Your word is your bond

[OkeeDon]

Our cabin is halfway down from the top of the hill; the South Fork is at the bottom of the hill, maybe 300-400 feet away. We can see it from our deck in the Winter, but leaves are too thick to see it in the Summer.

Having just read what I wrote, I realize it may seem strange to say "halfway down from the top" instead of "halfway up". But, that's because the paved road climbs the hill and rides the ridge; then the gravel road turns off and goes down to the river; our dirt road branches off about halfway down, then runs along the side of the hill about 1/4 mile back to the cabin.

Many people are surprised to learn that the New River is the oldest river in the Western Hemisphere and the second oldest river in the World, second only to the Nile. Some play it safe and say, "...one of the oldest rivers on the continent..." but those of us who have lived near it know the truth...

 

[Bird]

Richard, I did a number of small tractor jobs (mowing, tilling, moving a little dirt) for neighbors and gave them a flat price before hand. On at least 3 occasions, I was given a check, or cash, for considerably more than I had priced the job to them and they insisted I take the extra money. I appreciated it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( When I bought my tractor I went in "with checkbook in hand" ready to make a deal. When we had finalized the details and Matt had completed the paperwork I signed everything and then went to write him a check. He stopped me and said "thats not neccesary, we do everything on the honor system here". )</font>

When I bought my first Kubota in 1995, I did as you, and wrote the check. Then when I bought the one in 1999, I made the deal with the salesman via telephone (we were 50 miles apart), it took about 2 weeks for them to get the front end loader to put on it, and I never went to the dealership, signed any papers, made any deposit, etc. The salesman brought all the paperwork when he delivered the tractor.

 

[frank_f15]

sounds familar! for a few years i was unable to do my own spring yard clean up,(too many hours on the job) so i hired it out, prices were fair and no problem, but last year due to health reasons i hired it out again, young fella came and gave me a price, my jaw dropped! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif did not see how he was going to do that much work for that price. well he came and did it, worked his Butt off, and i could not just pay him what he quoted! i had to pay him more, than the quoted price . did not seem fair. but i did tell him to be a little more generous to himself in future quotes! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Will_C]

When I bought my BX, the salesman and I did everything over the phone. He brought the paperwork to the school where I work, and waited for my prep period to go over it and get the signatures. Meanwhile, the delivery man had already dropped the tractor off at my house. Two days later the salesman stopped by to see if I had any questions or needed anything explained.
Six months later when I bought the FEL, I just called and ordered it over the phone (after a little price haggling /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif), and the dealer called 3 weeks later when it came in.
Will

 

[755inNY]

Seems like we have quite a thread going on honest dealing. I had a similar experience to others.

I was at an airshow/convention several years back. I purchased a radio from one of the many dealers at the show. He had the best price ($185) of any one else. They would take a check (mine would have been out of state) but I did not have my checkbook. I gave him my credit card which he processed (old fashion way not electronic) and presented the slip to sign. I commented that I thought he would not charge sales tax for an out of state transaction. He replied he had to for credit card sale but not for check. This certainly wasn't a deal breaker but he offered to let me send him a check instead. As I was not in a hurry for the radio I agreed. He ripped up the credit slip and handed me the radio. I was expecting him to ship it to me when he received my check. He said No, take the radio and send him the check when I returned home. The check was in the mail the day I got in the house.

Jeff

 

[Junkman]

My vet doesn't under charge me, he just doesn't charge me.. I got even with him by giving him a Weimeraner puppy a couple years ago! That is what I call a living present. He will never let me forget it, especially like this past Sunday when the dog ate the cloth mesh wrapper that the Shoulder Roast came wrapped in. LOL. At least he didn't have to pay for his own veterinary services. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I tried to give him a Dachshund puppy, but he rejected it.... said that one more dog would put him over the limit.

 

[Inspector507]

On the trust issue........I had a similar experience dealing with a member here who is a dealer. I ordered a toothbar from him. When I went to pick it up (I know I could have had it shipped to the house, I wanted to meet Jeff), I had left the checkbook at home. When I went to pay, I guess I was embarassed and dumbfounded at myself. Jeff told me to just take it home send a check out when I got home. Since the mail had already run on Saturday, and the local Post Office doesn't pick up mail from drop boxes on Sunday, I had to wait until Monday to send it out. Knowing that check was laying in an envelope for 2 days before I could mail it, made me keep thinking "I hope he trusts me".
So if anyone here close to Central/SE Ohio needs a Kioti or a tractor implement, look up Kiohio, great guy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

Jeff, several years ago while we were full time RVers, we stopped at a very small store that had a wide variety of pecans for sale on the edge of a south Texas town. The proprietor (I guess the owner, since he was the only person there) was wearing blue denim bib overalls and appeared likely to be the farmer who raised those pecans. I asked what credit cards he took and he said he didn't take credit cards, but that he'd take a personal check. I went to the RV and got a check for him and he never asked for any ID at all.

And of course I bought my toothbar from one of our forum members, so we trusted each other. I think he probably shipped the toothbar the same day I mailed a check. Neither of us waited on the other. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

Richard, I know you would like to give this man a fair price, and that's what he will feel he is asking, a fair price. A man of his age is "from" an age where handshakes were a man's bond, you didn't borrow money from ANYONE and if someone did something for you, you paid them or did something for them. So pay the man, and if you want to do more, be his friend. Show him the interest in his work that you're showing us. I would imagine that if his wife has passed, he would welcome an occasional visit with someone who is interested in his hobby. I wouldn't offer him more than he wants, he's not waitress expecting a tip, he's a MAN. My great-grandfather, with whom I was priveliged to know until I was 19 years old, taught me a lot of this, and I'm sure he was right. He was born in 1877, and if he told it to you, you knew it was gospel. His word was his bond. Thank you for starting this thread. It's good to remind ourselves that integrity is STILL important. John