what is wrong with people

[Doughboy]

I have been out of the hobby for a number of years but in all my years I was never cheated. In the past 2 months I have had one person accept items from me and not paid 100 bucks, I just had Eric Wisbeth sell me a cartridge box advertised as Don Smith make, 1857 pattern. It was sutler row, undiscernable 1964 pattern. I sent it back and he is refusing to refund money. I also stupidly lent about 1000 bucks worth of gear to a friend who has not returned either the items or phone calls..
What has happened to the people in this hobby?
Christopher Wilson

[Old Reb]

Re: what is wrong with people

Before an event we had down my way in March I let a young fellow stay at my house that had traveled far for the event. He was fed gumbo and given a nice couch to sleep on. The next morning when he was packing I asked him if he had anything in case it rained. He didn't. So I loaned him a shelter half. It wasn't just any old shelter half, but one made of correct materials and pattern by a friend of mine. After the event, I did not see him. Later, email contact was made. I told him I would accept the shelter half back if he would mail it, or if he wanted to keep it he could purchase it for what was a bargin price. He said he wanted it and would have the money in the mail real soon. That was four months ago. Needless to say, he ain't welcome back at my house ever again!

[Fritz]

Re: what is wrong with people

It's gotten so that you can't trust anyone. Just be cautious.

[john duffer]

Re: what is wrong with people

At one time I could equip eight Federal soldiers but I lost so much loaner gear I gave up and sold off everything extra I had. April 2008 I loaned someone ARMY BLUE & U.S. ARMY HEADGEAR and I'm guessing they're gone for good. I will not be loaning anymore books either.

[coastaltrash]

Re: what is wrong with people

I really don't think this problem is specific to the hobby, but society in general. But at Port Hudson in 2008, the Independent Rifles all tossed in to help outfit a young "recruit". Between him cooking the bottom of my shoes, tossing my forage cap around like it was free and losing Jeremy Hurst BRAND NEW smoothside canteen, and laughing about it, we were glad to see him go, and all were shocked he left with his life. GOOD people are hard to come by anymore. I actually quit taking clothing orders from people I either have not met, or have not maintained communication with for some time simply because I kept losing money on materials and labor.

[BrandonEnglish]

Re: what is wrong with people

I know Eric personally and this doesn't sound like him at all. Eric is a great guy and a former Marine. I don't want to stir a pot, but I imagine there may be two sides to this story.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: what is wrong with people

I really don't think this problem is specific to the hobby, but society in general. But at Port Hudson in 2008, the Independent Rifles all tossed in to help outfit a young "recruit". Between him cooking the bottom of my shoes, tossing my forage cap around like it was free and losing Jeremy Hurst BRAND NEW smoothside canteen, and laughing about it, we were glad to see him go, and all were shocked he left with his life. GOOD people are hard to come by anymore. I actually quit taking clothing orders from people I either have not met, or have not maintained communication with for some time simply because I kept losing money on materials and labor.

Pat is right,

NOW THAT CALUB IS IN THE NAVY, we may build our supply up again.

And BTW, Pat send my regards to the pretty new bride. Looking forwad to the Independents Rifles (Young-uns) and the 16th (Old-uns) working together this year. Sorry, and I mean I am sorry, I wanted to support you at Bummers, but the leg will not be healed by then. I am getting a boot made that is modified for my left leg, I am sure I will catch hell about its authenticity. It's just a higher boot lace up, supporting the ankle and tendon. I think the Reenacting Gods will forgive me? what do you think?

[Dan Wambaugh]

Re: what is wrong with people

I once got the deal of a lifetime at an antique store...WW2 footlocker packed full of gear. I went through it and found a receipt from a local department store from just a year previous and started to wonder. A year or so later I went to a local WW2 event and stowed my gear and put my footlocker at the foot of the bed. Minutes later a guy runs up to me and accusingly asks "where did you get THAT!" I told him the antique store's name, and he said "I made this footlocker, and lent it and a bunch of gear out to one of our guys and never heard from him again." I offered to give the footlocker and anything else I had bought to him but he just shook his head and walked away. The guy probably took him for $800 worth of gear, and I paid a fraction of that, so I can only imagine what he sold it to the dealer for.

Bottom line is that I have a short list of people to whom I'm willing to lend gear, and a VERY short list for weapons. You've just got to watch it. Remember that it's not always malicious behavior that burns you, negligence can be just as harmful and the end result is the same.

[Doughboy]

Re: what is wrong with people

Brandon,
Two sides maybe. here are the facts:
Eric advertised cartridge box as made by Tran Miss and of 1857 pattern. I sent 100 money order. Box arrived and was obviously suspect 1864 pattern. I spoke with Don Smith and he obviously never made an 1864 pattern box. I emailed Eric with detailed info the next day and told him I was returning the box.
He subsequently tells me he has sent it back, that it sat on his porch in the rain for two days (no record of rain in Buffalo those days) and was refusing a refund. He obviously needs money so I offered to accept 50 dollars in refund. No word from him.. Seems obvious to me he has no intention of honoring the sale. Being a servicman unfortunately doesn't automatically defer honor on a person. I had a guy from the 82nd AB take items from me and never sent payment..
Christopher Wilson.

[unclefrank]

Re: what is wrong with people

It seems that many of us so want to help expand the hobby any way we can, that people just take advantage of our generous nature. This is especially true when dealing with kids, allot of whom never had a steady guiding hand at home. In the situation mentioned above, putting a good healthy scare into that individual would have gone a long way into helping his character development. Problem is, you would probably have the cops at your door for "abusing" the little punk.

[Kanawha Riflemen]

Re: what is wrong with people

I agree its society. I allowed a good friend to barrow a defarbed Georgia two band rifle that I spent a lot of money on while he was working on set for a film. The spring broke and he sent it off to get it fixed. He then enlisted into the military and I never got my rifle back. Come to find out, he’d owed a lot of money to the guy he gave the rifle to and the guy would not release the weapon unless the bill was paid in full, a bill worth almost a thousand dollars. Because of that and a few other instances, I am very leery about loaning anything to someone. It’s a shame that society has gotten to this point.
________________________

John A. Miller

[D F Smith Historic]

Re: what is wrong with people

Hi Christopher,

I am so sorry this happend to you.

For the general knowledge base regarding items made by me. You need to look in the out of the way places on the item ( the reverse of sweat bands, Inside cartrige box / cap boxes, Inside wallet pockets, the back side of belts, the hem of shelter halves, inside the sleeve lining at the elbow or inside or reverse of pockets, etc for the following marks. ( I have used a few different marks over the years on itmes)

1) Star & Crecent Stamp with "Trans-Mississippi Depot Co." around it. (Most common mark)

2) One line of type stamped "Trans-Mississippi Depot Co" ( common mark from a while ago)

3) My signature "Donald F Smith", "DF Smith", or "D Smith" ( This is not that common)

4) On occasion on the back of leather items I stamp (undisclosed stamp size) in small letters " T M D"

5) On the back of belt plates, The stamping (undisclosed stamp size) of "T M D" in between the Attaching hooks , occasionally into a wire hook it self on some militia plates.


Finally, there are a very, very, few items made by me that have no mark or the mark wore off from use or was taken off.

Point is , I mark my items for identification, and as any artisan, I believe in signing my work.

If you have any question if an item you are purchasing is made by Trans-Mississippi Depot Co. Please feel free to give me a call or eamil me & I will be happy to help.

Don S

[Old Reb]

Re: what is wrong with people

Then there is the other side of things. I loaned a musket at IPW. In the confusion of people leaving and with a heavy rain falling, one rusty musket looked like another. When I got home, I realized that I had the wrong musket. With a little communication, my musket was brought to my house all clean and oiled and the musket I had received wrongly was taken, cleaned and shipped to the righful owner. So, there are good folks. You just got to be aware of those that aren't.

[D F Smith Historic]

Re: what is wrong with people

Hi All,

Tom, that is very true. There are good folks still in the hobby. Just have to find them.

One of these good fellows is Danny McCoslin ( Aka "Pig Pen"). Only fellow I have known that when you loan an item to in good shape ,.....it comes back looking better than when you lent it to him! Found that out with a sword I lent him when I lived in Shreveport.

Another good fellow is S.Martin Aksentowitz of Tempe. I have loaned him gear and it has come back in the same or better shape as when I lent it to him.

....There are others to be sure, I just cant remember at this moment I am sorry if I have missed anyone, these two just stick out in my mind.....

Both of these guys are among a seemingly smaller and smaller group of fellows who are conscientious & very trustworthy.

It is too bad we hear about the bad apples more than thoes who are the good ones..

Don S

[Grabenkater]

Re: what is wrong with people

Not Civil War re-enactors, but a friend once left a very nice 18th century gunstock warclub at an event in PA. Nearly two years later we were at an event in KY, when this young girl comes running up to us and says "Daddy has your club in his tent". My friend had written it off long ago when this man walks up holding his club. The girl who could have been no more than 10 years old remembered us. There are some amazing people out there in these hobbies.