Aranciata, born in turbulence

[mimitabby]

Well, I managed to P.O. the guy at the bike shop (because I've been calling so much wondering where my frame was).

But he did send me a photo. He said"
"As you wish.

I'm insulted by the comment in your last email. All I've done is provide you with consistent personal service. I've answered every phone call and email. I put more time into this sale than I usually do since you had special interests and requests. I've moved in a manner that should show nothing but a wholesome interest in getting you just want you want and need.

I understand your eagerness to get the frame, but to imply that I took your money and hosed you is fairly aggressive.

I can sell this frame over and over and over....if you don't want it, it doesn't phase me at all.

Here is your chance to opt out."

I never ever ever suggested he was stealing, i was only concerned it was lost in the MAIL..
sigh...

[pooks]

I think he's flirting with you.

[Trek420]

Woo hoo! She's beautiful. You know they do take time, I've waited for mine....twice. I don't know what you said to your LBS guy but trust me, this bike is worth the wait. I can't wait to hear the first ride report. Meanwhile, enjoy the Bianchi.

[Dianyla]

"it doesn't phase me"?

Not the brightest bulb in the pack, it would seem.

[mimitabby]

after waiting yet another day for "I'll check in a little while" to happen
I wrote:
"if the frame ever arrives, please send me a picture because i'm beginning to doubt it's existence."

I was wrong. I keep trying to call to apologize, and he is busy.

I am sure the bike is worth it; but there's just so much being yelled at that I can take (I'm sensitive) and so I am going to call this guy and get yelled at if he ever comes to the phone.

Thanks guys.

[pooks]

I understand your eagerness to get the frame, but to imply that I took your money and hosed you is fairly aggressive.

Okay, just email him back, replying to that point. Say, thank you for understanding my eagerness! This is a very big deal to me. But please don't misunderstand my email. I realize now that it could look snarky -- I was just teasing.

I'm sorry I didn't word it better.

Or something similar.

[ace]

Poor Mimi. You are clearly going through a lot to get the frame. I would call his attitude "customer service with a sneer."

But it definitely is pretty.....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Take Pooks' advice. Your email aboout doubting the frame's existance could be taken poorly by a lot of people. I would have been very unhappy getting that message if i were him and doing my best to run a business. Just explain you didn't mean it seriously and bite the bullet and apologize, is my advice.

Sometimes things I've said have been taken the wrong way and even when I didn't have bad intent I will explain the matter and apologize- the apology always makes ME feel better and smoothes things out nicely.

[mimitabby]

I apologized and did NOT ask when it was going to get shipped TO ME.
he said "it's all behind us"
I hate to say anything about east coast attitude... (since i was born and raised out there...)

Thank you all for listening and giving me a shoulder to cry on.

[mimitabby]

and i didn't fall apart on the phone!! (i get points for not crying, right?)

[Kimmyt]

Why is it that whenever us women tend to display any temperament other than 'grateful and wanting to please' we are immediately reacted to by men as though we are the most horrid people in the world? This happens to me alot. I understand that it may be personality things, but I feel like if I am anything other than sunshine and rosebuds towards someone, I'm immediately labelled as something not-so-nice.

Sigh, maybe it's my inner feminist looking for a fight.... but it gets a bit old at times, no?

K.

[Kimmyt]

p.s. she is a gorgeous frame though! I LURVE the color. And is that her name? It's beeyoooteeful!

[annie]

Mimi,

I'd say that bike is worth it!! What a gorgeous frame!

I think putting the hassle behind you is a good idea. Maybe he had a really bad day, lots of hassles with customers. You just don't know. You got your point across, he got his across to you. Fine, ok, done. As long as you get the bike and are happy with it. And, yeah, you get bigtime points for not falling apart on the phone. Yay, Mimi!!

Annie

[Trek420]

Mimi, did he ever tell you how long it would take in the first place?

When I got Menace the Mondonico my shop was full of advice about the time, lots of warnings that "worst case scenario it could be this long."

Ordered in October, I think I got the bike mid May .... for the AIDS Ride in June. What's that they say about "don't get anything different for your bike a month before the ride"

First the build itself took time and then the frame got shipped to Chris my LBS and he called me, I got to come down and see it sans paint.

You think it looks nice painted, you should see the welds.

Then its shipped to L.A. still unpainted. There it's completely inspected again inside and out since that's their only chance to do that sans paint. Then paint, dry, paint, dry, paint, decals.....finally back home to you.

But he kept me informed all along the way, even lent me a loaner road bike which I think his wife normally rides so I could train for the AIDS ride on it rather than the commuter but also get used to Campy thumb shifters.

I think he sells more Mondonicos and Torellis than any shop in the US, guess he's used to this drill.

[SouthernBelle]

I esp. like the part where he has a "wholesome interest"