Anyone heard from Hilary Stone recently?

I bought something off him through email just a couple days ago, so he's around.

I don't Know him and have only bought things from him twice, well once the stem never arrived and had to chase him for a fund. Butmu impression is that he is very disorganised and if you catch him in a good run, things get sorted and questions get answered in no time. I ordered a frame from him and it arrived within 24 hrs, but when I ordered a stem, not only it never arrived, but it took weeks with constant chaser emails to get my money back. I think some people here ought be a little harsh on him, he is a one man company and when during busy time, whenever that is, it's sort of understandable that he 'ignore' people emails etc. that said, if you put yourself out there as a trader, then there should be no excuse for not communicating well with your customers.

I don't know what to make of him, but from what I have heard from other people who have actually met him, he seems a proper gent, maybe he is just a classical example of a one man operation constantly taking on way more than what he can chew.

It looks like the month or so it took to get my issues sorted with Hilary wasn't so bad, and at least he came good in the end! Such a shame though as he sells some pretty nice stuff!

My personal approach to selling stuff here is that, if i don't have time to respond quickly, or post in reasonable time, etc then i wait until i can. I'm no trader, but like to think i would apply the same approach if i were.
I agree, it is frustrating when people have time to advertise things (and in some cases even take your money) and yet not respond, or even communicate what might be considered a less than favourable turnaround time for a transaction (for whatever reason) But this is no CRC/Wiggle/etc operation, so human error and mistakes are more likely to occur.
The mans life is cycling, you'll not meet many more passionate about that, BUT he is old school, and I guess that can be a bit hit and miss at times. I've had nothing but easy dealings with Hilary (visits/postage/communications) friends have had some minor issues, but they have been amicably resolved. I must admit I havent had much to do with him since his website took off and he frequents here less, and seems like more problems have occured in that time.
My advice, If you can, go and pay Hilary a visit (either at home* or a jumble) he is most welcoming and a truly remarkable wealth of knowledge and parts.
It's also worth mentioning that in the past he has happily held parts/frames for me with/out a holding deposit until i could tie in a visit, which suggests anything but a rip off merchant in my eyes.

*Perhaps an easier option for me as regularly travel from south west to London.

No, me neither, but perhaps that removes any element of doubt then, doesn't it? Who knows what people may, or may not think. Can't say at time of writing (and not re-re-reading before posting) I was giving it any more thought than to offer a positive and pretty general character reference from my own personal experience, s'all.

are his descriptions accurate , i was looking at some of his frames for sale ,
any one have experiance of buying frames/bikes from him

i have bought 3/4 frames plus loads of other bits off him and have never had issues. If you want to check on a description, give him an email or a call, things have been slightly badly listed before but hes always been fairly quick with corrections in my experience

on steel frames is their a way to check before you buy them that they are not rusted inside the tubes , like can you tell visually ?
or ask certain questions that will point to a bike being stored outside or something like that

Another week of ignored emails. Unfortunately it seems that the next step is to take legal advice.

Another week of ignored emails. Unfortunately it seems that the next step is to take legal advice.

Have you tried calling him?
I ain't stickin up for him but I know he has been travelling a lot recently as I spoke with last week and he had been abroad etc buying and picking up his partner from Holland.

Another week of ignored emails. Unfortunately it seems that the next step is to take legal advice.

You know you can just visit him in person?

Have you tried calling him?
I ain't stickin up for him but I know he has been travelling a lot recently as I spoke with last week and he had been abroad etc buying and picking up his partner from Holland.

Like with a mail-order bride? Did he get a discount because he offered to pick her up?

You know you can just visit him in person?

I could well do that, although it is a massive pain. That said, he's un-contactable so I couldn't arrange a time to do it.

You know you can just visit him in prison?

Really? I know his after sales might not be the best but it isn't that bad surely?

Got a refund today; I wrote to him and he refunded immediately.

Does anyone have Hilary's new address in Wales?
I too am having rubbish customer service and would like to send him a letter.

Seymour on here has bought a frame from him recently I think, don't think he had any problems

Hey Tim,

I've never had any trouble with Hilary till just over a month ago. I've bought 4 frames and a tonne of bits off him over the last couple of years and everything has been fine. But for some reason he won't come through with a refund, which he agreed to in writing, so I have a bad feeling a trip to a small claims court is on the way which is why I need the address. Unfortunately I threw away the last bit of packaging that has his little address stickers on the back

A personal visit may be in order.

Does anyone have Hilary's new address in Wales?
I too am having rubbish customer service and would like to send him a letter.

According to his website. He is away in France from Wednesday until Sunday/Monday.
Do they have internet in the village he lives in?

i got a reply from him yesterday so i believe he is back

I've been emailing him over the past 5 weeks and left a message on his mobile.
I did originally cut him some slack because I thought he might be on a foreign bike hunting trip or something but have noticed that he is merrily posting up new bits for sale on his website so he obviously has internet access and is around.
So sadly, It looks like Hilary Stone is trying to give me the shaft, and hence the need for his address.

Seymour on here has bought a frame from him recently I think, don't think he had any problems

Tim,

Do you know how to contact Seymour as he'll have one of those little address stickers.

Drop him a PM?

Drop him a PM?

Can I be a real div and ask you how to do that?