Bad press on rifle build

[mongrel]

It is not considered good form, on this forum, to raise issues from other forums. Therefore I am going to state, simply, that I'm not bashing anyone else's forum, or anyone on another forum; and when this message is posted I am locking the topic. I'm going to state my piece and, quite frankly, I don't care to discuss it or have it discussed, here.

I built a rifle for a fellow in Connecticut. Upon receipt of the rifle, he sent me an e-mail stating how thrilled he was with it; how it is "already the centerpiece of his collection"; that it was a work of art; that the small bit of carving I did behind the cheekpiece was great. Truthfully, in my estimation, the rifle wasn't THAT good, but it was good. I don't send out anything but what I'm proud of, proud to put my name on, and am proud to have the world see.

The same fellow then proceeded to say exactly the opposite, in regard to the rifle, on the forum in question. Apparently other forum members jumped on the bandwagon to bash the rifle. I say "apparently" because I am not allowed on that forum due to the fact that several of the snobbier purists and I don't get along. What I have to go on is hearsay, and a few things forwarded to me by friends who are members on the forum in question.

I am told that the customer never posted pictures of this rifle I allegedly butchered, in the condition he received it; he has only posted pictures of his efforts to fix what he says I did so wrong. One of my friends, Colin Stolzer, posted the e-mail I was sent by the customer, in which he expressed such delight in the rifle I sent him, and Colin asked simply that the customer explain the difference between what he told me and what he posted on the forum. I am told the customer didn't react well to that.

I will also add that I offered, both publicly and privately, to buy the rifle back if the customer was that unhappy with it. I offered the full purchase price (including original shipping) plus shipping charges to return the gun to me. The customer insists, still, that the rifle is a work of art, and refuses to allow me to buy it back.

I also stated what anyone who's paying attention, dealing with me, is aware of, because I TELL them plainly that this is so -- I build plain guns, utility-grade guns. I do not build showpieces. I do not build guns that compare in finished quality to the works of the numerous true masters currently working at this craft. As some do, the customer apparently chose to tell me he understood that and then promptly forgot or ignored what I'd said.

For what it's worth, this individual is also unhappy that I have plainly-stated I will have no further dealings with him.

Like I said, there will be no discussion of this. I was told a rifle I delivered was great; the members of the forum in question were told something entirely different; the customer can't explain how he can be so dissatisfied with what he stated and still states is a work of art (his words, not mine); he will not return the gun; and if Colin told me correctly, the thread in question has been removed from the forum in question.

I am fully-aware that this mess has done damage to my reputation, but as far as I'm concerned it's mainly in the minds of people who either don't respect the type of gun I build, to start with, or who are willing and determined to believe the worst about me (or anyone else) right out of the gate. I have no interest in dealings with either sort of person.

I will also say something I've needed to say for a long time, now, and which relates directly to the "on the cheap" concept of this site: If you are the sort of person who looks to pay pennies on the dollar and feels that he's still entitled to receive a rifle worth several times what I charge for my guns -- stay far, far away from me. I have been physically sick over this matter for days, now, and in future when I realize I'm dealing with someone who's liable to cause me trouble, by wanting everything for nothing or next to it, I am NOT going to worry about how tactfully I'm able to tell him I'm not interested in his business.