Your word is your bond

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( In less than 2 months I'm saying that for the 2nd time... may it be my last! )</font>

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Hmmmm.....

What is it they say? "Fool me once - shame on you. Fool me TWICE - Shame on me! " /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Seriously, best of luck to you and your bride!

And remember the TBN requirement - we want pictures!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Richard]

Another example....(do I lived a charmed life?)

Was down in the West Indies on the island of SABA (and HIGHLY recommend it to anyone as an interesting, quiet, romantic getaway... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)

Anyway, was a day visitor there to go scuba diving.

We were leaving for home next day, as such, wifey had credit cards, all I had was my AMEX card and $100 folded away, which was for parking, gas, food on the trip home.

Went on first of two dives, took down their rented camera with me.

In between dives, I went to pay the bill so I'd not forget afterwards, they didn't take AMEX?? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I said, ok, no problem... How much do I owe, I'll pay the bill & have to cancel my 2nd dive.

She looked at me and said "No one comes to Saba and NOT dive"...."I'll tell you what... you keep the camera rental, go on your next scheduled dive, and when you get back HOME, just send us a check"

My mouth dropped /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Odds are, I'll never be there again (though love to) and could easily "stiff" them. I had a check in mail within 10 hours of being home & mailed out next day.

I realize their "risk" was 2 rolls of film and the contents of an air tank, so they didn't stand to "lose" a great deal, but the gesture utterly floored me.

I've got NOTHING but wonderful things to say about the Island, people and my experience there.

See a bit for yourself HERE

For the hiker, honeymooners, divers... it's awesome.

If on other hand, you (or wife in my case) are a shopper... it's not the place for you lol.

Unlike many of the islands in that area, it's not a "tourist trap" or destination... what it is, is a residential island and you are amongst the people and their homes, very unlike some of the other islands where the main goal, seems to be to get at your $$$.

Was definately an experience.

Oh... (getting excited about Saba again) I saw a license plate (Saba 15 or something like that) and I made a wisecrack "Does the Governer drive "Saba 1", and was told in fact, the Mayor did /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[SteveH_CT]

I guess for this board I'll have to find a way to work the tractor into the pics! Perhaps I carry my Bride and lift her over the alter with the FEL... no, bad idea.... OK - How about I use the BH bucket as the "ring Bearer" when the time comes I have the best man extend the bucket and present me with the ring! Yeah - thats it!

Thanks for the well wishes - this one is a keeper - and I've got her fooled /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif she thinks I am too!

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I wasn't trying to imply that anyone who charges you up front is a bad person, I'm in a cash and carry business myself (pizza restaurant). My dealer just happens to be more trusting than most people and I find that refreshing, sort of a throw-back to the days when a man's word was his bond. I must add that this was the second tractor that I purchased from him.

Steve, I'm in Cheshire

Rick )</font>

Simple question.... did he let you take the first tractor without paying for it? He had a relationship with you from previous purchases, that is why he trusted you.
Do you take checks in your business? I did in my business and some of them weren't worth the paper that they were written on. A check is a promise to pay and nothing more. In MA, it is very difficult to collect on a bad check unless it is for a large sum... usually over $1000. I gave up trying and went to a check guaranty service. Some were from honest people that just ran out of money, they also just happened to run out of honesty when they had money again and never made good on the check. One check that I do go to court with the check writer claimed that since the products were for his ex wife, that he shouldn't have to pay for the bad check, that she should. The judge saw otherwise and ordered him to pay restitution. He never did, so it was an exercise in futility. That is why I like cash and U.S. Postal money orders for my eBay auctions. They don't bounce and all of them are from honest people!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[OkeeDon]

Yet another example. We live in Florida, but have a cabin in West Jefferson, NC, a rural community in the mountains. My wife had been wanting a new econobox for her work, and was attracted by the Ford Festiva. The problem was, our Florida dealer did not stock them. At the time, I was driving an older Dodge Caravan that needed to be replaced.

While in NC, we drove by the Ford dealer and he had a lot full of Festivas. I suggested we stop in so Betsy could drive one and see if she liked it. We did, she did, and she did like it. The salesman (an older gent who was actually chewing on a strand of straw), suggested she go ahead an buy one. He suggested a very attractive price and mentioned a rebate. The conversation went something like this...

"We don't want to drive two cars home."
"How about $xxxx for a trade-in on your van?" (It was a very good trade price."
"That sounds good, but I don't have the title for the van with me."
"That's OK, just mail it to me when you get back to Florida."
"That sounds good, but we don't have enough money in our personal account to cover a check, we're traveling on Monday, and we won't be able to transfer funds until we get back to Florida."
"That's OK, just give me a check, transfer the money on Tuesday, and send me a note with the title telling me you made the transfer. I'll hold your check until then."

So, we drove away with a brand new car, left a battered old van, and gave him a check which he knew was no good. He knew we were leaving the state with it. We drove away with all the paperwork necessary to apply for a Florida title.

Of course, I busted my butt to transfer the funds and send off the title, but he would have had a heck of a time recovering if I hadn't done it. If you're ever in West Jefferson, be sure to do business with Ashe County Motors, and tell them why...

 

[fivestring]

<font color="red">"We live in Florida, but have a cabin in West Jefferson, NC," </font>

That's almost a snow-bird! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Seriously though, Jefferson and West Jefferson are beautiful places. The New River begins in that area and I've fished that river stretch (north and south forks) all the way to Galax, Va.

 

[TheKid]

Here's what happened when the wife and I were shopping for our first house. We found a for sale ad on a bulletin board at a small grocery store. We looked at the house on a Saturday and made a verbal commitment to buy it at asking price. We were going to sign the paperwork on Sunday. No money exchanged hands.

A for sale ad was going to run for the first time in the Sunday paper, and by the time we arrived to sign the paperwork the agent informed us that he had received several offers for more than the asking price. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Then the agent, who was a close friend of the seller, told us what his friend said when he told him about the other offers. His reply was, "I already promised that young couple that I would sell it to them." /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifWe lived in that house for 22 years.

 

[GerardC]

A friend of mine was selling his house. Offers came in but short of what he was asking. He waited. Finally, he got a bid that was "close". An hour before the closing, they all met at the office to finalize the sale. 15 minutes later, 45 minutes away from signing, an offer for $5,000 more came in. What would you do?

 

[cowboydoc]

My vet is of the old school as well and he undercharges so much. I always overpay his bill. On Christmas I send him a $100 gift certificate to a favorite steakhouse here. I'm a very firm believer in paying people what they are worth and never taking advantage of anyone or any situation. Treat people like you want to be treated is the best thing I was ever taught.

 

[SPIKER]

It is good to hear things like this.

It seems I'm always on the loosing end of thestick... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Somehow everyone ends up owening me and while I'm not too mad about it it does make it hard to keep giving when it seems the more you give the less everyone seems to be thankfull! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Anyhow it is nice to hear about good goingson.

Mark m

 

[OkeeDon]

Our cabin is halfway down from the top of the hill; the South Fork is at the bottom of the hill, maybe 300-400 feet away. We can see it from our deck in the Winter, but leaves are too thick to see it in the Summer.

Having just read what I wrote, I realize it may seem strange to say "halfway down from the top" instead of "halfway up". But, that's because the paved road climbs the hill and rides the ridge; then the gravel road turns off and goes down to the river; our dirt road branches off about halfway down, then runs along the side of the hill about 1/4 mile back to the cabin.

Many people are surprised to learn that the New River is the oldest river in the Western Hemisphere and the second oldest river in the World, second only to the Nile. Some play it safe and say, "...one of the oldest rivers on the continent..." but those of us who have lived near it know the truth...

 

[Bird]

Richard, I did a number of small tractor jobs (mowing, tilling, moving a little dirt) for neighbors and gave them a flat price before hand. On at least 3 occasions, I was given a check, or cash, for considerably more than I had priced the job to them and they insisted I take the extra money. I appreciated it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( When I bought my tractor I went in "with checkbook in hand" ready to make a deal. When we had finalized the details and Matt had completed the paperwork I signed everything and then went to write him a check. He stopped me and said "thats not neccesary, we do everything on the honor system here". )</font>

When I bought my first Kubota in 1995, I did as you, and wrote the check. Then when I bought the one in 1999, I made the deal with the salesman via telephone (we were 50 miles apart), it took about 2 weeks for them to get the front end loader to put on it, and I never went to the dealership, signed any papers, made any deposit, etc. The salesman brought all the paperwork when he delivered the tractor.

 

[frank_f15]

sounds familar! for a few years i was unable to do my own spring yard clean up,(too many hours on the job) so i hired it out, prices were fair and no problem, but last year due to health reasons i hired it out again, young fella came and gave me a price, my jaw dropped! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif did not see how he was going to do that much work for that price. well he came and did it, worked his Butt off, and i could not just pay him what he quoted! i had to pay him more, than the quoted price . did not seem fair. but i did tell him to be a little more generous to himself in future quotes! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Will_C]

When I bought my BX, the salesman and I did everything over the phone. He brought the paperwork to the school where I work, and waited for my prep period to go over it and get the signatures. Meanwhile, the delivery man had already dropped the tractor off at my house. Two days later the salesman stopped by to see if I had any questions or needed anything explained.
Six months later when I bought the FEL, I just called and ordered it over the phone (after a little price haggling /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif), and the dealer called 3 weeks later when it came in.
Will

 

[755inNY]

Seems like we have quite a thread going on honest dealing. I had a similar experience to others.

I was at an airshow/convention several years back. I purchased a radio from one of the many dealers at the show. He had the best price ($185) of any one else. They would take a check (mine would have been out of state) but I did not have my checkbook. I gave him my credit card which he processed (old fashion way not electronic) and presented the slip to sign. I commented that I thought he would not charge sales tax for an out of state transaction. He replied he had to for credit card sale but not for check. This certainly wasn't a deal breaker but he offered to let me send him a check instead. As I was not in a hurry for the radio I agreed. He ripped up the credit slip and handed me the radio. I was expecting him to ship it to me when he received my check. He said No, take the radio and send him the check when I returned home. The check was in the mail the day I got in the house.

Jeff

 

[Junkman]

My vet doesn't under charge me, he just doesn't charge me.. I got even with him by giving him a Weimeraner puppy a couple years ago! That is what I call a living present. He will never let me forget it, especially like this past Sunday when the dog ate the cloth mesh wrapper that the Shoulder Roast came wrapped in. LOL. At least he didn't have to pay for his own veterinary services. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I tried to give him a Dachshund puppy, but he rejected it.... said that one more dog would put him over the limit.

 

[Inspector507]

On the trust issue........I had a similar experience dealing with a member here who is a dealer. I ordered a toothbar from him. When I went to pick it up (I know I could have had it shipped to the house, I wanted to meet Jeff), I had left the checkbook at home. When I went to pay, I guess I was embarassed and dumbfounded at myself. Jeff told me to just take it home send a check out when I got home. Since the mail had already run on Saturday, and the local Post Office doesn't pick up mail from drop boxes on Sunday, I had to wait until Monday to send it out. Knowing that check was laying in an envelope for 2 days before I could mail it, made me keep thinking "I hope he trusts me".
So if anyone here close to Central/SE Ohio needs a Kioti or a tractor implement, look up Kiohio, great guy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

Jeff, several years ago while we were full time RVers, we stopped at a very small store that had a wide variety of pecans for sale on the edge of a south Texas town. The proprietor (I guess the owner, since he was the only person there) was wearing blue denim bib overalls and appeared likely to be the farmer who raised those pecans. I asked what credit cards he took and he said he didn't take credit cards, but that he'd take a personal check. I went to the RV and got a check for him and he never asked for any ID at all.

And of course I bought my toothbar from one of our forum members, so we trusted each other. I think he probably shipped the toothbar the same day I mailed a check. Neither of us waited on the other. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

Richard, I know you would like to give this man a fair price, and that's what he will feel he is asking, a fair price. A man of his age is "from" an age where handshakes were a man's bond, you didn't borrow money from ANYONE and if someone did something for you, you paid them or did something for them. So pay the man, and if you want to do more, be his friend. Show him the interest in his work that you're showing us. I would imagine that if his wife has passed, he would welcome an occasional visit with someone who is interested in his hobby. I wouldn't offer him more than he wants, he's not waitress expecting a tip, he's a MAN. My great-grandfather, with whom I was priveliged to know until I was 19 years old, taught me a lot of this, and I'm sure he was right. He was born in 1877, and if he told it to you, you knew it was gospel. His word was his bond. Thank you for starting this thread. It's good to remind ourselves that integrity is STILL important. John