Well, now we are getting the true picture of John Monaghan as more come forward to tell their story.

Chris Campos (smooth flying) I remember you well during this whole fiasco with JM. You would one day talk crap and tell me how my plane was sitting in a corner gathering dust and how he was never going to work on it. Then another day you would bragging about how great a builder he was and how he did such a great job of building your Cardens. Never could make up your mind flip flopping back and forth. I guess your back in his corner now. It seems as if you are the only one he completes work for. Maybe that is why he is your buddy.

He is nothing but a low life thief and he gets away with it. I wish there was a way to broadcast this thread to all the forums so no one would ever lose another dime to this dirt bag!!!

Andy, your a way bigger man than I could be in this case. I would have not let someone like this off the hook so easy. I would have looked for a settlement. Voluntary or court ordered.


If you send a model and hardware to someone and they still want money to assemble it, that's the tip off for me. No Deal.

My deposit is my stuff. No cash up front.

If I don't pay, give me "Notice of demand for payment". If no payment, sell my model take your costs and send me balance.

Fortunately I make my own stuff.



Steve

I really feel sorry for this guys kids ! The longer he gets away with screwing people with absolutely no consequences just teaches his children that it's the way to live. Just set around on welfare which is taking money away from others that really need it and deserve the help and screw anyone and everyone you can because that's the way they were raised. Who knows maybe that's the way he was brought up.

dude , don't drag his family into this. that's over the line, even if he did someone wrong.bringing his "not so honest" way's to light is one thing but throwing it onto his family is wrong . makes you no better of a person IMO.

[quote]ORIGINAL: warbird_1

dude , don't drag his family into this. that's over the line, even if he did someone wrong.bringing his ''not so honest'' way's to light is one thing but throwing it onto his family is wrong . makes you no better of a person IMO.
[/quoteI am just stating facts you must be one of his buddies that keep enabling him to continue!

Like I said in a previous post, I build for others also. I have a small issue with some of your comments.

The part about if you send someone your "stuff" that should count as a deposite. Uh, no. Building an airplane might be considered a toy to the owner, but, to a builder its considered a job. If the job is going to take 2 or 3 months or more to complete (and some do if its a full build from plans) then sending someone "stuff" as a deposit dont cut it. Most builders require 25 to 50% up front. That covers expenses like the power that it takes to build your toy, the man hours it takes to build your toy and the extra materials to build your toy that wasnt included in your "stuff" like glues, sand paper, cutting tools, bandsaw blades, saw blades and the list goes on.

I would see a red flag if someone sent me a box of stuff and would not pay a deposit. No builder is going to agree to those terms. Now, I do have a very short list of long time customers that I do accept a job with no deposit, but if I need funds, its an email away.

I personally require 50% up front. Balance is due when the work is completed. Customer pays or furnishes all the parts (Stuff) for HIS plane. At the end of the day, I email pictures of my progress.

My time is just as valuable as yours. You dont work for a promise, why should I. And we all know, RC "Stuff" is like a new car, once its out of the box, and started, most wont buy it cause they want it done a certain way. So selling your "Stuff" might not cover my labor. And, I dont want to store your "Stuff" until I can find someone who can pay me what I have in it.

Just my opinion.

WBG

[quote]ORIGINAL: tkline


don't know the guy. just be careful who you throw rocks at because you might hit yourself

What's with the posts that are all quotes and no comments? [sm=confused.gif]

BTW, good on ya' Andy for taking the 'high road' with this man's son. That was a class act. And I, too, feel bad for children that are raised in that kind of an environment.

Hi Guys,

Lets keep this on track. The thread is about warning people of a fraudulent builder, John Monaghan. Not about anything else. Lets keep this focused on making sure he does not rip anyone else off again!!

It's fair to say that anybody who reads this thread knows full well where not to send their project(s)... [8D] This thread is serving it's purpose very well to past JM customers and new-comers alike.

... Sorry again Andy, and to the others here who got bent-over by John M.

Hi,

When I build for hire, it's kit and materials only up-front. The build fee is payable upon proof of packaging for shipment. Other guys do deposits, and that works great for a lot of builders and their customers. I just do it this way because that's how I prefer to have it done when I'm the customer.

I don't take a deposit either and I bill materials as needed during the build IF they go beyond the normal consumables. Some customers I don't even ask for those costs till the end of the build because I know they are good for it regardless.

I do the same as Shaun for the most part, but do request a partial payment, usually when the airplane is in primer. The owner gets proof of the build with pictures throughout the build. I have an F86 that I have been building, my shop got hit by a tornado back in april that halted the build while I got the shop repaired but again the customer was made aware. The customer also knew from the beginning that building models is NOT my primary source of income, the build is done to a schedule but that schedule can change depending on work load at my real job.

Andy I have to respect you for not trashing the guy to his kid, but I know I would not take lightly the fact that he stole money from you. Small claims court would probably be a waste of time, I'm sure you can think of alternative ways to get retribution.

DR

Im curious. How does someone justify keeping your money. When no work has been done? What could they possibly say to make that o.k. in their mind. I'd go nuts.

Every builder has their own policies. Im not saying its wrong or right. I just posted what works for me and my customers. Most of what I build is from what I manufacture anyways, so I guess you could say they are paying for the kit up front in an abstact view But, I still have the same policy when Im sent a kit to build. I respect other builders polices and thats ok, cause thats what works for them. The main thing is, get references I provide them to my clients. I also dont take on more than 2 jobs at a time. Anymore, and I get that overwhelmed feeling and then my enjoyment becomes stress. Thats not good.

I really need to get out more and fly and visit I used to when I was a YOUNG MAN lol. Now, all I want to do is work in my shop on airplanes. Been thinking of giving furniture building a try. Maybe next winter I will see how it goes.

Andy, one of my close friends and client, holds you in high regaurds. He has nothing but good things to say about you.

Not many of us would have taken as well as you did. I hope that being kind to JM's son comes back to you 10 fold.

Yall take care and Im off to bed Just finished the nav and landing lights on my latest #2 project tonight and Im worn out.

WBG

If you sue or try to get your money back you won't take away from his kids... it's been said here that he is on welfare or unemployment, so money to live on is not a problem for john... he's got that already covered.

If I were in your shoes, I'd talk to him about returning some or all of the money.