BAD Bike Rental Experience!

[Sheri Timsak]

I must say that any contact that i have ever had with the Albin family has been one of mutual respect and maybe their lack of comment means that they have nothing to comment on, not that it is a validation of their guilt. The Albin boys have been friends of my sons for years and have always been polite and respectful in my presence. I would like to say that it is bad practice to behave in an unprofessional way concerning the tourists that help us make our living here but as someone that works with the public everyday- I would like to think that maybe the Albins were just having a bad day( and that can happen to anyone) and that everything that happened between the two parties snowballed and got blown out of proportion. No one on the island wants anyone to have a bad experience with any business since you are the reason we are able to live and work here. Hopefully you can move on now and let it go. Life is way too short.

[summervacationers]

We have not heard anything from Lakesports publicly or privately.

[Chamber of Commerce]

We have not heard anything from Lakesports publicly or privately.

Perhaps if I had your phone # and email address I could help.

Steve West
Chamber@BeaverIsland.org
(231) 448-2505 M-F 9-3

[summervacationers]

What's cool about this forum is that it seems to be mostly used as a means of communication between locals with scattered tidbits about visitors experiences. It's like Beaver Island's own little Facebook! I'm not surprised that most posts on this site are positive. Had we known this forum existed before being directed to it after our isolated negative experience you can guarantee we would have used it to gush about our magical dream wedding at the Deerwood where John and Sally Fogg and their staff treated us like family. Or about all of the other positive experiences we have year after year. I stand by our post about Lakesports as it was out of the ordinary. We would be happy to close this chapter as our vacation is long over with but we will continue to reply to posts directed to our experience if we find it necessary. Love ya Beaver Island! Until next year!

[Sidney Kendyl Murphy]

Dear Ms Timsak: Your reply is right on target and I hope all the Beaver Island businesses heed your good counsel in the fair treatment of customers. I only questioned whether Lakeside Sports had communicated back to the "vacationers", not to imply guilt but encourage them to do so because they are key to resolving this conflict over services. I have done extensive research for our government as well as others on conflict and conflict resolution. My field of study was Multigenerational Geopolitical Confict and Resolution. Boiling it down to simple terms: unresolved conflict is the seed of discord. Left unresolved, conflict (discord) can lead to splits in friends and families all the way to wars between nations. What we must learn is that at its very base level and beginning, conflict is between two or more people and needs to be resolved at that level. Nations do not go to war, individual people with unresolved conflict lead their nations into war as the ultimate alternative to resolving differences. Where ever conflict exists, do not say "just forget it" because that will never happen or be forgotten unless resolution is saught and obtained. Instead say "how can I help you resolve this conflict for balance and harmony to be restored in the relationship".
I didn't mean to get so philosophical but unresolved conflict can cause fractures in family and community structures. It is most evident in close communities such as islands, etc. People reading this might look back at previous situations in their life that became the turning point in relationships.

Sid

[Stephen C. West]

"Love ya Beaver Island! Until next year!" said summervacationers.

Perhaps it's time to let this thread drop. The business involved has a print copy of customer statement.

[Sidney Kendyl Murphy]

Dear Chamber: In your recommendation to drop it, is it your first hand understanding that the business involved has resolved the conflict with the "vacationers". If so I would agree, if not I would not agree relative to conflict resolution in restoring balance and harmony which is the objective of resolution. My rationale is that unless resolved, the "vacationers" experience a void for their efforts and the business runs a risk of guilt by no response. In no way could this conclusion be a win/win or even a win for just one party.
People might think that it is none of my business but my business is conflict resolution and I am extremely interested in how people of Beaver Island view conflict resolution. This will be a primary basis for my research there.

Sid

[kerriegillespie]

Sid, i've missed your research objective. Please, do tell. One would think it may be anthropological, judging from your decision to "study" the political/social dynamic of the Beaver Island people. However, it is extremely uncharacteristic of an ethnographer to be suggesting and offering advice to the cultural group of people they are to observe and learn about. I'm certainly not saying your responses aren't purposeful and/or with good points, they typically are, but as a student/research assistant at U of M, i'm familiar with organized research and your approach is interesting. Tell your story and be genuine in doing so, or i can assure you your island subjects will turn their back on helping you before you even ask for their permission to study them. I'd say that's pretty fair!

Best,

Kerrie Gillespie

[Connie Boyle]

Joddy Ackerman:

You should not worry about having recommended Lake Sports to your friends. I have often sent friends to Lake Sports and they have all reported very pleasant experiences. They specifically commented on the friendly and helpful staff. They have been pleased with the equipment, service and merchandise.

[Stephen C. West]

"resolution in restoring balance and harmony which is the objective of resolution." ......... said the smart azz young Sid lady.

How is this for conflict - GET LOST! I prefer NOT to be studied.

The topic has been covered.

My name is:

Stephen C. West
My opininon is my own.

[Son of a son of a sailor]

I am not from the island but have sailed there for many years just as my father and grandfather before me. Having been to most of the businesses on the island over those years I have to say that the reception and hospitality shown exceeds anything found in other ports on the main land. I don't recall ever being in the bike shop so I can't speak to their service but all others receive a #1 rating from our family. I do find it odd with over 3000 views of this post that no one from the bike shop has offered a response.
We'll be sailing back in late August, hope summer comes by then. Does anyone know if Beans is coming to the island this year?

JM