Ok i can wait no longer.. here it is

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH KARL from SLO CANVAS AND SAIL

after several emails with him, and surveying the people on another site who have used his services ... we came to an agreement of around $200 for a new Mystere 5.5 tramp (his quote, i never haggled at all). he said it would be about 100 off the regular price since he hadn't made one before and i would need to send him my tramp as a pattern (along with images and measurements)

I sent him my old tramp (actually my friends) in April with measurements.. he has NEVER done the work, he has been next to impossible to contact (his voice mail is never answered, usually to full to even leave a message, and he wont return emails.)

I have gotten through a few times to him and he has apologized, said he was busy and it would be done "this week"... never to hear back. the few times i have gotten through on the phone to his co-workers (or whomever they are) and i told them i need my tramp returned.. .NOTHING

i have now placed complaint with both the SLO BBB and the California States attorney/CA Dept of Justice. I HOPE THEY ARREST HIM and my next move is to file with the post office for federal mail fraud.

Then my next plan is to hire a lawyer and sue the jerk to recover my friends property. I have lawyer friends, but i want to hire the most expensive one i can find, on contingency so he has to pay 10000's for their fees.

I was polite and only pressed him to either do the work, or return my property. He was pleasant and accommodating on the phone, only to continue to blow me off.

I am very upset that i have to explain to my friend that i can't return his working trampoline and see what i can do to remedy that situation. Thank goodness i didnt send him my actual tramp as i would have been out of sailing since april.

PS His "Turn around time" was promised as - "We can build your trampoline within a few days of receiving the trampoline and boat measurements." That was april 6. he received the tramp april 8th....

Andrew,sorry to hear you have not resolved this yet.

Thanks Steve, i wish it was handled too. i really wish i had a good product at the price he promised, even withing a month would have been great.

i continue to call often, and leave a message when the voice mail isn't full. I can't believe how he can treat customers like this. I told him to we have a fleet of mysteres and this could lead to lots of business.

I have held back writing this review hoping to get the tramp returned, but he wont respond to my calls, or emails so i have no choice but do everything i can to get my friends tramp back that i borrowed.

The whole situation stinks. I have heard you you talking about this for months

This company has put Andrew in the position of not only going somewhere else to get a tramp, now he has to reimburse another guy for the tramp he sent out there. What a crappy thing to do to someone.

If someone knows these people I would ask you to give them a call and suggest they do the right thing.

Thanks Mike.

This is good we get this kind of info on sailing related businesses. Sounds about like the service I got from Clavert sails. I had to get my new sail fixed (done wrong in the first place) and they sent it to the wrong address and it was never found... then Dave actually wants me to help pay for a replacement sail. MONTHS later, and a letter from an attorney, I got another sail.

Andrew:

What you're saying is totally out of character for Karl. I have used him as well have recommended him to others and the feedback has been nothing but positive. He even made a special trip for a custom trampoline to deliver to me on a Friday so I could race on Saturday.

Speaking to his father over the weekend he tells me his business has been very busy doing contract work for North Sails, Murray's Marine, and a few others. Also he is moving to a larger facility to handle the work load.

I'll shoot him an email to let him know your dissatisfaction and that he needs to make this right ASAP.

Karl/SLO Sails and Canvas is by no means a Sailing Pro Shop of yesteryear operation.

Not to change the subject, but being you're in Dunedin, Florida and Sunrise is in Pinellas Park and already has the pattern why did you come all the way across the continent for a trampoline? They're what 15 minutes away? Personally and much as I'll support SLO Sails, Sunrise makes a better trampoline

Just my observation of this, Another friend with a H-18 got a tramp from them and everything went great. That was a good reason he went with them.

Being too busy is no reason to treat someone like this.

Sunrise charges about three times what slo quoted. That's a good reason.

Andrew can comment further. Remember it's been months.

There is no good excuse.

No there isn't an excuse for this and I am not making excuses for SLO, but I will reinforce this is out of character for Karl.

It's nice that they take good care of you.

All we want is they return the property that was sent to them. If you have their ear and can effect a proper response, great.

And so did Sunrise when I had worked with them.

I called and spoke to Karl a few minutes ago and told him of this thread.

What happens form this point is anyone's guess.

Your help is appreciated.

Just my opinion.

Sunrise builds the best tramp. After ten years of never being covered and used more than anyone I know in the Fla. sun, it's still in good shape.

Thank you very much,
hopefully he will return the tramp and we can move on

Yes they do, and well worth the extra money the charge.

Amen

I heard good things and contacted him. Emails and phone. all seemed great ... he said $212 with shipping! 1/3rd the cost of sunrise (who i have worked with and love their product). At that time i had a month or 2 life left in my tramp on my boat.. not much more. Last month i developed a 16" tear in my tramp ... only made the situation with Karl that much more frustrating.

after several week with no response (or room on his voice mail) , when i finally got him on the phone he said he was swamped, he would do my tramp "this week".... i said thats great, i am glad you have business, and i understand.. i dont care if it weeks late... even a month just keep me informed .. don't disappear on me (i know rick said the spring is crazy for these guys) so i was shocked when he promised a few days... (as his yahoo store still does)

that happened 2x... i finally got through and he swore he would do it that week...he said "i will send you pics on wed... thursday i will get your credit card info and ship friday."

I handle a fair amount of websales and customer service and i just can't imagine this type of customer care.


Again, all i am needing is for is my property returned.. .i gave up on a product months ago

Hell, I coulda told ya that!

No Monday morning quarterbacking Karl.

Ha, it took me a few minutes,

or any Karl

Thanks for the heads up, when the time comes to replace mine, I'm going with Sunrise.

If I can suggest, you're going to need to send him a final demand via registered/certified mail for your property, or compensation for it before you can go after him.

Or, just send this guy the link to this thread. That would get my attention.

Not to kick you while your down Andrew, but this goes to show you that the sweet taste of a good deal will turn sour when the expectations of quality and service are not there.