Triangle Horse Sports closed it's doors abruptly..anyone else have blankets there?

[Ben and Me]

Before everyone comes down hard with criticism, you should see what they will do about getting blankets, items that have been ordered and paid for, etc. I highly doubt that Gil and Christine wanted this to happen to the business they put their entire lives into for 16 years. Let the dust settle, and see how everything works out. This JUST happened. It is tough times for everyone, show a little mercy folks.

Thank you. Agree 100%. I would be absolutely floored if they didn't do right by their customers.

[GallopHer]

The Raleigh area will sorely miss THS. The customer service was so good. Now, I need to find another feed supplier and most likely I will have to switch brands. I wish Gilles and his family the best.

As "horsie" as the Raleigh/Wake Forest area is, it's hard to believe how few feed suppliers there are. Hopefully, someone will recognize the need and open a new store in our area.

[jesseh]

This has been in the works for awhile. It has been a complicated mess and I doubt Gil intended for anyone to get *caught* with their stuff stuck inside of a locked shop. I am guessing it had more to do with the bankers that have been *analyzing* the situation.

I wish them the best and everything, but I just had my blankets dropped off on SATURDAY. I highly doubt that a business makes the decision to shut down within 4 days. Talk about unprofessional--the least they could have done was, gee, I dunno, NOT accepted them? I too have at least $600 worth of blankets in their "care."

Anyway, I'm skipping classes and going to the address given in the message today. Anyone want updates when I get back? It's kind of comforting to know I'm not the only one with issues here!

[MtyMax]

Sad to hear this news...I had gotten an inkling of it over the weekend when chatting with the owner of another tack shop in Clemmons.

I used to work for Gil when I was in highschool and college....and I'm not sure that I'm surprised to hear the news. Its a tough business and they always had a lot of inventory (great for the customer, bad for the financials).

Typically when I need something I head to Raleigh to shop there instead of Greensboro. Guess I'll be doing my shopping here from now on.

[dalpal]

I wish them the best and everything, but I just had my blankets dropped off on SATURDAY. I highly doubt that a business makes the decision to shut down within 4 days. Talk about unprofessional--the least they could have done was, gee, I dunno, NOT accepted them? I too have at least $600 worth of blankets in their "care."

Anyway, I'm skipping classes and going to the address given in the message today. Anyone want updates when I get back? It's kind of comforting to know I'm not the only one with issues here!

Keep me posted...and while I do feel for them..I do agree with you. At some point you know things are going South, you need to be upfront and honest with your customers. I am not being heartless or cruel....I have 1200.00 worth of horse blankets (which I have been told will be at the new location) that I need soon..and nor do I have 1200.00 to replace them.

[bluemooncowgirl]

I agree 100% with jesseh about it being unprofessional. I was there Saturday as well, and purchased two pair of Carhartt jeans for the husband who was at home. I specifically asked if I could return them if they didn't fit and both Gilles and the other employee behind the counter said I could. They gave me no indication that I would have to return them to DURHAM, if the other store would have even honored the purchase. Anyway, I was never fond of THS in the first place and I can get what I need elsewhere. The only reason I even went this weekend was because a few barnmates were going and I tagged along.

Best wishes to the new owners, though. Maybe they can make a go of a very tough business.

[juniormom]

Please give them a break! Perhaps Giles and Christine didn't know it was going to happen when it did either. I don't know any of the details, but know Christine and Giles well. We have shopped there for many years and never received anything but good professional service. I am sure this isn't something they wanted to have happen. They have lost everything they worked so hard for!

[Eye in the Sky]

Oh I feel for Gill and Christine as well...I've always enjoyed both of them. I was just floored when I read it on the internet this AM.

Here's hoping that all works out well for them.

I agree. I was just thinking that when I go to Durham to visit family this fall, I need to stop in and say "hello" and check out their sales...I loved that store.

ETA: I highly doubt there is any malicious intent on either Giles or Christine's part in not talking about it - my guess is, they had hoped it could be resolved behind closed doors, and then something went wrong. I have known them both for years and they are both people of integrity. I'm sure they will get people's property back to them. I would be shocked otherwise.

[Justa Bob]

If the bank is involved (and owns the assets) the owners of the business are not given a choice. The bank can move in, change the locks and create a huge mess for the owners and customers.

Yes, it's unprofessional of the BANKERS -- but that's how they often do business -- on THEIR terms. Often the owners are given no notice and are locked out.

Best wishes to all parties getting through this potential mess.

[clanter]

wow, talk about unprofessional even if you are being bought out, or forclosed upon, you have the professional decency to phone those that are waiting on paid goods.

I feel bad for all those that are left hanging.

IF THE CLOSING WAS BECAUSE OF AN OUTSTANDING LOAN, as a former bank officer, at times when the negations come to a point were its a drop off the cliff as all hope of a restructure disappears it is to the best interest of the shareholders to step in to freeze all assets that were pledged as collateral

[Eye in the Sky]

While I do feel very bad for those of you that have blankets and tack tied up with THS, some of you are making it very evident that you know very little about how ending a business works when you do not want it to, as well as the effects of trauma on a person. Giles and Christine are perhaps in shock over the turmoil of losing their BUSINESS! Please have some compassion and stop expecting them to pick up the phone as their first thought to how to handle their livelihood coming apart like this.

If you trusted them to do the right thing with your blankets for washing them, please trust them to do the right thing in terms of getting the blankets back to you.

No, I have NOT been in touch with either of them for many years, as I no longer reside in the area, but I've trusted them both in a myriad of business transactions over the last 16 years and I cannot allow my trust to be broken by what has happened to so many businesses of late.

I am not negating anyone's fears of what is happening with their personal property at THS, however, please do not underestimate the trauma of losing your business and trying to figure out "what next?".

[bigfatpony]

In shock or not, don't tell me they didn't know the locksmith was coming. That is crap. Taking in customer possessions like blankets when they knew they were days away from closure is the epitome of unprofessional. And I would bet my butt they knew they were days away too. Banks do have rules to follow.

I visited their website and was thinking to myself how odd it was to see people announce they have both became equine insurance agents when they have this big business they are running. And when I visited the online store the day this thread started it mentioned that the stock of the store had been purchased by Fools and horses.

To me it looks like they knew what they were doing and chose not to take the high road and let their clients know. I hope they aren't expecting their loyal clients and customers to follow them into their new venture.

Even nice people do not nice things. It happens every day.

[Sleepy]

Unfortunately, bigfatpony, I agree with you. I was vaguely suspicious when they had that sale a few weeks ago. I was really suspicious when I went in for feed last week and there were no familiar faces. But when I went back Monday and they were closed I was furious since I had no time to prepare. Fortunately I had enough feed left to transition my one remaining old horse to Purina. But now I have no place to buy her supplement other than order it from Schneiders. Not a happy camper here.

[KatieSyd]

Fools & Horses in Durham

I just wanted to take a second to post info for those that dropped off blankets at THS or had ordered anything from THS. Fools & Horses in Durham has the blankets and prepaid merchandise from THS. I just went up there to see if I could pick up my blankets and they were extremely helpful. They have the list of all blankets dropped off but do not have the contact info to call customers. They do have feed and will have hay next Saturday. Right now they cannot deliver feed but it can be picked up. Their address and phone number is below and they said to feel free to call them with questions.

2945 S Miami blvd suite 120 & 121
Durham nc 27703
919-237-1948

[BaroquePony]

Thank you for the info .

[jen-s]

I realize that we're COTH and can be prone to a rush to judgement at times (myself included), but this is a business that has had an outstanding reputation within the community for a very long time. Before you get your hackles raised over what is 100% pure speculation at this point, please step back and rethink your words before you feed the drama llama anymore. Keep in mind that there's probably way more to this than what appears on the surface. I think Gilles and the employees were probably just as blindsided as we all are.

Furthermore, to hear that Blue Sky is closing as well, makes this week a very sad one indeed for the Triangle area equestrians. Jingles for ALL involved and ALL who may now have uncertain futures.

[TTLchaos]

If I had a choice between informing MY customers or SAY maybe saving MY home........

You folks could just go straight to H E double hockey sticks!

My, My, some of you should be ashamed of yourself.

[jesseh]

I think everyone here is trying to say the same thing. I have not read one post that does not express sorrow and compassion for THS and it's staff. It's a really unfortunate situation for everyone involved. However, I think it's perfectly fair for customers caught short to be upset--people are having to suddenly having to switch grain on next to no notice and I can only speak for myself when I say that I don't want my blankets to slip down the cracks, because I don't have $600 to replace them. I think everyone is doing the best they can, but I can certainly feel compassion for BOTH sides in this.

Anyway, I'm glad that someone was able to find the pickup place--it's more than I was able to do! Thanks for posting the actual address of the place.

[YankeeTurnedHillbilly]

If anyone needs Blue Seal feed, give me a call and I can help you get it through my distributor. 919-280-8087

[jen-s]

Finally Farm (according to their FB page) is now a dealer of Blue Seal feeds, so if anyone is in urgent need, they can contact YankeeTurnedHillbilly or FF directly.

Jesseh--I respectfully disagree with your statement that everyone had expressed sorrow/compassion and I reiterate that 1) not a soul directly involved with this issue is speaking publicly at this time so anything written here about bank loans, etc is just nasty gossip and 2) for a company with such an outstanding reputation to have a situation like this (whatever this is) to erupt seemingly overnight, it's almost guaranteed that someone was blindsided and details may or may not trickle out with time.

Unless you (and by "you" I mean the collective COTHers, myself included) are unable to find your consignment item, your blankets, or you have an objection to ordering feed from FF, then it seems most responsible and prudent to hold your expressions to ones of sadness at the loss of TWO local tack stores in one week and a good number of our horsey community potentially being out of work in the midst of a craptastic economy.