Originally posted by stewart_photo Put yourself in the dealer's shoes for a moment. He's there to do a business (to feed his family), not run a charity by working for little or no money. He took your business fully expecting a reasonable customer to be a bit more understanding when things happen beyond his control. Whatever the case, he certainly didn't expect you to contact a Consumer Protection Office (like he's somehow ripping you off, when you're actually taking advantage of him instead) and then have contract law quoted to him.
In that dealer's shoes, my response would be exactly the same. I'd deliver your lenses, losing money out of my own pockets (in profits and perhaps more), but I'd certainly be very unhappy about it.
stewart
Stewart,
I had a quote made on the 7th of March for those lenses, and the quote was valid till the 7th of July. Before giving me the quote, he checked the prices with Pentax. I went back on the 20th to order the lenses, and then he asked for a substantial account due to the large order involved. I told him I was paying the whole thing to make sure there wouldn't be any problems, and he said OK. Two days later, he calls me and tells me some B.O. items would be delivered only after the first of April, and would I want to pay the difference or cancel.
At that point, I checked the consumer laws to know my rights. Note that I didn't put pressure on him, didn't argue and didn't try to bring the price down. Note also that I co-own a business and my suppliers bill me for the price AT THE TIME OF THE ORDER, even if the items are B.O.
The bill of sale in Québec is a binding contract, as I'm sure it is in quite a few other places, and I complied with my part, so he must comply with his part of it. I'm pretty sure he is trying to wring some more money out of the deal to increase his profit, not because he is loosing money. Otherwise, it would be to easy for any dealers of any goods to call back their customer after a purchase and say: hey guys, there was a sudden price increase and you have to spit up more cash. Most people wouldn't even know where to look to check if it is true. And, as a business man, if I goof up on a quote and undercharge, it's my mistake, not the customer, so I swallow my pride (and my loss) and do the job for the agreed upon price. When you are in business, most of the time, you win, but sometime, you loose.
And, I don't see a company like Pentax loosing their name over an order that's been place before a price increase, and charging the increase because the items ordered are B.O.
I bought in good faith, so he should deal in good faith.