Gentleman's Best Inquiry

[global_dev]

i understand Ray is out and someone is helping out in his store...I hope his health is returning and as such I have been pretty patient...

Has anyone else neither received their refunds (shipping & 30%) nor products or a combination of that from the Halloween sale?

I was pretty pleasant & patient with only an email and vm here and there, maybe 2 of each... and Ray did respond to my first email and VM with a positive slant back at end of November after waiting patiently, but communication from his store ended at that day...

am i alone in still awaiting both actions? anyone have an update on his health?

Since his website says someone is manning the store, i gave a call 2x this week to no avail...

thanks for any info

 

[Austin]

Look here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=180687

 

[global_dev]

thanks, Austin, that's why i have been very very patient, calling or emailing and leaving status inquiry messages in a very gentlemanly, civilized manner.

if it had a small $ order, i would be a bit more patient, and while it isn't a princely sum of riches either, it's enough to make me sit up and notice that i haven't received a refund nor product yet.

maybe this is something where they should have refunded my money and then rebilled at the sale rate when they shipped it out..

perhaps i just don't know what the extent of what the "for walk-in" person is doing... sounds like more than just sitting at the counter...

i filed an inquiry via my cc company a couple of days ago in case this goes unresolved. thankfully i did use AMEX as the source and not paypal direct so I have in my eyes better recourse...

However, in a vain attempt to not make me look like a heartless SOB, i have kept a bit quiet, but at this point i might just like my money back. if GB's was a great as everyone says then I am sure he would make it right for me in the future if possible.

BTW I haven't PM'd, via B&B, Ray at all. only official GB email and phone vm's...

 

[michiganlover]

perhaps i just don't know what the extent of what the "for walk-in" person is doing... sounds like more than just sitting at the counter...

It was my impression reading through the other thread, that it was Ray himself staffing the store (against his doctor's wishes):

He’s been told to rest but Ray insists on getting to the store for a couple hours a day which doesn’t make me very happy but he’s an extremely stubborn man.

As many of you know, Ray has been very ill, in and out of the hospital a number of times in the past two months. If you were to ask him he’d say is was doing fine but to be honest he is struggling.

For a man who is passionate about shaving, and a nearly daily contributor to this board, he must be gravely ill to not be involved here at all. Cut him some slack, he could be on his deathbed for all we know.

 

[Tha Baron]

I experienced the same issue later into last month. After not hearing back from a few early emails and reading the various updates/threads/medical issues, I realized any inquiry into the store would be a distraction. Opened a dispute through PayPal to get my money back as I thought this would be least invasive way to go about it. As one might expect, he apparently has other things to worry about right now and thought I would just let him be.

Either way, I hope it all works out for everybody involved - including Ray and GB.

 

[global_dev]

. Cut him some slack, he could be on his deathbed for all we know.

***...(and that's my gentlemanly response) if i had been anything other than "civil" or gentlemanly" i could hear what you are saying... if you hadn't noticed this ain't a new formulation williams thread and for all I know, someone IS working on older orders while Ray recovers... best wishes to him

as a friend, who i have never met, spoken to, ordered from before, i have cut him a great deal of slack... If anyone thinks they can accuse of me of being anything but super patient, you are way out of line ... I didn't even feel right initiating the cc inquiry knowing he is ill, but at the end of the day he is a vendor who took my money for an order.

however, he is not really a personal friend of mine and while i do feel bad for his health concerns and wish for speedy recovery...

as a vendor with some type of support staff, even if it's one person .. I currently have nothing to show for my order, not even a recent communication... an order which i consider considerable, except it's not even usable for tax purposes even though it is starting to look a lot like a charitable donation...

My OP was a feeler since it was obvious the mods earlier were trying to keep this special situation in check and I am sure several may still feel uncomfortable and a bit apprehensive about bringing up the issue of outstanding orders.

I however was concerned that I was misunderstanding the GB's website and was supposed to be (or maybe not depending on which order no. I was) expecting product by Wednesday or a response from my recently left vm's and emails after Wednesday, yet none of that happened.

And I do understand the peculiarity of the situation... so while I describe my situation which happens to relate to an ill proprietor with a support person, you feel the need to scold me as I described in an earlier post..
Thanks!!! much appreciated.

 

[global_dev]

I experienced the same issue later into last month. After not hearing back from a few early emails and reading the various updates/threads/medical issues, I realized any inquiry into the store would be a distraction. Opened a dispute through PayPal to get my money back as I thought this would be least invasive way to go about it. As one might expect, he apparently has other things to worry about right now and thought I would just let him be.

Either way, I hope it all works out for everybody involved - including Ray and GB.

if anyone thinks a bunch of charge backs isn't a distraction to a small business, especially someone with the stubborn & make-right traits as I have heard Ray described as & who is also ill, i imagine that just ain't the case.

 

[Tha Baron]

if anyone thinks a bunch of charge backs isn't a distraction to a small business, especially someone with the stubborn & make-right traits as I have heard Ray described as & who is also ill, i imagine that just ain't the case.

Sure thing, Bro. You apparently have this all figured out.

 

[Greybeard]

There's no need for anyone to get testy.
I believe it's Ray's wife Renee who is checking on the store and her priorities may get understandably and rightly sidetracked.
You're the only one that can make the decision whether to go ahead with a chargeback procedure or wait for your order based on your own circumstances and feelings. Soliciting other opinions isn't going to help make the choice easier, as you've seen.

 

[global_dev]

Sure thing, Bro. You apparently have this all figured out.

wow.. exactly what i hoped wouldn't happen.

"i imagine that just ain't the case." Imagine... NOT A STATEMENT OF FACT.. A THOUGHT FROM MY IMAGINATION, SOMETHING I CONCEIVED WHILE THINKING OF THE SITUATION..

What I have figured out is that everyone feels said for Ray, including me.

AMEX told me i was likely waiting until mid Feb '11 until resolution.. Awesome!!

Thanks everyone for just giving me an update on their recent interaction with GB in light of whats going on, which I was hoping was positive rather than turning my inquiry thread sour.

 

[Loner16]

It took me a while to get my order from the Halloween sale.

I understood Ray was ill, but he still got it out. He gave me a personal phone call to tell me that his son had taken the order to the Post Office...

You can question the sincerity and trustfulness of many people and businesses, but believe this... Ray will get it done, or Ray will make it right!

 

[JeffM]

I ordered a balsa strop from Ray on Dec 6-about the day he closed his site. I used e-mail as I was unaware of his condition and thought maybe it was just a seasonal thing. I received the strop and paste 2 days later after he went out of his way to answer a couple of my questions. Hope it works out well for all and I enjoy reading your log-I should be receiving my first straight any day.

 

[CaptainK]

Cut him some slack

I think everybody is aware of the potential gravity of the situation, and my thoughts and prayers are with Ray, Renee and family for a speedy recovery.

But, I think global_dev's original inquiry was simply to find out if anybody else still had outstanding issues. I seem to recall reading in another thread that all orders posted before a certain date had been handled. I think original his inquiry was polite, and not cold, especially since he noticeably approached the subject with such caution.

Just my two cents.

 

[laconic1]

I had also placed an order during the Halloween sale which I have not received to date. I have also been exceedingly patient as I am trying to cut Ray as much slack as possible considering the nature of the circumstances. I have not emailed the shop yet, since I wanted to give a couple extra days since shipping from anywhere in the northeast to Colorado always seems to take forever, but that will be my next step. I did not file a paypal dispute in an effort to eliminate any extra hassle for Ray to deal with, and the window for filing a dispute has now closed.

I have to say it is a bit annoying whenever anybody brings this up that they are immediately castigated for being heartless and insensitive to Ray's situation. That there are quite a few of us in this boat and yet there has been almost no discussion on the topic I think shows the level of restraint and respect the membership here have given the situation. If this was an ebay transaction with a random ebayer every one of us would have long ago filed a paypal dispute and left negative feedback. If a new vendor here had this problem fulfilling so many orders they most likely would have been added to the banned vendors list. I think that there has been no lack of respect towards Ray from anyone here.

I certainly wish well for Ray and hope he recovers. But the GB website at one point had said that all orders prior to November 6 had been shipped, and more recently the thread in the vendors corner stated that all back orders have been shipped out and should have been received by this past Wednesday. Clearly that is not the case, and the statements that all orders have shipped when they obviously have not, is causing more frustration than just the 47 days that have elapsed since the order. I will continue to wait patiently though, as I really have no other recourse at this point.

 

[Voomie]

If this was an ebay transaction with a random ebayer every one of us would have long ago filed a paypal dispute and left negative feedback.

+1

I do not know Ray but people have been resersved. I know he is ill but there is business matters that need tended too. When I had an issue on ebay with a buyer on ebay that I told him wasnt my fault, he responded in a rude manner opened a dispute and left negative feed back because I didnt respond to him over a holiday weekend. Just because the op put a polite inquiry if anyone else had a similar problem, does not make him this greedy, heartless evil person. He is handling this as a gentleman should.

 

[texquill]

This probably doesn't bear any more discussion. The PayPal recourse period for filing a dispute regarding the Halloween sale expired on December 16.

I, too have an open prepaid order and haven't had emails or phone messages returned. It's obvious that Ray is not in good enough health at present to be able to attend to business in the manner he'd like to. Further venting by me or anyone else who has an unresolved transaction isn't going to help Ray get back to the store any faster!

EDIT NOON SATURDAY DECEMBER 18: Ray called. He's taking care of the problem backlog (including mine), he's feeling well enough to spend a couple of hours a day in the shop, and he's kicking butt and taking names at the local Post Office regarding the 15 or so orders that went astray. Life is getting back to normal.

 

[global_dev]

This probably doesn't bear any more discussion. The PayPal recourse period for filing a dispute regarding the Halloween sale expired on December 16.

I, too have an open prepaid order and haven't had emails or phone messages returned. It's obvious that Ray is not in good enough health at present to be able to attend to business in the manner he'd like to. Further venting by me or anyone else who has an unresolved transaction isn't going to help Ray get back to the store any faster!

EDIT NOON SATURDAY DECEMBER 18: Ray called. He's taking care of the problem backlog (including mine), he's feeling well enough to spend a couple of hours a day in the shop, and he's kicking butt and taking names at the local Post Office regarding the 15 or so orders that went astray. Life is getting back to normal.

thanks texquill, thats the kind of info i was looking for..

i wen back to the only voice message that was sent to me from Ray and he states it was sent out back in early nov., but it sounded kind of CYA since I also didn't get any type refund.. i wonder why he hasn't returned a call or email to me.. at least we know he is feeling better.. good for him!

 

[mr. s]

I am in the same boat as the OP. I surely don't blame the original poster for his questions about a vendor he has no experience with. I admire him for the great patience he has shown compared to many others, and I don't feel that his message was out of place. Like everyone I wish Ray a speed recovery for the holidays and hope to hear back from him.

For those of you that have any concern about refunds etc, there were some very understanding mods, including Austin, who have full faith in Ray and offered to personally refund orders. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=174961 (See posts 122 and 123)
That certainly made me feel better about the situation although I don't know the vendor at all.

Happy Holidays.

 

[global_dev]

For those of you that have any concern about refunds etc, there were some very understanding mods, including Austin, who have full faith in Ray and offered to personally refund orders. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=174961 (See posts 122 and 123)
That certainly made me feel better about the situation although I don't know the vendor at all.

Happy Holidays.

i think many of us saw that generous offer... but would be made to even feel more like a heartless SOB if we requested/accepted it... I do understand almost everyone has positive things to say about Ray. just the last few of us with outstanding orders are kinda concerned about their status...

 

[gull]

Sorry OP, I also ordered some stuff, but I got a refund. If I were in your shoes, I would just contact AMEX and get my money back.