Is this fair???

7065 Views 143 Replies 92 Participants Last post by NovemberWhitetailz, 2 mo ago

1/2 Bubble Off

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

With 3D season kicking off, I've been selling/building a ton of arrows... My daughter wanted money to go out with her friends so I told her to cut and build a dozen arrows and I'd give her some $$$.

She did a great job on 11/12 arrows. But, that 12th shaft she built "upside down" and put the point into what should've been the nock end of the arrow. Since I use Rubberized CA, getting the points out without damaging the shaft a challenge.

Rather than risk damaging that shaft, I took the total price of a single shaft off the bill. (I didn't have anymore 400spine Tournament 23s in stock) The arrow was completely shootable, it just didn't "look" like the others.

When this guy came to take delivery, I explained what and how it happened. He seemed to be OK (at least while he was standing here) with getting a $22 arrow for free, Bottom line:

* I took "ownership" of the mistake and acknowledged it was my fault that my "employee" glued the point in the wrong end of the shaft.

* I didn't "wait" to see if he complained before giving him the discount. I was pro-active and tried to solve the problem before it "started".

* I didn't have anymore 400 spine 23s in stock to replace the one with the label on the wrong side.

* He acknowledged the arrows fly perfect one just looks a little different than the others.

* The guy who told me about this "meltdown" shot indoor 3D next to him... He was using that arrow every time and called it his "lucky" arrow.

He never complained to me in person, never called to complain, no texts, no emails... word got back to me that he was bashing me at one of the local clubs because of that one "free" arrow.

When I finally got in touch with him, he very much "let me have it". Again, his only complaint was the arrow was "upside down". The way he was ranting on the phone, you'd have thought I slept with his sister and never called her again....

So, what does AT say about this??? Short of having an endless supply of every spine, of every arrow that I sell so simply swap out those mistakes.... what else could I have done to make this right?

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jo3st3

· #2 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

Can I get a free arrow? I would have been grateful, not pissed.

Let me guess... he shot like **** and blamed that on the arrows too. As long as the 11 he paid for were done well, I don't see the issue he had.

Even if you're anal about the logos all being perfect when using them for 3D, just use it as your practice arrow. Hell, cut the fletchings off and make it your bare shaft for tuning and verifying your setup. After all, it was FREE.

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bowtech2006

· #3 · 3 mo ago

I personally think that was very fair and the correct way to go about it.

Only thing I could think of was maybe once you got that arrow back in stock send him one but really taking the full price of the arrow off was good. I'd personally be happy with the deal. Some shops still would of tried to charge the person for that arrow and say it's the same just looks different.

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crazyasian

· #4 · 3 mo ago

Man, I've read a bunch of your post and you've always been an upstanding guy/shop owner. I think you did everything you could. You explained what happened, acknowledged the error and even comped him the arrow. If he wasn't fine with it he should have said so then and there. In my opinion you just can't make some people happy and the guy sounds like an ***. Sorry you had to deal with this nonsense.

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Tolbnd

· #5 · 3 mo ago

He could've easily just gotten 11 arrows for the price of 11, and come back and paid for the 12th when you got another one in or gone to someone else to buy arrows. He said he was good with the free arrow, and has even shot it happily. For him to be grumpy now when it shoots the same and just looks different means he should shut his mouth and move on. He didn't pay a dime for it.

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Bckmster71

· #6 · 3 mo ago

I think that was a fair deal ( can go wrong with free) but if it makes you and him feel any better when you get them back in stock swap them out it should make him feel better and hopefully give you pease of mind

moxiecrew

· #7 · 3 mo ago

Chances are he's too dumb to even realize why he's upset he's just a sheep who followed what his friends said.

Certain things people do just scream unintelligent, and this is a great example.

Personally wouldn't worry about him at all, people like this don't have many people respecting their opinions anyway.

Rockwell

· #8 · 3 mo ago

His ranting was likely spurred by you calling him out as he realized his bs comments made there way back to you. You should have asked him if you somehow touched his special spot, lol. Guessing he will need to find another shop at the very least.

What you did was upstanding!

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TMan51

· #9 · 3 mo ago

1/2 Bubble Off said:
Rather than risk damaging that shaft, I took the total price of a single shaft off the bill. (I didn't have anymore 400spine Tournament 23s in stock) The arrow was completely shootable, it just didn't "look" like the others.

Well, can't say I've never done that myself

Call it a bare shaft tuning arrow, arrows don't know front from back.

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50fps

· #10 · 3 mo ago

There are those that will complain if their ice cream is too cold.

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The Machanic

· #11 · 3 mo ago

Face it!
Until proven otherwise, every customer is a whining whack-job.
Insanity is the norm.
The next time he called in an order, the price would be 3X just for dealing with his stupidity.

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lonehara

· #12 · 3 mo ago

the one thing that sticks out here is that you heard it from someone else and not him - people like that I have little or no use for - especially since you bent over backwards to be upfront with him -

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bigbuckdn

· #13 · 3 mo ago

I would have been fine and you did the right thing
some just like to bitch

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Skyydyyver

· #14 · 3 mo ago

To be honest I would still be annoyed and maybe not order any from you again, maybe (depending on the relationship). If I ordered a dozen good shafts then that's what I would like. I don't want 11 good shafts and one free weird one. I just want what I ordered and for you to have the money for that order.
Personally I would probably be ok with it but not exactly happy. Happy would be 12 perfect arrows.

I'd say he is within his rights to tell people the situation and resolution. I'm sure people would probably notice and comment on that one weird arrow and that might be awkward or possibly a little embarrassing.
It sucks that he is negative about it but it was a screwed up order any way you look at it, free arrow or not.
I also think you did what you was in your power to rectify the issue and I respect and admire that.
You sound like a stand up guy and don't deserve the negative effects but stuff happens and that's life.

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Hikari

· #15 · 3 mo ago

1/2 Bubble Off said:
When I finally got in touch with him...

That was your first mistake--literally.

The fact that he was fine with it and seemed to use the arrows, but was bad mouthing you to others, kind of shows where he is coming from. Personally, I respect the way you handled the situation and was fair. If I did not like the solution, I would have brought it up with you then and there. I would not get mad, but if I could not live with the mistake, I would have negotiated something.

This does not seem to be something I would try to give more thought to. The problem does not reside with you.

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Mr. Blonde

· #16 · 3 mo ago

If he ever comes in again and needs any work done pad your service fee with an extra $22 + another $22 because he is a d&^$ and a coward.

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Defectindesign

· #17 · 3 mo ago

I’ll gladly shoot free upside down arrows!

P.S. Life must be pretty good if a backwards arrow is the cause of all this trouble

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SHPoet

· #18 · 3 mo ago

Well, sometimes you can get a straighter spinning arrow if you cut from the top. I'd have told him it was a bad arrow and that's what you did.....

He's wrong. You're right.

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rsk76

· #19 · 3 mo ago

He was fine with it until someone probably got in his ear and wound him up.

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Alaska at heart

· #20 · 3 mo ago

A bit of Acetone on a paper towel sheet and it is exactly the same as the rest....plus a free bare shaft tuning arrow, as has been noted. Since he got it for free, this guy isn't worth dealing with and if he returns you should be out of stock on whatever he wants....until he gets the point. I know shops that would have downplayed the situation and charged full price despite their error.

There was a sport shop in the local small town where we purchased out previous home, that I checked out not long after we moved. I was tuning a new bow and asked the owner if I could buy a "test pack" of a one of a few differet sizes. He looked at me like I had just stepped off a space ship in New Mexico, then told me in no uncertain terms that arrows are sold in six or twelve.....that is what guys expect. So I asked if every hunting quiver he sold also carried six arrows? Of course the answer was "No". and I could immediately tell he wasn't liking being called out for being stuborn. I smiled, walked out and never returned.....never bought a thing from him and he eventually went out of business. Probably told the story of the guy who wanted one shaft of a few different sizes to whomever would listen too.

Simple mistake.....you went above and beyond......person is a jerk.....move on with another sad lesson about business ownership.

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