Problem with a retailer on here.

[Wolfhawk]

I spoke with the Mod Squad about what I am about to post as I wanted to make sure I would do this correctly. So, here goes my tale.....


In the May time frame I was intrigued by the kilt hoses that our Mod Squad member, McMurdo, was wearing in one of his pictures. I contacted McMurdo and asked him to provide me with the name of the person who provided him the kilt hoses. I was told that the kilt hose was purchased from a company called Canadian Casual Kilts. The owner, Peter, who goes by MacHummel on here, was contacted about inquiring as to the pricing for these kilt hose. He quoted me a price which was higher than I was expecting so I decided to only purchase one set instead of the two I had planned on. I asked for a total and he sent me the total on the 22nd of May. I Paypalled him the funds and was excited about getting my kilt hoses.

On the 22nd of May ( the same day we had finalized the order and I had Paypalled the funds) I was informed at 12:47PM that they were on the way.

On 1st of June, I had not received the package. I messaged that I had not received it and requested the tracking number be sent to me the following day. Acknowledgement of this request and info was received.

On 3rd of June, a message was sent, again, requesting the tracking number and, again, it was acknowledged and the reason the info was not sent out sooner was that he had been busy running a camp for the last few nights. Later on (8:02pm), I received a message that the package was sent out and that it would take 10 days to get to me. Realize that at this time it has been 12 days (9 business days counting the day I received notice of shipment and that day present). Still no tracking number given to me.

On 5th of June, a message was sent that the package was found to be being held by Canada Post and I received a tracking number at 6:07am.

On 17th of June (12 days from the last message so that the 10 days could go by), I sent a new message indicating that I had not received the package. Owner indicated he would look into it. Later on (3:40pm) I received a new massage indicating that Canada Post would not do anything till the next day. I was to contact the owner again the next day if the package had still not arrived. I had started my own checking into this problem from my end using the tracking number. They indicated to me that the package had been sent out on the 4th of June instead of the originally 22nd of May.

On 18th of June I indicated that the mailman had come and gone and there were no more delivery trucks coming to my county by this time (5:55pm). Owner acknowledged this and was going to start a trace for the package. The trace was started the next day (19th of June and was going to take 3 days).

On 24th of June, I received a message indicating that Canada Post and the owner had come to the conclusion that the package was truly lost and a replacement was to be shipped out via Purolator.

On the 30th of June, I sent a message at 1:54pm asking the location of my package and/or info.

On 1st of July, the owner replied that he had been away for a few days and he would get me the tracking number when he got back home. Also, indicated that the problem maybe because of Canada Day.

On 6th of July, (past Canada Day and 4th of July) I again requested a status and tracking number, as I had yet to receive a new tracking number.

On 7th of July, I was informed that the owner had left them with a friend to have them mailed out while he was on vacation from home. The owner said he would mail them out today (7th).

On 8th of July, I was informed of the newest tracking number with Purolator.

On 14th of July, my order I had placed on 22nd of May and paid for, arrived.

What would I had expected? Once the initial shipment was made, I would have gotten a tracking number and had it sent to the customer, especially, US customer due to having to cross a border. I would have informed the estimated day of arrival and ask the customer contact me if there was any problems. Once the day came and went as to when the package should have arrived, I would have inquired as to its status. Once determined that the package might have been lost, I would have arranged a second package in case it is needed and make arrangements to have it shipped a faster and more secure method. Once the package was declared lost, I would have shipped the replacement in a manner limiting the amount of time that the customer might have to wait for this new package.

Therefore, shipped initially on 22nd of May, determined possible lost and started trace 5th of June, reshipped by different shipper on 11th of June using a overnight or 2nd day manner. New package should arrive on 18th of June the latest; 18 business days earlier than what happened and that is with buffer days added in from weekends and all.

[MacHummel]

I understand Wolfhawk's frustration I made some huge mistake with him and his order from letting Canada post touch and lose the package to allowing a friend of mine to send the parcel out (which he didn't do) when I went away on vacation I have apologized for all of this and even tried to send some stuff to you which didn't make it in the box (my fault rushing get your order) then to to be told don't bother. In the end I am sorry I now have an account with the courier this way these things wont happen again, I have a lot to say but I don't want to get into fight.

[SteveB]

I make purchases from a few businesses in Canada. There are times that a package can make it from Victoria, B.C. to me in Boston, MA in five days via Canada Post, US Customs and the USPS. These are rare. The most common is for an order to be dispatched from a nearby location in Southern Ontario to Boston, MA to take anywhere from twelve days to thirty-six days. I do not blame any of these on the company doing the shipping. I had a small package of reeds for my bagpipes leave St Catharines, go to the sort facility in Kitchener, and leave Canada in two days. The same package shows up at the USPS sort facility twenty-two days later. Then several more transfers before delivery in Boston. The shipper did run a trace to find the package had sat around in a sort bin at US Customs for most of that time. Whether the international shipment is from Scotland by the Royal Mail or from Canada by way of Canada Post, most of the slow down is right here in the good ol' U.S.A.

I am a better Jones person for it.

[Wolfhawk]

Ah, but knowing that there will be possible problems, does that lessen the need to be on top of the possible problem?

Once the problem has come up and bit you in the hindend once, does that remove the need to make sure that the item will get to the customer?

I think you are missing the problem here. I am not upset with the Canada post/other shipping problem. I am upset with the desire to have customer and not doing the most you can for accomplishing this. I wanted to get more kilt hose. I wanted to have a reliable source for product. I wanted to get what I paid for and realize that no matter what is happening to the package, the dealer is worried about it as I was.

Once a retailer left it with a friend to have them ship it out, this really when it became a problem. I am not trusting of any of my friends to help me with my business unless they are financially involved. It can kill a friendship and it can kill a customer relationship.

Even in your example, 22 days would have been better than the almost nine weeks. I understand that there is this great divide that separates us, there fore it truly involves a higher diligence to make sure an item gets to the customer.

I understand that the retailer has no control over the shipping. I understand that the retailer has no control over the Customs. I understand that the retailer has not control over the migration or speed bumps along the route once it is out of the retailers hands.

I have problem with the product WHILE it was in the retailers hands or prior to the retailer shipping it.


And I have a problem with once there was a problem in shipping not taking it up a notch to increase the possible shipping method, even if it did not really do anything to increase the speed. That the retailer tried to make a difference once there was a problem.

I make purchases from a few businesses in Canada. There are times that a package can make it from Victoria, B.C. to me in Boston, MA in five days via Canada Post, US Customs and the USPS. These are rare. The most common is for an order to be dispatched from a nearby location in Southern Ontario to Boston, MA to take anywhere from twelve days to thirty-six days. I do not blame any of these on the company doing the shipping. I had a small package of reeds for my bagpipes leave St Catharines, go to the sort facility in Kitchener, and leave Canada in two days. The same package shows up at the USPS sort facility twenty-two days later. Then several more transfers before delivery in Boston. The shipper did run a trace to find the package had sat around in a sort bin at US Customs for most of that time. Whether the international shipment is from Scotland by the Royal Mail or from Canada by way of Canada Post, most of the slow down is right here in the good ol' U.S.A.

I am a better Jones person for it.

[ChubRock]

The kilt gods are confused by Canada Post, their customs and tracking issues. I can only guess that after all is said and done here with package replacement and courier hassles money has been lost in this transaction. Good communication is something we can all be better about. My two cents. Pictures of the hose please :-)

[Clan McKinnon]

The thing to remember is that we are all human and sometimes there are transactions that are going to go screwy over and over to the same person and that is how it goes. We all make mistakes and it seems that sometimes those mistakes all add up on one transaction and just compound. It is what it is and then move forward.

[Wolfhawk]

Remarks Removed.

I should just move on and forget this ever happened.

[bricelythgoe]

Sorry about the problems there Hawk. Hope everything works out better for you.

Brice

[Rex_Tremende]

I should just move on and forget this ever happened.

My ex was an axe grinder, which made him a rather unhappy person. I have found that when things have gone badly like that in my life, letting go of all hope of a better or different past is a good way to get on with the rest of it. It doesn't require forgetting the past, but having been reconciled with it, one can move on - perhaps a little wiser, but certainly less encumbered.

Regards,
Rex.

[davidlpope]

I have to second Rex's sentiments here. Sometimes wisdom and experience is hard-bought, but residual anger just makes one unpleasant to be around. You had a bad personal experience with a retailer of Highland Dress products, no one was maimed or killed...

If I do not receive the sort of service that I consider acceptable when dealing with a business I take my custom elsewhere. This works well for me.

I recommend Matt Newsome at the Scottish Tartans Museum. He has always exceeded expectations and is able to source custom items when needed.

Cordially,
David