oware – is anyone there?!?

I have been leaving messages for 3 weeks and no answer so far.

I haven't had any trouble reaching them, and have always found Oware to have excellent customer service.

. . . and leave a message. My message is that I want to know if I am really going to get a tarp, since I did after all PUT MY PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE!! :(

The first time I figured it was a fluke but I've been calling 2 or 3 times a day for the past few days, plus I have emailed them.

So if you could past that on I'd be grateful.

Uhoh, this is worrisome; I was going to order a tarp in the next couple of days. Anyone know what's up here?

My girlfriend bought me a tarp at christmas; no problems at all. David Olsen called her to talk colors since he was out of the one she requested.

When there was no included pole connector, I emailed. He called me back to get my address and I had my pole connector in short order.

I wouldn't get too worried about your info. David has been in business for a long time. Maybe he's sick, or went on a trip without updating the website?

. . . cause I like the extra tieouts on the oware flat tarp. I havn't considered any others since seeing them.

Oh well, they say patience is a virtue, I think it's overrated.

I ordered a bivy in mid February over the phone. At that time David told me he was going to be gone for a week. I phoned again last Friday around 5 pm AK time, and spoke with him. He was having problems with his accounting software and didn't want to post anything until it was fixed. Which also meant he wouldn't mail anything until then. He hoped to have solved the issue over the weekend and start shipping on Monday the 10th. I'd say patience is the key at this point.

Maybe he's got the flu like Graham over at CiloGear…

I ordered my pack on Jan. 3, and have chatted with him once to wish him the best on his wife's surgery recovery and his sorting out issues with customs and importing.

Now that everyone else apparently has their 60L packs, it's just me and one other Canadian guy who apparently haven't received anything.

I was about to send an email to ask how it's going as I have a trip coming up in 10 days. And then I saw his latest blog post:

http://blog.cilogear.biz/

He apparently puked on his sewing machine due to having the flu while trying to work.

Such is the nature of running a one-man show. Best of luck Graham, and I hope David of OWare gets everything under control as well!

In Oware’s defense…

The items I purchased were of top quality. I received excellent service and my purchase was delivered in a timely manner.

This comes with the territory of ordering from small companies- be realistic about how they are run- one person covering most or all bases. When something happens, the guy who does the sewing/packing/designing/answering of emails is away from those duties to fix it. And when the variations of individual life such as other work/family commitments kick in, instead of someone getting their shifts covered, less work can be done. The company owner's side of this deal is being realistic about the amount of work they are taking on and whether they can get through it. Our side of it is saying 'you give us leeway to get the gear we couldn't get from big corporates, we give you leeway we wouldn't give to big corporates about when it arrives.' For me that deal is OK.

about his accounting problem so I feel a little better. They look like awesome versitile tarps, I can't wait to practice with mine.

But are they in business still? I would like to order their pyramid shelter

David Olsen is absolutely still in business. I would write off his non-response to something out of his control, that or he was waiting to get back to folks until he knew exactly what was going on (something we at BPL have been known to do a time or two).

Delays might happen, but he's a stand-up guy running a reputable business. I wouldn't be concerned about ordering from him, if I were you!
Kind regards,
Addie

>…got the flu like…

This is true. I ralphed up some bile on my sewing machine when I came back into work.

With many of the small businesses making gear, we don't have a lot of back up in terms of staff. I don't know anything about David's situation at Oware, but I've always heard good things about them in the business.

I can tell you, as an example of how stuff works, that I do my best to post status updates on my blog. However, when my wife was in the hospital for four days, her health was my first priority. Some customers definitely managed to fall through the cracks of my autoresponders, my blog and my voicemail. After four days of sitting in the hospital and another week of taking care of her at home, I found that I had about 250 emails. I triaged them into levels of seriousness, and I'm still working on the backlog, fully three weeks later…

Thanks to one and all for your support of our small businesses, and I think I speak for all of the boutique manufacturers when I say that we really appreciate your patience as we grow and get better at making cool stuff for you.

I received the bivy from OWare in today's mail. Looks like patience winsout again.