There’s now a Gedore mobile workbench sitting in my garage.
This compact 18-drawer rolling workbench is unlike the other rolling tool cabinets or mobile workbenches I’ve used or tested in the past. This is partly why I ordered it, and also partly why I cancelled it.
Yesterday was a very long day – my tool cabinet order was being delivered! The driver rang my bell – my usual guy for certain equipment, as I had been hoping (yay!). I went outside, and was surprised to see that there were 2 trucks.
The second driver waited patiently as the cabinets I had been expecting were delivered by the first driver.
I helped the second driver roll the pallet up my inclined driveway, and then they took off. I removed the cardboard shell to check it out. I was not expecting a Gedore mobile workbench.
Maybe I should have asked more questions or made some phone calls, but I have been told multiple times by this and other suppliers not to refuse freight deliveries, and that directive kicked in.
Next, I had to get it out of my driveway (we’re expecting rain), and so I unloaded the Gedore workbench off its pallet to roll into my garage overnight. I figured the pallet can stay outside.
Now what?
I’ll start at the beginning. I ordered a Gedore workbench back in December. It was supposed to ship in a couple of days, but didn’t.
After nearly 2 weeks I requested cancellation. It took over 2 weeks for the supplier to finally acknowledge cancellation of the order, well beyond the 3 business days I was told it could take. That was nearly 2 months ago.
The supplier said:
I’m sorry to hear that this order did not work out for you. We have successfully canceled the order per your request. A cancellation confirmation has been sent to the email address on file, and you will not be billed for the product.
There were no phone calls or emails to alert me that the workbench was still on its way, it just showed up nearly 2 months later.
I’m surprised, not only that the cabinet showed up nearly 2 months after I cancelled my order, but because the original ETA was for early January.
I went through something similar recently. In that situation, I called up the same supplier after receiving a cancelled order, and they processed a manual payment. I’m never doing that again. The ordered items were defective and of poor quality, and so I requested a return and refund. I deeply regretted making the manual payment, as the return of a cancelled order proved to take an inordinate amount of time and effort. It was a truly terrible experience that was eventually resolved.
In that case, the unwanted items took up valuable shop space for weeks before I was eventually sent a refund and told to do what I want with the items (I donated them).
Now with this Gedore workbench, I dread a repeat of that hassle with the supplier, and am really not looking forward to dozens of emails and lengthy phone calls trying to arrange for return pickup. Getting the order cancelled was unpleasant and stressful enough, and I really don’t have the time for lengthy return process communications right now.
I have been resetting my garage workshop, donating equipment and clearing as much floor space as possible. And now I have this unexpected delivery taking up space for what could be days or weeks?!
Also, the pallet is gone. I had a couple of pallets and a large broken-down crate picked up yesterday from my other recent deliveries. In my excitement about the other ordered cabinets I was expecting and had received, and exhaustion from moving them around, I lost track of the Gedore workbench pallet and it was collected along with the others.
Because of what happened recently with a different order, I know the hassle that awaits me if I attempt to return a cancelled freight order. So, now what?
In the other circumstance, I asked for a manual invoice and paid for the order because it seemed like the right move, and because I wanted to remain in good standing with the supplier. But the return part was a mess I am loath to repeat. Beyond the frustration, it consumed quite a bit of my time and too much valuable storage space. I am dreading a repeat.
If the supplier wants the workbench back, they can make arrangements, set an appointment, and pick it up. The same with Gedore – they can come and get it. I’m okay with that, as I had cancelled this nearly 2 months ago before going in a different direction. But I’ve learned my lesson about proactively contacting that supplier about returning a cancelled order.
This is a small mobile workbench, but its footprint isn’t negligible.
Since the workbench was shipped to me by mistake and I’m not being paid to store it, and it’s taking up much-needed space, maybe I should put it to use in the meantime. The alternative is to leave it outside until the supplier or Gedore come to pick it up. But if I do that, it’ll be quickly damaged and maybe destroyed by the elements.
Interpretations of FTC guidelines say that cancelled orders are akin to unordered merchandise that is shipped without request or consent of the recipient, and can be considered a gift that doesn’t have to be paid for or returned.
In the other recent situation, the item shipment and cancellation happened quickly. Here, it shipped many weeks afterwards, and apparently after the supplier had over 2 weeks of communications with Gedore about the cancellation.
I don’t want anyone eating the cost for this item – it’s not inexpensive. But I also don’t want hours of hassle trying to get it out of my workshop. I’m not interested in paying for it, as I went in a different direction after the order was cancelled. I also don’t want it to take up valuable shop space as I wait for Gedore or the supplier to contact me about returning it. Getting rid of it seems like a potential solution, but that seems like a waste.
If a freight driver shows up today saying “hey, we need that back,” great! If not, do I just use it?
Was it sent to me on purpose? The order wasn’t cancelled last week, my request went out 2 months ago. The cancellation did take time to process, but that was still back in mid-January.
This is such a headache, and one I don’t have time for right now.
It was sent to me by mistake (nearly 2 months of being cancelled) or as a gift, and I think both are equally improbable. If it was a gift or test sample, I would have heard from someone. If it was sent by mistake, how would that happen after weeks of cancellation request communications between the supplier and Gedore?
A voice in my head is screaming “keep your mouth shut!” But I figure that maybe someone will see this post and provide me with a resolution. Even if not, I’m going to take this as an opportunity to assess the mobile workbench, and so the context of how it ended up in my possession needs to be discussed.
Even though I changed my mind about the order, I’m actually really excited for the opportunity to check it out. I just don’t want any trouble because of it, assuming it was sent by mistake.
What would you do here?
Update: I emailed Gedore and also the only marketing contact I have at the supplier, expressing that if they wish to pickup the product for return that I can only store it in new/unused condition through the end of the week, which is 3.5 business days.
Obviously I’m hopeful for the least-hassle resolution, which would be someone saying “consider it a gift.” But if they want it back, getting it out of here by the end of the week would still be welcome.
Update 2: Gedore is making arrangements to pick it up. Bummer, but I’m extremely pleased at the speed of their response.
