Fw: [CR]e-bay marinoni, the sultan, and a seller beware

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From: "dddd" <dddd@pacbell.net>
To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Fw: [CR]e-bay marinoni, the sultan, and a seller beware
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2005 17:29:28 -0700
reply-type=response

Sign off!

David Snyder
Auburn, CA usa


----- Original Message -----
From: dddd
To: Classic Rendezvous <>
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2005 5:28 PM
Subject: Re: [CR]e-bay marinoni, the sultan, and a seller beware



>I think it's always possible that a package could have been damaged or
>opened by the USPS or whoever, and stuffed back in the box sans packing.
>I've gotten packages back that never made it to the buyer, the address
>label having been mutilated. In one case, an entire inner box went missing
>from an uninsured package and I was just super-happy that I got the
>complete item back. I notified the buyer and shipped it again and the
>buyer was cool about it.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Galen" <gvpoole@bellsouth.net>
> To: "Phil Sieg" <triodelover@comcast.net>
>
>> Phil,
>>
>> Thanks for the response, and for the link. By the way, those are nice
>> looking bars. The emblems are sharp, uninjured, and the cropped photos
>> show the detail very well. Much better than the too frequent fuzzy
>> pictures that show the whole item. I picked up a Phillipe Professionnel
>> handlebar off ebay for a pittance, because they had tape residue on them
>> in the photo, and that obviously scared off all the "gotta be NOS"
>> crowd. I spent 15 minutes cleaning them up (no polishing) and they are
>> the most beautiful NOS-looking bars you would ever care to own. Not a
>> mark on them.
>>
>> Phil, I think you got a nice bar and stem. You obviously wanted them and
>> were willing to pay the BIN price. The absence of packing has to be an
>> oversight, because everything Brooks has sent me has been well packed.
>> Like a lot of busy ebay sellers, he probably waits until he gets a batch
>> of sales to send feedback. Also, although I always refer to him by his
>> real name, he always refers to himself as The Sultan. It may be a touch
>> quirky, but its part of his persona, and he is one of the most
>> identifiable and honest sellers on ebay.
>>
>> Clean up the bars (mineral spirits followed by isopropyl alcohol will
>> take off most of the residue), have a beer, and have a great ride
>> tomorrow!
>>
>> Best in cycling
>> Galen Poole
>> Jackson, MS
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Phil Sieg
>> To: Galen
>> Cc: Peter Jourdain ; Jay Sexton ; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>> Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2005 6:43 PM
>> Subject: Re: [CR]e-bay marinoni, the sultan, and a seller beware
>>
>>
>> That's it! OK, here's the deal - for the last time:
>>
>> Here's the auction. Please note both item description and cropped
>> photos. Also note ending date and payment date. Then check his
>> feedback and note the positive feedback left by me on 1 September when I
>> received the bars and stem. Yes, despite my reservations, I left
>> positive feedback. Then check my feedback and note that despite paying
>> his BIN price and doing so promptly, he hasn't left me any positive
>> feedback (at least as of right before I typed this).
>>
>> Today I finally received an answer to the e-mail I sent on the 1st, no
>> doubt at Jay's prompting since it came after this discussion started.
>> It was essentially a form letter recounting all the happy customers and
>> how his packing was never a problem. No recognition that he just threw
>> the bars and stem in a cobbled-together box with no protective padding
>> and hoped for the best. No "I'm sorry"; no "I was in a hurry and should
>> have taken more care", didn't even address me by name. Just a bunch of
>> BS trying to make it my problem and signed The Sultan. Couldn't even
>> sign his real name.
>>
>> So the gist is I paid his BIN price, paid within minutes of auction
>> close using PayPal, got no after sale communication advising me when my
>> items had shipped or when I might expect them, received them in a state
>> unexpected based on the description, found that they were just thrown in
>> an empty box and mailed, have received no positive feedback though I
>> have left same, and now receive e-mails in my inbox from list members
>> calling me essentially a whiner and problem customer (and suggesting
>> that maybe I'm just lying). Great. Maybe his spam filter is
>> responsible for the e-mail SNAFU, but it doesn't account for the rest.
>>
>> Glad all of you have had such positive experiences. BUT I DIDN'T.
>> Ask Greg Parker or Ray Dobbins (among others) what kind of customer I am
>> if you think I'm making shit up. And read my feedback. But stay the
>> hell out of my inbox with your thinly veiled character assassinations.
>>
>> FWIW, I've had 5 transactions since the first of August with
>> wwcyclery. All went off without a hitch. Each item was exactly as
>> advertised and delivered promptly properly packed. And wwcyclery always
>> left positive feedback for me. But according to our fellow list members
>> I'm a whiner and a liar so you probably shouldn't trust what I say.
>>
>> And Galen, I'm not teeing off on you. You just got the "boil over".
>>
>> Phil "I'll know better than to ever do this again" Sieg
>> Knoxville, Tennessee
>>
>>
>>
>> Galen wrote:
>> Phil & all,
>>
>> I have purchased several items from The Sultan and he has always
>> been fairly quick to answer questions and very honest in his
>> descriptions. Sometimes too honest, and some good items go for low bids.
>> I once purchased a derailleur from him that had a barely perceptible
>> crack. Not really noticeable, but enough to discourage me from using it
>> for anything except display. He fully refunded my money, including the
>> shipping fee, and never asked for "confirmation." Brooks is an honest
>> guy, and your experience seems a little out of the norm for him.
>>
>> Galen Poole
>> Back in power in Jackson, MS
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Sieg"
>> <triodelover@comcast.net>
>> To: "Peter Jourdain" <pjourdain@yahoo.com>
>> Cc: "Jay Sexton" <jvs@sonic.net>; <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2005 12:45 PM
>> Subject: Re: [CR]e-bay marinoni, the sultan, and a seller beware
>>
>>
>>
>> Peter,
>>
>> I e-mailed my concerns about his packaging and product description
>> and he didn't respond to that either. If anyone thinks I'm being harsh,
>> see the feedback for "old, gray and definitely in the way". As several
>> list members can attest, I pay promptly at auction's end. No one has
>> ever had to chase me down for payment.
>>
>> Phil Sieg
>> Knoxville, Tennessee
>>
>> Peter Jourdain wrote:
>>
>>
>> I have thrice e-mailed questions to The Sultan early
>> on during ebay auctions. In no case did he respond. He
>> has neat stuff, good photos and descriptions, but I
>> make it a practice of not buying from folk who do not
>> respond to simple inquiries. I would say he lost at
>> least a dozen sales from me for stems, wheelsets,
>> framesets, etc., because after three strikes I gave
>> up. I would like to buy from him, but I'm not sure he
>> understands who his best customers are or might
>> possibly be.
>>
>> Peter Jourdain
>> Whitewater, Wisconsin
>>
>>
>>
>> --- Jay Sexton <jvs@sonic.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> The Sultan is a friend of mine and has not yet
>> joined the list, depite my urgings. However, I can vouch for
>> him. I will
>> pass on the concerns expressed here and I am sure he will
>> consider them. He's an okay guy.
>>
>> He offered the Marinoni to me and I would have
>> bought it if it was my size. It has been used. Not
>> maintained the best
>> during it's life, but not crashed either.
>>
>> I cannot recommend doing business with e-bay seller
>> wwcyclery/profitcycling. When I sent a question
>> about an item for sale, he was condescending towards me in
>> reply. I
>> responded in as objective a manner as I could, and he then
>> petulantly blocked
>> me from further bidding on his items.
>> And a reminder.....next Saturday, the 17th is the
>> Sonoma County Vintage ride. Be there or be square! E-mail
>> me for
>> details if interested.
>>
>> Jay Sexton
>> Sebastopol, CA
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