What do I do?

[AggroJones]

I have a dilemma. [V] Recently at a local train show, I was accused of stealing an Athearn locomotive from a seller's table! Here are some of the facts. First off, I didn't steal anything. I'm not a damn theif. I see this man at this same show that occurs every few months. I've bought lots of stuff from him in the past. I don't really talk that much at shows, but people there know who I am. I look very distinct.

This last show, I came to his sale area to purchase some Athearn kits. When I approched him, he calmly told me at the last show, I stole one of his locomotives and to never come near his tables again. At first I thought it was a joke, but he was serious. He refused service to me! That has never happend to me before. [:0]I left the show in disbelief, wondering what should I do. It was a discontinued kit that I couldn't find anywhere else, so when I spotted it, I was thrilled. But I can't even buy it because the seller told me I stole somthing, which I didn't.

What should I do at the next show? Try to reason with him, or just say "screw him, he doesn't deserve my business".[:(!]

What do y'all think?

[Anonymous]

well, IF you really didn't steal anything, i'd just not do any business with him anymore. send a nice letter to him stating how you were wrongfully accussed and that you are now severing bussiness relations with him and that from hence forward tyou will be redirecting any referals to his competitors.

[bruce22]

if he persists tell him u will see your lawyer about defamation of character but be prepared to follow thru

[Anonymous]

Its rather funny that im reading this post today of all times....im wondering if you were at the Greenburg show at the Monroeville Expo Mart in Pittsburgh where i was on saturday. Here is my suggestion since i had a similar thing happen to me today (well kinda similar but not)...send the man a letter...explaining the situation...be very polite to him and put your phone number at the bottom asking him to please contact you after he has gone over the letter...if he contacts you and is nice about it...hopefully yall can work something out...if he is a ***...well then just dont do business with him. The phone call i recieved today was from an older lady and i remember her well...i bought all the walthers centerbeam flat cars she had (17 of them) and i used my credit cars to pay for them...well you know at these shows they use those old card swipe things that make an imprint of your card....as i was watching her do this she was having trouble with the swipe thing...so when she called me today basically yelling at me telling me i tried to rip her off by using a bad credit card, and not letting me get a word in edgewise...i politely listened to her for 15 minuits and then when she was done i asked her to read my card number to me....she did...and where she read off and 8...there should have been a 3...i corrected her...she reran my card thru the automatic machine in her store and it came back approved. no harm no foul...so if the man wants to vent...let him...but be polite and just try and talk to him...if i dont work...well then just let it go...

[Hawks05]

just try and reasoning with the dude. if he still thinks you are a theif quit buying stuff from him and redirect people that would go to his table to other peoples tables. only good thing to do. i'd just say screw you and never go back. just walk by and smile if you see him again. or something. but try and contact him and if that doesn't work say Screw you.

PS. remember i'm 17 so some of the stuff i said i don't know if you would. being 17 i would probably be a little bit more cocky towards the guy but being the nice person that i am i try to sort things out. i've been in similar situations only it was on the internet and far worse than trains. i was accused for it and i wasn't even on the teachers computer that day or that week. it was my ******* cousin and one of his friends that did and it and blamed it on me.

[Anonymous]

Hawks...dude im 24...i am still in the same young mentailty, but i got a few years on you...BET I CAN BE COCKIER THAN YOU CAN.....HAHAHAHA.....just jerkin ya around man...its really great to see some guys around my age into this hobby...i was afriad that i was the only one left LOL

[Hawks05]

haha oh no. although i was the youngest person i think at the show i went to on saturday. i also probably spent of the most money or got the most. of course i'm just starting to that makes a difference.

usually i'm not a cocky person but if you get me mad or keep saying i'm wrong about something when i know i'm right i'll get ticked off.

[eastcoast]

Aggro,
Does this dealer have a name ???
Rule of dominoes , the domino principle works quite well on this forum.
If you were to know who this is, then others will be more cautious about
doing business with him as well. Maybe you are not the only one he(she)
has accused !!! Think about it. SO MANY people go to these shows that do
bear a similar look. Now, unless you are 8 feet tall and look like the HULK
than that is different. I get told all the time I resemble someone else.
If you see this dealer ,approach them personally, and ask if their is a way to make amends, If not, then do not do business with them . Most REASONABLE dealers
will carry a professional approach and offer an amends to a customer. Try it.

[Anonymous]

This is a really tricky situation. I know a guy who runs a stand at exhibitions as an extension to his normal store. His approach is to be very watchful of certain potential customers - for example, at the last show there were a couple of kids wandering around handling everything, they got the full "watched like a hawk" treatment as you might expect.

I'd go with previous suggestions and try to negotiate this one. You technically hold all the cards - this guy has falsely accused you of theft, and also stands to lose a lot of customers when you tell your friends about this incident. Remember only to threaten legal action for defamation as a last resort, and then only if you can back it up. However, I can't believe that he's unwilling to even discuss the matter, so give it a try.

[Anonymous]

I have a problem with that accuastion. Assuming for the moment the scenario is correct and true, you should try to resolve this matter on the spot and be prepared to follow thru with a defamation suit if necessary.

I have over 15 years OTR and am very cautious with people I deal with in person. I usually go to train meets with a friend because of possible situations like this. If this has arisen with me, I would have met with #2 and gave him or her funds and info for that specific item.

I am worried by the increasing freight shaking on the hobby as relates to Boors, Bullies and Bigs. (Mr Big who knows everything)

Relax and try your best to be careful with who you deal with, there is no need for this to be going on. That is all for me today, see ya on the flip side.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Johnnydash9

...i politely listened to her for 15 minuits and then when she was done i asked her to read my card number to me....she did...and where she read off and 8...there should have been a 3...i corrected her...she reran my card thru the automatic machine in her store and it came back approved. no harm no foul...so if the man wants to vent...let him...but be polite and just try and talk to him...if i dont work...well then just let it go...

So did she apologize?

[preceng]

I was at the Expo Sunday. In any event, I think I would have to have a friend by it next time. Then walk past the dude later and wave it at him.

[Anonymous]

Have a friend make the purchases you are interested in. I'm willing to bet the guy won't believe you anyway, so why further aggrevate yourself with a bad situation. Life usually doesn't have movie endings, so he isn't going to read your sensitive intelligent letter, go all sloppy sentimental on you, phone up and say he saw the error of his ways. In real life, he'll continue to think you are a dork, so you can't win, so why fight the battle.