from this point, it might get ugly

[mimitabby]

I don't know if it's b/c you're a woman (I hate to play the gender card, but man, it's used often!), but I find that retailers and sellers in general often give women less respect. And I can't tell how many ladies of color are out there on this forum, but people of color get it all the time too, man or woman.

You know what though? I used to be the type to scream and yell, but now I just quietly demand and hold my ground. Once they realize you're not going away, that you WILL be that thorn in their side before they change their tune, they usually acquiesce. STAND YOUR GROUND. To me, success is reserved for those who are persistent.

Lizbids, KimmieT mentioned this also. THe way he shut me down, I am sure you're right. But he never tried to change my mind, I think he FORGOT what i wanted (and didn't write it down??!?)and then it was too late (bike already painted) so he just kept bs' ing me.
I couldn't figure out why (in his last emails to me) that he kept saying i was going to have to be CREATIVE to put fenders on it.. that's a damn far stretch from what he said in his first email;

I also have a 48cm Mondonico Women's Countach ($1099). It has a 50.5cm top tube which sounds exactly like what you are looking for. A Countach is the same thing as a Futura, except it is tig welded and not lugged. It is a very neat women's setup.

You can equip these frame with forks that will accommodate fenders no problem. The rear triangle of the frame can have braze-ons installed so you can attach racks or fenders as well...

[East Hill]

You know though? I used to be the type to scream and yell, but now I just quietly demand and hold my ground. Once they realize you're not going away, that you WILL be that thorn in their side before they change their tune, they usually acquiesce. STAND YOUR GROUND. To me, success is reserved for those who are persistent.

Yes, sometimes you have to be willing to stand there and make all their customers feel uncomfortable .

East Hill

[spokewench]

I know you want this bike so if you have the perserverence and want to wait a long time (it seems); send the bike back, with a letter in writing about what is wrong with the bike, what they said they would do and what they did not.

Then, tell them you would like it replaced with what you ordered. List everything you want in detail in the letter in writing. Ask for conformation of a price in writing for that exact bike with everything you want, plus tax if connecticut charges tax.

Also, ask for confirmation in writing for approximately how long it will take to deliver the bike that you want.

If your dumpster cleaner is not willing to give this to you in writing, when this should be standard procedure for a business, then do not deal with him. Are there any other dealers for these bikes in USA? If so, try one of them.

Get everything in writing is the key. Then you have something to hold them to. jan

[Trek420]

I don't know if it's b/c you're a woman (I hate to play the gender card, but man, it's used often!), but I find that retailers and sellers in general often give women less respect. And I can't tell how many ladies of color are out there on this forum, but people of color get it all the time too, man or woman.

Oh yeah, ask me about my cleats.

Mimi, you wanted braze ons, you were told you would get braze ons, it does not have braze ons....tell Learning-Disabled Cycles you're sending it back. You should be delighted with a Mondonico not dissapointed.

I PM'd you Chairman Bill's e-mail address juuuuuuuuust in case you need to escalate further up.

Trek-loves my Mondonico-420

[mimitabby]

Oh yeah, ask me about my cleats.

Mimi, you wanted braze ons, you were told you would get braze ons, it does not have braze ons....tell Learning-Disabled Cycles you're sending it back. You should be delighted with a Mondonico not dissapointed.

I PM'd you Chairman Bill's e-mail address juuuuuuuuust in case you need to escalate further up.

Trek-loves my Mondonico-420

Trek, thanks for the email address. I'm not sure that it will help. After all,
at this point, if he was going to make it right (and i don't believe he will,
after all he said: "I can sell this frame over and over and over....if you don't want it, it doesn't phase me at all."

he doesn't sound like the make it right kind of guy; he sounds more like
he'd just rather take it and resell it to someone else who isn't so difficult " I put more time into this sale than I usually do since you had special interests and requests."



yeppers, i have a paper trail a mile long.

[lizbids]

Some people are suggesting sending the bike back and asking for the following changes, but I think you should send the bike back with a certified letter/return receipt rejecting any charges he will put on your Visa bill. I wouldn't use this d**ckhead anymore. He's better off just taking it back, and if you have ANYTHING in writing via email, print it and save it for future legal battle. I think he will probably just give you what you want to make you go away. If not, all of us on the forum can take a little trip to Conn. and do donuts on his lawn.

[mimitabby]

LIzbids;
The visa payment charge was on my February bill. It's already paid for.

I have already printed it all out (oh, i LOVE gmail)

and What you are suggesting is just about what I was thinking... Registered
is a good idea.

[mimitabby]

PS no one from Connecticut has surfaced yet (to go visit him)

[Trek420]

I got my Mondonico here:

www.robinsonww.com

I am very happy with it. Yes, it took a while to get the full custom bike from Italy but I had very good service.

[KnottedYet]

Mimi - If you want to do your next Mondonico thru Robinson Wheel Works (Chris is AWESOME) you and I can do a road trip or two or three down there. I'd be HAPPY to go to CA with you, and I have room inside my station wagon for a bike (your new Mondonico wouldn't even have to ride outside on a bike rack).

Let's see... one trip down for initial fitting and ordering... visit Trek
second trip down to check frame is perfect and start build.... visit Trek
third trip down to test ride and pick up bike... visit Trek

Yup, sounds great to me!

[mimitabby]

Mimi - If you want to do your next Mondonico thru Robinson Wheel Works (Chris is AWESOME) you and I can do a road trip or two or three down there. I'd be HAPPY to go to CA with you, and I have room inside my station wagon for a bike (your new Mondonico wouldn't even have to ride outside on a bike rack).

Let's see... one trip down for initial fitting and ordering... visit Trek
second trip down to check frame is perfect and start build.... visit Trek
third trip down to test ride and pick up bike... visit Trek

Yup, sounds great to me!

THanks, Knot, that's a very sweet offer. I'll let you know.
Off to see my lawyer friend for a walk, be back later!

[salsabike]

Mimi, I am not positive about this but I believe you can dispute a credit card charge even after it's shown up on your bill--that's the whole point of the credit card dispute process. It's not like having a check cashed and now irrevocable. You file a dispute with your CC company saying you did not get what you ordered.

I'd try to return it for a FULL refund and find someone easier to work with, myself.

[Xrayted]

Mimi - maybe no one from CT has spoken up, but I'm only about an 9 hour drive from there. Just give me something to mapquest and I'm gone.... (Kit is definitely rubbing off on me. )

[xeney]

I am going to suggest a slightly different approach, which is to keep the credit card option as a backup, but try to resolve it with him first. I'm with the people who think you should just return the frame -- you are in a position where you are going to need really good customer service now to make sure that you get what you ordered without having to wait a very long time, and this guy has demonstrated that he is not going to give you good customer service.

But the way I understand it, you can't dispute the credit card bill until you've given the merchant a chance to make it right. So you have to go to him first. I wouldn't, if it were me, give him the option of fixing the frame; I'd first make a list of all the things that weren't done (was the bridge moved to accommodate fenders? I didn't see if that question was answered), and then I would write him a letter listing what he said he would do vs. what he actually did, and then I would ask for a return shipping label so that you can return the frame. I would send that letter certified mail along with copies of anything you have in writing (including e-mails).

I might also e-mail or fax him a copy of the letter so that it gets there more quickly. Give him a deadline, as well: you want the return shipping label within two weeks and you expect to have your money refunded within 30 days after you return the frame. Don't be snippy or snide, just be very matter of fact. That works best in these situations.

He will probably comply. Most business people do when they get a certified letter. If not, wait out the thirty days, and then take it up with your credit card company. (You might want to call them to verify any time limits, but I am pretty sure that they are going to require you to attempt to settle the dispute with him first.)

[Eden]

And now for something totally different.....

It doesn't take away from the frustration of not getting what you asked and paid for, but...

You can put fenders on a bike without brazons. You can get speed fenders or with some creativity you can put on full fenders. We require all of our riders to have fenders in the winter and racing bikes nearly never have eyelets. I've seen some very creative jobs indeed, many involving pipe hangers or hose clamps - just be sure to protect your paint job with some electrical tape. Now if you wanted to put on racks for touring it would be a different thing, but fenders are still doable.