What would you do about this fiasco?
#1
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What would you do about this fiasco?
A woman I know was looking for a replacement SRAM 10 sp mechanical shifter. She is a member of our club and someone I've know for at least 10 yrs. We've always been on good terms. She knows I have extra "stuff" lying around so she called and asked if I knew where she could find the shifters. As it turns out, I had exactly what she needed. SRAM Ribal 10 sp. with less than 1,000 miles on them.
When I bought my GURU I swapped them out for SRAM Red. Actually, a friend and former LBS owner had done the swap for me. They have been sitting in a box on the shelf for about 4 yrs. So this woman came over with her new boyfriend to buy the shifters. FWIW they are both around 50 yrs old. He took the shifters out of the box to examine them. They bought them for $100 and went off.
I should mention that this woman is recently divorced, has no money and is trying to rebuild her life. I had previously given her a wheel set with Vittoria tires and tubes. As I said, she has no money and I was trying to help. About 4 days later I get a text. She says her BF tried to fit the shifters and discovered that the one she needed doesn't work. I was more than a little surprised but thought maybe there was an internal issue so I gave her the $100 back and took the box of shifters. I never even looked at them.
I took them straight to my LBS and asked them to check them out. I have a very good relationship with the shop. The owner opened the box and said, "Well there's your problem. The lever is snapped off." WTF? So I called my friend who had done the swap and he said they were perfect and he had wondered why I even wanted to swap them. So, I texted her and gave her the run down. I'll skip all the discussion but I made it clear that IMO the lever was snapped during a failed attempt to install it.
At this point I should mention that the LBS has said that if someone didn't know what they were doing they could easily mount them only to find them inoperable. Then they could have used excessive pressure thinking they had to shift it harder and snap it. Let me also mention that when I first texted her I think she realized the BF screwed up. She offered to give me the $100 back. I declined. As I said she has no money. Her full time job is as a midwife. I've pretty much settled on moving on but with her out of my life. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or observations about this.
When I bought my GURU I swapped them out for SRAM Red. Actually, a friend and former LBS owner had done the swap for me. They have been sitting in a box on the shelf for about 4 yrs. So this woman came over with her new boyfriend to buy the shifters. FWIW they are both around 50 yrs old. He took the shifters out of the box to examine them. They bought them for $100 and went off.
I should mention that this woman is recently divorced, has no money and is trying to rebuild her life. I had previously given her a wheel set with Vittoria tires and tubes. As I said, she has no money and I was trying to help. About 4 days later I get a text. She says her BF tried to fit the shifters and discovered that the one she needed doesn't work. I was more than a little surprised but thought maybe there was an internal issue so I gave her the $100 back and took the box of shifters. I never even looked at them.
I took them straight to my LBS and asked them to check them out. I have a very good relationship with the shop. The owner opened the box and said, "Well there's your problem. The lever is snapped off." WTF? So I called my friend who had done the swap and he said they were perfect and he had wondered why I even wanted to swap them. So, I texted her and gave her the run down. I'll skip all the discussion but I made it clear that IMO the lever was snapped during a failed attempt to install it.
At this point I should mention that the LBS has said that if someone didn't know what they were doing they could easily mount them only to find them inoperable. Then they could have used excessive pressure thinking they had to shift it harder and snap it. Let me also mention that when I first texted her I think she realized the BF screwed up. She offered to give me the $100 back. I declined. As I said she has no money. Her full time job is as a midwife. I've pretty much settled on moving on but with her out of my life. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or observations about this.
Last edited by cb400bill; 04-28-22 at 08:12 AM.
#2
Did you check that they were working fine and in proper condition when you sold them to her? Did you show her they worked fine when you gave her the cash? Did she admit that she broke them?
If you didn't confirm the worked before selling to her, you're not without some fault in this.
If she admitted breaking them, then she should own up to it, keep the broken levers and you keep her $100.
If you didn't confirm the worked before selling to her, you're not without some fault in this.
If she admitted breaking them, then she should own up to it, keep the broken levers and you keep her $100.
#3
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I'm guessing the bf is the problem, not your female friend.
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#4
You sold them shifters that are both around 50 years old. I would move on.
#5
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#6
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The boyfriend should pony up the $100. If he doesn't, he should be the ex-boyfriend.
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I wonder if they were parts swappers? Are the shifters the exact same ones you sold them? In the radio hobby world some times "parts swappers" with a broken radio will buy a similar radio from someone online, swap out the bad part with the good part from the new radio, then contact the seller and claim the radio didn't work upon arrival and demand a refund. They get the refund, send the now-broken radio back to the seller and use their repaired radio. I was wondering if maybe these two hatched a scheme to swap out their broken parts with good parts, but it would take some knowing about bicycle parts and getting the exact same parts they wanted to swap.
Still, claiming "these parts don't work" and then giving them back to the OP in broken condition ought to negate getting their money back.
Still, claiming "these parts don't work" and then giving them back to the OP in broken condition ought to negate getting their money back.
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#8
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A woman I know was looking for a replacement SRAM 10 sp mechanical shifter. She is a member of our club and someone I've know for at least 10 yrs. We've always been on good terms. She knows I have extra "stuff" lying around so she called and asked if I knew where she could find the shifters. As it turns out, I had exactly what she needed. SRAM Ribal 10 sp. with less than 1,000 miles on them. When I bought my GURU I swapped them out for SRAM Red. Actually, a friend and former LBS owner had done the swap for me. They have been sitting in a box on the shelf for about 4 yrs. So this woman came over with her new boyfriend to buy the shifters. FWIW they are both around 50 yrs old. He took the shifters out of the box to examine them. They bought them for $100 and went off. I should mention that this woman is recently divorced, has no money and is trying to rebuild her life. I had previously given her a wheel set with Vittoria tires and tubes. As I said, she has no money and I was trying to help. About 4 days later I get a text. She says her BF tried to fit the shifters and discovered that the one she needed doesn't work. I was more than a little surprised but thought maybe there was an internal issue so I gave her the $100 back and took the box of shifters. I never even looked at them. I took them straight to my LBS and asked them to check them out. I have a very good relationship with the shop. The owner opened the box and said, "Well there's your problem. The lever is snapped off." WTF? So I called my friend who had done the swap and he said they were perfect and he had wondered why I even wanted to swap them. So, I texted her and gave her the run down. I'll skip all the discussion but I made it clear that IMO the lever was snapped during a failed attempt to install it. At this point I should mention that the LBS has said that if someone didn't know what they were doing they could easily mount them only to find them inoperable. Then they could have used excessive pressure thinking they had to shift it harder and snap it. Let me also mention that when I first texted her I think she realized the BF screwed up. She offered to give me the $100 back. I declined. As I said she has no money. Her full time job is as a midwife. I've pretty much settled on moving on but with her out of my life. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or observations about this.
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#9
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If it was some stuff sitting in your parts box might as well get over it and move on. Charity is a ***** sometimes.
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Money tends to ruin friendship.
If her BF did the labor of the swap & is the one that actually broke the shifter, the question I have is, is she in the know of how it unfolded when the BF was doing the work? Did she witness the BF breaking it? Did the BF disclose to her that he might've broke it? If she truly does not know & was only the financial backer of it, then I would not blackball her entirely. Just keep it in mind for future purposes. Nothing wrong to keep a friend as a social means.
I have a feeling the BF broke it, discredited your reputation from selling her bum parts, & deflected any self responsibility.
If her BF did the labor of the swap & is the one that actually broke the shifter, the question I have is, is she in the know of how it unfolded when the BF was doing the work? Did she witness the BF breaking it? Did the BF disclose to her that he might've broke it? If she truly does not know & was only the financial backer of it, then I would not blackball her entirely. Just keep it in mind for future purposes. Nothing wrong to keep a friend as a social means.
I have a feeling the BF broke it, discredited your reputation from selling her bum parts, & deflected any self responsibility.
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#14
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You pretty-much answered your own question.
Anyway, it's certainly a frustrating situation.
The problem is likely the boyfriend (it doesn't seem the woman is mechanical).
$100 was a very good deal on those.
If the broken one is the left, there would be someone who would appreciate being able to buy the right shifter.
Anyway, it's certainly a frustrating situation.
The problem is likely the boyfriend (it doesn't seem the woman is mechanical).
$100 was a very good deal on those.
If the broken one is the left, there would be someone who would appreciate being able to buy the right shifter.
Last edited by njkayaker; 04-28-22 at 07:47 AM.
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A woman I know was looking for a replacement SRAM 10 sp mechanical shifter. She is a member of our club and someone I've know for at least 10 yrs. We've always been on good terms. She knows I have extra "stuff" lying around so she called and asked if I knew where she could find the shifters. As it turns out, I had exactly what she needed. SRAM Ribal 10 sp. with less than 1,000 miles on them. When I bought my GURU I swapped them out for SRAM Red. Actually, a friend and former LBS owner had done the swap for me. They have been sitting in a box on the shelf for about 4 yrs. So this woman came over with her new boyfriend to buy the shifters. FWIW they are both around 50 yrs old. He took the shifters out of the box to examine them. They bought them for $100 and went off. I should mention that this woman is recently divorced, has no money and is trying to rebuild her life. I had previously given her a wheel set with Vittoria tires and tubes. As I said, she has no money and I was trying to help. About 4 days later I get a text. She says her BF tried to fit the shifters and discovered that the one she needed doesn't work. I was more than a little surprised but thought maybe there was an internal issue so I gave her the $100 back and took the box of shifters. I never even looked at them. I took them straight to my LBS and asked them to check them out. I have a very good relationship with the shop. The owner opened the box and said, "Well there's your problem. The lever is snapped off." WTF? So I called my friend who had done the swap and he said they were perfect and he had wondered why I even wanted to swap them. So, I texted her and gave her the run down. I'll skip all the discussion but I made it clear that IMO the lever was snapped during a failed attempt to install it. At this point I should mention that the LBS has said that if someone didn't know what they were doing they could easily mount them only to find them inoperable. Then they could have used excessive pressure thinking they had to shift it harder and snap it. Let me also mention that when I first texted her I think she realized the BF screwed up. She offered to give me the $100 back. I declined. As I said she has no money. Her full time job is as a midwife. I've pretty much settled on moving on but with her out of my life. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or observations about this.
Write it off to one of life's lessons. Sorry I'd be pissed as well.
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It's really an idea order issue (outside of the order, it's clear enough). But no one was confused (10 speed stuff only seems like it's 50 years old).
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Did you check that they were working fine and in proper condition when you sold them to her? Did you show her they worked fine when you gave her the cash? Did she admit that she broke them?
If you didn't confirm the worked before selling to her, you're not without some fault in this.
If she admitted breaking them, then she should own up to it, keep the broken levers and you keep her $100.
If you didn't confirm the worked before selling to her, you're not without some fault in this.
If she admitted breaking them, then she should own up to it, keep the broken levers and you keep her $100.
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Based on the bolded portions, I suggest not kicking this friend to the curb over something you had "just sitting around for 4 years" just yet. Unless you can get her kicked out your club or quit your club it could make for some awkward group rides JMO. I can just imagine the "boyfriend" mansplaning how good his bike wrenching skills are, so no need to have the shifter mounted at a shop. If anything, he owes you the $100 if he's man enough to own up to it. Cut your friend some slack. She needs a new boyfriend.
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Just a short note.......I gave the good lever to the LBS owner (a friend) and told him to give it to someone if he knew someone who needed it. I'm disappointed in her because I've tried to help her before. When her kids wanted their first cell phone she couldn't afford them. My GF and I had 3 lying around so I gave them to her. When she left her husband and the religious cult they had been in I got her a book written by a woman that described her journey through similar circumstances. I am reminded of a quote I made up about 25 yrs ago...."Disappointment lives in the shadow of expectation."
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Just a short note.......I gave the good lever to the LBS owner (a friend) and told him to give it to someone if he knew someone who needed it. I'm disappointed in her because I've tried to help her before. When her kids wanted their first cell phone she couldn't afford them. My GF and I had 3 lying around so I gave them to her. When she left her husband and the religious cult they had been in I got her a book written by a woman that described her journey through similar circumstances. I am reminded of a quote I made up about 25 yrs ago...."Disappointment lives in the shadow of expectation."
Last edited by njkayaker; 04-28-22 at 09:12 AM.
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Friends
A good friend is generally worth more than the $100 in question.
IF she is a "good friend" make the right decision.
After all, she did, in offering to return the $100.
Barry
IF she is a "good friend" make the right decision.
After all, she did, in offering to return the $100.
Barry
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As long as she doesn’t say anything at club events that puts you in a bad light, I would pretend it didn’t even happen.
I would guess that coming out of a cult situation, with no money, and easy prey to fall into another manipulative situation, shifters might be least of her worries; and definitely not something for you to lose sleep over.
I’d forget about the ghosting also. You don’t know what is going on in her current relationship.
John
I would guess that coming out of a cult situation, with no money, and easy prey to fall into another manipulative situation, shifters might be least of her worries; and definitely not something for you to lose sleep over.
I’d forget about the ghosting also. You don’t know what is going on in her current relationship.
John
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