Interesting News from the Detroit Area (1 Viewer)

[marco55]

I was half serous as there was a well known store ( I won't mention the name) who got busted a few years ago for doing auto repairs that were not needed and after they got caught they were great to deal with.As far as people in this hobby,toy soldiers,kits,modeling everyone I've ever dealt with has been honest and above board, businessmen and private collectors,painters,and everyone in between including Michtoy.I guess I've been lucky.I have heard horror stories on other forums but this has never happened to me.
Mark

 

[Martin Tabony]

Thanks for the diatribe Martin, but actually, no.
I live in Perth, possibly the most isolated city in the world. If I wished to drive to my nearest dealer it would probably take me between three and four days, stopping only to sleep on the way. Plus, I checked beforehand, they don't have the sets I was after.

And as I pointed out in my first post, the sets that I bought were East of India figures and my understanding is that EOI have also disappeared from the marketplace. Hence my difficulty in finding a supplier of these sets. But, if Brett at the Military Workshop or Treefrog had what I was chasing, I would have gone there first. Neither did.


Sorry mate, but your reply came across as if you were having a go at me for buying from them in the first place. Up until this all came to light I had no idea about the history of the company or the individuals concerned. Unfortunately I'm not privy to internecine squabbles that may occur half a world a way. C'est la vie.

I certainly didn't mean for it to be a personal attack. It's just that you're the last in a line of people who've said they hope Mich toy continues to trade in the future. I personaly don't I'd rather see another trader(one that doesn't pay for staff on stolen money and dodgy practises) pick up his business.

All the best Martin

 

[Martin Tabony]

I was half serous as there was a well known store ( I won't mention the name) who got busted a few years ago for doing auto repairs that were not needed and after they got caught they were great to deal with.As far as people in this hobby,toy soldiers,kits,modeling everyone I've ever dealt with has been honest and above board, businessmen and private collectors,painters,and everyone in between including Michtoy.I guess I've been lucky.I have heard horror stories on other forums but this has never happened to me.
Mark

You're dead right almost everyone involved in this hobby are honest people and a please to know. I think we have to keep it that way!

Martin

 

[Martin Tabony]

I don't think you understand. As a consumer it is your duty to support manufacturers who you have never heard about, who when you do hear about through your own efforts do not run a website answer a telephone or fax and who refuse to show you images of their work. These poor manufacturers should absolutely be the people you spend your hard earned cash on. It is your duty as a collector to make sure they survive. If they go under then you are directly responsible for the demise of the wonderful old cottage industry. What is that you say they don't answer e mails? Well that is no excuse at all.

As to your sarcasm, I only mentioned one trader in order to point out the dodgy practices. Use a reputable dealer and let him find the small companies for you. I didn't realise Mich toy only delt with small, unheard of manufacturers!

Martin

 

[jules118]

I certainly didn't mean for it to be a personal attack. It's just that you're the last in a line of people who've said they hope Mich toy continues to trade in the future. I personaly don't I'd rather see another trader(one that doesn't pay for staff on stolen money and dodgy practises) pick up his business.

All the best Martin

Well I guess the way I see it (and based on what I have read) is that he employs six staff and whilst I don't give a **** what happens to the owner I don't believe in punishing the innocent plus their dependents. I'm not in favor of collective punishment for the crime of one individual, that's all, nothing more, nothing less. From what I can tell, that's what will be happening if the company goes out of business.

 

[bromhead]

I don't understand the connection between Conte and the replica company. Was he going to do a set with cars?

try to clear your thoughts a little,,its much easier later in the day Private.

 

[damian]

As to your sarcasm, I only mentioned one trader in order to point out the dodgy practices. Use a reputable dealer and let him find the small companies for you. I didn't realise Mich toy only delt with small, unheard of manufacturers!

Martin

My dear Chap the collectors on this forum seem to be a pretty disreputable bunch if we follow your posts. They are either trying to copy figures and undermine the world economy or they are being ungrateful for wanting to find out about the Trophy molds and figures. Now they are supporting crooked dealers. When these same collectors try and find out about certain little manufacturers products they have to ask each other, wait for some one to post pics of the London Show or the like. They cannot simply make an online enquiry and get an answer and perform a simple online transaction. It seems to me that if some of the cottage industry type manufacturers want the business of people living in faraway places they should interact in a helpful manner on the internet. If they do not want our business (which is their right) then they should simply not be on the net and just focus on the London Show or Portobello Road etc. As it is there are plenty of manufacturers and dealers who do have a proper online presence and these are the people we generally are happy to do business with.

 

[tdubel]

My dear Chap the collectors on this forum seem to be a pretty disreputable bunch if we follow your posts. They are either trying to copy figures and undermine the world economy or they are being ungrateful for wanting to find out about the Trophy molds and figures. Now they are supporting crooked dealers. When these same collectors try and find out about certain little manufacturers products they have to ask each other, wait for some one to post pics of the London Show or the like. They cannot simply make an online enquiry and get an answer and perform a simple online transaction. It seems to me that if some of the cottage industry type manufacturers want the business of people living in faraway places they should interact in a helpful manner on the internet. If they do not want our business (which is their right) then they should simply not be on the net and just focus on the London Show or Portobello Road etc. As it is there are plenty of manufacturers and dealers who do have a proper online presence and these are the people we generally are happy to do business with.

Damian, we are in agreement on this!! Darn frustrating in my opinion when you see nice pics in London, yet if you want to buy anything, you might as well open your own detective agency to figure out how.

TD

 

[maddadicus]

Damian, we are in agreement on this!! Darn frustrating in my opinion when you see nice pics in London, yet if you want to buy anything, you might as well open your own detective agency to figure out how.

TD

I also agree. 60% of my collection come from home-casters or off-mainstream TS companies. Most were bought from Ebay. None of the mfg. have their own site or offer helpful contact info. The cottage industries are the first to cry about lack of exposure, decreased foot traffic at shows, down sales ,need to close doors ,etc.,but generally show a total lack of marketing skills and general business expertise..If England is still the center of the TS world, they are sure keeping it a secret from us colonials with the deep spending pockets..Michael

 

[Tony Neville]

i do find it amazing when you get a manafacture in UK asking for self Adressed Envelopes...........to get a catelouge!!

terry re my point about the online security..........i did not mean it to be complasent i was pointing out that BERRY must have had the number, date and security number.......you dont get this from online transactions as a retailer........so for the NZ reporter to say about online retailing he got the wrong end of the stick thats what i ment..............

 

[ucla1967]

I just read this thread for the first time today. Wow, am I shocked! $189,000!!! I can in no way condone what he did and the fact that he had a similar credit card fraud conviction in 1993 just makes it worse. I do feel sorry for his family and the humiliation that they will have to live with. I also feel bad for his employees who are also victims indirectly.

 

[Martin Tabony]

My dear Chap the collectors on this forum seem to be a pretty disreputable bunch if we follow your posts. They are either trying to copy figures and undermine the world economy or they are being ungrateful for wanting to find out about the Trophy molds and figures. Now they are supporting crooked dealers. When these same collectors try and find out about certain little manufacturers products they have to ask each other, wait for some one to post pics of the London Show or the like. They cannot simply make an online enquiry and get an answer and perform a simple online transaction. It seems to me that if some of the cottage industry type manufacturers want the business of people living in faraway places they should interact in a helpful manner on the internet. If they do not want our business (which is their right) then they should simply not be on the net and just focus on the London Show or Portobello Road etc. As it is there are plenty of manufacturers and dealers who do have a proper online presence and these are the people we generally are happy to do business with.

I'm sorry please remind me, when exactly did I mention cottage industries? I seam to remember that in this thread I was refering to finding another trader not manufacturer!
I would like to know also where you get the impresion that I'm acusing the members of this forum of being "disreputable". In post 204 did I not say that almost everyone involved in this hobby is honest!
The only people I've ever said were copying figures, were thelmselves talking about copying figures! At no point did I ever accuse them of "underming the world economy".
I'm at a loss, why did you bring Trophy into this? Do you think I can answer for a company that is not mine?
Have you tried to contact me some time in the past and been ignored? I just don't understand why you're shifting what this thread was about!

Martin

 

[Gideon]

lots of thin skins getting paper cuts here. ^&grin

 

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

We are all interested in the news regarding Rick Berry, the Michigan Toy Soldier Company, and persons associated with the situation. Let us follow this sad news peacefully as we share our opinions and concerns with each other. We do not want to become distracted by members exchanging sharp comments with one another.

Thanks for your help and understanding.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[trooper]

Gentle Friends,

We are all interested in the news regarding Rick Berry, the Michigan Toy Soldier Company, and persons associated with the situation. Let us follow this sad news peacefully as we share our opinions and concerns with each other. We do not want to become distracted by members exchanging sharp comments with one another.

Thanks for your help and understanding.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

Well said, Pat, totally agree. Trooper

 

[Martin Tabony]

Gentle Friends,

We are all interested in the news regarding Rick Berry, the Michigan Toy Soldier Company, and persons associated with the situation. Let us follow this sad news peacefully as we share our opinions and concerns with each other. We do not want to become distracted by members exchanging sharp comments with one another.

Thanks for your help and understanding.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

Well I'll say no more about it.

Martin

 

[hsm]

Thanks to the mods for that! It is interesting to witness (again on here) what happens when business and hobby collide.

"Nothing personal just business"

I pray with cautious optimism ....

 

[Mitch]

I think it also shows how one mans criminal actions can effect in all sorts of ways this small hobby. Everyone comes out a little tarnished, rightly or wrongly, from a thiefs actions.
Mitch

 

[jules118]

Just a heads up. The order I placed with MTS for some East Of India figures arrived safely today.... much quicker than many of the other dealers that I have dealt with in the past. Very happy.

 

[theBaron]

Just a heads up. The order I placed with MTS for some East Of India figures arrived safely today.... much quicker than many of the other dealers that I have dealt with in the past. Very happy.

Well, sure. If the business is going to keep operating, pending the decision on Berry, I bet there's going to be superlative service for a while. They've got a reputation to rebuild. I wish them well. It is shame for the rest of the employees, and Berry's family, to have to deal with this.

Prost!
Brad