ericsanpablo31
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 214
- Location
- Vancouver
I'd like to preface that I thought the Thedi Leathers designs, and the fit of their designs were interesting, and I still do, but unfortunately I do not think I will ever consider buying a jacket from them again. I also think that my experience might be that one bad one out of a hundred good ones, but I cannot be sure, and I can only share my own.
In November, I contacted Thedi about purchasing a leather jacket to spec. At first, communication was fast, and Theodoros (the owner of Thedi Leathers) was very expedient and concise in response. I asked him about his leathers, what measurements he needed, etc., and placed a 50% deposit on an order. He quoted me 30 to 45 days.
Christmas came and past, then New Years. Come early January, I asked for an update... a few days later Theodoros replied saying he knew there was a delay, and it was due to a problem with the leather he had received. I appreciated the answer, although I would've appreciated a little bit of pro-activity if indeed he was aware there would be a delay. In any case, I said I understood, and then asked when I might expect the jacket. He "promised" by the end of month it would be sent out.
January flies, then comes February, I ask for an update.... he says its in production. Mid February comes, and still I hear no word. I send him 5 emails between Feb. 15 and 24, asking what the progress is. Keep in mind these are not snarky emails... just me asking for an honest update, and that I'd appreciate if he'd let me know what was happening.
After almost two weeks of trying to get a hold of Theodoros, he finally replies saying that the jacket had a mishap while he was sewing the button holes, and that he had to wait for more leather which ought to be delivered in late March. He says that he can refund me my deposit, and once he receives the new batch of leather, he would contact me to see if I were still interested. Of course, I am disappointed, but I understand, and say yes please refund me.
4 days pass, and I don't hear a single word from him. I send a couple of emails during that time span reiterating my request for a refund. I do a little subterfuge, and send him an email using a friend's account inquiring about a jacket.... That friend gets a reply within hours.
Finally, I am just frustrated, and want my money back, so I open a paypal dispute. Coincidentally, the same day I open the dispute, I get a response from Theodoros. He says paypal has already taken the money out of his account (because of the dispute I opened that day... he could've refunded my money with an easy few clicks prior). I call paypal, and they tell me its just on hold, and that all the seller need do is call them to release the refund back to me.
I recount this to Theodoros, and to his credit I think he is actually confused (I don't think he means ill, or has any sinister motive). I tell him all he needs to do is call Paypal (I'm not going to close the claim, because after 10 days I get my money back anyhow if the seller does not respond, but I would have preferred to get it back sooner). In any case, its now been a week, and I've not received a refund. I know making a phone call in todays day and age is a little of pain, but I would've hoped Theodoros would've taken at least that effort considering the circumstance.
Anyway, to sum up, I'm quite unhappy with the lack of communication when ordering from Thedi Leathers directly. At first he is very attentive, but it seems like once he had my deposit, he essentially disappeared, and I would have to basically nag him just to get a reply. I don't mind waiting for a jacket, as long as the wait time is up-front. I understand delays, but I don't appreciated having to chase down explanations, and having multiple missed timelines, and promises.
I did end up with a Vicenza Board Racer from Aero, and it is beautiful, so I'm happy now, but I just wanted to put up a word of caution here in case anyone were considering a Thedi... it was not a pleasant experience. Theodoros seems like a nice guy, but I'd rather put my money elsewhere personally. If one were dead set in ordering from Thedi Leathers, I would probably suggest going through Thurston, as I didn't feel very important, or valued as an individual customer, and perhaps they would be able to get clearer answers from him, being a larger purchaser.
In November, I contacted Thedi about purchasing a leather jacket to spec. At first, communication was fast, and Theodoros (the owner of Thedi Leathers) was very expedient and concise in response. I asked him about his leathers, what measurements he needed, etc., and placed a 50% deposit on an order. He quoted me 30 to 45 days.
Christmas came and past, then New Years. Come early January, I asked for an update... a few days later Theodoros replied saying he knew there was a delay, and it was due to a problem with the leather he had received. I appreciated the answer, although I would've appreciated a little bit of pro-activity if indeed he was aware there would be a delay. In any case, I said I understood, and then asked when I might expect the jacket. He "promised" by the end of month it would be sent out.
January flies, then comes February, I ask for an update.... he says its in production. Mid February comes, and still I hear no word. I send him 5 emails between Feb. 15 and 24, asking what the progress is. Keep in mind these are not snarky emails... just me asking for an honest update, and that I'd appreciate if he'd let me know what was happening.
After almost two weeks of trying to get a hold of Theodoros, he finally replies saying that the jacket had a mishap while he was sewing the button holes, and that he had to wait for more leather which ought to be delivered in late March. He says that he can refund me my deposit, and once he receives the new batch of leather, he would contact me to see if I were still interested. Of course, I am disappointed, but I understand, and say yes please refund me.
4 days pass, and I don't hear a single word from him. I send a couple of emails during that time span reiterating my request for a refund. I do a little subterfuge, and send him an email using a friend's account inquiring about a jacket.... That friend gets a reply within hours.
Finally, I am just frustrated, and want my money back, so I open a paypal dispute. Coincidentally, the same day I open the dispute, I get a response from Theodoros. He says paypal has already taken the money out of his account (because of the dispute I opened that day... he could've refunded my money with an easy few clicks prior). I call paypal, and they tell me its just on hold, and that all the seller need do is call them to release the refund back to me.
I recount this to Theodoros, and to his credit I think he is actually confused (I don't think he means ill, or has any sinister motive). I tell him all he needs to do is call Paypal (I'm not going to close the claim, because after 10 days I get my money back anyhow if the seller does not respond, but I would have preferred to get it back sooner). In any case, its now been a week, and I've not received a refund. I know making a phone call in todays day and age is a little of pain, but I would've hoped Theodoros would've taken at least that effort considering the circumstance.
Anyway, to sum up, I'm quite unhappy with the lack of communication when ordering from Thedi Leathers directly. At first he is very attentive, but it seems like once he had my deposit, he essentially disappeared, and I would have to basically nag him just to get a reply. I don't mind waiting for a jacket, as long as the wait time is up-front. I understand delays, but I don't appreciated having to chase down explanations, and having multiple missed timelines, and promises.
I did end up with a Vicenza Board Racer from Aero, and it is beautiful, so I'm happy now, but I just wanted to put up a word of caution here in case anyone were considering a Thedi... it was not a pleasant experience. Theodoros seems like a nice guy, but I'd rather put my money elsewhere personally. If one were dead set in ordering from Thedi Leathers, I would probably suggest going through Thurston, as I didn't feel very important, or valued as an individual customer, and perhaps they would be able to get clearer answers from him, being a larger purchaser.
