Baron Seabiscuit woman's hat.

[ITG]

Wow, that's some good customer service. Please post pics when you get the hat.

 

[jamespowers]

Now that is the kind of answer I expect to get. Sounds like you finally got through to them. The new hat should be ten times better. :cheers1:

Regards to all,

J

 

[scotrace]

Call my Bookie

I'd put $10 down that this thread got it done.

 

[jamespowers]

I'd put $10 down that this thread got it done.

I was thinking the same thing but I didn't want to gloat about how mean I can get.

Regards to all,

J

 

[scotrace]

Yeah. That was pretty snarky of me.

But you have to think they'd not risk losing business from the hat maniacs. If they can't sell to us, or have any of us out there making Bad Talk, that's not a Good Thing. Fixing the PR damage is well worth the cost of eating a hat. Just good business.

 

[android]

I just wanted to follow up on this since I have seen some additional discussion about Baron Hat.

They never followed up on their promise to resolve this situation to my satisfaction. In fact, after a few weeks, they no longer returned my calls or email.

So, I would advise all to avoid them at all cost.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Emails

We all should send them an email on this and let them know thousands of people will see this report!!

 

[Simon82]

Thanks for letting us know

I've followed this thread with interest, as I first saw the "Seabiscuit Trainer" hat I wanted shown on the Baron site. Based largely on the information from Android, and compounded by the high listed price for the hat, I decided to have it made elsewhere.

I wound up getting Steve Delk at Adventurebilt to make my "Chris Cooper Seabiscuit" hat, and I couldn't be happier. I sent him a copy of the movie and he aced the look of it. He couldn't do the welting, but that was no big deal for me, since he took such excellent care to get the brim width, height, flange details and creases just right (I'll try to get photos of the fedora posted at some point).

PLUS it's 100 percent beaver fur -- all for HUNDREDS less than it would cost from Baron or just about anyone else!

Android, I'm very sorry that you were given such shoddy service. At the very least, as Sharpetoys says, you've alerted thousands to a possible problem, and maybe this thread will ultimately get Baron to back up its promises.

 

[scotrace]

I wound up getting Steve Delk at Adventurebilt to make my "Chris Cooper Seabiscuit" hat, and I couldn't be happier. I sent him a copy of the movie and he aced the look of it. He couldn't do the welting, but that was no big deal for me, since he took such excellent care to get the brim width, height, flange details and creases just right (I'll try to get photos of the fedora posted at some point).

By all means! Share those pictures please!

 

[John in Covina]

What are you prepared to do?

I just wanted to follow up on this since I have seen some additional discussion about Baron Hat. They never followed up on their promise to resolve this situation to my satisfaction. In fact, after a few weeks, they no longer returned my calls or email. So, I would advise all to avoid them at all cost.

I'd suggest:

First: print out copies of all of the emails and place the message from Kevin on making things right on the top. I'd even highlight his promise.

On top of that place a written note, short to the point but not nasty note, simply saying per the attached email from them, that they have promised to make it right, you expect them to do so and ask what to you need to do so that they will proceed. Say please see the attached correspondence from your company.

I'd actually send two copies, one to Kevin and one to Marks' attention, both should be certified or registered and must have it sent with a return receipt, which proves you have done your best to contact them in a court of law and the receipt proves they got the letters.

Also make as part of the note that you had expected this to be resolved amicably but if they are not going to keep to their promises you will take them to small claims court.

Again you must send it certified or registered with a return receipt. Keep a (noterized?) copy of this correspondence and your note to them with the postal receipt(s) that shows they were signed for by the shop.

If they do not reply, and reneage on their promise, you should take them to small claims court. If they show and try to argue, Kevin's correspondence will sink them. So, you have a very very good chance of winning because of their correspondence content. If they do not show you win automatically and can get your money back. It may take a couple of days of you time to go to court to submit the claim and then to go for the actual court date. If you have a few vacation days, use them. It will be a powerful stimulus to the shop to make things right. Also even if they are not local to you and to your local court, they must show in your court to have any chance to win or they forfeit for failure to show. Also you have to show or you lose.

Sometimes just the letter spelling out your disatisfaction will get them going, sometimes the threat of small claims court will spur them on. A company boss hates to get any complaint mail on his desk and will often be willing to do a lot to quiet the customer.

Remember to bring copies of all correspondence and all reciepts of expenses including shipping, postage, etc. to court.

You can also try sending a complaint to the Better Business Bureau.

After that it's the peoples court or Judge judy, which would scare the heck out of anybody. It's not fun to be shown as a schmuck on National TV.

The pricipal of the thing demands action and it's now come to "What are you prepared to do."

 

[android]

I live in Texas and I'm not going to spend a thousand dollars to travel to California to sue in small claims court. It's not practical and would waste money I can use to buy more hats.

 

[John in Covina]

IF YOU READ MY POST YOU WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD

YOU DON"T HAVE TO SUE IN C A L I F O R N I A, you sue them in

TEXAS.

GO GO TO YOUR LOCAL SMALL CLAIMS COURT IN TEXAS!

TEXAS.

repeat after me: TEXAS.

T E X A S.

 

[scotrace]

Geez

Civility!

First he gets screwed out of his money, now he gets a smarty-pants shouting at from some mook he never met.

Was that necessary?

 

[android]

Small claims court requires that you file suit in the county where the defendent lives or does business.

Baron has no presence in Texas so that brilliant idea wouldn't really work out.

 

[John in Covina]

Fine.

 

[John in Covina]

Did you buy the hat in California?
Did you receive the hat in California?
Was the hat delivered by US Postal Service?
If there was interstate commerce, then you have to be able to take your concerns some place.

The manufacturer I worked for was not in business in any states other than California and NJ, but their product was sold all over the US. They would get called to appear in small claims court not just California or NJ but all over the US. From what I had seen, as I understood it, you could sue in small claims court even if the manufacturer was not in the same state.

I am trying to give you ideas about recourse, but I guess you're screwed.

Sorry, I was trying to help, but I guess that doesn't count for anything.

I still think a little letter would be worth while but I guess that's not brilliant enough either.
So have a nice day.

 

[John in Covina]

Civility! First he gets screwed out of his money, now he gets a smarty-pants shouting at from some mook he never met.
Was that necessary?

Fine.
I am an a22hole.
I was exaperate by his response.
I was never sugesting he had to travel.
I wasn't suggesting he spend thousands of dollars to do so.
It did not fit the profile of what i had seen previously.

So Now i am the bad guy.

But i ain't no mook.

 

[android]

The manufacturer I worked for was not in business in any states other than California and NJ, but their product was sold all over the US.

This substantially changes the situation based on a legal doctrine called "Minimum Contacts". It allows the court to extend its jurisdiction and demand that your company appear. I would guess that your company was often sued alongside the business that was selling your product.

A single telephone/mail order transaction is not sufficient contact to allow a court to demand that a California company appear and defend itself in Texas.

I know you're trying to help, but there is only so much that can be legally done and it doesn't make sense to pursue it over a $300 hat. I'd rather just warn others of the possibility for problems dealing with this vendor.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[John in Covina]

I was frustrated & stunned that you wind up with no real recourse.

John

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Pass the word!!

I'm glad you two worked it out. I'll tell you and Baron's Hats I will never buy a thing from them and I hope the lurkers and members won't either! :rage: