I waited several days (purposely) to see if my attitude would mellow; but no - I still have a negative opinion about the first store I went to (Orley’s). But I HAD A TERRIFIC EXPERIENCE AT SMOKEY’S STOVES and the rep name DEAN and that’s what I’m commenting about. But first -
I followed the crowd; I took the easiest road; I accepted the hype … I went first to Orley’s across the street from Smokey’s Stoves. Bad first choice. I purposely brought in my entire stove pipe for the purpose of aligning and matching my pipe length and configuration. My pipe was black, single walled pipes with corrugated ends. The sales person at Orley’s (DMcI) said my pipe had to be replaced because corrugated end pipes were no longer made (I said OK!?!). {and 'no' I did not misunderstand}
I met one of the store workers and explained my concerns about my mis-structured piping. Right from the get-go this company rep acted as though I was inconveniencing him. It was only when I said I was there to buy that he sorta became helpful. He acted as thought he knew better what I wanted than I did. I also mentioned several times that the reason
I brought my pipe in was to measure and match my configuration; he seemed annoyed with me that I would want him and me to do this.
Several boxes from the storage room were brought forward. I wanted to lay out the pipes in the configuration I had and compare its potential layout to my pipe layout I brought. Instead of pulling the items out of the boxes to compare - all he would do is point out … that’s an elbow, that’s the ‘XYZ’ pipe, that’s the extension pipe, etc., etc. I paid for the new non corrugated end parts ($150) and drove back to Yreka. I spent the next 90 minutes trying to find the best way to connect these pipes from the stove to the ceiling. The pipe configurations we tried were either to long to fit or to short to fit.
The following day I loaded up the truck and returned to Medford. BUT THIS TIME I stopped at a different store (across the street) and had a GREAT experience. I pulled into this shop (Smokey’s Stoves) across the street from Orley’s. I am so glad I did!! The man I met dropped everything he was doing and gave me his inviting attention. The man (Dean) was great. Without hesitation he heard me out, showed me what he and I were talking about, even showed me that pipe with corrugated ends was still being made. I was pleased to be talking to an honest man. I promptly returned to Orley’s and returned the merchandise I bought, asked for my money back and left. Orley’s returns monies by way of check. So I have to wait a couple of weeks to get my money back. I returned to Smokey’s Stoves and the company rep (Dean) and did buying business with him and the company he represents.
My overall thoughts after several days of letting myself mellow is
1) I’m surprised Orley’s is still around.
2) The person I interacted with (representing the company) was dishonest (some would say a liar). He came across as the primary interest he had was to make a sale (at the expense of helping a paying customer). There was no genuine interest in what I specifically wanted.
3) For future consideration this is not a company to do business with.
4) I wished I had gone to Smokey's Stove first!
5) The rep (Dean) at Smokey's Stove is an honest man. The other rep of the company across the street wasn't and isn't.
I would suggest to anyone interested in their stove (or a stove) to be patient: look elsewhere. I entered Orley’s from Delta Waters Rd off Crater Lake Hwy. May I suggest when you get to your turn instead of turning left into Orley’s TURN RIGHT ONTO Delta Waters Rd to Smokey’s Stoves You won’t regret the choice. Ask for Dean (if he hasn’t approached you first).
Almost forgot - the pipes (at Smokey’s) less expensive than Orley’s but Dean (representing Smokey’s) was quick to give me a discount for being a veteran. Orley’s doesn’t honor veterans with a given discount but the rep cut a few dollars off as a favor.
All USA
I waited several days (purposely) to see if my attitude would mellow; but no - I still have a negative opinion about the first store I went to (Orley’s). But I HAD A TERRIFIC EXPERIENCE AT SMOKEY’S STOVES and the rep name DEAN and that’s what I’m commenting about. But first - I followed the crowd; I took the easiest road; I accepted the hype … I went first to Orley’s across the street from Smokey’s Stoves. Bad first choice. I purposely brought in my entire stove pipe for the purpose of aligning and matching my pipe length and configuration. My pipe was black, single walled pipes with corrugated ends. The sales person at Orley’s (DMcI) said my pipe had to be replaced because corrugated end pipes were no longer made (I said OK!?!). {and 'no' I did not misunderstand} I met one of the store workers and explained my concerns about my mis-structured piping. Right from the get-go this company rep acted as though I was inconveniencing him. It was only when I said I was there to buy that he sorta became helpful. He acted as thought he knew better what I wanted than I did. I also mentioned several times that the reason I brought my pipe in was to measure and match my configuration; he seemed annoyed with me that I would want him and me to do this. Several boxes from the storage room were brought forward. I wanted to lay out the pipes in the configuration I had and compare its potential layout to my pipe layout I brought. Instead of pulling the items out of the boxes to compare - all he would do is point out … that’s an elbow, that’s the ‘XYZ’ pipe, that’s the extension pipe, etc., etc. I paid for the new non corrugated end parts ($150) and drove back to Yreka. I spent the next 90 minutes trying to find the best way to connect these pipes from the stove to the ceiling. The pipe configurations we tried were either to long to fit or to short to fit. The following day I loaded up the truck and returned to Medford. BUT THIS TIME I stopped at a different store (across the street) and had a GREAT experience. I pulled into this shop (Smokey’s Stoves) across the street from Orley’s. I am so glad I did!! The man I met dropped everything he was doing and gave me his inviting attention. The man (Dean) was great. Without hesitation he heard me out, showed me what he and I were talking about, even showed me that pipe with corrugated ends was still being made. I was pleased to be talking to an honest man. I promptly returned to Orley’s and returned the merchandise I bought, asked for my money back and left. Orley’s returns monies by way of check. So I have to wait a couple of weeks to get my money back. I returned to Smokey’s Stoves and the company rep (Dean) and did buying business with him and the company he represents. My overall thoughts after several days of letting myself mellow is 1) I’m surprised Orley’s is still around. 2) The person I interacted with (representing the company) was dishonest (some would say a liar). He came across as the primary interest he had was to make a sale (at the expense of helping a paying customer). There was no genuine interest in what I specifically wanted. 3) For future consideration this is not a company to do business with. 4) I wished I had gone to Smokey's Stove first! 5) The rep (Dean) at Smokey's Stove is an honest man. The other rep of the company across the street wasn't and isn't. I would suggest to anyone interested in their stove (or a stove) to be patient: look elsewhere. I entered Orley’s from Delta Waters Rd off Crater Lake Hwy. May I suggest when you get to your turn instead of turning left into Orley’s TURN RIGHT ONTO Delta Waters Rd to Smokey’s Stoves You won’t regret the choice. Ask for Dean (if he hasn’t approached you first). Almost forgot - the pipes (at Smokey’s) less expensive than Orley’s but Dean (representing Smokey’s) was quick to give me a discount for being a veteran. Orley’s doesn’t honor veterans with a given discount but the rep cut a few dollars off as a favor.