Again there is no 'collecting' content to this post.

I would like to thank Killjoy.  I used his technique in dealing with 'shady' sellers of RPG items.  As many of you may or may not know, Killjoy oftens offers to 'resolve' certain problems we have regarding shady RPG dealers we run into in the UK.  He is far more eloquent than I am in stating how he goes about it, but basically it involves showing up at the dealers place in person and having a 'chat' with him.  I used this technique yesterday here in the States.

Here's what happened.  I contracted with a concrete contractor to take out my mother's old deteriorating driveway and put in a new one.  This contractor came highly referenced.  I paid him $1500 up front on a job costing $3200 (a real blow to my collecting budget).  A week before the contractor was suppose to do the job he postphoned due to being behind on his schedule.  No problem.  The next time he was supposed to show up, he didn't.  He would not return phone calls.  In short, I believed he had run with the money.  Though some online detective work I was able to find out his address and I then employed the Killjoy Technique.

That's right folks, I showed up on his doorstep.  He was not home.  In fact, this address was his brother's address and his wife answered the door.  I stated who I was, the problem, and asked if she knew where I could get a hold of her brother-in-law.  She stonewalled me saying that she did not know where he lived.  However her 10 year old daughter told me that two doors down some men lived that worked for this contractor.  So off I went.  It turns out that one of these men is the contractor's foreman.  I discussed the problem.  In short, the foreman has agreed to do the job at the end of this week.  The foreman said the contractor did not inform him of this job.  I showed the foreman the contract and he said he would honor the contract.  He was disgusted with the contractor.  The foreman is doing the job for the rest of the money $1700 which means he is doing it at cost to himself.  I still have not heard from the contractor and probably will not.  

The Foreman said that showing up to his house "really got my attention."  So the Killjoy Technique was a great success.  

Before anyone gets the wrong impression, I would like to state that I have no evidence Killjoy has ever been anything but a gentleman in dealing with shady dealers.

To Killjoy:  A pint of good ale to you, sir.

Martin

The looks on the brother-in-laws wife and the foreman were priceless.

When I first figured out I was getting screwed, I said to myself, "well Killjoy is not here, so I will do this myself."  

You should know that I'm 6'3" and weigh in at 270 lbs.  And i'm not all that fat either.  So when I showed up on their doorstep I'm sure I made quite an impression.

Martin

Yes, the foreman seemed quite embarrassed by the whole thing.  I will let you know if it all works out - I believe it will, but will not know until later this week when concrete is actually being poured.

Hey Mike B,

I remember reading about this when I first found the Acaeum.  I don't remember what thread you were in, but I definately remember you telling that same story.  It was great then and great now.  I did not quite dress the 'part' as you did, but my size scares the hell out of a lot of people.  It's right about then that I tell them of my four years in the infantry.  I usually get what I want.

Martin

I have never gone over to a contractor's house to chew him out, but I have gone to business offices and sat in their waiting room until they wrote our heating and air conditioning business a check for the money they owed us.

   Interestingly, I HAVE had three different customers come over to our company offices and chew me out.....but in all three cases the ass-chewer in question was in the wrong office of the wrong company.

    One guy even admitted he was shouting at me because the guys next door were not in their office.

RWilson wrote:Killjoy reminds me of that Chris guy from Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels...the honourable "contractor" with the kid......

lol hes a great character btw as well.

nah i aint nothing like that - i AM a nice guy honest

i aint nothing special and i certainly aint a giant like pru thats for sure, but what i am is determined and i am willing to stand my ground and you dont move me easily.

prb no different than most of the other folks here, when they have a point to prove over one thing or another.

someone has to fight the fight....

Al

Prufrock wrote:The Killjoy Technique was a great success and probably saved me quite a lot of money.

Martin

lol !!!  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

glad you got a result chummer - feels pretty damn good doesnt it?

hardly my technique tho (as flattering as it sounds) - sure there are many folks here and elsewhere who would do the same.

i just have a very short patience span and get pissed real easy when someone is trying it on and so i deal with it, nuff said. seems to generally get a result so why not.

hope the building work goes well not mart - nice one!

Al