Tom,
The original estimated price for this item on 9/10/18 was $175 to $200. I paid my deposit on 9/12/18 of $100.00. On 10/19/18 the price was increased to $225.00 <due to machinist change> I was willing to accept this increase. I understand that things happen and runs get extended and I was in no rush to get the completed item and appreciated that you were making sure they turned out as nice as possible. But when you did not make any updates from March 4th until May 4th, I became concerned. Mainly because my PayPal protection expired on 3/11/19. But at the time PayPal seemed to accept the dispute I filed on May 5th but I realize now since it was after the 180 day window it was instantly canceled. Then after you saw the email I/others sent you responded on the thread on May 5th. All was ok again at this point. Then on May 30th you increased the price again to $255.00 <due large import fee from shipper> I did not see this additional $30.00 increase until I received my invoice from you which I was also surprised to include an additional charge on top of shipping(expected) which was you wanted me to pay for the PayPal fees. Not only was that not right in my opinion but ($285.42) was more than I wanted to pay for this item. Since all of these changes happened after I made my deposit and happened of no fault of my own, I expected a full refund of my $100.00 deposit. But I was surprised to see that you only refunded me $96.80 keeping the original PayPal fees of $3.20 plus you refunded it to me as a PayPal purchase so I was charged another $3.12. So now I am out $6.32 due to no fault of my own. I have tried to work this out with you via email but for some reason you think it is ok for me to be out $6.32. Therefore, I called PayPal and luckily even though my PayPal protection ended on March 11th for the deposit and they did not have to do anything they did refund me the $6.32 that you should have. This was poor form dude. When you went absent from the thread for two months everyone said you could be trusted and not to worry but I guess they were wrong. I hope the feedback function gets reinstated on RPF in the future.
It's been a while since I posted on the RPF, but I did see this comment, as I am a part of this run and feel that I am obliged to shed some light on the matter since Tom and I are personal friends.
Tom actually consulted with me on many occasions, due to my manufacturing experience, to ensure that he got the best product possible. Tom changed the design to be even more accurate on multiple occasions before even making his first prototype, which he paid out of his own pocket. So many hours went into his design and prototyping of this replica.
Tom then asked me to assist with him getting some quotes for these pikes, which I was happy to do, and when he ended up choosing the final manufacturer, I saw the final cost, and trust me when I say, Toms goal was NOT to profit from this run, but to only make an excellent replica. He even sent the first batch of parts back to be redone because he saw them as unacceptable quality.
Judging by the additional costs, such as the import fees that he was unaware of (a simple mistake for a first time run), he is probably making the same amount of profit as a weekly shop at Wal-Mart for a 3 people!
Yes, he decided to do this run, and yes, it had surprises, but I simply cannot support such feedback as this knowing what toms intentions were the entire time and knowing Toms character.
From what I know about PayPal, is that, once a dispute is raised on a payment, and that dispute is settled (in Toms favour I assume?), the function to refund that payment is disabled. Or if the 180 days pass, the payment cannot be refunded.
Therefore, I am sure Tom wanted to refund you via the refund option in PayPal (which automatically reimburses the fees) but was unable to. So, it's clear to me that he sent the net amount he received for your deposit back to you. This would of course incur a fee.
I do not think that Tom has KEPT this fee, because he would never have received the fee in the first place? If he were to refund you the full amount, with the PayPal refund facility not available, he would have to pay more than what he received.
I have my Pike from the run that Tom brought back from the USA when he visited London and I am super happy with it.; the weight, the feel and the quality. I think $285 all in all is excellent for this. I doubt anyone would find the same thing anywhere else at all. Even if it was 3D printed, made from wood and professional painted etc. This thing is all metal with the spike being machined steel, second phase machining to remove anodise and mirror polished. Very expensive to make.
Toms goal this entire time, I can assure you, was to deliver a great product. He would NEVER intentionally do bad business and never mislead people.
I am glad that you managed to get your $6 back via PayPal, but I do think it isn't fair to attempt to bad mouth Tom on such a large forum as this because he didn't pay out of his own pocket the $6 that you lost as a part of this deal.
This is just my opinion on the matter Edward. I have no animosity toward you, but I thought that if you knew this about Tom, it may make you see the matter in a different light.
All the best
Khal
