with the return of this board, I thought I'd see just how off base I am.
Obviously this is my perspective on things, but I feel I have a pretty
level overall view.
Months ago on a Monday night, I heard about some radial engine
parts being scrapped. I got a hold of a contact, and over the course
of 3 days, came to be the party on the top-of-the-list to obtain the
parts before they hit the smelter. I was told to arrange a trip out
to see the parts, to show that we "were serious" about obtaining them.
Well, by Thursday, the deal went from donating them to a 501c3 org, to
scrap value. Ok. Then, another guy called offering $$$ sight unseen
for the parts, and the deal became "fair value". I should have known
what was happening, but we were looking for a break, and we really
thought we had a good shot at getting these parts for a decent price - ie:
one that we could afford.
Well, with the other bidder, I was told to fly out there ASAP. So, I booked
Mike and myself tickets, with just 2 days notice (read: Big $$$).
It was a good trip. We got to the place, was shown around for hours,
took notes about what was available, and toward mid-afternoon, sat
down to talk turkey. We impressed to the guys that we were looking
for help with the restoration, that we didn't have a bankroll behind
us, and the parts we had just seen would help us out tremendously.
We showed them magazine articles, the recent Chicago Tribune write up
on the project, and pictures of the plane. We presented T-Shirts to the
president and main administrator, as well as our contact. We were told
to come up with an offer and get it to them in a few days.
Mike and I talked, and came up with an offer, about 2xscrap value,
figuring that we could come up a bit, and submitted it Wednesday.
By late Friday, when I had not heard anything, I called to make sure
they got it. I was told "Yes, we got it." This gave me a bad feeling,
so I asked about the general thought. I got a short, curt, "We think
your offer is low.". I replied that we offered in line with what we had
talked about earlier that week, and that I would give him our figures
which lead to our offer, which emailed to him. I heard nothing for a
few more days. I called my contact, who told me that "They were
appalled with our offer, and will not call you back. He said that you
guys have a B-17, and must have money." He informed me
that they were talking to the guy who offered $$$ sight unseen, even
though his past as a parts dealer was dodgy. They sold him the parts in
the end. I never got so much as an email back, nor a thank you for
the T-shirts.
I should have known better than to get my hopes up and spend a
wad of $$$ that could have gone into longerons for the B-17, but
I feel that I was owed AT LEAST a call back, if not a counter offer.
What ever happened to common courtesy?????
