Last week someone filed a complaint against me for bad customer service through the Ripoff Report website. You can click the link to read it.
I only wish you all could have been in on the conversation and I wish he had reported it verbatim. Just for the record, I did tell him to grow up, but you have no idea how much restraint I had to exercise to keep it that mild.
Don’t worry, I’ve retained the same top damage control consultants who handle Toyota, Tiger Woods and most politicians. So I’m hoping to claw my way back to respectability over the next several years. 
{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
Are you kidding me? I have ordered pretty much everything Eric is selling related to making bread except my Universal Bosch Mixer and that is only because I already owned it before I started baking bread. I have had the best delivery service, bar none, [well maybe Amazon.com they send me birthday cards; now you know where I spend the rest of my money] from any web-based business out there. Give me a break; somebody must have woke up in a bad mood or something.
Cheers,
Francine
We ordered a brotform from Breadtopia, and it arrived amazingly quickly and is exactly what we were looking for. The prices on the website are very fair. This is our first order, but we were very pleased.
let’s put a hit on him.
Well, that is too bad. I have purchased eight cloches, and have used your recipes for over a year now, and made a nice little bread business thank’s to you. After trying recipes at home, I started taking bread to the farmers market, in hopes that people would buy it, and wow, we have quite the bread followers now. But it would not have happened without you Eric. So, thank you for all you do, and for your promptness with all of my orders. I know how words can sting. Last year a customer came to the farmers market threw the bread he purchased the week before down on the table and said how nasty it was. Trying to give his money back, and being horrified, he refused and walked off. My husband and I tasted the bread, and there was nothing wrong with it. I think he was just a hot head looking for a place to explode, and we have never had any other negative comments since. There are just those types out there, as previously mentioned.
Keep up the good work, and thank’s again.
Sheri
Interesting. The individual making the ripoff report mentioned attitude. I found attitude alright … from the individual making the report. It was almost smoking there was so much attitude.
I noticed one more thing of interest. That report was the only one existing for Breadtopia. That alone speaks volumes. You all must be doing something right.
Eric I have ordered from you just last week and I had a question about the product after emailing you. I received the quick response from you and told my wife, Eric is one of few people that answers email timely, so don’t let one bad apple to spoil your appetite and keep up the good work.
I clicked on this website from a link via a comment on The Fresh Loaf. I absolutely love Bredtopia more. Thanks for the in-depth videos and instructions. I ordered some of the sourdough starter dry and wet. I can’t wait for it to arrive. Thanks for being here for us bakers. Ohhh, can’t wait to bake some bread.
I love my sourdough starter. I am making bread all the time, now! My sourdough starter came immediately, and I think this guy is probably difficult with everyone. Unfair reviews are just that, unfair. Don’t forget, Eric, your other customers’ happy and positive opinions carry weight, too! My husband says this is his favorite website..he loves the results. Thanks for a great product and a fantastic website.
Best,
Sarah
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You have great customer service. Don’t let the comment get you down – you can’t please everybody 100 % of the time. Your prices are excellent , things come quickly & are well packed! Love your site!
Margie
Totally love your website and your recipes and tips. I’ve also ordered from your site and had great service.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, really enjoyed your site after stumbling across it in Google. My first sourdough rye turned out pretty good for a beginner.
They haven’t cleared customs yet… I’m hoping we get them before mid month.
I knew it. One more look and I found it. The Danish dough whisk. April 1. Got a feel for when it might be available?
http://www.breadtopia.com/store/danish-dough-whisk.html
Evil Eric,
I’m looking for that stirrer with the dough hook that you use to make some breads. I’ve been unable to find it.
Of course now that I’ve said that I’ll probably locate it in the next 5 minutes.
Just received my Proofing basket and Romertopf it only took 4 days to get it after ordering it.(can’twait to put them to use tonite(The guys a nut keep up the good work.
Hi Eric,
Sorry that you had a problem with a customer. I wonder if having a place that has the order status or an expected shipping date would aleviate this type of situation. I was looking for information this morning on my order and could not locate any. Most people get excited when they purchase something(some more than they like to admit).
I love your website and appreciate the videos. They have been very helpful.
Thanks again
I love BRER.Rabbitt’s advice on this page given to Danyl in Alabama. I also, like many of you, have nothing but praise for Eric and his website. I had no problem with my purchases, whatsoever.
Recently I purchased a few items from your site and it was wrapped with such care. To tell you the truth I was surprised so much care was given to sending my package so I have no complaints but only thank you’s for your great site, instructive videos (I’m a visual learner) as well as the wonderful products you offer.
Today, is my third day of the whole grain sour dough bread and my first attempt in over 30 years in baking bread. The oven is cranked up to 485F and my cloche pan is in there for 1/2 hour before I drop in my bread dough. I’m crossing my fingers it will come out.
Thank you for this site. Please keep up the good work.
Inge
Eric,
Just wanted to say that my experience with you and your website has been spectacular. I’ve ordered a couple hundred dollars worth of bread tools from you, all at very reasonable prices, and ALL shipped to me promptly and packed very well. The videos are GREAT! I even hav a buddy of mine getting into making bread because of you. Can’t seem to stop making a loaf or two each day! Can’t wait to get enough of the sourdough starter I purchased from you ginned up to have a go with that.
A1 service!
Thanks.
Kent
Sorry, Danyl from Alabama – you are off base with your complaint.
Eric even dropped my goods I ordered from him off at my friend’s location in the Iowa town next to where he lives to save on delivery charges.
Eric has delivered gold performance with all my doings with him.
Perhaps Alabama doesn’t have postal or UPS service???
Mark, Those cook books and videos left out the instruction that if you own a dog, you either have to build higher counter tops or trade your dog in for one with shorter legs. Thanks for the laugh. {:-)
Being relatively new to baking, I ordered the “beginner’s pack” (starter, proofing basket, La Cloche, whisks, jar & scraper). The web store clearly stated the availability of each item and I ordered accordingly. After doing so, I received e-mail confirmation, followed by a prompt shipping status with tracking #. Everything arrived per my ordered with no surprises. After receiving, I had a question on how to use the jar (with our without seal) which I sent via e-mail. It too, was responded to quickly and clearly.
I certainly appreciate the smooth transaction and gotta say, I really find the video’s very helpful! My 1st attempt at no knead sourdough was so successful, my dog snatched the loaf right off the cooling rack!
Cheers
I ordered a dough whisk last Tuesday and it arrived on Saturday. I am satisfied with the item I received, the price and the speed of delivery.
Also, I think the recipes and instructional videos on the web site are a great help. Thanks.
Ah, ya know, Eric, there’s a “sour grape” just about everywhere! Your site is the best I’ve ever seen and you’re customer service is exemplary. There’s not a person, with whom I speak about bread, that I don’t tell about breadtopia.com. It just rolls off my tongue! Now, as for Danyl, maybe he should use his “sour grapes” to make some sourdough bread. He’d probably be a much happier, content and less quick-tempered person. Please keep up the wonderful work – we’re all better bread bakers because of it! Thanks!
Bernie, you are exactly right. I need to pay more attention to my typing.
I think Bob Packer meant thefreshloaf.com, not freshloaf.com which produces pix of a cute little girl, but not about bread making. I just recently discovered this site which is quite good for recipes and how-to’s.
Bernie
I have been a fan of Breadtopia some time. I have ordered numerous supplies from Eric. Everything was exactly as described, very reasonable in price and was shipped promptly.
I have a baking website and Breadtopia has been one of its linked site since day one. I would not have included it if I have ANY qualms about dealing with Eric.
If you use http://www.freshloaf.com, an international bakers’ site, you will find many recommendations from bakers of all skill levels to buy from Breadtopia. These people are REAL bakers, not shills!
i am just catching up with the ‘ripoff report.’ absurd. i agree with everyone who says you are the best: generous in your sharing, very responsive, fair. i just told a friend that i’m buying what i need from you because of the way you run your business and take care of your customers! thank you so much, barbara
With so few details about the supposed bad customer service, how does he or she (the Danyl person) expect to be taken seriously? There’s no meat in the complaint, only venting. Guess it’s easier that way, but it’s also lazy.
I have ordered several items from you and each one has arrived promptly and with a personal note attached. Your customer service is exemplary and will keep me coming back for any of my baking ‘kneads’.
Dear Eric, you are the most generous selfless ethical & caring business person I know on the Internet. Thanks to you and your community of Breadtopia (and your wonderful products and live culture) I am able to make great bread which I never thought one could do. Don’t let one rotten apple ruin your day when you are highly thought of by thousands of other grateful customers.
Eric and his wife have given me exceptional service and I’d willingly purchase more of their products when needed. Don’t you love his how too videos!
My Best to all of You,
-=Greg=-
Eureka, CA
What an idiot this guy (girl? Danyl) must be. Breadtopia is a great website – and Eric is obviously someone who cares deeply about the subject and not about profit. For example, he sells great bannetons at about half the price that anyone else does – he can’t possibly be making any money on them at all. Here’s my suggestion to you Danyl: Use your head instead of the baking stone – it’s obviously a lot more dense.
Thanks so much everyone for your kind and encouraging comments. I greatly appreciate it.
And Eliz, that’s nice of you, but we can help you with the sprayer. I’ll email you.
I had a problem with the oil sprayer that I bought from you. It seemed like from the start it sprayed weirdly and after a few weeks it comes out on glops and is useless. I have such admiration for you and your site that I packed it up to send back to you but I really dont want to create a problem, and I have gotten so much value out of your wonderful website that I cant seem to bring myself to go through with it.
I have nothing but praise for Eric. I have been following this site for a couple of years now, and have ordered and received stuff with no problem at all.
Got to say that I have every confidence in Eric and Breadtopia!
Even though this guy didn’t report your e-mail exchange verbatim, the little bit that he did mention says a lot more about his poor character than about your customer service; who sends an email to customer service and says something as absurd as, “Did you lose it?” No wonder you told him to grow up!
Don’t feel bad, it happens to the best. One of my professors mentioned during a recent lecture that she is still a fan of Tiger. So don’t take your loyal customers for granted!
I just made my first purchase from Breadtopia and everything went perfect
Eric even called me to let me know shipping would be delayed by a couple of days due to the weather. Everything was packed well and came with instructions. I would give Breadtopia 5 stars!
Thanks!
Great customer service is one of the reasons why I keep coming back to this site, and why I’ve referred a number of people to it. My pizza stone order arrived without incident and faster than I expected. I also appreciate how quickly questions that arise in the comments section are responded to. The pride and care put into breadtopia are apparent and appreciated, by me and many others, I’m quite sure.
Sorry to hear about this, Eric. I’ve been an attorney for almost 40 years and see a lot of disagreements daily….I haven’t been on this site all that long, but long enough to buy a fairly substantial number of items from you: a grain mill, an oven stone, 2 clay pots, gloves, etc., etc, etc. I’m also pretty thorough about who I do business with, I think you know that Eric because I asked a lot of questions about certain products and you knew I was looking at other products not handled by yourself—-I still came back to breadtopia.com because of the clear dedication (could say fanaticism) that you have about bread and its making. Every now and again someone comes along who you just can’t please, and that’s too bad because I’m certain you are a very caring individual judging from the way you handle your responses to those of us who hang on your every word. Tomorrow is another loaf, Eric, and we’ll still be here waiting anxiously for the good dough sensei to tell us the secrets of the breadmaking universe. Bernie Piel
I purchased several items from Breadtopia with a good experience. In fact, 1 item I needed to return and Eric was very nice about it, receiving a full refund.
I have had opportunity to purchase from you Eric. I felt the item was not as described and emailed my concerns to you. You were quick to respond and worked everything out to my likings. I enjoy your site, and feel I can count on excellent customer service from you. There’s just no pleasing some people…
Eileen
I love this website, and have always had the best of customer service and products here. I wouldn’t hesitate to order again.
The information and products on Breadtopia are fabulous.
I have had only good dealings with Breadtopia. Customer service is the best! Whoever the crankohead was who complained must have been someone having a bad day. The rest of us appreciate you and this wonderful site. Carry on, Eric!
if you want to see where i placed your photo … its at the bottom of this page:
http://redmoongardens.com/quilt2.html
unbelievable … your site is the best and is one of my favorites … the service and products are great and the service is perfect … i have a website for machine embroidery designs and have 2 groups that follow my work and i have told them about your site and i have posted photos of my bread and your claybaker on my site with a link to your site thats how much i love your site … i cant believe you did anything wrong other than the misfortune to have a vile customer … diana
Your site is fabulous, your customer service has been fabulous…
You cannot please everyone all the time.
Warm regards, Jesse
Thanks Carole!
I had a great experience with a purchase and enjoy your website, some days are going to be bad when you have an experience like this , you will continue to be successful!