Recent Experiences Ordering with OAC?

[Caleb James]

Not sure if this list is still active but thought I’d throw out a bit of a speculator and see where it lands.

 

I’m curious if anyone can relate recent experiences receiving orders from OAC? Has anyone picked up an Erlen rack, Stem Top or some yard sale items recently and received them without issue?

 

I ask because I was lucky enough – at least, so I thought – to purchase one of the last Rambler frames Rob had available, that he was selling at a discount due to a few paint chips it had picked up in storage. It’s still listed on the site:

 

https://store.oceanaircycles.com/products/rambler-frameset-in-stock

 

I paid for it in full in August last year, and as Rob couldn’t get a hold of the rack to go with it I bought one elsewhere (with his blessing) and had it shipped to his shop for installation. So far so good! Fast forward eight months to April this year and while Rob wasn’t able to confirm that the rack was installed or the frame ready to ship, his epic day job and growing young family were keeping him more than busy so the Rambler wasn’t top of the queue. All fair enough, and understood. I believe there was another Rambler waiting to be shipped at that time too, so I wasn’t the only one in that boat either.

 

Sadly, that’s the last I’ve heard from Rob. Have tried a few things in the eight months since then – email, obviously, plus DM via Instagram with no luck. I raised a dispute via PayPal but that was knocked back by them as it was well outside their 180 day cut-off. So, as a last resort (and with a heavy heart), I’m going public to see if anyone has any advice.

 

If anyone can confirm they’ve had successful dealings with OAC in the last few months that would at least give me some encouragement that orders are still being shipped out. Otherwise, if anyone has any first hand knowledge of the situation I’d really like to understand what’s going on here. As a happy Docena bag owner I’ve had nothing but great experiences with OAC in the past … but this one has gone entirely the other way.

 

Would appreciate any assistance – feel free to get in contact directly if that’s preferable.

 

Many thanks,

 

Caleb James

[doug peterson]

Caleb:

Yes, the list still works.  There just hasn't been a lot of traffic lately.  Regarding you query, I've always found Rob to be a good guy with the best of intentions.  He has some a rough go the last couple of years with lots of changes happening, but it still seems odd that he hasn't responded to your inquiries.  I've noticed him posting on IG about another set of Erlen racks, so he's still active.  Not sure what I can offer beyond that.

Doug Peterson

[Hugh Smitham]

Caleb

You are indeed a patient fellow. I've never had any major dealings with Rob like yourself but as Doug says Rob is a really great guy and has had some challenges the past few years.

I'm a little surprised he hasn't responded back to you. I know he's on this list so perhaps he'll see it and respond to you.

I hope for a decent resolution for both you and Rob I'd hate to see this go any more sideways then it already has.

Hugh

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ocean Air Cycles" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ocean-air-cycl...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ocean-air-cycles/380318f9-ae85-4e29-bbee-0c7ccc898349%40googlegroups.com.

[Bob Lovejoy]

Hi Caleb,

I will say first that I am really sorry you have had those issues.  Wow...!   I thought long and hard about that frame when it was for sale, deciding against it only because the sizing for me was not going to be quite right.  I know there was a discount, as you stated, but it was still real money, certainly enough to qualify as an important purchase, at least in my world and I bet in yours as well.

I agree with others in that I have had only good experiences with Rob.  I have a Docena bag, as well other miscellaneous things.  I have watched interviews with him and followed his lead on making a decaleur system.  But I will also say that once someone accepts money in exchange for something they have listed for sale, completing that transaction, getting that something to the buyer safe and sound should, no matter what, be a high priority.  I know things happen, life happens, but still... Just basic communication goes a long way.

Anyway, I am sincerely sorry for the troubles, for yours certainly and Rob's as well.  Let us know what happens... I hope you soon receive the frame or at least a real update.

Bob Lovejoy

Galesburg, IL

[Robert Perks]

Caleb,

I am sorry you had to get me here at a forum, I am not sure how I missed any other messages you sent me, but my email host/server continues to be a struggle.  Since our last conversation where my life was not really my own due to employment (day job) situation, things got a little worse not better.  It has been a very challenging year and a half, and that is no excuse for my failure on the commitment to you for the Rambler.  This is a low point for me and you have my word that the bike will be yours if you want it.  It is currently in the stand and final prep was done about two weeks ago.  That was the point the the stomach flu hit our family and we are back on track now.  I have the bike ready to wrap with plastic and get it into the box. in the next week or so.  I will search through my email, and host server to see what might be going on with the communication issue.I will be getting at you for shipping details this weekend.

To anybody who has been emailing me and getting nothing, i believe the root cause is my email server host and how it interacts with gmail.  I am buried in spam, factories from china, influencer requests etc, and yet missing out on more actual email that I need to deal with  the whole thing is a mess and stems from the period when the blog went down completely about a year and a half ago.

Note to all since this seems to be getting some reads and I really should do a blog post to let people know where things are with OAC.  This is a bit of a dump, and jus the honest truth, not an excuse or call for pity:

- after the Thomas fire 2 years ago the last batch Ramblers came in the middle of it all and we were literally digging our from ash and struggling with chronic chest and sinus infections for months (whole family)

- Third daughter born in July, that was a good thing, but exhausting.  Two kids was challenging, three is nuts

- Day gig building schools was piling on work and had me at 60+ hours with Title changes, added responsibility and two missed raise commitments, but could not quit due to the need for health insurance for pre and post natal complications my wife had.  it was a real shit show and I was stuck

- Towards the end of this, I had multiple offers to change gigs, and did earlier this year.  The job ended up being misrepresented and not a fit...as bad as the last place, sold as clean project with work life balance, but once there, boss yelling that 60 hours is not enough, guy overdosed at the desk next to me, straight crazy stuff that you can't even make up.  I am no longer there.  

- This is now at nearly a year of just trying to have a day job, be a husband and Dad and still make my commitments to OAC customers.  It is not a huge thing, but it is enough to keep things going for supplemental income why Aly takes care of the kids and teaches yoga nights and weekends.  I was barely able to cram an hour or two in at OAC each week and running 2-3 weeks behind on shipping all orders.  

- In the interim between that last gig and coming back to another offer from months prior you saw me get back in IG, catch up on orders and all that about 4 -5 weeks ago.  I thought I would have about 1 month off in November to get life back on the rails, clear the decks of al the back orders including Caleb's Rambler that is embarrassingly late

- Mid November my landlord(home), who was late in showing up with our lease renewal as promised, showed up to terminate our lease during the holidays.  That has been a total dumpster fire as the rental market is insane here, no inventory, hyper competitive, market rent 40-50% higher than what it was a year ago and all sorts of evictions going on due to laws changing at the new year.  The way he did it was marginally legal and he has an agent he hired who tried to bully us until I lost three days in a legal letter campaign beating the shit out of them both to protect our right to shelter under contract.  The amount of stress, family drama and unplanned cost this has brought on us is insane

- in the midst of that, me and all 4 ladies went down with a stomach flu rotating through the house for over two weeks

- Now we are here with me catching up on email and planning how we are going to move right after Christmas

the good news:

- two weeks into the new day gig, working normal'ish hours and able to get to the shop for an hour or two before going home the last couple of days.  I am about 2 weeks behind on small orders and catching up

- we are closing in on a new rental home, and hope to have it 100% locked in this weekend, fingers crossed as it will facilitate the next changes for OAC

- The above property will allow me to get OAC back into the garage, out of the semi-retail space and help keep everything streamlined.  2020 will still have the tops, Erlen and possibly bags and caps while we clean up the mess from the last two years

I made it this far due to incredibly patient and supportive customers, that is a blessing but at times has given me too much rope.  

--

Rob Perks

Ventura, CA

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ocean Air Cycles" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ocean-air-cycl...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ocean-air-cycles/380318f9-ae85-4e29-bbee-0c7ccc898349%40googlegroups.com.

--

Rob Perks

Ventura, CA

 

[Hugh Smitham]

Rob,

That's a hellava 2 years buddy. I sincerely hope things get sorted out and you get relief from all of this stress.

I'm sure you'll get Caleb United with his new Rambler very soon.

Happy Holidays,

Hugh

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ocean-air-cycles/CANbzXh9muv_Q9wnVbWycjfT6x6ZBQkgMXnpYbRLz8NLk1-dN7A%40mail.gmail.com.

[doug peterson]

Rob:

You've had more trouble in 2 years than I've had my entire life, & I've been around a long time.  Good luck sorting it all out & best to the ladies.

doug

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ocean-ai...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ocean-air-cycles/380318f9-ae85-4e29-bbee-0c7ccc898349%40googlegroups.com.

[Caleb James]

Thanks to everyone for all the responses.

Rob, I second those comments already made - that's an unimaginably difficult couple of years you've been through. Not sure I'd be brave enough to post all that up online for the world to see but it speaks well of you that you did.

More practically, I'm just glad we've been able to reconnect. I'm sure we'll get this sorted to our mutual satisfaction. Plus now I get to be excited about the bike all over again! I'll take this off-list from here, and drop you a note via my work email address which might be able to circumvent some of the difficulties you're having with Gmail addresses and your mail server. Maybe. Fingers crossed!

Thanks again to all - it's nice to see a corner of the internet where civility and compassion still hold sway. 

Caleb

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ocean-ai...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ocean-air-cycles/380318f9-ae85-4e29-bbee-0c7ccc898349%40googlegroups.com.

[Bob Lovejoy]

Caleb,

Post pictures when you get the bike built and riding!  Like I said, I looked at this frame for hours, trying desperately to get the measurement numbers to work for me.  That said, it is a cool and beautiful frame, great design and frame builders as well.   It would be great to see it built and out in the world!

Bob

[Caleb James]

G'day everyone,

With apologies upfront for using this list for personal purposes, and with flagrant disregard of it's stated intention, I just wanted to bump this thread in the hope that I might be able to reconnect with Rob regarding my MIA Rambler frame as I've not been able to successfully make contact off-list. I note he's been active on social and selling various bits and bobs through the OAC store recently, so I'm cautiously optimistic we might be able to get some movement on shipping the frame - COVID-related freight challenges notwithstanding.

Anyway Rob, if you're listening, I hope all is well and I'd love to hear from you - here or directly.

Otherwise, hope everyone else here is staying safe, keeping well and enjoying their bikes when they can!

Thanks very much,

Caleb

[Robert Perks]

Caleb,

I am sorry and embarrassed as before.  I replied to you off this forum and have the Rambler packed at this point and ready to ship.

I am holding OAC together by a hair (thanks to Blue Lug), and that is mostly to shield the Erlen design and distribution.  There is a certain brand that is on the east coast and keeps attempting to convince BlueLug to let them have the distribution (rhymes with crust).  There is some $$ in the Erlens, but not much given the last 18 months of choked off production.  I could cry a river about life and the bike industry, probably make more $$ writing a book about what a messy business it is, but it does not solve your problem.  I have a break between the day jobs and runs in packing the last shipment from Japan, so your rambler got wrapped up earlier tonight.  Ramblers are on hold because of how poorly the last round went in terms of business.  They are all fine, beautiful and sound bikes, but I ended up paying people to take them after settling up with the builders, and the painter and I are still not settled fully.  Some of that is now rearing it's head in instagram comments, but the folks squealing don't brag about being 6 months late, driving my cash flow on builds into nothing, insisting significantly more $$ than the original quote to release the bikes or the painter that agreed to the job with powder coat, then once the frames were ready could only do wet paint at almost 5 times the quoted price.  Everybody pretended to be all sorry about that, but without $$ I was either out the deposits and out the bikes and would need to refund all the customer deposits etc., so I plowed through it.  The painter ended up being the most fair on the whole thing and came out about as screwed as we did.  Plus side for customers is a prettier paint job.

That timeframe and cash flow crisis largely killed my ability to front $$ and keep the Docena production going as well.  The amount of energy to fix the last round quickly will be ending with this shipment.  I will never go into another production run of Ramblers without a well crafted agreement, and honestly do not know of any suppliers in the US that work on more than a handshake and an email, so it will be a while.  

All I can say is sorry, my govt stimulus check is going towards your shipping and we will be putting this embarrassing chapter behind

--

Rob Perks

oceanaircycles.com

Tumblr

facebook

Instagram

Flickr

Pinterest

Ventura, CA

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ocean Air Cycles" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ocean-air-cycl...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ocean-air-cycles/014fb66b-6841-4df9-a73e-54d27c34b9d1n%40googlegroups.com.

 

[Ryan Watson]

There were problems and delays with mine as well, but trust me it will be worth the wait!

Ryan (happy Rambler owner :-)