Looking for some opinions on how to handle something, and I don't want to do a disservice to the vendor if he comes through, so I won't mention any names (at least, not yet).

I ordered a set of bags and brackets for my Dyna. I had met the sales manager in person at a rally, and went through a number of options, and, by the time I left, knew exactly which bags had the look I want. I contacted him via email with the model number I wanted. He wrote back and asked if I wanted lockable bags (didn't have them at the show) for $50 more. I said, "Sure".

Bags and brackets arrive. The bags are a completely different model than what I thought I had ordered - don't match the lines of the bike at all. I shoot him an email - "Uh, what's up with this?" Turns out that the only lockable bag they offer is the model shipped to me, not the model I wanted. This bag was not at the rally and is not on their web site, nor in the catalog they shipped with the order, and he didn't tell me it was a different model when I was on the phone with him. I told him I want the bags I thought I was ordering, and he's okay with swapping them out, but wants me to pay the return shipping on the bags they sent ("since it was a misunderstanding on both our parts"?!). I think they should pay for the return shipping and shipping on the correct bags - at best it was an oversight on his part to not tell me it was a different bag; at worst he was being deceptive to push something they have in stock out the door.

Thoughts?

 

Sounds like the old"bait and switch" routine. Get you into the store, or interested in one thing and end up selling you something different. I say if you didn't get what you ordered, send it back. It 's his fault for not letting you know that you couldn't get the bags you wanted, with locks. Let your Credit Card Company know what happened.
BTW, it wasn't American Classic Motors, was it?

 

split the diffence. you pay to send them back and they pay to send you what you want.

 

Bite the bullet and send them back on your dime. What are you out, 20 bucks? Compared to getting into a pissing match with the guy and being stuck with something you don't want? At least he's willing to take them back and send you the 'correct' ones...

 

The guy just lost a sale, as far as I'm concerned. Call the credit card co and cancel the order, ship the bags back insured and registered so he can't say you sent them damaged or to the wrong address or something.

The guy made a mistake, honest or not makes no difference. The problem is how he is dealing with his mistake: by passing the cost of it on to you. I don't care if it only cost you 50 cents, the guy hosed up this order and needs to make it right.

There are plenty of suppliers out there and even more kinds of bags to choose from. Most of those suppliers are professional and will earn your money rather than waste your time. This guy doesn't deserve this sale.

 

Since you know the seller has the exact bags you want, and you've seen them, canceling the order doesn't make any sense unless you can get the same thing from another vendor at or near the same price. Since he has admitted some culpability in the mistake, offer to split the difference in shipping. I know, it wasn't your fault, but you could've asked if they were the same bags when he offered you the ones with a lock. Not that I would've thought to do so, but from the vendor's standpoint you could've. Live and learn, but let us know what happens and feel free to mention names - good or bad once it's resolved so we can all benefit.

Good Luck, and sorry for your hassle - sucks when you get all excited about getting something you really want only to be disappointed in receiving something else.