mdonnelly
Member
Still waiting..........
Exchange Sails
- Thread starter Zen Zero
- Start date
Still waiting..........
Seajet
...
Quelle surpise; there is such a thing as commercial suicide, or maybe an agent working for a rival sailmakers has infiltrated them ! 
Backwoodsman
New member
I've e-mailed them twice in the last 8 days asking for an update on non receipt of a paid for sale - no response.
I'll try a call on Monday and if I'm not satisfied with the response, ask for a full refund by e-mail. If they don't respond to that, I intend to contact the local Trading Standards Office.
I'll try a call on Monday and if I'm not satisfied with the response, ask for a full refund by e-mail. If they don't respond to that, I intend to contact the local Trading Standards Office.
TonyBuckley
New member
Trading Standards are good for notifying so they can add to their database and then they decide who the really bad boys are.
But on the two occasions I have contacted them, they have not done much for me. I realise not really representative.
I think a better solution is a postal letter threatening small claims within seven days. That always seems to get the right response.
It is only because of this thread that I did not go ahead with my purchase. And after several emails back and forth agreeing prices etc, I went silent and yet I have had no reminder/question/nudge from exchange sails who I assumed would try and chase the sale of the sail.
It's prob just a very poor operation than any malice or deceit, but I am a trusting person.
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JumbleDuck
Well-known member
I agree. Time for a Letter Before Action (LBA). Lots of advice on this online - here's some good stuff from the CAB
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales...n_e/step_one_write_a_letter_before_action.htm
and here's Which?s take on it
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/action/letter-before-small-claims-court-claim
mdonnelly
Member
Still waiting.........
Seajet
...
My hat is off to you, you must have the patience of a Saint, most people would have bought a Big Gun long ago !
Scillypete
Well-known member
OH, just waded through this thread for the first time . . . . . had some dealings with Westaway through the winter when having sails serviced etc, not without issues. The real annoyance is that even after those other issues I have just sent off an oversize cruising chute to 'exchange' for a more suitable one they have listed. He has arranged for a courier to pick up at Penzance on Monday but I'm thinking I will be better off to just cancel that and try and get it sent back to me and continue with my search for another cruising chute.
Anyone in the market for a cruising chute in snuffer with a 13.64 luff.
Anyone in the market for a cruising chute in snuffer with a 13.64 luff.
mdonnelly
Member
Got a phonecall from them today. Cheque lost in the post so have arrange an electronic transfer of money for tomorrow.
TonyBuckley
New member
Cheques are incredibly rarely "lost in the post"
Seajet
...
Whatever you do, don't hold your breath !
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
mdonnelly
Member
Oh Ye of little faith, money has just been deposited in account. Makes yesterday's purchase of a new chart plotter a little cheaper
TonyBuckley
New member
Oh Ye of little faith, money has just been deposited in account. Makes yesterday's purchase of a new chart plotter a little cheaper
Fab! Not a cheque though. Does this make exchange sails clear of all charges?
mdonnelly
Member
Almost 7 months from when they picked up sail and it actually never sold. Finally settled on their offer and glad to have a locker free'd up. No, wouldn't use them again as bound to be quicker ways of making a few bob from an old sail. On the other hand, I don't know anything about their business and who knows, they might be having a nightmare time!
Ianqv
Member
Re Exchangesails - I have NEVER experienced such shameful service!!
Buyer beware!!!!!!!!
Buyer beware!!!!!!!!
Daydream believer
Well-known member
Just out of interest - nobody has suggested using the free first service from the RYA solicitor
It took me ages arguing with Goacher sails but the RYA solicitor had the money refunded in a couple of weeks for no cost, except postage returning the sail
It took me ages arguing with Goacher sails but the RYA solicitor had the money refunded in a couple of weeks for no cost, except postage returning the sail
Kwik Decision
Active member
If you do decide to go with exchangesails, I strongly recommend paying by credit card. After taking delivery of two sets of sails which were nothing like described, this at least ensured we got our money back.........
Just_sayin'
Well-known member
Care to amplify?
Dockhead
Active member
I am having an experience sickeningly similar to others described in this thread.
Ordered a jib as an urgent replacement for a blown out headsail, to be sent to Cuxhaven just ahead of a North Sea crossing. Paid for it by wire transfer, including cost of modifications (shortening luff; changing luff rope), agreed on time and date of delivery. It did not arrive. Chased it frantically; wasted a whole day of the harbourmaster's time. Many calls to their office resulted in many promises of "we're right on it; call you back within the hour" but no calls back and no results. Sail finally turned up at a different marina -- it was misaddressed, and sent without any label of any kind, so the harbourmaster there had no idea what to do with it.
Unwrapped it, and it turned out to be a completely different sail, and one which didn't remotely fit (5mm luff rope versus 7.5; luff almost 2 metres too short, etc., etc., etc.). A ragged, unwashed, unmodified genoa, instead of the condition 8 yankee I bought.
Returned (motor sailing) to the UK, received promises of the correct sail being sent right out. But which correct sail? I was given a choice of several sails, none of which was much like the one I bought. Nothing but evasiveness in response to many questions. Then it was not sent and not sent. Emails not answered. Telephone calls sometimes answered with promises of a call back within the hour; but never a call back, naturally.
Is this a scam? A company on the verge of bankruptcy selling non-existent sails to scrape together some money before the collapse? Juggling multiple outraged customers? The behavior is hard to explain, as no business can survive like this -- pure suicide. A company behaving like this is not planning to be in business much longer.
Now I just hope to get my money back. I intent to act very aggressively, as this kind of operation usually follows the "squeaky wheel" principle in juggling creditors, sometimes paying the noisy ones, and always screwing the patient ones. They will get a demand letter on Monday and I will file in small claims court within a week.
Beware!