Gordon -

You're right, Chris Rennie was discourteous and a poor businessman. He would rather make excuses than take responsibility for his customer interactions.

If he is at a senior level in the company, then you're right to not do business with them. If he's a mere first-line screening flack whose job is to accept/reject potential manuscripts, then go over his head and find someone else to work with.

I'm guessing you've already checked out the company and know they're worth working with. If so, go to the president and work down. If not, just say NEXT! and put Rennie's response down to the decline and fall of civility and responsibility in America!

His actions are especially heinous if they made you late to see Tiger stalk today :-)

Take care, Bob