Like I said, I'm a firm believer in "what comes around goes around". Case in point (long story):
Back in 2002, I had a fellow contact me wanting to buy a bow for his friend (when I was a dealer for a custom bow company). His friend had never shot a traditional bow and wanted a 65@28 to start with. I told him that was too much to start, he said he knew that but his friend insisted, so I put the order in and got the bow. He wanted it "fast tracked", because he'd made a bet that he could "kill a deer with a recurve". I got the check, drawn on an archery shop, all was good. This was 14 AUG 02.
Within a few days the guy who bought the bow contacted me, telling me I was right. He couldn't pull the bow, and was desperate because he had the afore-mentioned hunt coming up and needed to be practicing. Ok, I just happened to have a left-handed bow on hand, 45@28 IIRC, that I sent as a loaner while new limbs were ordered for the original bow (a TD). New limbs were sent on 09 SEP 02.
Week or so later, guy calls me saying new limbs weren't there and he needed a bow NOW (as if his lack of planning and ordering the wrong bow was my fault).
I call the bowyer. He happened to have an entire new bow on hand that he was willing to sell cheap. Guy said he would take it. Bow shipped direct to him, to save time and get it there ASAP.
Then...nothing. Extra limbs, loaner bow (brand new bow), and another entire take-down bow had been shipped and the guy never contacts me or pays, in spite of getting moved up in the line at no charge. When I call, the phone isn't answered. After a while, I get a message that the phone has been disconnected.
Now what? Well, just so happens I have a friend here and there...one in particular that lives in the same area and can help me out. He finds out the guy moved and gets me the new address and phone number. I call again, get a little girl. She hollers at her dad, then she asked "who's calling?". I told her, she tells him, then tells me "he's busy, he will have to call you back later". Then, once again, no answer whenever I call.
Meanwhile, I ask my friend what I can do. Basically, nothing. I have no way to prove anything. If I sue, my word against his. If I go "visit", I could be prosecuted or even shot for trespassing and he would be legal. Crap. So I file it away...
What I can only refer to as divine intervention, several years later I'm staying with another friend who has terminal cancer. We are watching a Primos elk hunting video, and I'll be danged...in the introduction, Mr. Will calls this fellow's name. I think "no way!". Then I keep watching. The guy is from MS. He's not shooting a trad bow, but he IS left-handed. What are the chances? Again, I file it away.
Then, the icing on the cake. Out of the blue, a fellow I hadn't seen before or since shows up at my little shop out in the middle of nowhere. Somehow we wind up on the subject of this guy, and how I'd seen him on a Primos video. This guy who just showed up says "Why don't you call Mr. Will? He's a really nice guy and will help if he can". He even gave me Mr. Will (Primos) phone number--he knows him. Wow. I call, get a lady on the phone, explain the situation. I call the guy's name and asked if they possibly knew him. "Why yes, he's our insurance agent!". Wow again. She listened to the story and said she would relay it to Mr. Will.
Next day, the skunk calls me, all cocky and says "I hear you been telling tales on me to Mr. Will Primos". I unloaded. I've never spoke to an animal, much less a person, like I did this piece of garbage. His tune changed immediately. He first claimed he had no recollection of what I said, but then said "well how much do you want me to send you?". I unloaded again, because it wasn't about the money from 8 years ago. When I got done I shot a number out (not nearly enough, I figured out later) and he said "you'll get a check tomorrow". And I did. What really got his attention was when I told him I have his SSN (and I did--friends in low places pay off--still have it).
Anyhow, that little adventure took 8 years, but it had a happy ending. I don't know if he kept the Primos account. I sure hope not. Last address I have for him he lived in Madison, MS but had an insurance business in Ridgeland MS. Maybe I'll visit down that way one of these days.
Topic: Can't Be Too Careful (Read 906 times)
