My points were lost...

As you used the US Mail, Maybe the US Postal inspectors would be interested?

-----Original Message-----
From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Greg and Russell
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 6:45 PM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: IML: My points were lost...

I think the purpose for my post regarding my negative experiences with Gary Goers was lost or perhaps misinterpreted judging by some of the replies to this forum. I merely wanted to pass on to other unsuspecting IML'ers what to expect in their dealings with Mr. Goers. Regardless of his talents and abilities (I think the word 'craftsman' was mentioned), he has failed horribly in the 'customer relations' part of his business (I use that word reluctantly)! I don't think any one of us who has dealt with him on any level would deny that.

The facts in my situation are: I paid him up front with a deposit ($500) to get started on my leather seat covers. I was NEVER told or informed in any subtle, back door way that I would have to wait 17 months to finally receive them. I asked that my letter of agreement be looked over, signed if he were in agreement with its contents, and returned to me. I never received it back. Maybe it got lost in the mail (yeh right)! My check was cashed in a short three days yet I never heard a word out of him or his assistant (at that time it was a fellow named Conrad) until I called almost 7 months later to inquire about the progress. In that entire time no one contacted me yet when I called to inquire about my work, I had to leave no less than 5 messages and it was a week after leaving the fifth one that I finally received a call with a few lame excuses but stating Gary hadn't been able to get started on them. At the end of the 16 month I had to literally threaten Mr. Goers (through Conrad as you never speak to the 'Mopar God', himself) with legal action. He had possessed my $500 for 16 months and he also had my seat covers to use as patterns. Finally, after another month I received the covers with a terse warning to never divulge the price I was charged because he could never do that job again for that amount of money ($2,500)! He said he had no idea how involved those '65 seat covers would be. I asked him how that could be that he would not know the difficulty or the time involved and he stated (at that time) he had never reproduced covers for a '65 Imperial. THAT was never made known to me in the beginning either.

The covers turned several garish shades of gold. I contacted him and his excuse was a 'bad' vendor he used once and got a hold of some leather that just wouldn't take the dye correctly. I've paid $2,500 for covers that are useless and that's all he can say! I still have never received the dye he promised, nor a refund on the dye and other chemicals I had to purchase from Leatherique. He promised a refund of those expenses but I have nothing from him. I asked him to provide me with brake and accelerator pads as I need them to complete my restoration. Once again, he promised he would send them. Wrong again! I haven't seen them (maybe got lost in the mail)!

Now he refuses to reply to my attempts to reach him. How callous can someone be? He has my money (to date approximately $3,300 as I purchased other interior/trunk pieces and weather-stripping for the entire car), so I can forget about ever seeing a refund or any other parts for him.

Regardless of whether he is a craftsman or not, that does not erase how he has treated me and countless others! George Laurie is also a craftsman and a one man show as well and he is incredibly professional and cordial. He also replies to emails promptly and I dare say if there were a problem with anything he has provided anyone on this list, he would be quick to make things right. George obviously has scruples and cares about his customers as well as his reputation.

Nuff said and nuff time spent jawing about something neither I nor anyone else can do anything about. Dealing with Gary Goers has not been nice and it has been a lesson well learned. I will be very careful in the future before trusting someone with so much of my money (and factory covers to be used as patterns). I will ask for references and whether anyone has had a bad experience with a vendor. Life is way too short for this kind of frustration!

Greg McDonnell