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candise's kiln purchase experience (was now i know why...)

updated fri 13 apr 01

 

KLeSueur@AOL.COM on wed 11 apr 01


In a message dated 4/11/01 5:38:29 PM, info@CERAMICDESIGNGROUP.NET writes:

<< My experience was not being able to get the company to send me my kiln,
> which was totally paid for. Aim took seven months to get it to me, Laguna
> was as helpful as they could be, which was not very. I spent six months on
> the phone, Laguna telling me next week for two months, then finally getting
> Aim's number and calling them. They didn't respond until I had my husband
> call (and I'm the mean one). They had every excuse but it came down to
> we've got your money so we'll get it to you when we damn well feel like it.
> chris
>>

Another good reason to always pay for large purchases with a credit card.
After the first month of the runaround Candise could have written her card
company and asked that the purchase be removed from her card since the
company was taking an unreasonable amount to time to deliver the product.

kathi LeSueur

Arnold Howard on wed 11 apr 01


I was sorry to read of Candise's frustrating experience in the
delivery of her Dragon kiln.

Has anyone else had similar problems with delivery of a kiln (of
any brand)? Maybe your suggestions can lead to improved dealer
response.

With best wishes,

Arnold Howard
Paragon

--- Candise Flippin wrote:
> someone wrote The Self Reliant Potter book. With great
> anticipation I
> awaited the freight truck that was to delivery my new Paragon
> Dragon XL kiln
> today. But I am starting at the end and I really need to start
> at the
> beginning. So, if you are not ready for a long frustrating, sad
> story, I
> trust you know where the delete key is. A cute, fun and really
> useful thread
> starts on this list about "why doesn't somebody make a kiln for
> short people
> at a reasonable cost?". Then Arnold Howard from Paragon says
> they have been
> thinking about making such a thing and what would people like to
> see in such
> a kiln. I see the responses and this begins to look like a dream
> come true.
> Arnold says they are going to work on such a thing and asks for
> email
> addresses of those interested and he will email us off the list
> when they
> have some info. Time passes and here comes the Dragon. We make a
> few
> comments, it hits the market and I find out I can order it
> through Laguna.
> I call them. They know nothing... they can't even find their
> copy of
> Ceramics Monthly to see a picture of it... they don't know if
> they can even
> sell it to me... ask me if I'm really sure I was to buy this
> kiln. They
> take my number and say they will have to call me back and let me
> know. Sure
> enough after several calls, I am able to place an order.. kind
> of. They did
> not place the order with Paragon until I sent them a check for
> half of the
> price, but I had expected to pay a deposit. I had not expected
> them to call
> me after placing the order and demanding the rest of the balance.
> I had
> been told that they were built as ordered and would take about
> six weeks. My
> mistake for thinking they would be expecting the balance after
> the product
> was ready to ship or delivered. Next they were going to direct
> ship to me by
> some unknown carrier at some unknown time. As it gets close to
> the expected
> time I start try to contact Laguna. I'm going to summarize a
> little here I
> started a week ago yesterday and found out yesterday afternoon
> that the kiln
> had shipped out of Dallas last Thursday and was already here. So
> much for
> try to schedule the equipment I was going to need to have
> available to get
> it into the studio. So, a very nice man on the phone says I have
> to pay $37
> extra because my studio is in a residential area and I can pay
> $37 more and
> they will place this 711 lb. object wherever I want it and I
> think I am
> saved. Now today this very nice driver comes to the bottom of my
> driveway
> and says it's too muddy. He's sorry. Even though this is how I
> make my
> living and I have already disconnected the old kiln to make room
> for the new
> one he can not help me. He has made a call to someone else and
> they will
> make a plan B. There are probably many morals to this sad story.
> I can not
> believe I haven't yet learned to NEVER pay for something in full
> until it is
> delivered! Even if none of you read this it was good to have a
> place to
> scream. Here's to being more self reliant!
>
> Candise Flippin
> http://www.fineartsculpture.com
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
> subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.


__________________________________________________
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Jonathan Kaplan on wed 11 apr 01


on 4/12/01 1:05 PM, Chris Clarke at chris@CCPOTS.COM wrote:

> My experience was not being able to get the company to send me my kiln,
> which was totally paid for. Aim took seven months to get it to me, Laguna
> was as helpful as they could be, which was not very. I spent six months on
> the phone, Laguna telling me next week for two months, then finally getting
> Aim's number and calling them. They didn't respond until I had my husband
> call (and I'm the mean one). They had every excuse but it came down to
> we've got your money so we'll get it to you when we damn well feel like it.
> chris


You know, once we start demanding more from our suppliers and circulating
stories how bad some of their service is, then and only then will they
start providing the level of customer service we not only deserve but should
be there no matter what the price of the order, etc. etc. (I know, a 'run
on" sentence)

Seriously, I would not put up with such callous disregard by any vendor.

Jonathan
--

Jonathan Kaplan
Ceramic Design Group
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs CO 80477
infor@ceramicdesigngroup.net www.ceramicdesigngroup.net
(use PO BOX for all USPS correspondence)

Plant Location
1280 13th Street
Steamboat Springs CO 80487
(use PLANT LOCATION for all UPS, Common Carrier, and Courier deliveries)

Chris Clarke on thu 12 apr 01


My experience was not being able to get the company to send me my kiln,
which was totally paid for. Aim took seven months to get it to me, Laguna
was as helpful as they could be, which was not very. I spent six months on
the phone, Laguna telling me next week for two months, then finally getting
Aim's number and calling them. They didn't respond until I had my husband
call (and I'm the mean one). They had every excuse but it came down to
we've got your money so we'll get it to you when we damn well feel like it.
chris





chris@ccpots.com
www.ccpots.com




----- Original Message -----
From: Arnold Howard
To:
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 7:38 AM
Subject: Candise's kiln purchase experience (was Now I Know Why...)


> I was sorry to read of Candise's frustrating experience in the
> delivery of her Dragon kiln.
>
> Has anyone else had similar problems with delivery of a kiln (of
> any brand)? Maybe your suggestions can lead to improved dealer
> response.
>
> With best wishes,
>
> Arnold Howard
> Paragon
>
> --- Candise Flippin wrote:
> > someone wrote The Self Reliant Potter book. With great
> > anticipation I
> > awaited the freight truck that was to delivery my new Paragon
> > Dragon XL kiln
> > today. But I am starting at the end and I really need to start
> > at the
> > beginning. So, if you are not ready for a long frustrating, sad
> > story, I
> > trust you know where the delete key is. A cute, fun and really
> > useful thread
> > starts on this list about "why doesn't somebody make a kiln for
> > short people
> > at a reasonable cost?". Then Arnold Howard from Paragon says
> > they have been
> > thinking about making such a thing and what would people like to
> > see in such
> > a kiln. I see the responses and this begins to look like a dream
> > come true.
> > Arnold says they are going to work on such a thing and asks for
> > email
> > addresses of those interested and he will email us off the list
> > when they
> > have some info. Time passes and here comes the Dragon. We make a
> > few
> > comments, it hits the market and I find out I can order it
> > through Laguna.
> > I call them. They know nothing... they can't even find their
> > copy of
> > Ceramics Monthly to see a picture of it... they don't know if
> > they can even
> > sell it to me... ask me if I'm really sure I was to buy this
> > kiln. They
> > take my number and say they will have to call me back and let me
> > know. Sure
> > enough after several calls, I am able to place an order.. kind
> > of. They did
> > not place the order with Paragon until I sent them a check for
> > half of the
> > price, but I had expected to pay a deposit. I had not expected
> > them to call
> > me after placing the order and demanding the rest of the balance.
> > I had
> > been told that they were built as ordered and would take about
> > six weeks. My
> > mistake for thinking they would be expecting the balance after
> > the product
> > was ready to ship or delivered. Next they were going to direct
> > ship to me by
> > some unknown carrier at some unknown time. As it gets close to
> > the expected
> > time I start try to contact Laguna. I'm going to summarize a
> > little here I
> > started a week ago yesterday and found out yesterday afternoon
> > that the kiln
> > had shipped out of Dallas last Thursday and was already here. So
> > much for
> > try to schedule the equipment I was going to need to have
> > available to get
> > it into the studio. So, a very nice man on the phone says I have
> > to pay $37
> > extra because my studio is in a residential area and I can pay
> > $37 more and
> > they will place this 711 lb. object wherever I want it and I
> > think I am
> > saved. Now today this very nice driver comes to the bottom of my
> > driveway
> > and says it's too muddy. He's sorry. Even though this is how I
> > make my
> > living and I have already disconnected the old kiln to make room
> > for the new
> > one he can not help me. He has made a call to someone else and
> > they will
> > make a plan B. There are probably many morals to this sad story.
> > I can not
> > believe I haven't yet learned to NEVER pay for something in full
> > until it is
> > delivered! Even if none of you read this it was good to have a
> > place to
> > scream. Here's to being more self reliant!
> >
> > Candise Flippin
> > http://www.fineartsculpture.com
> >
> >
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> > Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
> >
> > You may look at the archives for the list or change your
> > subscription
> > settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
> >
> > Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
> http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

Chris Clarke on thu 12 apr 01


Jonathan,
I know I shouldn't have taken that crap, but I wanted the kiln really
badly :)
Also, after you wait so many months while they put you off politely I'm not
sure what else there was to do but wait longer. I had been firing oxidation
for years and I wanted to fire reduction. The Aim kiln was the one that had
the features I wanted and could afford. But I will never buy from them
again which I told them (after it was delivered to Laguna). I will build
my own. chris




In Southern California where it has been cold rainy and crummy
chris@ccpots.com
www.ccpots.com




----- Original Message -----
From: Jonathan Kaplan
To:
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 2:10 PM
Subject: Re: Candise's kiln purchase experience (was Now I Know Why...)


> on 4/12/01 1:05 PM, Chris Clarke at chris@CCPOTS.COM wrote:
>
> > My experience was not being able to get the company to send me my kiln,
> > which was totally paid for. Aim took seven months to get it to me,
Laguna
> > was as helpful as they could be, which was not very. I spent six months
on
> > the phone, Laguna telling me next week for two months, then finally
getting
> > Aim's number and calling them. They didn't respond until I had my
husband
> > call (and I'm the mean one). They had every excuse but it came down to
> > we've got your money so we'll get it to you when we damn well feel like
it.
> > chris
>
>
> You know, once we start demanding more from our suppliers and circulating
> stories how bad some of their service is, then and only then will they
> start providing the level of customer service we not only deserve but
should
> be there no matter what the price of the order, etc. etc. (I know, a 'run
> on" sentence)
>
> Seriously, I would not put up with such callous disregard by any vendor.
>
> Jonathan
> --
>
> Jonathan Kaplan
> Ceramic Design Group
> PO Box 775112
> Steamboat Springs CO 80477
> infor@ceramicdesigngroup.net www.ceramicdesigngroup.net
> (use PO BOX for all USPS correspondence)
>
> Plant Location
> 1280 13th Street
> Steamboat Springs CO 80487
> (use PLANT LOCATION for all UPS, Common Carrier, and Courier deliveries)
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.