warning about track pin purchases

20387774 · #1 10-08-07, 03:23

For those of you who might attempt to order some new track pins from Mr. Rob Groves, I wish to share with you my experience.

On May 1, 2007 I paid him for a set of track pins. He assured me that they would be sent. Transaction completed through the use of paypal and records were kept.

After repeated inquiries he again reassured me in July that they would be sent.

On August 9, after inquiring AGAIN, he told me he didn't care if I advertised our transaction on this website as he didn't log in here or have anything to do with militaria anymore. I assumed this was tantamount to his agreeing that I should post the details here. He said I should "relax man"! I have been waiting 3 months at this point for him to mail them.

I will leave it to the readers of this post to make their own conclusions about the reliability and honesty of such an individual. I just wish to share my experience so that others may not need to "relax" so much after paying for a product in good faith and receiving nothing in return.

John

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #2 10-08-07, 04:07

Thank you, John, I appreciate where you're coming from on this. Indeed, Mr. Groves hasn't been on here under his username "cmp_uc_guy" since March this year, so I'm presuming he has tired of the work he was doing as a fabricator.

Mr. Groves, if you'd like to refute or challenge what has been alleged in John's post, you are invited to do so at your earliest convenience.

I shall move a copy of this to the Sources Subforum in Restorations as well.

Geoff

horsa · #3 10-08-07, 04:53

If Rob Groves isn't on the site anymore, he likely won't post a reply in his own defense.

Having said that, I am not defending him but will relate my experience...

Last year around October there were several listings of track pins on eBay and I asked if anyone knew who the seller was. This was the message thread on MLU

http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...ght=track+pins

Anyway, I decided to get a set to see if they were any good. There had been at least three seperate auction series with five auctions each time. Each auction was for five pins. I paid via PayPal and never got a reply from the seller. Posted a few questions asking if he got my payment, did they ship, was he alive, etc. Finally did an inquiry through eBay to get his phone number and called him directly. Insert personal story about life being in the toilet here. I believe the story and he said he was sorry and would get the pins right out. Didn't happen. Went on like this for five months.

I did finally get them though and they were nice. Haven't reassembled my track yet so I can't say if they are as good as original but they look like they will do the job if needed. With no other affordable source for a complete pin, I wouldn't get too pissy as I'm sure he will follow through and deliver what was promised. He isn't a real parts vendor but works in a fabrication shop and has access to make things on his own. I can't make track pins so am happy someone else can.

My two cents on the matter...

Jim Harrison · #4 10-08-07, 06:15

I got taken for a ride by Mr Rob Groves too

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #5 10-08-07, 11:47

Mr. Gordon, I thank you for your erudite and honest assessment of your own experience in balance. As I'm sure you experienced during your own dealings, situations like these can be exceptionally uncomfortable not only for all directly concerned but also those on the sidelines.

We wish to minimise that discomfort as best we can and carry on, and thus we welcome both sides of any argument; the MLU Staff will only step in if things get nasty.

Having said that, both sides in such a transaction have obligations to each other and to all of us - sellers to provide what they advertised in a timely manner and buyers to be open and honest when choosing to bring a dispute into the public realm.

MLU will be watching this one closely and in the meantime, would hope that somehow both sides can come to an arrangement through backchannel communications, allowing us to leave this behind.

Thank you again.

Jif

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #6 10-08-07, 11:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Harrison
I got taken for a ride by Mr Rob Groves too

Mr. Harrison, details please, or kindly withdraw your accusation. As per my previous, this is not to belittle your experience, just to present a fair and balanced account.

Thanks,

Jif

Jim Harrison · #7 10-08-07, 15:40

The detais for my accusation against Mr Groves are ; I ordered some decals for my carrier ,paid for them and never recieved the decals or my money back. I e mailed Mr Groves a few times and never got a anawer. This happened about two years ago. Thanks

cmp_uc_guy · #8 06-09-07, 13:04

Well, hello everyone.

It HAS been a while.... I am not here to defend myself as I don't believe it is nessesary.

I am here because a gentleman who is one of the individuals who purchased pins from me told me someone was slandering me on MLU.

If You check ebay for my sign on "area51zc" you will find that all people who won the recent Carrier stuff clean out auctions have posted POSITIVE feedback.... Imagine That

The two Gentlemen in New Zealand will be getting their Packages of rare goodies soon, as they were sent surface... I'm sure they will come on here and tell you all about it.

My Life has hardly gone down the toilet... Man... everyone must have pictured me living in a kenmore box behind Sears or something, Yes I went through a Divorce almost immediatly after posting the first five sets of pins on Ebay last year. It was heart renching but I got through it. AND I even got to keep my house and kicked the Dame out of my life. Its all good now as I always keep a positive outlook no matter what.

I appreciate everyones Patients with me, exept for you Jim... You are difficult to take.

Take care everyone.

Rob Groves

P.S. Remember those Waterjet cut Carrier Sprockets... well I would like to sell them for say 150.00 I have sold my house and will be out by Oct 18th. They cost me 500.00 to manufacture.
If interested email me at Grovesrobert@hotmail.com ( Pickup only)

20387774 · #9 06-09-07, 13:32

Mr. Groves-My posting was not meant as a slander. I merely posted the facts of a business transaction I had incurred with you.

We are all very sorry about your divorce, but that does not have a bearing on your business practices.

By the way, I still have not received the track pins.

John

cmp_uc_guy · #10 08-09-07, 20:50

"slander" Its just what i was told that's all and I just want to keep the peace.

I know your parts are enroute by surface so their somewhere between here and there, vague I know but I have never sent so many parcels at once and all the tracking #s were printed on one receipt.
Please come back and tell everyone when it arrives John.

Thanks again.

Rob

20387774 · #11 10-09-07, 00:32

Rob-That's wonderful that they are on their way. I promise I will post on the site when they arrive.

John

Snowtractor · #12 11-09-07, 02:22

... I've bought a fair few things from Rob, I live a fair peice away from him, and I have received all of the stuff. I also found it to be as described and nice.
Rob has never been quick though, but I have never felt stiffed or cheated.
On a side note I have lost a few items in Canada post though and the bums just tell me I should have bought registered mail because they can't guarantee deliver otherwise! WTF is up with that garbage? Sounds like the mob selling insurance.
Sean

20387774 · #13 10-10-07, 14:20

Just a factual update-It has been over one month since mr groves said on this site that he had sent the parts. I live only 30 miles away and they have not arrived.

I emailed him asking for my money back, but the email bounced.

Hopefully he will check out this site and respond.

20387774 · #14 08-11-07, 13:58

Just another update. Facts only.

It has been since May 1 when Mr Groves was paid for the track pins.

It has been since September 8 since he promised he had sent them on a posting on this forum.

No reply to emails or PM's occurs

No refund of money or delivery of track pins has occured

I will keep giving updates

cmp_uc_guy · #15 16-11-07, 20:53

I have been fully aware that you are in Ontario... there is absolutley no way that I can control the mail screw ups (like snow tractor said above) It's crazy that Brian Johns in New zealand gets his stuff and you don't... I'm sorry that I have no more track pins.... lets talk money back... PM me please.

Rob

cmp_uc_guy · #16 16-11-07, 20:58

Oh yea guys don't do what Jim admitted to doing and beat the crap out of the pins until the end breaks off cause he didn't align the links good enough first. Don't force it. If done right they should slide right in!

20387774 · #17 16-12-07, 23:46

Another update.

Another month has gone by. On November 16th I asked for repayment via paypal, as I paid for the pins originally early this year. Mr. Groves is no longer allowed to use paypal. He requested my postal address, again. Said he would send money order.

Dec. 4th-no payment. Mr. Groves asked for my postal address again. He says he lost it.

Dec. 16th. no payment yet.

The saga continues...............................

I am posting these facts for the benefit of others. Judge for yourself.

Tony Smith · #18 17-12-07, 12:17

In Australia, if another Collector/Restorer was only 30 miles away, it wouldn't be too hard to drop by one lazy afternoon with a sixpack of beer and spend the day talking over the intricacies of Carriers and pick up the parts paid for, or collect a refund in person.

In fact, if fellow Collector/Restorer WAS only 30 miles from me, you find it hard to keep me away!

20387774 · #19 17-12-07, 17:55

Tony-I agree, that would be nice way to do business. However, his price was including delivery, and he was paid accordingly.

Ledsel · #20 17-12-07, 18:19

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony Smith
In Australia, if another Collector/Restorer was only 30 miles away, it wouldn't be too hard to drop by one lazy afternoon with a sixpack of beer and spend the day talking over the intricacies of Carriers and pick up the parts paid for, or collect a refund in person.

In fact, if fellow Collector/Restorer WAS only 30 miles from me, you find it hard to keep me away!

Hell I have to drive that far just to get beer. I'm sure I wouldn't hesitate to go and get my parts. I don't understand why It had to be mailed in the first place. It cost more in postage than gas.

rob love · #21 17-12-07, 19:12

Boy, thats the truth.

A few months back, I got a batch of rebar. Got home and found it had come all the way from China, and the local steel place could sell it at $6 a 20 ft stick, and still make a profit. It costs me more than that to mail a spring to the next city.

Ledsel · #22 17-12-07, 19:26

It cost me $320.00 to shipping to get a oilseed press and two Vtwin diesel engines from China to Vancouver. Then it cost me $489.00 to get them trucked to Edmonton. Almost twice as much.

Tony Smith · #23 18-12-07, 03:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Ledsel
It cost me $320.00 to shipping to get a oilseed press and two Vtwin diesel engines from China to Vancouver. Then it cost me $489.00 to get them trucked to Edmonton. Almost twice as much.

Those Coolie Porters will work for nothing!

Snowtractor · #24 18-12-07, 19:12

It would have cost me 1500 to RORO a truck from Portsmouth to Halifax then 4500 to ship it to Edmonton from halifax. Though it is probably farther to Edmonton from Halifax.
Sean

Lynn Eades · #25 18-12-07, 21:18

Has anybody been able to open the CAD drawings that Rob sent out? If so, through what programme?

cmp_uc_guy · #26 01-02-08, 21:01

John,

I thought I'd post here because I see your slacking on bringing everyone up to speed on how much of a crook I am LOL!!!

cmp_uc_guy · #27 01-02-08, 21:03

If you don't have AutoCAD then I'm pretty sure you could import the DXF drawings to CorelDraw, (a common program)

Rob

20387774 · #28 02-02-08, 00:22

Thanks for the reminder Rob. I have never said you were a crook, just that you have never completed your end of a deal or returned the money. That is not labelling you. Others may judge your business practices by your actions.

By the way, you still have not returned my money. Your actions, or lack of same, speak for themselves. I can only hope others might read this post and think before dealing with you.

John

Lynn Eades · #29 11-02-08, 08:04

Thanks Rob.

20387774 · #30 06-03-08, 21:50

Well, another month has gone by. I'm glad Rob is working so diligently on returning my money as he says he has no track pins. It has only been 10 months now. What a great guy to deal with!

Don't worry, unless the moderator asks me to stop, I'll keep you all posted on my progress.

John