should not break the bank

I would also like to interject here, if I may,that I have seen several posts of yours in the past.
And I too believe you are an upstanding individual regardless of this outcome.The mere fact you publicly show concern for your customers and your reputation,the fact that you would make a poll like this,displays your integrity

Your business should do well either way,but I am certain that you did not intentionally deceive or try to decieve or jerk around anyone

pr can be tricky sometimes

Good luck with your venture,you know you have my support

 

 

I think I could have understood the pricing as you advertise...

...and would expect you to sell them as advertised...

it really sounds like you were trying to surcharge $25...

 

That's a good point

 

Hi C5VetteLS1 -

The member should accept your anwer and move on (which I think he did,
right?).

The member could have handled it with a bit more tact, and I can understand him thinking there might be a set of markers available for $100.

However, the member should just understand the situation and likely would not pursue it further.

I'll bet you learned your lesson about advertisement.....

Additionally - I hope them member realizes that this is a very small thing to worry about - for $25 I would have pulled the trigger anyway if I was really after darkened marker lamp housings.....

In the end analysis, it would have probably been best left without the added undo publicity of a member poll.

best regards -

mqqn

 

I like the "straight shooter" approach he took by putting this out in the open. Seems like an open guy. It is brave putting the evidence in the open and letting us (the forum) decide. Props to you for this