Mane Event

GS Bloke · Aug 29, 2008

Mane Event is a company run by a chap called David and based near Manchester.
They make and supply pannier bags.
Bike: 1200 GSA '07, The bags are made for this model, pics to follow.

Last Sat I called on the off chance there would be someone there as I wanted to place an order, David answered and was very helpful, I explained that I needed them ASAP, he said he would post them the same day he got my cheque (they don't take cards!).
Good to his word he did and I got them a few days later.
So far I am very happy

When I unpacked them and tried them in the panniers they were different sizes, bearing in mind the BMW side boxes are the same size, I couldn't work out why one was much smaller than the other.
The LHS (exh) side fits and nice and snug making the use of all the space, the RHS is at least 2" smaller all round and looks lost in the pannier box leaving loads of unused space around the bag.
Today I called Mane Event to try and find out if I had been sent the wrong bag or try and find out why one was so much smaller.
David was quite abrubt and said they were deisgned that way so the bags fit nicely, I explained that that didn't make sense as both boxes are the same size and one fits nicely but the other is far too small, David's reply was again abrupt saying that if I didn't like it I can always send them back.
I said I don't want to send them back as I need them for a trip and just what to know why one is smaller than the other, now he gets very arsey followed by a long silence, I then said "Ok, that doesn't make sense, but thanks anyway" to which his reply was "goodbye" and down went the phone.
Summary: Very helpful and nice when looking to purchase, after sales support is the worst I have come across in a very long time and would not use them again - ever!

Deleted account 220427002 · Aug 29, 2008

What bike, what bags and have you any pictures of them in the panniers?

GS Bloke · Aug 29, 2008

I have updated my post with the info.

davidgibson999 · Aug 29, 2008

standard BMW GSA alu panniers?

GS Bloke · Aug 29, 2008

davidgibson999 said:
standard BMW GSA alu panniers?

Yea - std alu BMW GSA panniers.

(RIP) Shenzi · Aug 29, 2008

Definitely something wrong there, I have Mane Event bags and they both fit perfectly. Give David another ring, maybe he was having a bad day, happens to us all.

GS Bloke · Aug 29, 2008

Shenzi said:
Definitely something wrong there, I have Mane Event bags and they both fit perfectly. Give David another ring, maybe he was having a bad day, happens to us all.

I did ask if I was calling at a bad time and he said no and kept saying that if I didn't like the bags to send them back, he was NFI (not feckin interested).
If I call him again I will loose the plot with him as he was so rude the first time.

(RIP) Shenzi · Aug 29, 2008

Rob K said:
I did ask if I was calling at a bad time and he said no and kept saying that if I didn't like the bags to send them back, he was NFI (not feckin interested).
If I call him again I will loose the plot with him as he was so rude the first time.

My experience dealing with Mane Event was very pleasant and I am very happy with their kit which fits perfectly. When I bought mine he didn't even wait for the cheque to clear before sending the goods as I was in a rush.
If you are not happy do as he says and send them back, I'm sure he will give you a full refund.

Rob, just had a thought, have you filled the bags prior to checking the sizes?

GS Bloke · Aug 29, 2008

Shenzi said:
My experience dealing with Mane Event was very pleasant and I am very happy with their kit which fits perfectly. When I bought mine he didn't even wait for the cheque to clear before sending the goods as I was in a rush.
If you are not happy do as he says and send them back, I'm sure he will give you a full refund.

I don't want to send them back as I need them for a French Alps trip, all I wanted was a sensible explanation to why one bag is smaller than the other.
Sensible reasons could have been "we did that so you could fit some tools alongside the bag" or "we did that so you can slide some maps in beside the bag", but no effort was made by the very un-interested & rude owner.
I even got right down to basics by saying "its like having two holes the same size with two different sized pegs, it doesn't make any sense" - "what do you want me to say" was the response.
I was really looking forward to getting these bags and using them in anger, now they are tarnished with poor customer service.
Maybe I won't use them and buy some BMW bags instead and return them, or maybe I will cut off the 'Mane Event' logos so I don't get get annoyed each time I look at them.
I would be interested to know how many other people use these bags and if the bags are the same size, or different.
If the replies say they are the same size, I will assume David is BS'ing me, if they are different, then I will assume there is some madness for this.

GS Bloke · Aug 29, 2008

Shenzi said:
Rob, just had a thought, have you filled the bags prior to checking the sizes?

No I haven't but I did push them open with my hands and also laid them side by side on the bench, and they are clearly different sizes, also David did tell me that is correct and that is how they are designed but couldn't give me a reason to why, which makes me think he is spinning me a yarn.
Why he couldn't just say 'oops sorry, send it back and I will send another out" is beyond me.

(RIP) Shenzi · Aug 29, 2008

Strange, I spoke to him a few times, he didn't strike me a a b'sing type of guy and I would have thought all the various types of bags would be separated.
As you say it would be interesting to hear from others who have bought from Mane Event.

GS Bloke · Aug 29, 2008

Shenzi said:
Strange, I spoke to him a few times, he didn't strike me a a b'sing type of guy and I would have thought all the various types of bags would be separated.
As you say it would be interesting to hear from others who have bought from Mane Event.

That's one of the things that bugs me, prior to delivery of the bags he was a real nice chap, once I had the bags (and he had payment) it all changed.

GS Bloke · Aug 29, 2008

blimey.... just called to try and sort out a possible misunderstanding only to called a "girl" because someone from France had called him telling him of this thread, thanks to that person - that really helped... NOT!
He accessed me of writing things in this thread that I haven't and he said he hadn't read the thread himself.
I suggested we start again and get it sorted but he wouldn't agree and talked over the top of me.
I think it was a personality clash - but he is a business and should have conducted himself in a professional manner, I am the client with faulty goods and have a reason to be a bit miffed.

He said that my bags are the same size (despite saying in the first call that they are designed not to be) so I will take a pic and post here later to prove they are not the same.

The bit that amazes (and really jars me off) is the name calling and talking at me, accusing me of saying things I hadn't said, and writing things I haven't written and then hanging up before I get a chance to reply.

My accent is a mix of London and Devon and comes across quite harsh, David took this as me being arsey with him from the offset - it wasn't meant that way and he getting arsey with me did not help (2 wrongs do not make a right), that's why I tried to suggest we started again.

I was hoping to be able the close this post with a good result, after all I did call him to resolve this, he didn't call me. I did tell him if we could sort something out I would praise him in this thread, but he wasn't interested.
I will be sending the goods back and buying BMW bags (should have done that in the first place).
I am not suggesting anyone should avoid this company and what I have posted here is "the whole truth and nothing but" so make up your own minds.

(RIP) Shenzi · Aug 29, 2008

Rob K said:
blimey.... just called to try and sort out a possible misunderstanding only to called a "girl" because someone from France had called him telling him of this thread, thanks to that person - that really helped... NOT!

Whoops! I called him hoping to help, clearly it didn't, sorry. I didn't give the details of what was said in the thread but did offer to send a copy to him which he declined. Nothing to stop him looking anyway.
He struck me as being a decent guy and I had good service from him, posted my bags when he received my cheque without waiting for it to clear.
You mention your voice Rob and the fact he called you a girl, is your voice very high pitched :ymca

I thought the BM bags were ridiculously expensive which is why I bought from Mane Event. Mine were among the first he did for the 12GSA, another member of this board (don't know who) did the testing for him and helped with the design.

EggChaser · Aug 29, 2008

Just out of interest do Mane Event do bags for the Varios as well as the Alu Panniers as they would potentially then be different sizes?

davidgibson999 · Aug 29, 2008

EggChaser said:
Just out of interest do Mane Event do bags for the Varios as well as the Alu Panniers as they would potentially then be different sizes?

yes they do - I had some when I had varios and they are different sizes

Deleted account 220427002 · Aug 29, 2008

they may have good bags... but if that's the way he treats problems i hope people stay away from him.... at no point does it look the the guy from Mane Event has treated the buyers problem with the courtesy it deserved.
Also Shenzi may have worsened the situation if not quoting verbatim what Rob K had posted... but if Shenzi has talked to him he will have an idea of what Mane Events attitude was to this complaint... it would be interesting to hear what Mane Events responce was to that phone call.

What would really bug me is that it would be quite easy to exchange a bag if it was the wrong size.... for mane event not to have tried to resolve this issue and talk to a customer that way seems inexcusable.

just a thought are you sure the right bags were ordered for the right type of panniers :nenau

Edit: i really should learn to type quicker

(RIP) Shenzi · Aug 29, 2008

When I called David of Mane Event it was to make him aware of a problem that I was certain he would want to fix. The only thing I said to him was that Rob wasn't happy with the service he was getting which I felt sure was a misunderstanding as Mane Events have been going for some time and this is the first negative comment I have seen.
Just trying to pour oil on troubled waters and regret getting involved.

GS Bloke · Aug 29, 2008

Hey Shenzi - dont worry about it, your intentions were right which is the main thing.
The odd thing is that you offered to send him the thread and he turned down your offer, but he told me to print it off and email it to him - I declined to help him out...