What would you do?

General Discussion
1

Hi. My names Mike, and although I have lurked here occasionally for years, (great and interesting site) this is my first post. I have a bit of a dilemma, and I hesitate to bring it up because I don’t want to stir up any hurt feelings, or have people slamming other people. There is enough of that in the world already.

I’m 56, and I been surfing a long time. (My first board was a Dave Sweet with a bat fin!) I’m am pretty used to surfshops not having things done on time, shoot, I don’t think I ever ordered a board in my life that was ready exactly when it was quoted. (Maybe there were exceptions back when I was in my 20s and I worked at G&S or Sunset, but thats different)

So here’s the deal: I been surfing a hybred long boards the past few years up here where I live in OR. I suscribe to the Journal, and a year or so back I get the issue with all the Fish coverage, and it brings back great memories, and I think it’s time to go short again and get a fish. So I call up Skip, only to find out he is so back ordered, he is no longer taking orders. Good for Skip! I’m truly stoked for him, he deserves whatever success he can mow out of foam. But bummer for me, I always rode Skip’s fishes back in the day. The Journal article shows Rich’s boards, and how committed he is, so he is obviously the guy. I call up the Greenroom, (I used to live in OB) and order the board. I was a little surprised at the quoted lead time (8 months) but, whatever, I was going for it.

Then Grubby bailed, and I knew my order was hosed. At least for a while.

Still, it’s been 15 months, and I hear that foam is available now, so I’m wondering how to get in touch with Rich or Caroline. The Greenroom phone doesn’t seem to be answered these days.

I can imagine that Rich might be way behind in orders, shaping as he does for not only his own logo but Rainbow who knows how many others. If I knew that I wouldn’t get my fish this summer, I could go ahead and use some of the money that I have stashed to pay off Rich, for maybe one of Dale’s neumatic rafts. Or a noserider. Or something. On the other hand, if he is going to call in the few weeks or so and say it’s ready to ship, I need the money to pay him.

What would you do? And please, if your only response is slam Rich or me, save it for another thread.

Mahalo

Mike Wonder

2

Mike,

If I were in your position I would contact Mr. Jim Phillips. His phone number is (760) 753-6299. Jim has truely earned the nickname “The Genius”. I’ve been at this for quite some time, and seen the work of many shapers. I don’t hesitate to recommend Jim to anyone. Give him a call. Welcome aboard.

3

a jim phillips fish very nice

4

Well, I am wondering if you are sitting on a deposit or not. If yes, then do everything in your power to get in touch with Pavel, and find out out what the heck. He may be the holy fish god, but business is still business, and he’s got your money, and you have nothing in return. In the other case, if there is no deposit, after 15 months you are entitled to do with your money as you please, but in my opinion you would be a fool to waste another 15 months of your life waiting. -Carl

5

OH yah 15 months for a board? thats bs most of the big name shapers got a good supply of clark before he closed and for the most part surfboard sales the last 5 months ahve been flat up and down the coast. Find someone who is stoked to get your business, makes a nice board, there are many or better yet go buy one off the rack as you most likely will be getting the same thing anyway other than your color choice which won’t make it fly any better any how. Just my thoughts if you want to ride a fish this summer.

6

Living in Oregon, I’d contact GerryLopez or Seven.

If you wanted a fish now, just call WiseSurfboards and see if they have one in stock. In SF, it’s a 7 hour drive, you get to tour the coast, and they stock over 500 surfboards in the store at any given time.

7

I’d contact Greenroom/Pavel either way - if they have a deposit or not. Be upbeat but straightforward and lay out the timeline and say you don’t want to hang them on the line but that you need to know the status of your order if in process with a firm delivery date or want to release the order (and deposit if you made one) and pursue other options. This doesn’t have to be acrimonious, especially if you know the people and may want to deal with them down the line. You’ve waited plenty, and don’t really need to wait another summer when there are plenty of boards out there available right now. Be casual but firm. Pepper them with calls, contact via the internet, and send a letter - all with the same message. Maybe give them a time period to respond. Again, this can all be done in a friendly manner. If nothing else it might get them mooving on your order or might get you some consideration next time. But don’t let it go and “see what happens”…there could have been an honest mistake on their part and they may have no idea you placed an order. That scenario certainly isn’t limited to the surf shop world.

8

Thanx for the replys guys. I will keep trying to contact the Greenroom, and, yeah, I did give them a 50% deposit. School should be out in a few weeks and I can’t imagine them not opening the shop for summer. That’s assuming they didn’t get a chance to go to AU or South Africa for a bit. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. I’d really like to complete this transaction if at all possible. You know what is kind of funny? I never wanted to order a board from Lis, way back when, because he always took so long.

Mike

9

What issue TSJ was that one - on the Fish?

Even if Pavel has a deposit on the board - if the backlog is 15 mos, he’s got more business than he can handle, and i’m pretty sure he would be happy to return yr deposit.

Best of luck.

jason

10
Quote:

Thanx for the replys guys. I will keep trying to contact the Greenroom, and, yeah, I did give them a 50% deposit. School should be out in a few weeks and I can’t imagine them not opening the shop for summer

Well, if they took a deposit and have kept you in the dark for 15 months, then you have the moral high ground. Making surfboards and running surf shops in Southern California is a year round, full time business awash in money (no, not always “profit”)…I’m afraid I would amend my earlier post and tell you to be very agressive in your efforts to contact them. Push. When you do make contact then what I said earlier still goes, as one never knows what the story is. Talking to a shop employee isn’t going to cut it in your situation, especially if you are aquainted with the primaries. Somebody is minding the business even if the top dogs are on vacation.

The Greenroom
1963 Abbott st.
San Diego, Ca 92107
telephone #: (619)226-1311
Fax #: (619)226-7242
11

What would you do?

That’s easy…learn how to shape.

For the cost of one of them custom orders I could make 3 or 4 myself…

…and its LOTS more fun than waiting

12

Mike,

I’m an OR native(Bend) calling OB home. The Greenroom is currently undergoing a remodel job. Dont remember the date it will be done…but that could account for no one answering the phone. Just wanted to pass the info. Good luck. I’ll try to swing by the storefront this weekend to check the date.

13

Jim’s top of the list of the best shapers i’ve seen . . .

that said, I’m new . . .

Uh if you can get on the phone, talk to Matt. Before the Green room began renovation . . . I was looking for searching for tom curren video, and they got me the whole searching dvd set … matt really helped me out …

14

I’m with craftee. Get your money back and make three fishes. Mike

15

i’m also with craftee and rooster, make your own, i don’t know who i’m quoting but there is no better feeling than flying down the line screaming it works, IT F-ING WORKS. i’ve just had my latest critiqued by the local “top” shaper apparently the rails are pretty “odd” but he said if it works then it works and if what you tried to achieve you achieve it’s all good. i achieved it, but next time i want to achieve much more.

make your own, glass it yourself, you’ll make three for the same price (maybe four if you buy all at once) and by the second you’ll have forgotten that there’s another option.

it seems like you have a couple of boards worth copy-ish-ing.

i’ll say it again, make it yourself, it easily triples the pleasure of riding a wave.

tom

p.s. make it yourself

16

sorry, you’re not the guy i thought had a couple of cool fishes to copy. still DIY though.

8 months, 15 months- seems crazy when in a week and a half tops you can have a fully custom fully cured board made by your own personal self.

tom

17

Thanks Chaddy for the info about the shop being remodeled. That is some good news. As far as the guys who are telling me to make my own, it’s certainly a reasonable suggestion, and one I have long given thought to. I have made a few boards before, and although they came out OK, the truth is to really do it right you need to first set up a shaping room. That means building racks, setting up lights, outlets, and the real deal killer, explaining to my wife why she has to park her camry out in the rain. I can just see it now, the bottom layer of glass is just setting up, and my dogs track through the garage/factory into the house while she who must be obeyed is making dinner. Thats probably not gonna happen any time soon.

You know, the world has changed so much since I was a kid learning to surf at Will Rogers State beach in Santa Monica. And in spite of CNC machines, Walmarts, and boards made in China, ordering and getting a custom surfboard from someone is still one of the magic experiences left, IMHO.

Peace

Mike