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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
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