Subject: Re: It Arrived
Hi Jim,
This is Gail's husband Chuck. I'm writing to you because she is too upset to
respond. She put her heart and soul into this project for you and if you were
within arms reach, I'd ring your neck.
As a point of reference, I pleaded with Gail not to do this work for you because
it's the kind of job that is too much work to ever be worth the effort or
profitable to us. She took the work because you were insistent and she got
caught up in your enthusiasm for having the work done.
I can't tell you how many hours and how much work and stress this job has been
for her. We've never had a customer that placed as much pressure on her and
rushed her the way you have. She could have easily made the mandolin look
pristine and new but you wanted it distress. She poured over hundreds of Loar
pictures and in my opinion the details she incorporated including the dovetailed
bone points and the neck finish distressing were pure genius.
After examining numerous Loar F5s in varying condition and having owned a Gibson
Master Model, my opinion was that she was spot on in everything she did. She
could have made it look pristine but you wanted it distressed. I have spent
many weeks with this mandolin, I know mandolins and I have to say that your
assessment is just a lot of bunk.
To seek a remedy and so that Gail does not have to deal with you anymore I am
prepared to do the following. 1) return all of you money today. 2) pay you in
full the money you have into this mandolin upon its return to me.
A third option is that you can return the mandolin and give Gail the opportunity
to return the mandolin for re-work on her timeline with no pressure, no
distressing, then there should be no question as to the quality of work. This
is the least savory option in my opinion since I don't hold out hope that you
could ever be pleased.
Please let me know how you would like to proceed.
Sincerely,
Chuck Hester