Hey, guys--I don't post here often, but I lurk every now and again. Could any of you give me insight into a problem I'm having? About three years ago, I posted a message here asking if anyone painted models. I had a few vintage built-ups and repops I wanted done but just didn't have the patience (nor the skill) to do them myself. Anyway, I got a few responses and finally settled on one (who shall remain nameless). His work was really exemplary, from the photos he sent me. I immediately sent him both a PL Munsters and Bride of Frankenstein, and he finished them in three months. Not only was the pricing reasonable, but the final products blew me away! I couldn't have asked for better. At that point, I sent him an Aurora Batman and Superman. And that's when the problems started.
As was our agreement, I also sent payment along with the kits. One month elapsed. Then two. Then three. Finally, I e-mailed him to ask the status, and he didn't respond. After three more e-mails, I finally heard back. He claimed to be experiencing marriage problems and a messy divorce, but Supes was almost done. I received the model SIX months later--and it was beautiful. But by this time, he'd had it for almost a year, and still not Bats. When another month went by, I wrote him again, and this time he said his house had been broken into and the model was stolen. He apologized profusely and promised the buy another classic Bats (at his own expense) and paint it up for me. That was over a year ago.
Since then, I heard from him only once, last April. At that time, he said the model was ready to go. My e-mails bounce back as "failed," and I have no other contact info for him, since he'd moved. What to do? Have any of you run into similar situations?
I'm still very much in the market for someone to paint my models, but I don't want to wait a year for each one to be done! Right now, I have a Monogram Phantom of the Opera in the box I'd like to see painted, as well as a King Kong, Lost in Space Robot, and Land of the Giants Snake (all repops, by the way and still in boxes). Anybody interested?
Thanks - Rod
As was our agreement, I also sent payment along with the kits. One month elapsed. Then two. Then three. Finally, I e-mailed him to ask the status, and he didn't respond. After three more e-mails, I finally heard back. He claimed to be experiencing marriage problems and a messy divorce, but Supes was almost done. I received the model SIX months later--and it was beautiful. But by this time, he'd had it for almost a year, and still not Bats. When another month went by, I wrote him again, and this time he said his house had been broken into and the model was stolen. He apologized profusely and promised the buy another classic Bats (at his own expense) and paint it up for me. That was over a year ago.
Since then, I heard from him only once, last April. At that time, he said the model was ready to go. My e-mails bounce back as "failed," and I have no other contact info for him, since he'd moved. What to do? Have any of you run into similar situations?
I'm still very much in the market for someone to paint my models, but I don't want to wait a year for each one to be done! Right now, I have a Monogram Phantom of the Opera in the box I'd like to see painted, as well as a King Kong, Lost in Space Robot, and Land of the Giants Snake (all repops, by the way and still in boxes). Anybody interested?
Thanks - Rod