[baron_]

Dealt with him about a year ago, maybe 1.5 years ago

Still have $70 of my $$ ($100, technically)


We were supposed to trade a '66 tilt column for a set of bucket seats (one was recliner seat)


He was supposed to deliver when driving through Ohio

Plan was for Columbus. Never showed. I had a house in columbus at the time
I called at midnight wondering where he was, after sitting on my butt all day waiting for him. I remember specifically cancelling a date with a girl, waiting on the joker
He was asleep in a hotel. Made plans for next day. No idea why he didn't call me to cancel or change plans? He had my address and all, was supposed to show between certain hours....


Sat around all day next day....same deal...and he's already driven past columbus by the time i get ahold of him

I call late at night after sitting around all day and his trailer is too full - can't unload the seats at that point, after i offer to drive to him.

So we plan to deliver the next day 2 hours away, near cincinnati.

I drive two hours away, stay at my parents house - more excuses...and says he'll ship the seats to make up for it



I ship the tilt column and pay shipping difference in seats (i was being nice, since his shipping cost would be more than mine)
He never ships seats...waits until he has the column (disgruntled me). Who does that?

Gets the column and it's somehow bent in shipping. UPS messup? Impressive...to bend a shipping column. Not his fault, admittedly

Anyways, I'm tired of dealing with him at this point and say i'll just buy the bucket seats for his stated price.

He now raises the price for the bucket seats. Uncool.



That doesn't make me happy, of course...
We debated how much it would cost to fix (the bent column). He wanted far more than i thought it would cost to fix it (small bend in the bottom shaft i later fixed easily)


I tell him to send me back the column and my shipping $$$.


He says he's taking out $30 to reship the column back to me...Kinda fair - not his fault it was bent.

I got the column back, but never got the extra $70 from the extra shipping i said i'd pay




Very unprofessional. Wasted 2 or 3 days of my time, me sitting...waiting on him...when he said he'd deliver or meet me here or there and never showed.
I'm sure I could find something better to do than sit around waiting for someone.

And state a price and then raise a price? Not how i do business.


I've asked a few times for the shipping fund. He always says he'll send and never does.


Just fair notice to those that try to rely on him for something. He sounds like an 18 year old on the phone...and does business like one


I think it's my only negative experience in the pontiac hobby

[BobC]

If this is the Dale S I think it is there's a long history of upset customers. I'm sure there must be some good transactions, but there's also way too many bad ones. The safe bet here would be to only release funds upon delivery after checking out the part.

[baron_]

I've got 110 e-mails (says my e-mail program) back and forth with this guy.

It takes a lot for me to complain...publicly.
I'm typically the kind to blame myself for trusting someone I know I shouldn't have.

He's the type that says your parts are worth $150 (for a $700 part) and his parts are worth twice what they should be - among other things...
(we had an argument about a minty fresh set of 093 heads that he said were worth no more than $200, at best...and that he can buy them anywhere for that)



This guy was a severe pain in the ass.
I was very kind with the above description of events


Typical ordeal with him:

Calls week before - we set up a time and place to meet. All well. (Columbus, Ohio)
I call day before to make sure all is well - all seems well...plan to meet at noon downtown
I sit around until 2pm waiting for him at place to meet - no show. I call..he says sorry, he's running late...he'll now be there at 4pm, 5pm at the latest
I call at 6:30pm wondering where he is. He again apologizes profusely and says it will now be 10pm for xxxx and xxxx excuse.
I've waited this long...or cancelled xxx plans, or whatever. So no choice but to find something to do until 10pm
I call at about 10:30 wondering where he's at - more excuses...it's now 12:30 but we'll get it done, promised that night

About 1:30 I call and he's asleep. Wakes up and sounds groggy on the phone and apologizes more. Didn't feel like calling me? I've sat there all day - girlfriend is pissed I chose car parts over her for the weekend night, etc etc etc.




Story Two:
I e-mail asking where my refund on shipping is.
He says it's in the box with the returned steering column.
I check - not there. There's a letter wrapped around the steering column, but no money order.
Box is huge and packed with packing material. Takes me an hour to look through it all, very closely. It's spread all around my garage and front yard in the process. To his credit - he packed the column well :)
I e-mail, say it's not there.
He e-mails back, swearing it's there.
I look for another hour, going through every packing peanut, etc etc.
I e-mail again, swearing it isn't there.
20 e-mails later, he admits he forgot to put it in the box.
Then there's just 3 or 4 e-mails of me asking for the refund, over the next few months....which he occasionally responds to and says it'll be in the mail soon.
And this is after I said he could keep $30/$100 for reshipping the column....


I don't mind so much a deal went south - the swap didn't work out...stuff like that. Not the way i'd do business -but whatever.
What pisses me off is not to have the decency to call when you're late at a meeting point, go to sleep without telling me you aren't coming... or refund $$ if you say you will....or even quote a price (on his website no doubt) and later simply say 'Na, I think I want more $$$ for them now"



I'm almost embarrassed to post the rest of the stuff. They involve me being far too nice and putting up with far too much ****.
But i guess I'd prefer to let someone screw me, than the other way around. Shame on them, more or less type thing

here's his website, by the way
http://www.gtoman.com/

[baron_]

By the way, you're right

Dale Spencer says my earlier e-mails

I notice that his later e-mails don't show his last name on them. So he must be getting a bit wiser


Can a mod add the name 'Dale Spencer' to the title? After 'GTOman'?

I notice he's selling a lot of stuff on ebay lately

[BOB VIDAN]

He's had ads on ebay stating he was getting out of the business. Now we all know why but knew it before. Sorry for your misfortune Baron.