How-to-get someone to send you something you've paid for?

[greenfordranger]

So I ordered a kilt, fly plaid & hose flash from a kilt maker and paid in full by paypal on May 21st 2010. The kilt & fly plaid arrived by my deadline of roughly 1 1/4 months time from the date I placed the order. The receipt showed that the order was incomplete & flashes would be sent seperately. I've made several attempts by phone & other social media to get a response but have come up short at every attempt. I've been told anything from, they've been sent, I'm sending them today & more than once that they're on order from Scotland. These people are very friendly to speak to but fall short when it comes to responding to order inquiries. I've thought about sacrificing some of the material from the fly plaid to make my own flashes but soon came to my senses. Any ideas on how to go about getting the flashes I paid for? This kilt maker is a sponsor on X Marks the Scot & hopefully will see this & we can resolve the issue. I'll not name names unless asked. If this was posted in the wrong area I apologize, I'm a newbie

[artificer]

Assuming that the undelivered pieces are well outside the time promised to you, you might wish to send them one more email, citing the number of times you've contacted them, and their response each time. Then add that this is their last chance to square things with you before you:

a) reverse charges for the un-delivered item on your credit card
b) let the web know of this problem, and name names.

It is odd that the kilt and plaid would be made but they couldn't supply the flashes.

Flashes are a pretty small thing to get hung on, but getting the run-around is never justifiable in customer service.

[greenfordranger]

I agree. Thanks for your advice!

[Riverkilt]

I'm sorry, but to me one of the purposes of this board is to share both the good and the not-so-good shopping experiences - regardless of where the vendor advertises.

My guess is you ordered from a middleman rather than a kiltmaker. Any kiltmaker could easily send the flashes. A middleman, on the other hand, might have a very difficult time getting a faceless kiltmaker they contracted with to supply the flashes - particularly if there was an error and the faceless kiltmaker feels they weren't paid to make them.

It'll be interesting to see how this situation evolves.

[greenfordranger]

I was told that the material was being send from Scotland & that they would have my items made, yes made and to me in the 1 1/4 month deadline when I ordered them on May 21st. I thought it strange myself that if she made the kilt, that it certainly would've been easy to make the flashes. I've ordered a kilt & flashes from this maker before & they arrived together. They make mention that they make the kilts, maybe it is a lie. I can only go off of what I'm told. The order was paid through paypal so I'm not sure if the $35 for flashes is worth the hassel. I would just like to get what I paid for, that's all. I was hoping they would maybe see this & want to resolve the issue.

[MacBean]

Sometimes it's feast, and sometimes it's famine for the kilt makers. I'd guess that Wedding season and Highland Games seasons tend to be busy. To ensure that they can meet deadlines, it is common for kilt makers to sub-contract to other kilt-makers, often in Scotland. And, as with all sub-contracts, occasionally something goes awry. Forgetting the flashes is a likely omission.

I'd skip e-mail, and work only over the phone. Much easier to sort things out and come to a mutual understanding. But perhaps you are already doing that.

[greenfordranger]

Thanks Mark. I've made probably a half dozen calls and am always greeted friendly over the phone. As I said before I've been told that they were being sent that day, they were already sent & several times that they were on order from Scotland. Not much else I can do about it. I'm guessing a purchase of some Murray flashes will be in the near future from another maker because these other people just don't seem to be able to send the ones I've paid for. I'm not mad, I'll just never order from these people again. When asked about kiltmakers or kilt suppliers, (which ever it is) these people will for sure get a bad mark from me.

[Kilted in Maine]

The order was paid through paypal so I'm not sure if the $35 for flashes is worth the hassel. I would just like to get what I paid for, that's all. I was hoping they would maybe see this & want to resolve the issue.

Wow, $35 for flashes???

I guess should count myself lucky for always receiving free flashes when I purchased my kilts - Especially since I have converted to garter ties!

[greenfordranger]

Normally $45 without kilt order, they knocked off $10 if you ordered a kilt to go w/your flashes. In my case they also knocked the flashes off.

[HeathBar]

After looking I think I might know who you are doing business with. I would probably ask if you could get two pairs of solid flashes instead of the tartan ones. Or maybe a pair of flashes and a pair of hose.