Suggestions needed

[fbhjr]

If you remember, about this time last year my wife and I were worried about
some swords that were supposed to be here in October 2013, and didn’t
arrive. After much communication with the people from whom we bought them
and the person who makes them, we got them. We had been promised a 2 month
delivery and got a 6 ½ month delivery.
http://www.fbhjr.livejournal.com/840420.html
http://www.fbhjr.livejournal.com/851271.html

blue_micha is now in a similar position. She bought a sword
from them the year before us and the weld on the hilt broke and fell off
just after we finally got our swords last January.

I wrote to them about it the week after our very late swords arrive and the
maker told me that he’d get it repaired quickly and back to us as soon as
possible.

That was more than 8 months ago.

I’ve tried emails, facebook messages and contacting the reseller.
blue_micha has tried emails, phone calls and facebook messages.

She tried to post on their facebook time line to get a bit more attention,
but they have that filtered so you can’t post unless they approve it.
Guess what? They didn’t approve posting about how terribly late they are.

blue_micha did check on the Better Business Bureau, and there
are other complaints about very bad customer service.

Does anyone have any suggestions for some way to get her sword back,
hopefully repaired?
I’ve run out of things to try.

Comments

[frozendoll.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming that at this point, some legal action is going to have to be taken. Maybe small claims court or something like that where it's easy to file and they'll have to appear in court.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

It might come to that. But that is a high energy solution as they are 375 miles and 5 states away...

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

I forget that 375m isn't close for you. Like my favorite pools and restaurant is that far away. You kinda have plan "dinner at the Pullman" but it's done a few times a year.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

It is very close to where our godkids live, so we do get down there a couple ot times of year.

But, to get there on a day to file court papers certainly means taking time off from the day job to do it. As would the actual court date.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Small claims court had been my idea, too. I wonder if the court papers could be filed online? While the trip would have to be made for the court date itself, maybe just filing against them would be enough to spur them into action on fixing/returning it.

[peterb.livejournal.com]

I forget that 375m isn't close for you. Like my favorite pools and restaurant is that far away.

Egad.

[pallid-regina.livejournal.com]

Probably that, alas.

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

You can try your own complaint through the bbb that requires the person to reply and resolve it through them. other than that I am afraid it sounds like litigation or just giving up and getting a new sword elsewhere and recommending that no one else buys from them.

So sorry that you are stuck in this retail hell.

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

over here we have an organization who takes serious action in matters like that. It's called 'testaankoop'.
They check products and sites to see if they are worth the money and which are the best options to buy from products. I really have no idea if your country has something like that but it sounds it might be worth to have a look into that.

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

I'd loan out Attack Midget^TM, but unfortunately she's grown most of her adult teeth. And a conscience.

Failing that, have either of you contacted the Attorney General's office?
'Specially during an election year.

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest consumer affairs but I think that's your Better Business Bureau. No idea then - that's so disappointing and frustrating :(

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

Short of legal action, I don't think there is much else that can be done.
In the short term, if Blue wishes to borrow my sword, which is at least similar to hers, I do not mind. I will shoot her a message to that effect.
At least if something happens to mine, they are closer to us.

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

Do you know any attorneys? Sometimes it just takes a nasty looking letter on official letterhead to poke someone into action.