posted
Never had to do this before because of a customer so it shook me up pretty much most of the day.
Ever have one of those jobs where everything goes wrong. Well this is one of those. Customer order 50 screen printed signs w/ economy step stakes and everything went downhill from there. When the order finally comes in from the printer 28 days later, there are no stakes. I give them 20 of my $5 and 10 of the $3 stakes with the understanding that when theirs come in, they will exchange them. I am usually a real good judge of character but these guys just out and out lied to my face...and I believed them. Besides they only needed to half down ($80) but gave me $125.00. So I thought that they were decent people.
When they never come back for their stakes, I call this morning to remind them that I need my stakes back and need for them to up up theirs. The husbands says he isn't going to bring them back. I tell him thats fine but I will have to bill them for what they have. He goes ballistic, proceeds to let me have it about what a bad person I am, blah, blah, blad. I just tell him if I have to I'll will take him to court for the $130.00 worth of stakes.
Later in the day the husband and wife come in acting all remoseful. They bring in 10 of the stakes, with the promise to bring in the rest. I go count out 30 of the economy stakes, leave them in the box that they come in and bring them up front and put them on the counter. I write up a paper saying that they are picking up 30 economy step stakes and still owe me 20 $5.00 stakes. I want her to sign this before she takes the box of stakes. She says she isn't signing it, grabs the box and her and her husband run out. I run out after them, tell them that they better bring them back or sign the paper. They yelled back that they aren't and I yell that I will call the police. As they leave, I am dialing 911.
Police come a few minutes later, take the report, find out where these people live, and then send another patrol car over to their house. The police what to help settle this but because I am not open on Sat. it will have to wait until next week.
They shouldn't have messed with me. They now are in trouble because they live in the city and run their appliance repair business out of their home...which is against the zoning ordinance. So now they have drawn attention to themselves and willl probably end up with a huge fine...
Whats that saying? "What goes around, comes around." There is some truth to it.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
Call the F.B.I., there's "too much at stake".
(Sorry Laura, couldn't resist. Glad you're OK.)
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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I call the Police on myself a lot. Just about every other week or so. I just lose my mind.
CrazyJack
-------------------- Jack Wills Studio Design Works 1465 E.Hidalgo Circle Nye Beach / Newport, OR Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
u amke sure you stake a claim for your other stakes...
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
I'm wondering though... Why did you call them if the order wasn't complete? If your vendor screwed up, it's still your responsibilty to the customer, and if the stakes meant that much to call the cops over, why let someone take them in the first place? Clients know nothing, if you were late on the order, or called that they were ready and they were not, then never leave them responsible for your property, all they want are the signs.....oh oh...my foot went through the soap box, I better stop..
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1540 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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All "stake" puns intended . . I'd stake my life on it . . . .
But Alas, Ms. Laura . . .we must pick and choose our battles . . . .
I was just wondering why they could'nt wait to pick up the panels until after the right stakes arrived?? And also, why do I have a mind-set that these were political signs??
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3503 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I left a lot out of the story to condense it. They kept calling to find out when UPS would be delivering. The "John's Appiance Repair" signs were scheduled for Fri delivery. The customers came in early and I told them UPS doesn't deliver until 11-2 pm. They called late afternoon, after the UPS delivery, so they knew the signs were in.
When they came in and I told them that the stakes weren't here, I asked how many they needed to get started. I was expecting 3-4. They said 10. My thought "they have a lot of jobs done and just want to put a sign up in front of those houses."
I called Stouse while the customer was there, to find out when my stakes would be sent. They said that they would overnight them and I would have them Mon. Mon they didn't come but my customer did. He needed more stakes. (This was the only mistake Stouse made in this whole order).
Anyway...we'll get this taken care of Tuesday.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Laura said ". . .I asked how many they needed to get started. I was expecting 3-4. They said 10. My thought "they have a lot of jobs done and just want to put a sign up in front of those houses."' ----------------------- Oh? They're not going to plant those things all over town like 'street spam,' are they? Along with that plastic junk about Lose Fat, Toil from Home, Cash Loans to Deadbeats? Usually, those hustlers are stealing advertising space and posting without owners' permission (which is illegal in some places). Of course if this is not the case here, then as Emily Latella said, "Never mind."
-------------------- Bruce Williams Lexington KY Posts: 945 | From: Lexington, KY, USA | Registered: Mar 1999
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As a matter of fact, they did plaster them all over the county. In fact, the next day I probably passed 8 on the way home. I had told them ahead of time that it was illegal to do this but the wife didn't care. NOw there are only about 2 left.
The was one of the excuses for not wanting to return them...they didn't want to have to drive all over the county to exchange the stakes.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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If you passed 8 on your way home, you know where to collect your stakes!!! I have threatened to repocess a few signs if their bill was not paid. I have never had to do it yet, but I kinda look forward to the thrill of it.
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
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At this point I would get the stake and let the sign lay in the yard.
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
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