[Idyllchat] Dishonest shop owner

[Donna C. Brown]

Dear friends,
Because of your help and many wonderful suggestions, my husband and I
enjoyed our sojourn through southern Spain and  two weeks in
Switzerland this past summer.
We had only one sad experience.  Perhaps you could counsel us what to do next.

While in Barcelona, we bought 2 Don Quixote statues made by Nao for
217 euros, at what seemed a reputable shop on the Ramblas.  I insisted
the man pack the statues in their boxes while we were there; we paid
the shipping and insurance that he asked for.  He promised to pack the
boxes in another sturdy box also.  We stupidly paid cash, as the fraud
department at Capital One thought our card was stolen and, as they too
frequently did while we lived in Europe, momentarily cut off our
credit. This time it  had serious consequences.

We waited for 2 1/2 months for the shipment by boat. The boxes arrived
crushed, torn and the statues were both severely broken.  The store
did not pack them in a sturdier box, only bubble wrap around the
flimsy original boxes.   The thin outer paper was torn; our address
was nearly obliterated.  The post office had to tape it numerous
times.  Now the store owner will not send us new statues unless we
return these at our expense. At this rate, it will be 7 1/2 to 8
months before we can have our statues. They were gifts for family. Our
post office said, "Tell him to contact his insurance."  I think the
post office in Spain will say the same. He only shouts at us on the
phone and will not answer our questions about the insurance.  I do not
believe he insured them, he thinks we won't return them and he won't
have to send more.

I do not trust this man to send us more statues securely.  He says we
are not "doing our part,we are terrible customers, and we expect too
much for our 30 euors for shipping and insurance."  That is what he
charged us and what he agreed to do.  I have sent him pictures of the
damaged boxes and broken statues.  He will not address anything with
us, only shouts loudly and rapidly on the phone so that we are unable
to talk.  Then he hangs up.

Is there anything that can be done at this point?  I'm almost ready to
order more statues from locations here in the U.S. and be done with
it.  But it makes me so dang mad!!!  Thanks for your advice.
Donna Brown