Did a Tsunami wipe out Port Townsend?!

[lilou]

OK, so I'm really worried now....is everything alright in Port Townsend?
I don't recall seing anything on the news, but then again, restoring our Angleman in the yard doesn't really allow for much news watching!

Seriously, I'm asking because The Port Townsend Foundry has gone off the radar, well at least MY radar!!

I ordered 8 chain plates and sent a half deposit the 1st week of April.
Pete (the owner) told me I could expect them to be done in about 6 weeks and I would be advised when they were cast, so that I could send the remainder of the chainplates for the final bending/machining.

So weeks went by........finally, I called about a month ago to check and I was advised they had been casted, so I Fedexed the rest, as we were on a tight schedule.
I called a week later to find out where we were, and turns they didn't even open my package!! It had been laying there for about a week.

And then silence........................................... ...........................

I left 2 messages, the first one about 10 days ago and NOTHING. They never pick up the phone anymore, complete silence.....

So either something happen to them, or they have a very peculiar way of doing business (along with my chainplates and my money!)

Has anybody experienced this with them?

[Paul Girouard]

[quote=lilou;1865457]

OK, so I'm really worried now....is everything alright in Port Townsend?



uote]

Humm every thing is alright in PT , no tsunami anyway.:)

You sure your

#1: Calling the right phone #.

#2: Calling durning normal PST working hours ?

I don't live over there and I've never done business with the company you mentioned.

Good luck.

[SV Papillon]

I just talked to Pete today. They are very busy. No excuses, just had very favorable dealings with them so far. He said 6-8 weeks lead time on parts depending on molds etc. Keep in mind they are a small family business that tries hard to deliver quality products at a reasonable cost. Sometimes that means having to wait a little longer.

Jake

[lilou]

Well now I'm really wondering what's going on!

I have the right number and call during their business hours....I don't want to harass them, so I don't leave a message every time I try to call. I know they have my number and my email.

It's been 10 weeks....and not even a polite return phone call to let me know what's going on? I'm not impressed.

[SV Papillon]

Don't know what to say call and leave a messege and tell them you are concerned. If they are not answering the phone it's probably because they are busy casting parts. It's always taken me several tries to get ahold of them, but after going for a visit to the foundry I can see why. It's a small operation and they are all involved.

Jake

[lilou]

Yeah maybe.

I guess I don't like to be left hanging. It's causing us a lot of aggravation because we have to put the boat in the water, incomplete and we don't really know when we can expect them...since 6-8 weeks has come and gone.

It just seems strange, I never had trouble getting ahold of them before.

Oh well, next week is another week. :o

[Steve Paskey]

Ten weeks without a word, after they told you it would be done in about six weeks? I don't care how small they are, how busy they are, who's involved in what, or how good their work is. That's no way to run a business.

If I were you, I would print out this thread and mail it to them return receipt requested, along with a polite note asking them for an update.

That should get someone's attention.

[lilou]

That's no way to run a business.


Hi Steve,

I agree! I just don't really get how people are somewhat resigned that this is normal protocol!

But to be fair, it wasn't 10 weeks without a word. I did call them a couple of time, to check on progress.

Although they initially said they would call me to let me know when the chainplates were cast (they knew time was a concern, but 8 weeks was fine), so I could send my old ones in, they never did.
I found out by calling them......and then after sending them Fedex, they sat there unopened for a week.

Til that point, I thought a bit sloppy, but hey, they are very busy and I want nice chainplates and they are helpful when I speak to them.

So I even sent them another order for whisker tangs...no real hurry on those, although they had them in stock and would probably combine shipping for the whole lot.

That was probably the last week of May (2 1/2 weeks ago). Since not a word. I let 2 messages explaining my concerns with time....complete silence.

I was going to order hawses from them when we rebuilt the cockpit, but now I'm really hesitant. Not sure what to make of all this.

I guess I'll keep calling next week, although at this point, it's too late for us anyway. The boat is going in next wednesday and we'll just have to deal with the rest as it comes.

[lilou]

A little update:

I called last Monday and HURRAY!!!!! they answered the phone!:D

I was told the plates were getting bent that day and hopefully shipped last week.......so now I await patiently!

[Tylerdurden]

If they are a small outfit like they say and do quality work just be patient. I know sometimes I have to let the phone go because answering a call means stopping, taking the call, figuring out the situation and then starting work again. If I did answer the phone, really nothing would get done sometimes. Casting is dangerous and slow and steady wins the race. Be patient as craftsman are hard to find a a good price. If they are nasty to you thats a whole nother story though but I haven't read any indication of that.

[Bob Triggs]

Well now I'm really wondering what's going on!

I have the right number and call during their business hours....I don't want to harass them, so I don't leave a message every time I try to call. I know they have my number and my email.

It's been 10 weeks....and not even a polite return phone call to let me know what's going on? I'm not impressed.

"I dont want to harass them" (Italics mine)

Isn't this exactly what you are doing here? What a lousey way to deal by bashing them on the internet. :mad:

[lilou]

Mark,

I totally get your point and I know we all get busy. I am enraged sometimes at how much I have to spend on the phone to fix other people's mistakes and sort administrative stuff.

On the other hand, it's not a good feeling to be on the receiving end of a dead phone line, wondering what's going on. Also, let's face it, the dead-line is way passed and it has affected us.

Bob, sorry you feel that way. 2 phone call in 10 days, I would hardly call that harassment.
Especially when I left a polite message, saying that I was getting concerned about the time frame, since the work was quite overdue.

Sorry, where I come from, when we do business and say something, we do everything we can to stick to it and if we can't, we at least let the customer know. Just common courtesy.

This isn't a forum bashing session, I don't take any of those things personally, just observing the nonbusiness-like ways.

[Tom Robb]

I've met some of the guys from the shop and they seem like good people to do business with and not incidentally do really nice work.
I'm guessing that their "long suit" is foundry work rather more than office work. It isn't a big or even a medium business, but I get your frustration. Do you live anything like commuting distance from them?
Going there might be better than calling. Perhaps someone here who is reasonably close could look in on them for you.