Shop refused to refund deposit for pre-ordered Arai Helmet after waiting too long

[metalpura]

Hello everione, im nt sure whether diz is da right place to post. I nid ur opinions how i should deal wif my situation as stated in my post early last mth in X1-R forum. Im confused n in need of HELP! Anyway here is da story:

 

Hi fellow X1-R riders,

 

Sorry if my topic is abit off. I have not been updating myself with wat's going on in this forum for so long. Glad to see u guys still organize gatherings but so sorry I can't join due to work!

 

I'm juz wondering if any of u have any bad experience getting stuffs from this particular shop at Dunlop Street. It's called Biketech21. I had a few but da last time i had one from dem really turned me off!

 

The story:

 

Early last month, i ordered an Arai helmet at $490 from dem, after hearing it from a fren's fren who got it from dem too. I was convinced it was da cheapest I can get, since I saw normally dey sell at $580 outside. Dey told me dat dey will send deir own people to get it directly from Japan. However, i will need to wait 4-6 weeks for it to arrive. I agreed to it and put a $300 cash deposit. Dey issued me an invoice and I left da shop.

 

Da next day, a fren of mine told me abt da limited editions. He told me i shud get a limited edition helmet since im getting it directly from Japan. However, when i tell da shop dat i wanna change to a limited edition helmet and willing to pay more da next day, dey told me arai dn produce animore limited edition for dat particular helmet. Disappointed wif da fact, I had no choice but to proceed wif da current one.

 

Juz yesterday, I went to dat same shop again to cancel my order since I badly need da money 4 other important things. Da shop said da order can't be cancelled coz it's specially ordered for me n shipment is due 1 or 2 weeks time. Shipment??? I tot dey were gonna sent deir own people to get it directly from der??? I don't know wat kind of policy is diz??? Y can't i cancel my order n get a refund when da product isn't even here yet??? Maybe da reason y i have to wait dat long is because dey r waitg 4 others to order helmets/apparels of da same brand so dat dey can ship dem here simultaneously n save cost! I might be wrong but I guess dat's da reason!

 

In da end, dey offered me a refund only if is placed under resell and someone buy it. OMG. I don't understand y dey hv to make it so difficult for me! Dey simply wanna make a profit despite da customer's misery! Dey asked me y i changed my mind. I said it's because i managed to find dat limited edition helmet dat I want at a reasonable price. Another round of frustration started again when dey told me dat da particular helmet dat i wanted is not in 2009 or 2010 catalog n start browsing da catalogs, n showed me it mite be a different model. I insisted dat it was part of da 2009 models but its not da normal ones. I said it's da Limited Edition helmets. Dey told me to check again. Den i said dat i checked out dat helmet at one shop in Jurong n it existed. Finally, one of dem called his fren or whoever to check out. After realizing he was wrong, he began to browse another catalog n showed it to me n said its $880 n offered me. I told dem i noe it's $880 but i can get it cheaper elsewhere. He finally said he have nothing to say. But still, I have no choice but to agree to put da helmet at resell once it arrive and wait for a willing da buyer to get it n get my refund. Even dat is so, i believe its not a full refund oso. Sigh... Diz resell thingy really pissed me off!

 

I decided to put it on sale here as well as my FB hoping someone will buy it. A buyer wanted to change its size, and another one wanted to change its color. I emailed dem last nite to noe if it's possible but no reply watsoever. I even called da shop juz now but I can't get thru. Very, very, very bad customer service. In da end, all I can say is I'm dissatisfied and frustrated with them and I'm completely turned off! Partly maybe it's my fault for being fickle-minded but I'm a customer. Will never get aniting from dem again!

 

As u guys hv known, its been more den 2 months n almost 3 months i hv not hear any news abt da helmet. I cant proceed wif my sale n get my refund too as da helmet is not here yet! So hw shud i deal wif diz situation? Shud i proceed wif legal actions coz i feel da shop cheated me wif deir nonsensical policies of not able to get refund unless resell n i've been waitg 4 far too long! No news no nothing! Juz silence! I dn wish to offend anione here bt i feel justice shud be done rite? Thanks 4 ur opinions

[haoKR]

post 1 tread can alrdy,i kw u angry

------------------------------------

 

u wann go down wif a frend,n tok to them kindly n sweatly about this matter ?

[lacrimosae]

Hi there metalpura,

 

I do not like a lot of shops in Singapore and dealing with this particular shop has yielded a few bad experiences for me too. I assure you, I do not work for this shop, what I'm about to say is purely objective.

 

I'm quite sure you do not understand the meaning of a 'deposit', so here it is:

 

1. To give as partial payment or security.

2. A partial or initial payment of a cost.

 

This means that when you pay a deposit, it is usually non-refundable unless specified. You pay a deposit to assure the shop that you are committed to purchase the item, and in this context, you have an agreement with the shop that when the item arrives in SG, you will pay off the balance and purchase the item that you ordered. Without the commitment of a deposit, the shop will bear too much risk of ordering items for customers who will later change their minds.

 

If every customer is like you, then think of all the shops in SG stuck with the stock that they have ordered for customers who refuse to purchase it after it arrives. Not to mention the loss of income when they have to refund the deposit. If the item is not able to be sold for a long time, who pays for the shipping?

 

You do not understand that shops do business for profit, not charity. If it costs a shop to purchase an Arai at S$350, and S$80 to ship it in, they can't sell it at S$430. They have to sell it at about S$580 for it to cover the overheads and still provide a margin which is their rice bowl. It is a question of how low you can sell an item to have sustainable profitability, in order to stay in business. So some shops will try to outprice their competitors by selling very cheaply, but they choose to do so in the hopes of retaining old customers or attracting new customers. In your case, you heard from a friend about his 'cheap deal' and patronised that same shop.

 

I'm sure you won't work for your boss for free right? So try to put yourself in the shop owner's shoes and see it from their perspective.

 

I also think you have been naive to believe that they would actually send someone to pick up the helmet in person, since a return ticket from Japan is S$900, and even with luggage allowances, he can only carry up to 6 helmets at any time (2 in the hand-carried, 4 in the check-in bag). This means shipping is S$150 per helmet, and only if he doesn't get taxed at the SG customs when entering SG, which will be quite an impossible feat.

 

Bottom line, your deposit is locked down to ensure you purchase the item after it arrives. The delay in getting the item (common for most shops who place small orders) is due to the shop wanting to wait for more orders so as to save on shipping. This shop does it all the time, and you will have to take it up with the shop on the issue on delays. But as for deposit, I believe there is no refund.

Edited September 21, 2010 by lacrimosae

[Quincy]

bro, dates is very important. You should state down in your post.

Agreed is xxx no. of weeks but did u ask them if waiting time exceeds the agreed no. of waiting time, how will the bike shop handle the situation or compensate you? normally ppl won't ask but its always advisable to negotiate with a clear mind.

 

Please do remember shop is a rice bowl & every owners will want to protect theirs. Money is also your hard earned & you will also wanna protect it...

[aRcHeR]

bro, not to add salt to wounds..

 

but biketech is well known for his rubber band ETAs..

 

i heard of a fellow rider who waited for his SW-motech racks for over 6months!

 

and it's best if you go down and talk to shah directly instead of posting here.

 

posting here not do anything.. tell them if you can't commit a date, you can choose to cancel the order. Unless they can guarantee you the ETA, then you LL have to purchase as per agreed.

 

best to have a black/white..

 

most of the time bike part shipments do come in via air freight, hence transit time is pretty fast.. other than the actual bike of course!

 

good luck!

[BlacElmt]

Any duration period stated in your invoice or agreement? If not, it'll be very hard for you to do anything. Black and white is important.

[Demon]

Hello everione, im nt sure whether diz is da right place to post. I nid ur opinions how i should deal wif my situation as stated in my post early last mth in X1-R forum. Im confused n in need of HELP! Anyway here is da story:

 

As u guys hv known, its been more den 2 months n almost 3 months i hv not hear any news abt da helmet. I cant proceed wif my sale n get my refund too as da helmet is not here yet! So hw shud i deal wif diz situation? Shud i proceed wif legal actions coz i feel da shop cheated me wif deir nonsensical policies of not able to get refund unless resell n i've been waitg 4 far too long! No news no nothing! Juz silence! I dn wish to offend anione here bt i feel justice shud be done rite? Thanks 4 ur opinions

 

 

If you want forumers here to give you some good advices you have to make your post easy to read and understand.

You can start by spelling the words correctly, and use "Black" text

[yokokazunori]

yea pls use other darker ink to post. this colour hurts my eyes alot..

[haoKR]

can close tread le

[Snoek]

So scary to kena these kinda stuffs.

[Muskal]

hmm u bought the helmet for 490 n the shop say they sent their man to get it directly from japan. correct me if i m wrong but if they reaLLy sent someone over to japan don u tink they wld charge u mmore for the helmet? the air tix to japan alone is more than 1k i tink. hmm. not logic to sell u the arai for 490 if they sent some one over to japan. hmm. y don u buy at arai distributor? CHIAP LEE?

[toybox]

i've been buying and ordering stuff from them often with cancellation at times have a nice chat with Shah or the dad i'm sure everything will go smooth they are quite reasonable person and long waiting time is very normal there not to some who don't know about it.

[natgw]

i once waited 2mths JUST FOR THE CERTIFICATIONS of my arrow exhausts.

 

have to get benny from HKL to call them and let me hear them shouting at each other before biketech is able to ask someone to deliver down.

[vyruz]

If you want forumers here to give you some good advices you have to make your post easy to read and understand.

You can start by spelling the words correctly, and use "Black" text

 

This was the first thing that came to mind when I read this post. Good constructive feedback, Demon.

[dragonforce]

If you want forumers here to give you some good advices you have to make your post easy to read and understand.

You can start by spelling the words correctly, and use "Black" text

 

i agree.

 

i've been buying and ordering stuff from them often with cancellation at times have a nice chat with Shah or the dad i'm sure everything will go smooth they are quite reasonable person and long waiting time is very normal there not to some who don't know about it.

 

your sentence is a whole mouth full! anyway i ordered something from them, i hope it comes on time instead of making trips to talk to them.

[metalpura]

Sorry everyone for the font color. I always use the blue color and also this font size to post. And sorry my english is very "SMS". Don't get mad yeah? Hehehehe. I found out what actually happened and all I'm gonna do now is wait till the helmet come. I'm just naive. On the receipt it's stated that I have to wait 4 - 6 weeks from 9th July 2010. However I told them I will put it on resell since I can't get my deposit back. That's the only black and white I have. Peace everyone!

[dragonforce]

glad you got it sorted out. now, i have a question:

 

if a shop promises the goods within a stipulated time. eg +- 4-6 weeks written in the receipt.

 

lets say by that stipluated time, the good dont arrive, what can be done?

[natgw]

flip table lo.

[crazydj]

flip table lo.

 

Or throw chair. But you got to see which one they will get intimidated by more and apply your flipping/throwing skills accordingly.

[metalpura]

glad you got it sorted out. now, i have a question:

 

if a shop promises the goods within a stipulated time. eg +- 4-6 weeks written in the receipt.

 

lets say by that stipluated time, the good dont arrive, what can be done?

 

The only only option I'm left with is to put on resell, find a buyer and wait for the helmet because I can't get a refund. I really don't know what can be done now because it seems like I'm on the losing end.

 

flip table lo.

 

Or throw chair. But you got to see which one they will get intimidated by more and apply your flipping/throwing skills accordingly.

 

Are you guys sure they are good ideas?

[crazydj]

Are you guys sure they are good ideas?

 

Are you sure that we were not joking to lighten the situation?

 

Haha, but really bro, just fork out the money and try to resell if you can because you are really not gonna get your deposit back.

Edited September 24, 2010 by crazydj

[metalpura]

Are you sure that we were not joking to lighten the situation?

 

Haha, but really bro, just fork out the money and try to resell if you can because you are really not gonna get your deposit back.

 

Yeah bro. Dat's da onie choice I have. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to get it back.

[crazydj]

Yeah bro. Dat's da onie choice I have. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to get it back.

 

I find that since you already fork out so much, rather than it go to waste, might as well just get the damn thing and try to sell it or put it on display or something. Oh just use it.

[slowrider_79]

Maybe what the shop meant is that they have a contact in Japan which they as in Biketech21 can liaise with directly. So if a deposit is made, of course in a business point of view, they will want to keep your money..........PROVIDED, they can deliver their initial promise when the time comes. Now in the case of a few months and stocks never arrive, they also never offer you a discount for goodwill or at least an equivalent or better helmet, then I think the shop deserves a bad rep. Now if you got all that ordering paper work, ETA of helmet as they promised and the dates documented, you may go to CASE or small claim tribunal to get them to assist you with the claims against the shop. Alternatively, explain nicely to Bikeshop face to face that it is the case of them falling short of delivering the service promised and you would like a Full refund, nothing less. Actually you can claim them more for holding the money but usually on invoices, they would have a clause to protect themselves. So, go ask nicely and then decide on the next move. Dun get angry or let it hound you. If its a problem money can solve then its not really a issue cause the solution is MONEY! Just difference in timing. Good Luck!