Found a lousy kite shop, turned out to be OK

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

So two weeks ago, last Friday, I go to Gorge Performance in Portland on McCaddem and put 200 dollars CASH money down on a brand new kite, board, bindings, and booties. I say I will pay the rest in two weeks or less, they say OK.

Before I leave I purchase, with CASH money, a belt harness, a chicken loop for my trainer kite bar, and a long board; 200+ dollars.

I return one week later, research and practice with my trainer kite tells me I should buy used kites for my first ones because I will be crashing them often. I tell the sales person I am here to pick up my board and booties, but I want to get a used kite instead of the new one I layed away. This is not the same guy I dealt with originally, and they tell me they dont know anything about the kites, but they will have the kite guy call me about any used kites they have that might suit me. So I pay CASH money for the board, bindings, and booties, because the sales person insists on it instead of taking it out of the 200 dollars CASH I put down a week earlier. SCAMMERS

I wait till today and I never get a call from the kite dude at Gorge Performance, so I drive their on my way to Rooster Rock to fly my trainer kite. The kite dude is their and I tell him I want to buy a used kite. He shows me one kite they have on consignment, and says if you buy this you cant return it. I say, do you guys go through these consignment kites to make sure they are in good shape? He says, NOPE, and proceeds to unzip the bag the kite is in takes the bar out says it looks OK, lifts one flap of the folded kit and says, "the guy that left it says it was in good shape". I WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH THIS PUNY EFFORT BY THE SALES PERSON AND THE SHOP. I said, no thanks give me my 200 bucks, no biggy I will find something online.

We walk back in the shop and the dude tells me he cant give me my money back, but he can give me a gift card for Gorge Performance. I say, No Thank You I want my CASH money I gave you. He says it is not their policy to give refunds on items returned more than a week after purchase, but they can give me a gift card. I say, I did not return anything, because I never took anything, give me my money. Once again he says, nope, and adds they put the kite away for me which is just like purchasing it and taking it away. I say, you did not take the kite off your website, so it was still available, and you havent sold any kites since I put mine on lay away, so whats the big F'in deal? He just rolls his eyes. I THEN EXPLAIN TO THIS LOUSY SALES PERSON THAT I HAVE ALREADY SPENT AT LEAST 700 DOLLARS CASH MONEY AT HIS STORE, NOT COUNTING THE 200 BUCKS FOR LAY AWAY, ON A HARNESS, CHICKEN LOOP, BOARD, BINDINGS, BOOTIES, LONGBOARD, AND BEING VERY NEW TO THE SPORT WILL BE SPENDING MUCH MORE MONEY OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND MORE AND YOU ARE GOING TO PISS ME OFF AND LOSE OUT ON THAT POTENTIAL INCOME STREAM FOR 200 BUCKS NOW????REALLY! THIS 200 BUCKS RIGHT HERE DUDE, I WAIVE MY RECEIPT IN HIS FACE, SERIOUSLY DUDE? SERIOUSLY??? THIS IS THE LAST CASH YOU WILL EVER EVER EVER SEE OUT OF ME DUDE IF I DONT GET MY CASH MONEY BACK RIGHT NOW. DUDE SAYS NO CASH FOR YOU, HERES YOUR GIFT CARD.....

Now I am sure I can find something to spend a 200 dollar gift certificate on at that lousy shop, but it is the PRINCIPLE that gets me angry. I will not be trifled with by a lousy business.

I would love someone to tell me how I am being unreasonable here?

Please do not give your business to Gorge Performance, they simply do not deserve it.

For now I will drive to Hood River and give their shop a try, maybe....

Damn Fools running that Gorge Performance Shop, no doubt about it!

MikeD

Mad

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

A'int that just GAY AS HELL!!!!! Boycott time. Won't order my fins online from them anymore. I hope they read this, I buy tons of shit from them. If you refund this guys money I will buy 2 sets of K 2.1 fins next week(180 dollar value). I can't even believe this post. You bitches better get on here and explain this policy.

dancingwind · Since 18 Jul 2007 321 Posts Obsessed

Talking about lousy costumer service!! You would think that in this lousy economy, a business that's selling merchandise worth $100s and $1000s of dollars would better treat potential future buyers, specially those who already invested $700! Wow, it does not take a genius to figure out that it's worth loosing $200 in order to guarantee bigger future income.

Take care of your costumers. Remember, they're not their for you, you're their for them!

Very disappointing performance, Gorge Performance!!!

1surfer · Thu Nov 10, 11 6:26 am **That sucks !**

WOW ! In this economy, getting and holding on to customers is critical. Sounds like that guy is a major BUNGHOOLIO.

I will say that I dont buy much retail product but when I do customer service needs to be great. I did just have a very positive experience buying and then exchanging an item from Windance. They were polite, helpful and good at communicating. I would recommend them and will buy from them again in the future.

wylieflyote · Thu Nov 10, 11 7:25 am

The ONLY REASON to EVER purchase gear from a local shop as opposed to the www is costumer service! I will almost always buy everything at our local shop (Big Winds) because the customer service is better than Nordstrom's or REI. Meaning: No Questions Asked, Customer is Always right. And they will always ask "How do you like the gear?" "Is that working out for you?"

This guy you dealt with had to have been a peon and not the shop owner. It was suicide move for a shop owner.

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

Bob, would never be unreasonable like that. time to hit the reset button and go in and talk to him and I am sure he will make it right. try again and you will have a better outcome:-)

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1735 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

mike,
demand to speak to Bob, the shop owner.
tell him what has happened and I am confident he can resolve it.
nothing is worse for a local shop to have an upset customer that spreads the word.
once you talk to Bob, let us know the outcome.
time to get Gorge Performance back in good standing with the NW kite community

WINDUDE · Since 10 Jun 2010 558 Posts GORGE! Addicted

I would talk to Bob the owner directly, you were probably dealing with a nimrod floor employee. Note:not all floor sales people are nimrods. You probably just had bad luck!

If you are looking for a good used kite check out Windance, I have personally encountered great customer service there. They have a great consignment section, and I know they inspect every kite before hand. They also have pictures of every kite on their website.

Pepi · Thu Nov 10, 11 9:59 am

I totally agree with Stringy and KMG.

Bob has been in the business for a long time and shit sometimes happens, whether it happens via shop staff mis-communications or an off-day of customer service.

Very much like our shop, it's the off-season and a lot of his staff may be more snow-oriented in experience and not on top of what a new kite customer really needs to keep his stoke up.

Justin has been there a long time as well and should be able to work things out.
If he was the guy you were dealing with, then it just might be a situation that he would need Bob to make a call on to fix (exactly what Stringy was saying)

As a retailer, I know we can never get it right all of the time, so when that happens, we need to take a step back and re-evaluate the situation to better suit the original need or intent of the customer and make it right.

The best thing a retailer can do is not just trade money for stuff, but provide a customer with the right tools that they need for improving or enjoying the sport they participate in.

Hopefully this situation gets resolved and both parties are able to get back on track with things.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2620 Posts The 503 METAL

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

If you are bored, then you are boring Windpunk.

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

Did I say something about your boyfriends Windpunk?

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

Whats the matter did you not get all the sand out of your mangina after your last kite session?????

Save the name calling for face to face please, Windslitherer.

scott l · Since 05 Jul 2009 37 Posts

I've bought my last two boards and a kite from those guys and have always been happy with the service. I currently have a kite there on layaway which really helps me afford gear by spreading out payments. So thanks, Gorge Performance.

gorgebob · Since 25 Jun 2007 259 Posts Portland, OR Shop Owner

Mike D, sorry for the poor service. Justin is usually very good on call backs and dealing with these situations. Brock gave you the option to purchase the additional items with the $200 you put down, but at that time you chose not too. We do consider a deposit taken on products a "purchase." Our policy of cash back within one week and store credit (gift card) within 30 days is an industry standard and has been our policy for years. Normally, adhering to written policies is the best course of fairness for all.
I have discussed this situation with the staff and we will keep trying to be the best shop we can be.
In this case, I would like to arrange a refund. Please stop by or give me a call. 503-246-6646.
Bob

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

I've bought all my snowboard gear from GP since '99 and had great experience with Bob & his shop ..

Internet is the venue to bitch & moan - Sometimes legit, many times not. The posts above give a little insight into the personalities involved & that seems to always be a big factor ..

quenyaistar · Since 21 Oct 2011 416 Posts Cougar, WA Obsessed

I have the right to call bullshit when I encounter it, and this is the perfect venue for this particular kind.

I gave the sales person fair warning, and I told him to check with the boss. I got a gift card, after all that. I could tell dude knew I was not happy by the way he kept looking at the floor instead of me.

I had no problem with slithers comment up until he tried to slander my story and my name without even checking with his buddies at the shop first. As Rambo once said, "he drew first blood". I fired back a PM to slither with a jab of my own to even us out, I could of been the adult and left out the insult my bad, he could of manned up and taken his insult back, but he simply replied with another insult. After that I demonstrated my ability to insult strangers in public.

I was civil with the people I dealt with at that shop even though I felt cheated and was steaming on the inside.

All that said, I want to thank Bob at Gorge Performance for manning up and doing what I believe is the right thing to do. I appreciate it and will continue to do business with you, which I am sure will include buying at least one kite this summer, and all those nik naks we often need right away.

MikeD