Trouble with Shadow Dale Creations.

[Cptnchaos]

I commisioned a single leather glove (EXTRA LARGE SIZE) from Shadow Dale creations a few months before Dragon Con this year. I paid in full up front, sent my designs and PERSONAL attatchments for this commision.

Several weeks before DC 06 I contacted them to find out when the item would be completed. I was kindly responded to that they were not happy with the leather they were shipped and were waiting on a replacement. I was fine with that. Communication was good and they wanted me to be happy.

A week before DC06 I contacted them again only to be told that they just couldnt meet the deadline and offered me a refund. Too little too late in my eyes, I told them to finish the single glove immediatly after DC06 and send it to me.

To this day I have STILL not received the glove, What I have been sent is a bogus USPS tracking number, an apologetic email saying that it was mailed out, but seems to have gotten "lost in the mail" (but a reasurance that it will turn back up at their address. Eventually), requests to send my money back, and another apology saying that they forgot to include my personal effects (which I feel have been recast) and designs but will send them happily along with a refund if I no longer want this glove. But they will be happy to make me another one if I REALLY want one.

Has anyone else had issues like this with Shadow Dale Creations??

I'll give them a B+ on TRYING to appease me, but a D- on customer satisfaction and follow through. I ordered a Large leather glove. NOT a full costume or cape. No one on this or any other board deserves to be treated like this.

I didnt want to air dirty laundry online but I am really pissed off that this has dragged on so long. I have spoken to several members of the boards and was told to share my experience with this company to hopefully prevent this from happening from anyone else out there.

Damian




ps: I posted this on several boards last month and had no help, I figured I would try here now. I STILL have not heard from them.

 

[Shadow Duchess]

Damian,

I am beyond sorry it has come to this and you have every right to be upset.
I am responsible for the errors in this situation and not GM so please let the onus be on me, I created a tracking number believing the glove would be done and I panicked, there is no excuse for this and I can't apologize enough.
What can I do to make this right , as I just want this to be fixed and to have your satisfaction taken care of.
Please, let me know.

Sincerely,

Shadow Duchess


<div class='quotetop'>(Cptnchaos @ Nov 13 2006, 07:02 PM) [snapback]1356835[/snapback]</div>

I commisioned a single leather glove (EXTRA LARGE SIZE) from Shadow Dale creations a few months before Dragon Con this year. I paid in full up front, sent my designs and PERSONAL attatchments for this commision.

Several weeks before DC 06 I contacted them to find out when the item would be completed. I was kindly responded to that they were not happy with the leather they were shipped and were waiting on a replacement. I was fine with that. Communication was good and they wanted me to be happy.

A week before DC06 I contacted them again only to be told that they just couldnt meet the deadline and offered me a refund. Too little too late in my eyes, I told them to finish the single glove immediatly after DC06 and send it to me.

To this day I have STILL not received the glove, What I have been sent is a bogus USPS tracking number, an apologetic email saying that it was mailed out, but seems to have gotten "lost in the mail" (but a reasurance that it will turn back up at their address. Eventually), requests to send my money back, and another apology saying that they forgot to include my personal effects (which I feel have been recast) and designs but will send them happily along with a refund if I no longer want this glove. But they will be happy to make me another one if I REALLY want one.

Has anyone else had issues like this with Shadow Dale Creations??

I'll give them a B+ on TRYING to appease me, but a D- on customer satisfaction and follow through. I ordered a Large leather glove. NOT a full costume or cape. No one on this or any other board deserves to be treated like this.

I didnt want to air dirty laundry online but I am really pissed off that this has dragged on so long. I have spoken to several members of the boards and was told to share my experience with this company to hopefully prevent this from happening from anyone else out there.

Damian




ps: I posted this on several boards last month and had no help, I figured I would try here now. I STILL have not heard from them.
[/b]

 

[JP05]

Damien,
I had a similar situation. I purchased a costume off of Ebay with a 4-6 week turnaround, which ended up being almost 12 weeks. Material delays, RPF buyer not paying fast enough (what that had to do with my costume I don't know), slow communication, weak excuses (in my opinion).....all the things you have experienced.

However.

I did recieve my item and I was very happy with it. The workmanship was top notch. It was exactly what I wanted.

Steve

 

[GeneralMayhem]

Damian,

There seems to have been a miscommunication at some point between Shadow Duchess and myself as to the status of you project. I will gladly refund the $60 you paid for the work, as well as return your research materials and cabochon castings to you if you no longer wish us to make the item.



~ GM

 

[GeneralMayhem]

Damian,

Since you're unhappy with the time table, I'm happy to refund your money.
Paypal sent. I'll put your collection of photocopies and resin cobochons in the mail tomorrow.

And as to "recasting" anything. All you sent us were some bad castings of cobochons in different colors. Why would I recast them when I can get a bag full of perfect ones from WALMART for $5? Don't suggest recasting here when you have no basis for it. We take such matters seriously.

Originally I had agreed to work on the Gauntlet, which included sculpted and cast resin finger guards and frames for the gems, because it sounded like it would be fun to work on, but life intrudes and delays happen. The tracking number he mentions resulted from Shadow Duchess preparing a shipping label for the Guantlet when Damian started insisting it be sent before Dragon Con, thinking it was completed. Not wanting to ship a half finished item, the label (and hence the tracking numnber) was cancelled, pending completion. At that time we offered to refund the money and send back his research materials (photocopies of various comic book pages) and forget about the project. But Damien insisted that we should not abandon the project.

Next time I'll know better than to accept a $60 commission for a $300 job.



~ GM

 

[Cptnchaos]

Ok... I HAVE to respond to these statements you have made. I see you are trying to save your reputation here, but do NOT try to make ME look like a chump in the process.

I ordered a large leather glove from you in early June of 2006 (around June 17th). Your response via email was that it would take 6-8 weeks for a custom piece to be completed. I mailed you my custom gems made by BLUFIVE (NOT $5 walmart pieces of plastic) that you RAVED over via email to me asking where I got such awesome pieces. (Need I post THAT email??) I also sent you the photocopied images, copies of my hand and designs for the glove. You said it would be done by Dragon con like I had asked.

By early August I had not heard from you so I emailed you. You told me that the wrong leather came in and instead of sending me something I was unhappy with you wanted to make sure it was made right. I respected your judgment and let that go.

A few more weeks went by and still no word, so a week from Dragon con I contacted you and your response was that you just could not fill the order and would be happy to refund me the money. I asked that you just finish the glove and send it to me when you were done with it.

By October 12th you STILL had not sent word on the glove, so I emailed you again asking on the status of this piece. you responded to me with a bogus USPS tracking number saying the glove was COMPLETED and in the mail.

Let me type that again: YOU stated the glove was done and in the mail.

In a message dated 10/16/2006 10:24:45 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, shadow_dale_creations@yahoo.com writes:

Damian,

Waiting on a call from the post office, nothing yet from them but I'm hoping it will show up there or at least rear it's box.
I know recently a box of fabric has disappeared for me en route and one of my registered packages ended up delivered elsewhere and then it came here eventually so I'm trying everything I can to get this sorted for you.

Angel


So here I am led to believe that you FINISHED this piece and mailed it. Yet after 15 days I email you again and get THIS response:

In a message dated 10/30/2006 7:22:09 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, shadow_dale_creations@yahoo.com writes:

Damian,

I've made an inquiry and no word yet.
They're usually quite good but I just received a lost package after a month of it being in limbo and one of my registered packages ended up on someone else's doorstep and in my hands the next day worse for wear.
That's the bad news, I have a piece of good news though the jewels, in my haste of packaging I forgot to put them in with the glove so they are actually safe.
Now, I can do one of two things here while we wait I can remake the glove for you and have it to you by mid November or refund you.
Please let me know what you want to do, we really want you to have this gauntlet and if you say yes to the alternate one at our expense I'll either overnight it USPS or Fedex it to you.
I am really sorry about this and thankfully it happens rarely but when it happens it makes me feel like utter dreck.

Angel

MY response:

Please fulfill your order and send me the glove, designs and the gems asap.

Thank you

Damian



Now here we are in November. I had NO word from you. No response via email. I spoke to MANY members of the boards trying to find out what could possibly be happening? Had I don't something wrong? Was there some tragedy that came up that I was unaware of? No, I was just being ignored.

More effort went into that post you wrote and it's fabrications to save face then went into a glove that I ordered 6 months ago.

Thanks for all the excuses and the nice spin of blame. Please just send my items back, as this is my LAST request.

Good luck with your business.


Damian

 

[Shadow Duchess]

Damian,

I admitted publicly after you wrote this that I screwed up I apologized, I panicked and I have refunded your money and sent your copies and gems out in the mail as of today.
Flog me in public like this if you want to but, I fully admit I screwed up and I have done what I can to rectify it and I am sorry that I screwed up like this.

Shadow Duchess



<div class='quotetop'>(Cptnchaos @ Nov 14 2006, 08:55 PM) [snapback]1357745[/snapback]</div>

Ok... I HAVE to respond to these statements you have made. I see you are trying to save your reputation here, but do NOT try to make ME look like a chump in the process.

I ordered a large leather glove from you in early June of 2006 (around June 17th). Your response via email was that it would take 6-8 weeks for a custom piece to be completed. I mailed you my custom gems made by BLUFIVE (NOT $5 walmart pieces of plastic) that you RAVED over via email to me asking where I got such awesome pieces. (Need I post THAT email??) I also sent you the photocopied images, copies of my hand and designs for the glove. You said it would be done by Dragon con like I had asked.

By early August I had not heard from you so I emailed you. You told me that the wrong leather came in and instead of sending me something I was unhappy with you wanted to make sure it was made right. I respected your judgment and let that go.

A few more weeks went by and still no word, so a week from Dragon con I contacted you and your response was that you just could not fill the order and would be happy to refund me the money. I asked that you just finish the glove and send it to me when you were done with it.

By October 12th you STILL had not sent word on the glove, so I emailed you again asking on the status of this piece. you responded to me with a bogus USPS tracking number saying the glove was COMPLETED and in the mail.

Let me type that again: YOU stated the glove was done and in the mail.

In a message dated 10/16/2006 10:24:45 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, shadow_dale_creations@yahoo.com writes:

Damian,

Waiting on a call from the post office, nothing yet from them but I'm hoping it will show up there or at least rear it's box.
I know recently a box of fabric has disappeared for me en route and one of my registered packages ended up delivered elsewhere and then it came here eventually so I'm trying everything I can to get this sorted for you.

Angel


So here I am led to believe that you FINISHED this piece and mailed it. Yet after 15 days I email you again and get THIS response:

In a message dated 10/30/2006 7:22:09 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, shadow_dale_creations@yahoo.com writes:

Damian,

I've made an inquiry and no word yet.
They're usually quite good but I just received a lost package after a month of it being in limbo and one of my registered packages ended up on someone else's doorstep and in my hands the next day worse for wear.
That's the bad news, I have a piece of good news though the jewels, in my haste of packaging I forgot to put them in with the glove so they are actually safe.
Now, I can do one of two things here while we wait I can remake the glove for you and have it to you by mid November or refund you.
Please let me know what you want to do, we really want you to have this gauntlet and if you say yes to the alternate one at our expense I'll either overnight it USPS or Fedex it to you.
I am really sorry about this and thankfully it happens rarely but when it happens it makes me feel like utter dreck.

Angel

MY response:

Please fulfill your order and send me the glove, designs and the gems asap.

Thank you

Damian



Now here we are in November. I had NO word from you. No response via email. I spoke to MANY members of the boards trying to find out what could possibly be happening? Had I don't something wrong? Was there some tragedy that came up that I was unaware of? No, I was just being ignored.

More effort went into that post you wrote and it's fabrications to save face then went into a glove that I ordered 6 months ago.

Thanks for all the excuses and the nice spin of blame. Please just send my items back, as this is my LAST request.

Good luck with your business.


Damian
[/b]

 

[Cptnchaos]

MORE Trouble with Shadow Dale Creations.

Ok. Another RPF board member got screwed by Shadow Dale Creations like I did... ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!

I was just contacted by another member seeking help. SDC took an order from a member, gave a time frame and never delivered. All the delays were blamed on an "illness" that was going around and when they finally "shipped" the product, the gave the customer a bogus tracking number. (sound familiar??) When confronted with this they offered a FREE item along with what was owed. Guess what... nothing has been shipped or received.

Seems like I didnt DRAG them through the mud far enough when they screwed me. SO... I am going to CRUCIFY them so they cant do it again.

To do this I need to get their ADDRESS. If anyone has it PLEASE send it to me so I can report them to the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. (This is at the request of the member who contacted me). They have done this too many times now to NOT be reported. I know I have it here somewhere. I just moved and need time to go through my boxes. A helping hand to expidite this would be nice. But if I have to I will dig it out. Its only a matter of time.

Its sad but it seems we have to look out for our own here.

Thanks

D

PS: SDC apologized to me and returned my money along with my designs last time. Lets see if they can do the same here, learn how to conduct and follow proper business ettiquette or get out of the business altogether.

Damian,

I admitted publicly after you wrote this that I screwed up I apologized, I panicked and I have refunded your money and sent your copies and gems out in the mail as of today.
Flog me in public like this if you want to but, I fully admit I screwed up and I have done what I can to rectify it and I am sorry that I screwed up like this.

Shadow Duchess



<div class='quotetop'>(Cptnchaos @ Nov 14 2006, 08:55 PM) [snapback]1357745[/snapback]</div>

 

[Shadow Duchess]

Re: MORE Trouble with Shadow Dale Creations.

I believe I've already talked to this customer and I'm taking care of this as we speak.
No, he's not getting screwed and I was ill.
Errors do happen and I have been in touch with this person so they will be properly taken care of.

SD

Ok. Another RPF board member got screwed by Shadow Dale Creations like I did... ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!

I was just contacted by another member seeking help. SDC took an order from a member, gave a time frame and never delivered. All the delays were blamed on an "illness" that was going around and when they finally "shipped" the product, the gave the customer a bogus tracking number. (sound familiar??) When confronted with this they offered a FREE item along with what was owed. Guess what... nothing has been shipped or received.

Seems like I didnt DRAG them through the mud far enough when they screwed me. SO... I am going to CRUCIFY them so they cant do it again.

To do this I need to get their ADDRESS. If anyone has it PLEASE send it to me so I can report them to the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. (This is at the request of the member who contacted me). They have done this too many times now to NOT be reported. I know I have it here somewhere. I just moved and need time to go through my boxes. A helping hand to expidite this would be nice. But if I have to I will dig it out. Its only a matter of time.

Its sad but it seems we have to look out for our own here.

Thanks

D

PS: SDC apologized to me and returned my money along with my designs last time. Lets see if they can do the same here, learn how to conduct and follow proper business ettiquette or get out of the business altogether.

 

[peter1701]

For what its worth, I have heard pretty positive things about SD. I have 2 orders with them, and althougth they are not yet delivered, the contact has always been pretty good.

 

[Shadow Duchess]

Thank you, this is really appreciated.
Even though I know that there have been some mistakes but, we have also made more than a few people happy with our work.
We try to do our best and like any business problems may arise but we always try to fix it.
I do apologize for the mistakes and will be sure that this situation is resolved right away.

SD

For what its worth, I have heard pretty positive things about SD. I have 2 orders with them, and althougth they are not yet delivered, the contact has always been pretty good.

 

[nwjedidave]

My order with SDC went flawlessly.

Communication was great, I asked for afew things out of the ordinary, and all were taken care of to my complete satisfaction.

I plan on working with them again soon without hesitation!!!!!!

 

[Funky]

I guess the part that bothers ME is that you folks are just NOW refunding people's money. Why wasn't it refunded sooner? Why the lack of communication? Oh, because it was brought up in public. It should have never come to this. Refunds should have happened before now.
Man, my list of people not to do business with just seems to get longer and longer. :unsure

 

[Shadow Duchess]

I was communicating with the customer before I saw this thread so it's not because of it being public that this is being taken care of.
The original issue that this thread started from months ago was refunded a long time ago and the current customer is receiving his items as promised.

I guess the part that bothers ME is that you folks are just NOW refunding people's money. Why wasn't it refunded sooner? Why the lack of communication? Oh, because it was brought up in public. It should have never come to this. Refunds should have happened before now.
Man, my list of people not to do business with just seems to get longer and longer. :unsure

 

[Cptnchaos]

Re: MORE Trouble with Shadow Dale Creations.

Thank you for coming in to handle this. I would like to sing praises and put bad blood behind us. But the FALSE tracking order nonsense HAS to stop.
D

I believe I've already talked to this customer and I'm taking care of this as we speak.
No, he's not getting screwed and I was ill.
Errors do happen and I have been in touch with this person so they will be properly taken care of.

SD

 

[Shadow Duchess]

Agreed and done.
Thank you for posting this and the items will be received as promised, please accept my apologies to you and your friend and thankfully put all of the negativity behind us.

 

[OldKen]

Lets keep in mind that were all human guys.

Sometimes things get backed up, sometimes things get confusing...

But that doesnt always mean that the people are con-artists lyars or theives.

Seems all to often people jump straight to the worst conclusion and get the pitchforks and torches.

SD seem to me as they want to right whatever goes wrong and keep customers. (why wouldnt they?)

You guys have no idea the ammount of people that alert the mods here when a piece they ordered is 3 days late. :unsure Im being serious. People that demand actions are made etc.

We need to all remember that this is a hobby, and a community. We have to try and give things a minute sometimes. Especially when the people arent a liscensed company with a HUGE factory overseas... They are just a couple of people making difficult and time consuming pieces.

Just thought Id throw that out there.

 

[Ghadrack]

While it stinks that things got out of hand, I, as a potential customer do appreciate the way they have stepped up and taken responsibility for mistakes and are working to make things right, right away. I hope everyone gets sorted out to their satisfaction and I look forward to seeing the outcome of future projects.

 

[spidermale]

Ive always gotten friendly emails from both the duchess and the general. While i am a little disturbed to see a false tracking number was sent, she explained it, and apologized for it. I know that these are two people who are just like the rest of us, trying to juggle work, family, a hobby and a home business. Sewing is not easy, especially leather. not to mention that something custom, often doesnt have a mccalls pattern or something similar to work off of.

 

[ZOMBIEREPELLENT]

Re: MORE Trouble with Shadow Dale Creations.

I need to get their ADDRESS. If anyone has it PLEASE send it to me so I can report them to the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.

Not to be a stickler, and I am in no way defending SDC, the better business bureau doesn't deal with customer issues, they really just deal with emloyer and employee issues. I sadly found this out when a garage screwed me on installing a transmission wrong and wouldn't fix it.