dgsselkirk

Well guys, I think I have waited long enough almost a year....

I would like to tell you a story about a man named Andrea Vallee from Bergkamen Germany. . Quite simply I am at a loss to figure out why he is not getting back to me. So maybe someone here knows him or knows someone who knows him.

I first came across him on Facebook when I saw some of his models in particular the Canadian Ram. I struck up a conversation with him about it and the details of how he built it. I also inquired if he might be interested in building one for me. We went back and forth a little bit and I offered cash or a Firefly kit but he insisted no money but send him some extra parts. So I sent him to start 2 Sherman A1 upper hulls, 3 Sherman early 3 part transmission covers, a Mato lower hull, 3 HL turrets with bases and rings, 2 of my Jarlath servo recoil units, and some other goodies. So the cost of the items plus about $130 bucks in shipping. When he received the package he told me there was extra duties to pay to the tune of $56 Euros so I sent him that money too. This was all done in Jan. thru Mar. He has family in Canada so the plan was he was going to build and send with his sister in July to take to his mother in Canada and then she could ship it to me. I would of course cover all that shipping cost.

So we kept conversing and talking and not just about tanks but family, friends, the usual chit chat and I thought that I had a new friend in Germany.

My first hint that something might not be quite right was when he started sending me pictures mid Feb. of what I thought was the upper hull of my Ram tank under construction. Turns out I was wrong and I quote “No, this is a badger for a friend. From my upper hull.” Hmmm…. O.K. you would think you would want to build the guy’s who sent you all the parts first but O.K. I can wait…

So the next item he said he is starting on is the Skink turret using one of my turrets of course. Hey no problem, curious to see what he comes up with and then I get a message Feb. 23rd and I quote “End of next week, I begin with you RamII. Tuesday I call a manufacturer for barrel” We had been discussing building one of the 40 Rams fitter with the 75mm gun. I then started to see pics of the skink turret and what he was trying to build. Keep in mind all this time we are chatting about all kinds of things as well..

Mar. 1st again “Next week, I begin with you RAMII. I made Sunday the turret Front” Around middle of March he started telling me about going to Intermodell Event and he was prepping tanks for that. On the 28th he tells me “ the cuts ready from the Ram. But I make my tanks ready for Intermodell.”

On April 12 I asked him if he could help me out ordering some parts from a German company because they wouldn’t just ship them in an envelope to me in Canada but wanted too much for freight. He told me he had ordered the 10 pairs, I told him to let me know what I owed him and that was May 1st. I inquired if he got the parts May 16th, May 23rd asked if he had got my messages, May 24th asked if everything was alright? He got back to me “on holidays in Netherlands for 8 days.” O.K. I didn’t bother him the rest of May, he sent me pics of his daughter’s wedding June 16th which I commented on the lovely bride. June 27th I inquired about the Firefly screens he was going to get for me and that I thought he would have sent them to me by now. I began to notice that as soon as I logged onto Facebook he would log off. I would wave at him and get no response. July 12 asked if he got my message. By now of course I was getting pretty frustrated and at the end of the week I blew up a bit and said this is ridiculous that every time I try to contact you, you go offline. If there is an issue or you are busy and don’t have time, or just want me to go away please let me know is better than just ignoring me. A week later I apologized and said you must have a reason to suddenly stop talking to me. And since then same thing, as soon as I come on he leaves. I have tried message, waving, etc…

I mean I totally understand if he got in over his head building for himself and other and he just can’t get around to doing one for me or even if he feels he want to be paid now that wouldn’t be a problem but there is no communication. Did I push too hard? I didn’t think so based on the progress he was telling me. Now I see him cranking out new models the last month. I’m out about $500 bucks so hoping someone can maybe talk to him in his native tongue and let me know what’s going on…
Just want to make everyone aware of this gentleman. don't make the same mistake I did!

Dean

sturmgescheutz

Hello Dean,

I know this person, and also many people who had problems with him.

He is one of the bad people in our hobby.

I hope you will get what you paid for, but I do not think there is a solution in the area.

with kind regards,Guido

ThurmanMerman'sSherman

It's sad when this kind of thing happens. I know I'm new to this hobby, but I've been on forums for a few other hobbies for years and we'd see instances where someone who was previously respected in the hobby gets in over their head and can't meet the promises they make to the people they take money from. They never realize that a little communication goes a long way. I know sometimes people have issues in life that keep them from doing everything they promised on time.

But sadly, in this case, it sounds like he just was taking advantage of you since he clearly started projects after he said yours was next up. Sorry to hear! Hope things turn out for the better!

sevoblast

Thanks, Guido. I googled him and it's not pretty, but you replied before I could.

Dean, looks like there is little chance of a good outcome. Sorry I could not help.

dgsselkirk

I'm just shocked that for someone so well known would think he can just get away with this. I know I'm **** out of luck but I just want to make sure everyone in our little world knows about this person. and he is a regular at meets and events in Germany so somewhere along the line I hope some of my German friends shame him for this type of behavior. He has deactivated his Facebook account for now but I can tell this guy like to show off his builds so he will be back. If some of my customers and friends in Europe can just copy and paste onto the German sites so no one else has to go down this road...

And of course you never know when a knock at the door may come...