The sewing machine debacle
12-27-2010, 07:15 AM
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Mena, Arkansas
Posts: 1,351
All great suggestions. When you do go back with the men in suits and someone with a camera, take every older woman you know with you. A van load would do nicely. He will really look bad shouting at a group of nice old ladies. Wish I could be there! I can be a pit bull.
12-27-2010, 07:33 AM
#53
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North Essex, England
Posts: 1,108
I'm so sorry. Don't feel bad about yourself. We all expect people to be as honest as ourselves and it's a shame when this doesn't happen. You have been very brave. Good luck with getting your other machine back.
Best wishes from across the pond.
Annie
Best wishes from across the pond.
Annie
12-27-2010, 08:56 AM
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Morganton, Ga
Posts: 944
Oh I share your pain. Had an unfortunate experience with the local Singer dealer. Gears broke, again, Sept. took it into the dealer and didn't get it back till Jan. It seems the owner/tech had a heart attack and they didn't tell me just kept stalling. Finally my 6'5" husband went to the shop and put some pressure on them. They couldn't have repaired it anyway, had to go to the Atl. repair center. I could have taken it there myself and had use of it for holiday sewing.
12-27-2010, 09:31 AM
#56
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 62
What a nasy experience to have to go through especially at the Christmas season, SORRY! but I do agree that you need to take your ticket or reciept, to the police and explain the situation and see if they won't go with you to collect your machine. Check the machine with them at your side to make sure your machine is ok. and as someone said you may have to pay the bench fee, however it would be nice if the owner had a change of heart and waived it. I also agree that a small claims court may be the best alternative if you wanted to persue that route. you could possibly get your money back!It may turn out to be in your favor.
12-27-2010, 09:35 AM
#57
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 62
that is a good idea, there is strength in numbers, and we really do not want to patronise those who are only in for the money and will take advantage of situations. Unforunatlly most are very sly and stay within the confines of the law.
12-27-2010, 09:52 AM
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Maple City, MI
Posts: 2,135
Originally Posted by mimee4
Or how I almost spent Christmas eve in the slammer
I had two machines that needed cleaning and one of them also needed repair. As I did not know where to take them, I found a place about 30 minutes away on yellowpages.com. The man assured me that he worked on all sewing machines. So I took them in on Dec 17.
I should have walked right out. The place was also a vacuum repair shop and they sold sofas, mattresses and bunk beds, too.
I explained what I needed to have done and the owner told me they would both be done by Wednesday Dec 22. Of course neither were ready when I called. He did tell me there was something wrong with the one that only needed cleaning. We argued back and forth and I went to the shop the next morning to see for myself. Obviously he didn’t know what he was talking about and I paid his huge cleaning bill and brought that machine home. Of course, it hadn’t been cleaned. By now I was steaming. I wanted my money back and the other machine, too. I called one more time and said I’d be back on the day before Christmas. Never should have warned him.
The owner wasn’t there when I got to the shop and the “in-shop-man” said I was not getting any money back. My other machine was not in the shop but elsewhere. I asked to talk to the owner and he put me through on their phone. I demanded my machine and my money back.
The owner said he absolutely wouldn't refund any money and he would have my machine back in the shop in an hour or so. AND I'd have to pay a work bench fee. AND he didn't care if I called the police or what (though I didn't suggest that I would call the police.) I am naive and not very courageous but this had my dander up (can you tell I’m 70 years old?) So I called the police. Unfortunately they said, this is a civil case and they couldn’t do anything about it. I hung around in the shop a short while, trying to convince the in-shop-guy to give me my money back. Funny, though, in about 5 minutes, the owner called the shop guy and the conversation went like: Yes, she's still here. Yes, she called the police. Ok, I'll tell her. So now I was the bad guy! THEY were going to call the police and get me for trespass. Gee, I didn't want to go to jail on Christmas Eve, so I did leave. Now I don't know if I'll ever get my machine back!
I’ve never run across such unscrupulous people before and I’m embarrassed that I was taken in. Yes, I will be contacting a lawyer as well as the Better Business Bureau in Williamsport PA about Swopes. If you live in or near there, run from that place and never ever take anything there or deal with them. :evil:
I had two machines that needed cleaning and one of them also needed repair. As I did not know where to take them, I found a place about 30 minutes away on yellowpages.com. The man assured me that he worked on all sewing machines. So I took them in on Dec 17.
I should have walked right out. The place was also a vacuum repair shop and they sold sofas, mattresses and bunk beds, too.
I explained what I needed to have done and the owner told me they would both be done by Wednesday Dec 22. Of course neither were ready when I called. He did tell me there was something wrong with the one that only needed cleaning. We argued back and forth and I went to the shop the next morning to see for myself. Obviously he didn’t know what he was talking about and I paid his huge cleaning bill and brought that machine home. Of course, it hadn’t been cleaned. By now I was steaming. I wanted my money back and the other machine, too. I called one more time and said I’d be back on the day before Christmas. Never should have warned him.
The owner wasn’t there when I got to the shop and the “in-shop-man” said I was not getting any money back. My other machine was not in the shop but elsewhere. I asked to talk to the owner and he put me through on their phone. I demanded my machine and my money back.
The owner said he absolutely wouldn't refund any money and he would have my machine back in the shop in an hour or so. AND I'd have to pay a work bench fee. AND he didn't care if I called the police or what (though I didn't suggest that I would call the police.) I am naive and not very courageous but this had my dander up (can you tell I’m 70 years old?) So I called the police. Unfortunately they said, this is a civil case and they couldn’t do anything about it. I hung around in the shop a short while, trying to convince the in-shop-guy to give me my money back. Funny, though, in about 5 minutes, the owner called the shop guy and the conversation went like: Yes, she's still here. Yes, she called the police. Ok, I'll tell her. So now I was the bad guy! THEY were going to call the police and get me for trespass. Gee, I didn't want to go to jail on Christmas Eve, so I did leave. Now I don't know if I'll ever get my machine back!
I’ve never run across such unscrupulous people before and I’m embarrassed that I was taken in. Yes, I will be contacting a lawyer as well as the Better Business Bureau in Williamsport PA about Swopes. If you live in or near there, run from that place and never ever take anything there or deal with them. :evil:
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