Business treated me like crap...

[Infernal Device]

So I buy many studio supplies from a local family run store. They are known on the Internet and are fairly large. They have a great selection, and the employees are wonderful.

I only buy my stuff from them, spending about $2000 a year. When I go in I take them donuts and it is always a good experience.

I have three checking accounts (because of my business) and a few of my employees can use them for certain expenses. When I went in last time, I wrote a check not knowing it would not clear.

They could have called (they know me), or sent a reminder or notification letter. What I got was a nasty letter (not on letterhead) with a threat of going to the police in 5 days. Quotes include, "As you should know, we have a check from you that bounced", and "The consequences are not worth it".

There was no , "Sincerely", or "We understand the oversight, please be in contact."

There is no reference to a receipt number or any information beyond the amount (not even a date). I DO know the transaction, but to sound official in a letter, shouldn't they have used letterhead, and referenced the invoice?

The wording was such that I am a criminal, not the customer I am.

I AM IN THE WRONG, but what do you think? Would you go back?

I think I will print these replies out and give to them when I pay the amount ($124)

[6strings]

Call the owner and apologize for bouncing the check, but explain that you are very dissapointed with the way you were treated and expected them to at least give a regular customer the benefit of the doubt (though you should still expect to pay whatever fees they impose as a bounced check policy)

My 2 cents.

[trident fan]

i wouldn't apologize. give them the cash immediately and never go back there.

[C/G]

Pay them and never go back. If their billing was done from another location ( some chains have a main office where all the billing is done ) I can understand the oversight. But, if this mom and pop store is the place doing the billing, and they know who you are, they could have let $125 slide until you came in next. Or they could have called you and brought it to your attention. I remember every bit of shoddy customer service I have ever recieved.

In a similar vein, but different situation, I have given a local music shop a lot of business over the years. I am 34 and have been going there since I was about 15 years old. I swear I put the owners kid through university with all the cash I spent there. These days I don't even think I buy cables from them. I tend to order things that they don't stock, so they usually have to make a few calls, check availability ect. I needed a price on something small, and I swear it took 2 weeks before I heard anything. I would call and ask how is the pricing going and 9 times out of 10 they forgot to even do it. After that happenend about 5 or 6 times I said f**k it, and started shopping at the evil chain store accross the way. I have a friend that works there and I get fantastic service and cheaper prices. I worked retail for years and understand the importance of good customer service, so I know when the ball is being dropped.

[tvanveen]

Originally Posted by Colin Gaucher

Pay them and never go back. If their billing was done from another location ( some chains have a main office where all the billing is done ) I can understand the oversight.

I bet this is the case...whoever is doing the books doesn't know who you are.

Give them the opportunity to make you happy, just as you wished they'd given you the opportunity to make the bounced check right. If you don't get satisfaction, move on.

tv

[EveAnna Manley]

I am going to take the other side on this one...

You bounced the check. I don't see where they have to "make you happy". They need to get payment resolved and now they have to eat the bounce fee the bank charged for a returned item, be out the money, send you the letter, and spend a bunch more time in order to get paid. All this for a pissy amount of bucks.

Most businesses have a generic and stern letter that is sent out as a routine event after someone bounces a check. I wouldn't take the tone of the letter personally other than getting to your bank, making sure funds are there, and making a good payment to them as quickly as possible.

Another thing to consider for the future is you can go to your bank, speak with your bank manager and get a Line of Credit or Overdraft Protection set up with them. It doesn't cost much to ensure that in the future, should you be about to bounce a check, that your overdraft protection or LOC kicks in and saves you the embrassment of bouncing checks.

My Dad spent 3 years in state prison for bouncing a check. Think about that....

[Marlowe]

First: Call, apologize and express your disappointment.

Next, make your decision to continue with them or not based on the reaction.

I am big on customer service. If it ain't happening, I go elsewhere. Mercenary is great in that regard. While they don't usually have the absolute lowest prices (but they ARE competitive), they do treat me well.

[chuckj]

You made an honest mistake with the bounced check. They also made a mistake in how they reacted to it. I would point out that you feel you were mistreated. This is THEIR chance to rectify it. Sometimes businesses need a wake up call to realize they have a system in place that is detrimental to their long term future. Word of mouth and reputation is a hugely important asset for a company, especially a family run business such as theirs. They should realize that. Here is their chance for them to buy YOU the donuts, waive the bounced check fee, apologize, and agree with you that the way that this situation was handled was wrong in this case. They should then let you know that they have implemented a system that this will not happen again and they sincerely appreciate your business. Tell them "thanks", shake their hand, grab a donut, and tell them you'll see them next time.

[StoneinaPond]

Originally Posted by EveAnna Manley

....They need to get payment resolved and now they have to eat the bounce fee the bank charged for a returned item, be out the money, send you the letter, and spend a bunch more time in order to get paid. All this for a pissy amount of bucks....

You know what, life sometimes gets in the way. Sucks, doesn't it.

I recently stop banking with a huge international bank because they just couldn't stop putting their hands in my pocket at every opportunity.

The local bank I now do business with is, for the time being, the best.

Because I was moving, and a check due to me came in a day late, a check I had written, bounced (again, life just keeps getting in the way. ) The bank charged me $33 which they had every right to do, but I still went in and politely explained the situation, and guess what.

The fee was returned to me the very next day. No donuts, no hassle, just people understanding that life gets in the way and if you treat people well, most will return the favor.

[Infernal Device]

Wanna hear the funny update??

IT WAS A BANK ERROR! I never bounced the check. But now I see how I am treated when it comes down to it.

I am still going to print this out and give it to them, so keep 'em coming, good or bad.

Don't worry, I am going to cut off the name of the forum, and black out usernames. I just think that people need to see what happens and what "we" think of how we are treated.

[eligit]

Originally Posted by Infernal Device

Wanna hear the funny update??

IT WAS A BANK ERROR! I never bounced the check. But now I see how I am treated when it comes down to it.

I am still going to print this out and give it to them, so keep 'em coming, good or bad.

oh, the kicker!!!

you should send them the notification from the bank to show them the error was not yours. also enclose their nasty note to you....they sort of owe you an apology after all the business you have given them.

[6strings]

Originally Posted by Infernal Device

Wanna hear the funny update??

IT WAS A BANK ERROR! I never bounced the check. But now I see how I am treated when it comes down to it.

I am still going to print this out and give it to them, so keep 'em coming, good or bad.

Don't worry, I am going to cut off the name of the forum, and black out usernames. I just think that people need to see what happens and what "we" think of how we are treated.

I wouldn't give them a list. That won't get you anywhere and is unprofessional. Take the high road. If you explain the situation and your great dissappointment to the owner, you may be surprised at the response. Otherwise, take your business elsewhere (but I'm sure they'll want to keep it). Be cool.

[cl516]

eveanna has a point, but i'm sure every other business would have to deal with the same stuff. there are SO many places that sell stuff, i'm sure at least one place can be nicer than the guys you're dealing with. but if it is the case that the billing people are separate, then hey, forgive and forget right...

[C/G]

In the poster's thread it states it is a locally owned shop. This means no seperate billing dept. The person doing the billing is probably the owner's wife or brother or somebody in the back office.

I would indeed send a copy of that threatening letter they sent you back to them showing it was a bank error and not your own. If I was in your position, there would also be a note from me saying "Remember when I USED to buy gear at your shop."

[Ruphus]

Had something similar many years ago. My bank account got overdrawn by ~ 80 bucks and there came an immediate and unfriendly letter.

I went to the bank asked for the department chief told him loudly what I thought of his **** shop after 15 years of being customer and cancelled my account.

I mean these days things have really gotten out of hand, the fraud as well as the distrust, but I can´t stand impersonal treatment after years.

The story of 3 years prison is a tough one though. Sounds like overdone punishment by some godly judge. Like one of those guys who beats his kids and dresses in latex after work at court.

Ruphus

[EveAnna Manley]

I don't get it.

What do you guys call a "nice" dealer? One that rolls over and wants you to rub their tummy and apologizes to YOU if YOU bounce a check (for whatever reason, and there's ALWAYS a reason, one or another)? AND buys you donuts? How 'bout they give you some free gear too? Take you to dinner for the priviledge of receiving your NSF check?

I dunno what world you guys live in....

I don't get it.

"Business Treated Me Like Crap" is the title of this thread. I find the logic here amazing, really.

If I bounced the check, I would consider myself deserving of whatever letter they sent me, and then rally to my local donut store and bring the dealer donuts and $124 bucks cash, cap in hand, apologizing for the inconvenience.

Then go over to the bank and yell at them.

That's what I would do.

[Reptil]

That letter is just rude. no other word for it.
I hate "standard" letters. I expect this from the phone company, ensurance, and still those are formulated with more respect than you got. Rudeness is not good business.
Don't waste time on this. Apologies are not in order. move on. Let them write a couple more of these to other ppl, it's their problem. But you figured that out already.

I had a simular experience, with a local synthesizer store. Not over money, they were just really rude. Never argued with them, just took my business elsewhere, and advised others about the treatment that they could expect. Not vengeful just honest.

[Jim Roberts]

Originally Posted by Infernal Device

Wanna hear the funny update??

IT WAS A BANK ERROR! I never bounced the check. But now I see how I am treated when it comes down to it.

I am still going to print this out and give it to them, so keep 'em coming, good or bad.

Don't worry, I am going to cut off the name of the forum, and black out usernames. I just think that people need to see what happens and what "we" think of how we are treated.

It may seem obvious, but:

I would have the bank pay your vendor's bounced check fee, refund the bounced check fee they probably charged you AND make a call to the vendor to explain their error. Anything less would be a disservice to all parties.

J

[cdog]

Originally Posted by EveAnna Manley

I am going to take the other side on this one...

You bounced the check. I don't see where they have to "make you happy".

EveAnna, as a business owner, I would think you know the golden rule:

The customer is always right. Even when they are wrong.

Even when they have bounced a check.

Why? Because you accept checks, which means you accept the possibility of a bounced check. Because you want them as a return customer. If they feel they have been disrespected becauyse of a simple mistake, there are a lot of other businesses they can go to.

If its clear that the the party who wrote the bounced check it is not going to pay, file a civil suit instead of a bunch of tough talk that scares no one.

Bouncing your own personal checks is really not the most effective criminal enterprise, it is almost always a good faith mistake that is easily resolved. Treating your customer like a criminal only makes you look like an asshole.

If you're so paranoid as to call the cops on good customers whose checks have bounced, why are you accepting personal checks to begin with? Only accept bank checks or credit cards.

These problems are so avoidable for everyone involved.

Originally Posted by EveAnna Manley

My Dad spent 3 years in state prison for bouncing a check. Think about that....

I've thought about it.... and simply bouncing a check is not a crime.

I think there's more to that story than what you're telling us.

[Mike Jasper]

Originally Posted by EveAnna Manley

My Dad spent 3 years in state prison for bouncing a check. Think about that....

Ahhhhhhh. So that's why you're in Chino.


Jasper

[EveAnna Manley]

Whoa! Cdog! I am just participating in an online discussion here. I have nothing to do with this guy's dealer, nor do I know who this guy Infernal is.

We are just discussing things. Rhetorical discussion that's all.

My position is: if one bounces a check, for whatever reason, they are not deserved a bunch of extra niceness. Get payment made and get on with it.

I didn't call any cops or write any letters.... I have no relationship to this situation at all. Please re-read this thread.

P.S. My dad knew he was writing a bad check when he sent it. And he was never able to repay. The folks who got bilked out of the $20K went to the state DA and they prosecuted my dad and he went to jail. And no, it was not in California. Justice was served, as per the law allows, even to my dad. That the folks never got their $20K back sucks equally, but that's how our system works.

[cdog]

"you" = generic business owner in my post

Sorry for the confusion.

But, my point is, most bounced checks are honest mistakes, not criminal enterprises.

I never knew David Manley had such a checkered past. Cool, now you guys have street cred.

Manley's gangtsa.

[Infernal Device]

wow.

1st, I love Manley stuff. I have a Voxbox (#mvb407)

2nd, it was a bank error. They should have contacted me and said something to the effect of the possibility of being a bank error. They know me. They do not have a different billing department.

3rd, It sucks that they have to go through this stuff, BUT are they the perfect business? I think not.

4th, I want to keep the business name out of it, you may live in PA and go there! The employees are cool.

In my years of going there, I have never asked for a discount or been a pain in the ass. BUT, the fact that I buy about 75-100 drum heads a year and there is a Guitar Center less than a mile away would make me think that they would not be like that.

If one of my cleints of several years bounced a check, I would be a decent human about it. Everyday life is complex.

If I was get all "official" about it, then I would be official with everything. Do not accept gifts, hang out, and use a letterhead, and put specifics in the letter.

Can't be both.

It still pisses me off.

[Darius van H]

I don't see any need for the communication to get "nasty" until waaaaaaaay further down the line : first reminder, second reminder, friendly phone call...still no payment?.....then get nastee!

[dtucker]

I'm with EveAnna on this one.

And I believe, CDOG, that in some (probably most) states it truly IS a crime to write a bum check.

[EveAnna Manley]

Cdog: MANLEY is my married name. My ex' is who you mentioned in your post, and he is not my dad. Please be careful typing... or edit your post, please.

[StoneinaPond]

Originally Posted by dtucker

I'm with EveAnna on this one.

And I believe, CDOG, that in some (probably most) states it truly IS a crime to write a bum check.

Writing a "bum" check implies intent to defraud.

This is not what we are talking about. It's about customer relationships.

[cdog]

I stand corrected. Writing a bad check IS a crime in every state. The penalties by state are as follows:

http://www.ckfraud.org/penalties.html

But, it turns out this is a HIGHLY PROFITABLE "crime" for the banks who charge processing fees.

So who really is getting screwed? The consumers and businesses who have to deal with the fees and hassle of a bounced check.

Banks can more than afford to offer overdraft protection for ALL of their customers. But, they would rather rake in the steep overdraft fees than provide all of their customers with overdraft protection (which they charge another fee for).

"Consumer Federation of America estimated that U.S. banks made more than $5 billion a year in bounced check charges and that bounced check fees are anywhere from 11 to 32 times higher than the actual cost to the bank." (Sacramento Bee, "Bad Checks are Expensive", Sept, 1999

As a buyer: you should have your finances straight when you right a check
As a business owner: if you choose to acccept checks, you choose to accept that a certain percentage of those you receive will be bad. Treat your customers with respect.

In my business, I only accept cash.

[bunnerabb]

Common courtesy greases more gears than it grinds.

On both sides of the counter.

Nobody is doing anybody any favours by retailing them something.

If a guy keeps the lightson in one corner of your shop for several dozen months, the least you can do is open up word pad and say "Um.. your check returned NSF. Can we sort this out, today?" Alla this "big, major dude hardball, corporate 'tude" horse shit is getting on my tits. Business is about people because money doesn't have legs or make decisions, so businesses should deal with people AND numbers, IMHO.

YMMV

And yeah.. I've run businesses.

And profitably.

[Slipperman]

Originally Posted by EveAnna Manley

Cdog: MANLEY is my married name. My ex' is who you mentioned in your post, and he is not my dad. Please be careful typing... or edit your post, please.

Crash.

Hi EveAnna!!!

Gotta love the internot.

Ever get under the impression that nobody reads the replys?

Keystone cops.

Who's on first?

XOXOX

Slippy