Well well just when u thought this thread would cry itself to sleep like the 2 yr old it has become, no it gets a second wind ( appropriate tgt....)
then I woke up and realized it's April fools day!
Come on Paul , the idea that personal friends of mine, who I value and respect, showing such disrespect for mods like sir miles , how could I have been taken in!
And me , who loves April fools- I had a geo political think tank in today and before the meeting started I told them I wanted them to cover the coup in kazakstan...
They went white and reached for their cells to get their Russian expert on the line - it took 3 attempts to convince them I was joking...
Buy no you guys got me - I fell for it ...
Then again....
I've already expressed my total disgust for this thread and the way it seems to resemble a bad b-movie where even the heros of this board are infected by the zombies...
So I have a plan.
I intend to discuss this plan with those who will need to be involved.
Yes I have a role in mind for you nms75 - look for the pm.
But my goal is to close this project and this purile thread Asap
but ONLY when all involved get their just deserts - and amongst those , the customer their money.
Mac I'll be contacting you - one way or another - and I will not be attacking you.
As lukes background has been "exposed" and his age has become clear I feel further abuse will serve no one , least of all those who paid.
Please give me a day to secure this objective, which could serve everyone.
Cheers
I did start my first business at sixteen, yes. Said business now makes a lot of money each month, and I suspect I may earn more than some of you. I am seventeen years old, and am attending the top university in the country to study Law—funnily enough.
I certainly am not an immature kid who has been spoon-fed through life. I have worked extremely hard to be where I am and can afford a number of luxuries that if I was the average person my age (on £300 or so a month), I would not be able to.
I do not appreciate being patronised because of my age, and it only shows your immaturity and naivety—that all people my age are idiots and/or imbeciles. I won’t speak for everyone my age, but I am certainly not one.
I am speaking to Paul on the phone later and expect to resolve several issues then. I will update on the project after that.
Seventeen and at university already? Most students start at 18 so can we assume you took your A-Levels early then? You state you are earning more than many on this forum - please can you give me your evidence to support this statement? Also, if you are earning so much why don't you just go and spend the £2k on an original pair of S.T. Dupont cufflinks OR better still give the members who want a refund their money back?!
I don’t live in England. In Scotland we do Highers which take one year. I stayed on for my final year to do a couple more and start university after Summer.
I said I suspect. My point is I am not reckless with money and have no interest in stealing the money I have been entrusted with. £2,000 on a pair of cufflinks is a little ludicrous—I think many will agree.
Like I’ve said before numerous times, it is unfair that I am out of pocket on this, considering I am doing all the work. If you choose to pull out, that’s of course your prerogative but you will lose the 50% deposit.
I think you are very good at avoiding answering questions. I would suggest not studying Law at university but rather opt for Politics - you have the traits of a politician!
I think you'll live through this situation, despite having shot yourself in the foot a few times with the arrow of in-experience. Not to judge, of course. The result is that you have left yourself subject to scrutiny and open to chance, not good for business.
In other words, you have to work twice as hard to deliver on promises and to ensure that you have a final product which is accurate and fit for sale. These people won't take second best, old boy.
I think you just need to settle a few racing pulses by being a little more open with the project, ultimately the people on this thread would have nothing to criticize if they could read how hard you are (most likely) working to get this right.
Don't let the manufacturer give you the slip, they are working for you, remember. If you are not happy with something, play merry hell with them until you are.
Who is the manufacturer? Why the secret unless its already been stated in this rather long thread??
He stated he went into secret to avoid the "snark" being posted in this thread. While I partly understand this I feel this has actually made it worse - being more transparent would have eased the situation in my opinion.
can we pack it in with the 'i earn more than you' crap, cos if anyone wants to gain trust, confidence and make a good impression this the first and best way to get me to disregard you.
You missed the point entirely with that statement and the regard in which it was intended. Please read subsequent comments.
Mac
When you post statements that you earn more money than others on this forum you are going to receive negative responses regardless of the context in which you believe you said it. You do not know the educational or occupational backgrounds of members on this forum nor their level of experience in their own areas of expertise. However, they do know you are young and inexperienced - not that there is anything wrong with that, you are only just starting out on life.
For a lad of your age you are obviously very intelligent but you still have much to learn. Rather than alienate members with statements like that perhaps you would do well to have a look at the way you have handled this whole project, take some of the constructive advice you have been given and reflect on where you went wrong.
At present I am not sure you are doing this and your past arrogance has lead to some of the more pointed comments made towards you earlier in this thread.
OK I haven't yet commented on this thread and do so now the due deference to Paul and Sir Miles who have done (doing) their utmost to bring a satisfactory conlusion to this problem for all buyers. I have put no money into this project so please forgive the intrusion. I can only recount my own experiences in this area and give my own opinions. The only axe I have to grind is the way this thread is deteriorating to the detriment of the AJB that we all love. With that said I shall begin.
1. I applaud Mac for trying to bring something 'unique' to the Bond collecting fraternity. Anyone who either makes props or commisions them to be made should be congratulated.
2. As a new 'Prop Maker' always start small and build your reputation, if your products are high quality then collectors will flock to your door. If not, emigrate to Argentina.
3. Never charge up front for something that that is yet to come to fruition. If you have built a good reputation then charge a maximum of 25% fully refundable deposit.
4. Always be completely open and up front with all customers or potential customers.
5. When I receive payments for props I always ringfence those payments until delivery is confirmed by the purchaser.
6. Be prepared to be 'out of pocket'. eg I recently promised to donate the proceeds of prop production to my favorite charity, H4H, and the USPS have lost 3 of these items. The purchasers will have their items replaced or fully refunded. Because I promised an amount for H4H I will pick up the slack. It's called being honourable.
7. The customer is ALWAYS right, take a leaf from the Factory Entertainment playbook. They recognise that their QC in China is crap and have done all they can to address this and put it right for customers. I was lucky, my orders were fine.
8. By setting yourself up as a prop maker/seller, you are immediately putting yourself in the firing line, don't whinge if someone pulls the trigger.
9. The moment you start using phrases like 'I earn more than you' you've just lost all respect and ALL customers asking for a full refund should get one ..... Immediately.
I hope this sorry state of affairs will be brought to an end soon, an end that is equitable for all buyers.
First of all, the design isn't custom made, the design is made by S.T. Dupont.
This is a copy of the design, and your not making 1 - 2 of these cufflinks.
You making 10 - 15 if i'm not mistaken? This can't be called custom made.
So all the talk about paypal won't refund the money, I don't think it will hold up.
Why not refund people their money? I'm sure they will buy when you got a finished product.
Get some happy customers, else they won't trust you again.
We (?) were already going to have the coffin shape back to back but with a solid connection. I’ve never worn cufflinks connected with a chain, but I reckon the solid connection would be stronger and last longer.
I am speaking to Paul on the phone at 10.30PM my time—just under four hours time.
Comments
I've mentioned this prevoiusly: It may make a huge difference if the violator of copyright lives under argentinian law or falls under UK law.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
I certainly am not an immature kid who has been spoon-fed through life. I have worked extremely hard to be where I am and can afford a number of luxuries that if I was the average person my age (on £300 or so a month), I would not be able to.
I do not appreciate being patronised because of my age, and it only shows your immaturity and naivety—that all people my age are idiots and/or imbeciles. I won’t speak for everyone my age, but I am certainly not one.
I am speaking to Paul on the phone later and expect to resolve several issues then. I will update on the project after that.
Thanks,
Mac.
Oxford or Cambridge? -{
NMS
BA (Hons), MSc
Oh right, so you are still at school then?!
NMS
I said I suspect. My point is I am not reckless with money and have no interest in stealing the money I have been entrusted with. £2,000 on a pair of cufflinks is a little ludicrous—I think many will agree.
Like I’ve said before numerous times, it is unfair that I am out of pocket on this, considering I am doing all the work. If you choose to pull out, that’s of course your prerogative but you will lose the 50% deposit.
Yes, I finish in a few weeks time.
I think you are very good at avoiding answering questions. I would suggest not studying Law at university but rather opt for Politics - you have the traits of a politician!
NMS
Just as a side note: a large number of politicians don’t study politics, many study Law. I’ve still got a chance.
I think you'll live through this situation, despite having shot yourself in the foot a few times with the arrow of in-experience. Not to judge, of course. The result is that you have left yourself subject to scrutiny and open to chance, not good for business.
In other words, you have to work twice as hard to deliver on promises and to ensure that you have a final product which is accurate and fit for sale. These people won't take second best, old boy.
I think you just need to settle a few racing pulses by being a little more open with the project, ultimately the people on this thread would have nothing to criticize if they could read how hard you are (most likely) working to get this right.
Don't let the manufacturer give you the slip, they are working for you, remember. If you are not happy with something, play merry hell with them until you are.
I'm sure you can't go far wrong.
-{
I plan to be much more open, but was just trying to avoid the crap—a lot of which wasn’t constructive.
He stated he went into secret to avoid the "snark" being posted in this thread. While I partly understand this I feel this has actually made it worse - being more transparent would have eased the situation in my opinion.
NMS
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
Mac
When you post statements that you earn more money than others on this forum you are going to receive negative responses regardless of the context in which you believe you said it. You do not know the educational or occupational backgrounds of members on this forum nor their level of experience in their own areas of expertise. However, they do know you are young and inexperienced - not that there is anything wrong with that, you are only just starting out on life.
For a lad of your age you are obviously very intelligent but you still have much to learn. Rather than alienate members with statements like that perhaps you would do well to have a look at the way you have handled this whole project, take some of the constructive advice you have been given and reflect on where you went wrong.
At present I am not sure you are doing this and your past arrogance has lead to some of the more pointed comments made towards you earlier in this thread.
NMS
1. I applaud Mac for trying to bring something 'unique' to the Bond collecting fraternity. Anyone who either makes props or commisions them to be made should be congratulated.
2. As a new 'Prop Maker' always start small and build your reputation, if your products are high quality then collectors will flock to your door. If not, emigrate to Argentina.
3. Never charge up front for something that that is yet to come to fruition. If you have built a good reputation then charge a maximum of 25% fully refundable deposit.
4. Always be completely open and up front with all customers or potential customers.
5. When I receive payments for props I always ringfence those payments until delivery is confirmed by the purchaser.
6. Be prepared to be 'out of pocket'. eg I recently promised to donate the proceeds of prop production to my favorite charity, H4H, and the USPS have lost 3 of these items. The purchasers will have their items replaced or fully refunded. Because I promised an amount for H4H I will pick up the slack. It's called being honourable.
7. The customer is ALWAYS right, take a leaf from the Factory Entertainment playbook. They recognise that their QC in China is crap and have done all they can to address this and put it right for customers. I was lucky, my orders were fine.
8. By setting yourself up as a prop maker/seller, you are immediately putting yourself in the firing line, don't whinge if someone pulls the trigger.
9. The moment you start using phrases like 'I earn more than you' you've just lost all respect and ALL customers asking for a full refund should get one ..... Immediately.
I hope this sorry state of affairs will be brought to an end soon, an end that is equitable for all buyers.
www.justgiving.com/inMemoryOfLewisCollins
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
Mac, take a look at this.
http://www.audioenglish.net/dictionary/custom-made.htm
First of all, the design isn't custom made, the design is made by S.T. Dupont.
This is a copy of the design, and your not making 1 - 2 of these cufflinks.
You making 10 - 15 if i'm not mistaken? This can't be called custom made.
So all the talk about paypal won't refund the money, I don't think it will hold up.
Why not refund people their money? I'm sure they will buy when you got a finished product.
Get some happy customers, else they won't trust you again.
Reputation is everything.
bugger, maybe I should increase my income a bit by taking non-refunable downpayments here and thereafter present a crippled piece of metal
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Though I was accused of going under and behaving secretively recently !
Actually this thread doesn't need anymore messiahs...it has plenty.
Would it be too much to ask that fuel not be poured for the rest of the weekend?
I'm on a different timezone (planet?) and contacting people is already proving harder than I'd imagined.
If I say please?
The other messiahs are all false prophets.
why not have the coffin shape back to back and 2 of them connected by a chain?
different design, similar appearance when worn.
think its time we ALL put the 'im better than you' crap to one side and tried to help mac and co out.
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
I am speaking to Paul on the phone at 10.30PM my time—just under four hours time.
hows the jeweller, did you get on ok laying down the law?
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org