There was a 16 year old from whom I was buying a radio.
I was in Maryland, he, Illinois.
We made a deal.
I sent my check.
I waited for about a week. No radio.
Called. Left message.
Called again. Left message.
Called again, finally got to talk to him.
"So, you got my check?"
"Yes."
"When did the radio ship?"
"Oh, I sold it to another ham locally. He paid me more."
"Ummm, so you have my check, AND you sold it to another guy without asking
me if I would be OK with you backing out on our deal?"
"I guess."
"Do you see a problem with that?"
"Not really."
"You don't?"
"No."
"How about if you were selling something and we made a deal. You turned
away a dozen other people because it was 'sold' and then I decided to
back out without asking, or even TELLING you. Would that be OK?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Even if it meant you never found another buyer, when you'd turned away a
dozen other sure sales? If you had to hold onto it for another year, if
it depreciated to nothing, and you lost all of your investment?"
"I guess."
Arrrgggggghhhhhhh!
I wasted about 10 minutes on the phone with this brain-dead kid
(remember, he was only 16, so someone must have messed him up GOOD!).
I told him I'd remember who he was, and that I hoped he never handled his
actual life in that manner or he wouldn't have a very successful one. I
also promised him that if I were ever in position to have dealings with
him ever again, I would probably have to decline.
I still don't think he ever figured it out. Hopefully he grew up and got
rid of the negative influences that gave him his particular value system.
But hey, at least he returned my check.
That just makes him somewhat unethical, but at least not a criminal.
scott N7JI
On Sat, 30 Aug 2003, w3sz wrote:
> Hi Chip!
>
> I have read the emails, and you clearly DID have an agreement with W5YE,
> which he
> acknowledged. Any attempt he makes to say otherwise is just rationalization,
> an
> attempt to hide the truth.
>
> But what you are dealing with here is a matter of character.
>
> It has been my experience that it is most difficult to get people to behave
> more
> honorably than it is in their character to do.
>
> W5YE is clearly comfortable being less than 'a man of his word' to you.
> Unless you
> have a big stick or a bigger carrot, you will not succeeed in making his
> behavior
> more honorable than he is used to being.
>
> Character is generally determined at an early age. Some of it is a
> reflection of
> one's upbringing, some of it a reflection of how honorably one's parents or
> their
> surrogates behaved when they were observed during one's childhood years, some
> of it
> is likely genetic, and some of it is cultural. But any attempt to improve the
> character of an adult, from a distance, in a situation like this, is doomed to
> failure.
>
> So I would suggest that you move on. Hopefully your next attempted
> transaction will
> be with someone whose word is good, and who is 'as good as his word'.
>
> I have been a ham for 35 years and have made many deals with fellow hams, and
> haven't
> been 'stuck' yet. So most of our brothers and sisters ARE honest people with
> character. You just had an unlucky experience
>
> 73,
>
> Roger
> W3SZ
>
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---
> > > --------
> > >
> > > Brian, I would like to buy the amp.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Chip Pardini WA6MHW
> > >
> > > 925-989-8900
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > >
> > > From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
> > > [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]
> > > On Behalf Of Brian Hunsaker
> > >
> > > Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 7:57 PM
> > >
> > > To: tentec@contesting.com
> > >
> > > Subject: [TenTec] For Sale
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I have the following in near mint condition:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > 1. Hercules II (model 420)
> > >
> > > 2. Auto Tuner (model 253)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Asking $1600 for both, or $850 per each, if sold separately. Prices
> > > do
> > >
> > > not include shipping and packing.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > These units have been used very little over the past few years, and
> > >
> > >
> > > have always been in a "smoke-free", air conditioned environment.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Reply here, or contact:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Brian - W5YE
> > >
> > > email: w5ye@arrl.net
> > >
> > > Phone: (956) 357-0625
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > >
> > > TenTec mailing list
> > >
> > > TenTec@contesting.com
> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---
> > > ----------
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi, Chip. Good choice! It is really nice, and has not been used much
> > >
> > >
> > > since I purchased it a few years ago. Not long after buying it, I
> > > got
> > >
> > > interested in QRP, and low power CW. The amp has been sitting in
> > > the
> > >
> > > shack with the tuner - not being used. I also failed to mention in
> > > my
> > >
> > > ad - I have the Ten Tec Rack Mount for these rigs. It holds the
> > > Omni
> > >
> > > VI (which I plan to keep), the Hercules, and the Tuner - all in a
> > >
> > > "military/commercial-style" rack mount. It makes a very good
> > > looking,
> > >
> > > professional package, with the same paint scheme and lettering as
> > > the
> > >
> > > other Ten Tec gear. I won't have any need for it, after I sell the
> > > amp,
> > >
> > > and tuner. I will take $400 for the rack.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Please send me your address, and shipping preference (UPS, etc). I
> > > will
> > >
> > > check online for the shipping from here to you with UPS. If you
> > > prefer
> > >
> > > a different method of shipment, let me know. Here is my address for
> > > the
> > >
> > > check.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Brian Hunsaker
> > >
> > > 131 Lakeview South
> > >
> > > San Benito, Texas 78586
> > >
> > > (956) 357-0625
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks again for your reply, and interest. I want this Hercules to
> > > have
> > >
> > > a good home.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Brian
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
> 73,
> Roger Rehr
> W3SZ
> FN20ah
> http://www.qsl.net/w3sz
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
--
Scott Rosenfeld ARS N7JI
541-684-9970 Eugene, OR Land o' much rain
If you find me on the air, I'm probably in my car
ham@w3eax.umd.edu http://w3eax.umd.edu/~ham
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