I rather dissapointed in M&F brushes -customer service-wise-

[Ozgun]

It all began about 1,5 years ago. Those times m&f brushes are rather new and there were no custom models like these days. You would sent a mail to Lee Sabini he would give you 3 options and you would choose one. So I had bought the famous 25mm blonde badger. It'd taken quite a while to arrive from England to Turkey. The brush was good, beautiful and well crafted. But soon I discovered that the brush was shedding like crazy. In not a normal way like 15-20 or more hairs a shave. I had contacted with Sabini, told him that shipping was high to resend it to him, but I could take photos or even videos to show him how bad the brush was shedding. He said no need for that and he would send me another one. I told him that I would be happy if he could send another quickly because I was going for military service soon. He told me that he would send me a good one to use in my military days. Everything was good thus far.

But the brush hadn't arrived. Yea its ok, we all know how bad are the shipping services and customs these days, anything could have happened. So I sent him an email asking if he had sent or not yet, no answer. Went to military service had quite bad days for 6 month. Returned, still no brush. I think I have sent him 2 more mails asking if he had shipped anything or not. Even saw something online that someones brush was lost by British post office, also mentioned about that possibly. Nothing, no brush but worse, NO friggin answer.

This is what I hate the most. By being a customer that received a defective product it my first right to get interest and service from the seller. In situations like this by not receiving any friggin answer from the seller, I felt like they may see me as a sneaky one which lies to get free products or refunds. I hate this feeling and sellers like this are responsible for it. He could say me that he had sent a brush but it seems it was lost in the shipping and he couldn't sent another one. Or the brush had returned to him from customs. Or haven't sent yet, or need me to return the defective one to send another, or anything. But nothing, no answer. This "no answer" policy drives me crazy.

Now I'm done with the damn brush. Doesn't care for it, doesn't care for my lost money and not expecting any answer after this long time. I just get angry when I see the brush. This is how not it should be guys.

 

[hedonist222]

I was actually just planning on ordering one or two brushes from Lee Sabini.

Hmm I'm not so sure now.

 

[buyandhold2018]

Unfortunately, I've had very similar communication issues with Mr. Sabini.

 

[Vlad]

I'm very sorry. My experience with M&F has been very good, but so many have stories like yours. It's just not fair.

 

[Marcos1]

Are these that different from the Rooney Heritage series at Vintage Blades? They must be a little differnet im sure but different enough to warrant all the fuss and CS issues like this?

 

[cessnabird]

Sorry to hear of your bad luck with that brush and lack of customer service with Lee. I too, like Vlad, have had nothing but great service from Lee. My M&F brushes have always been top notch quality and his customer service excellent. It seems to be very hit and miss with his communicatiom with people.

Why don't you throw the defective brush in the trash as to not get angry when seeing/using it, and buy another great brush from someone else? Simpson's, Rooney, Shavemac, Thäter, etc all have ready made brushes ready to ship your way, and there is no question regarding customer service dealing with these manufacturers or vendors carrying their brushes. Quit torturing yourself by dwelling on the past, and move forward knowing you got a bad deal and won't make that mistake again. Good luck either way!

 

[Sunflake]

Sad that you have to vote with your money, instead of great customer service= happy return customers.

 

[JeffOlson]

That's too bad about the defective brush. I would try to sell it to recoup even just a small portion of its cost, and then buy an even better brush from a reputable dealer or manufacturer--the sort who can and will make things right if you get another bad brush.

My next brush will probably be another Simpson, not another "custom" job...

 

[Mad Man]

An objective observation? That's 3 members in one thread talking about "hit or miss" communication with a vendor and also commenting on hearing "others" having had similar issues.

I've been coveting an MF Blonde Badger but this has put a big question mark on beginning the process. There's just too many other choices out there.

 

[Sir_Eider]

I was thinking as well in purchasing a M&F, but those communications problems are threatening me a bit... appart from this thread, I have read many complains about these issues in the "unofficial" M&F thread of this forum

You should consider that this man has not webshop, catalogue, support service or anything appart from his personal e-mail (and he's saving a lot of money for not having them BTW) , so always is a risk... In the recent past I had similar problems with Kimson (another overworked, not good managed brush maker) and I wouldn't like to repeat that experience... yes, he has webshop and catalogue but at the end you only still depends if he has time to reply your emails (catalogue is almost a joke, because he always send you a "random" handle&knot size with the excuse of "natural materials differences")

Cheers!

 

[JeffOlson]

Just FYI, my M&F arrived Friday, 31 days after ordering it. It took a little (okay, a lot) longer than expected, but it is a fabulous brush!

 

[heybatter]

I've sent emails to Mr. Sabini and never received any reply at all.

 

[rearviewmirror]

By not having a website or a catalog, this precludes Mr Sabini from being a "vendor" in my opinion. If he were to join B&B, I would consider him more of a 'hobbyist'. Making these brushes isn't his full time gig. I think we've been spoiled by the likes of Rudy Vey, who, while making brushes is not his full time job either, is always quick to respond to emails and has excellent communication.

Personally, i've had nothing but great experiences with Lee. I ask what he has, I pay, 3 weeks later it shows up. I believe he's on the Isle of Man, which is just going to increase the wait time for us outside the Queens reign. But i've not found a better knot in my days.

 

[ChiefBroom]

I have so far had limited but very good experience with Lee. He has acknowledged apologetically that communication with him can be "hit and miss" at times (he used that phrase). Shipping to the US seemed to be a little slower than usual, but that could have been due to the time of year. When my recently arrived, I was very, very pleased with it. Lee appears to require some patience, but his brushes are fantastic, and I believe he is honorable. I sent him a link to this thread along with an explanation that I thought he would wish to know about it. At least that's what I would want.

I hope the OP obtains satisfactory resolution. It was probably good advice, but he shouldn't have to accept throwing his brush in the trash to get it out of his sight so he can move on. At the very least, he deserves a reply and a respectful explanation.

 

[Foyle]

There is no excuse for this level of poor customer service. It seems like Lee goes out of his way to make communication difficult.

 

[ChiefBroom]

There is no excuse for this level of poor customer service. It seems like Lee goes out of his way to make communication difficult.

My impression is that he is sometimes overwhelmed. Communication definitely is not his forte. The OP's experience is tough to reconcile. I hope it turns out that for some reason Lee did not receive Ozgun's emails.

 

[Harry Snider]

My impression is that he is sometimes overwhelmed. Communication definitely is not his forte. The OP's experience is tough to reconcile. I hope it turns out that for some reason Lee did not receive Ozgun's emails.

I have read before on different threads that many emails to Lee may have been caught by a spam filter, dependent on which type of mail service used? Too bad for OP cause I think M&F brushes are the best.
Hopefully, things can still be resolved.

 

[ChiefBroom]

I have read before on different threads that many emails to Lee may have been caught by a spam filter, dependent on which type of mail service used? Too bad for OP cause I think M&F brushes are the best.
Hopefully, things can still be resolved.

+1

 

[Ozgun]

I must inform you people; after I opened this tread, sabini must have heard about it, and contacted a friend of mine in Turkey, whom is a good customer of him, telling he'll make and send a new brush to him to send me when in Turkey if possible. Then I think in about 1 or 1,5 months I finally received the brush. Its like any other m&f brushes in excellent quality, just like what I wanted. BUT I so wish this could be resolved in a much different way, thus I'll not be willing to buy any more m&f brushes even I love their quality.

 

[moz68]

I must inform you people; after I opened this tread, sabini must have heard about it, and contacted a friend of mine in Turkey, whom is a good customer of him, telling he'll make and send a new brush to him to send me when in Turkey if possible. Then I think in about 1 or 1,5 months I finally received the brush. Its like any other m&f brushes in excellent quality, just like what I wanted. BUT I so wish this could be resolved in a much different way, thus I'll not be willing to buy any more m&f brushes even I love their quality.

Glad you got your brush. I've had nothing but good experiences with Lee. Sorry about yours. Enjoy your brush!!!