George Stringer?

[redneck]

Has anyone tried emailing [email protected] ?

That was George's email address, at least back when TFL was around. He sent me the parts diagram and takedown instructions for an old .22 rifle. I wouldn't have even thought to ask, if I hadn't seen how many times he had done similar favors for people on TFL. He sure didn't stand to gain any business on a 50 year old .22 that needed cleaned, but took the time to look stuff up, scan the pages and email it to me. I can see where someone that spent that much time helping people out over the internet might fall behind at work. I really doubt that he's dishonest or that he's trying to take advantage of anyone. Hopefully, he'll have a full recovery.

 

[CZ-75]

Six months isn't that bad and having a heart attack can sure put a crimp in things. I'd ask for my money and my tools and if I still didn't have them in 6 more months, I'd start getting more worked up.

I'm betting that he can't afford to give refunds right now, since he's effectively unemployed and it may be a bit before he's able to go to his shop to find things. Did it occur to you that he might not be able to pay his bills and that phone and ISP service got pulled.

Reason his wife and son didn't let you talk to him is that you probably flew off the handle - like he needs that.

 

[JollyWhiteGiant]

I e-mailed him after I posted my last message to let him know what is going on. He re-plyed yesterday. Since we haven't heard back from Rick he must have gotten ahold of him.

 

[Alex]

I've never had any work done by the man, but he sure took the time to answer several of my questions many by personal email, I can't really believe that someone who would go to all that trouble could be a dishonest person. I for one hope he enjoys a quick recovery.

 

[Gary H]

George has gone way out of his way for me. He always came through and he never charged for his help. I can only think that there is more of a story here. George should have let his customer know the there would be a delay. I read these posts somewhat rapidly, so I might have missed this one...but was there a promised delivery time? I've had some real problems reaching some well known smiths. It isn't that they are bad folks, but I think that they are very busy. This isn't to excuse anything. I believe that health conditions allowing, George will make things good. All this aside, I sure hope that he is doing better... Wish you the best George.

 

[willp58]

I knew George before he had the Stringer website...Some other guy had it before him and George took it over.
He has answered several inquiries and like others have said, he took the trouble to scan and email some break-down things that I didn't have...How many ppl would do that??

I did send him some work once and he did it on time and the work was just FINE.

I've even offered to send him money for the scanned documents he sent but he declined it.

All in all I think the world of George Stringer..

I also had a heart attack a few years ago and it takes a long time before you're right again -- if ever..You lose your perspectives, your strength and your confidence.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I've heard a complaint or two, privately, about George's work, over the years. A complaint or two. I think this message chain represents the third. But I've heard the same about my local gunsmith, whom I use regularly -- and wouldn't hesitate to use again. Sometimes complaints are well founded, sometimes people are just a pain in the butt.

In my business dealings with George, he has been a little slow but has done VERY GOOD WORK -- on two pistols, for me. (He did a trigger job on a S&W semi-auto for me that was raved about by anyone who shot it. I gave it to my son, and he traded it away. Sigh.)

Having a heart attack is not like breaking a leg. Bad stuff often follows, including depression, no stamina, poor concentration, often profound personality changes -- and then there's the sudden realization that you're mortal. It can be difficult to cope with.

The original poster was frustrated and angry. I understand; I think I would have been angry, too. But those posts did NOTHING to help the situation or resolve it. And George wasn't in a position -- due to his health -- to do much more than he did, when the writer DEMANDED that he return the gun as is...

I wonder if the original poster now understands the concept of "hoist on his own petard?"

If I were George, I'd do what I could to make things right as soon as I could, but I wouldn't rush about it -- as the original poster has already done what he could to harm me (George) in the one way most readily available to him.

As for the family not keeping people up to date, etc. -- most families have a lot of other things on their mind in this sort of situation -- especially if they're not involved in the business. They probably have jobs, other family [kids, spouses, other sick family members] to be worried about, and then they've got to look after the person who had the heart attack!

The family members of a one-man shop aren't much better than helpful neighbors when it comes to sorting out things in the business, answering customer questions, etc. Only the main business man knows the details, and if he's been on the verge of death, he's going to deal with it when he can, as soon as he can.

 

[Deles136]

George did a .308 conversion on a 49/56 MAS and the job was very good and reasonable. When a man has serious heart problems it changes the way he thinks about a lot of things. If I can help George I will, but I will not put him down when he is already down.

 

[Atticus]

That's pretty shocking. I understand your frustration and anger. George did some work for me a couple of years ago and offered free advice to me numerous times online - the work was good and the free advice was always helpful. I don't doubt your story, but those who have dealt with him know that something must be seriously wrong, perhaps in addition to the health problems. Sorry to hear about this. I hope that George is OK and that someday your issue can be resolved.

 

[reddevil]

Hi, someone from another forum linked me to this thread.I sent in my father's My Hunter revolver to George last August for a repair and refinishAfter I sent payment in, I never heard back from him and after his heart attack, I asked to just have my gun back, fixed or not.The last time I spoke with him in May, he said he can only work 2 hours a wee/day per Dr orders.He said he'd have my gun ready within 2-3 weeks.After 3 weeks and no gun, I called and yep, phone was disconnected.I understand he can't work on guns but I don't understand why the man couldn't send me back my gun.I'm moving next month and he does not respond to my emails.He has read them according to a read receipt.I threatened a call to his local police and ATF if he didn't contact me and he still hasn't.I did call the police and the Earlington police chief said it was a civil matter.I called the cout in KY and they want ME to go to Earlington for court! Not only that, they need Georges address to serve the papers but if he didconnected his phone, how do I know he didn't close down his shop/work address?I beg to differ so I contacted the ATF and am awaiting someone who handles stuff like this to call me back.If anyone else is having problem with him, please let me know and I will let the ATF know and mention this when I go to court to get my gun back.

 

[Rosco Benson]

"Stuff", indeed, does happen. I had a pistolsmith, with whom I had developed a friendship, die while I had a gun in his shop. Fortunately, another friend of ours, who lived near him, worked diligently to get all the customers' guns and parts back to them. I wrote off the money I had paid and had my project completed by EGW. My dead friend had the only acceptable excuse for not answering phone calls and e-mails.

I have every sympathy for a person who gets sick and can't complete their projects. I can understand and accept that funds that they've already used up can't be refunded. I find it hard to excuse not answering the phone and e-mails. Even if one has to own up to not being able to honor one's commitments, one ought to communicate the situation...honestly and completely...to those who had entrusted one to do a job for them. Most persons are pretty understanding if given the facts. Most persons get angry if they're being dodged and given the run-around.

There is also no excuse (unless a bankruptcy court has pad-locked the premises) not to return one's property. If the gunsmith is too broke to pay shipping, then tell the customer that and most customers would pick up the shipping tab to get their items back. However, not communicating with those customers makes this sort of resolution impossible. The customer, quite correctly, feels that his property is being held hostage.

Hiding, incommunicato, just makes a bad situation worse. Just my opinion....but a pretty reasonable one.

Rosco

 

[Edward429451]

Bad health / heart attack can force a man to change his priorities. Not that he would maliciciously keep your stuff, but he's likely in a life & death situation, and added stress from irate customers (right or not) could kill a man who's had a heart attack. Would you feel better if you badgered him into fixing your gun, and he died from the stress of it? At least you got your gun back, right?

No gun is worth killing a man over. No customer is worth killing yourself over, no matter how much you'd like to do the right thing. I sympathize with your situation, but I'm going to say more prayers for the man and suggest you all do too.

Priorities people!

 

[reddevil]

Bad health / heart attack can force a man to change his priorities. Not that he would maliciciously keep your stuff, but he's likely in a life & death situation, and added stress from irate customers (right or not) could kill a man who's had a heart attack. Would you feel better if you badgered him into fixing your gun, and he died from the stress of it? At least you got your gun back, right?

You're absolutely right.That's why I told him to just send the gun back to me as is.I just want my property back, he's had it for almost a year.Is that too much to ask?

 

[Edward429451]

No thats not too much to ask but assuming George is a man of integrity (seemed so when I dealt with him), even a nicely worded correspondence with him could stress him by making him want to get it done but state of health stops him. He probably knows he's getting people mad, but is powerless to deal with it at the present time.

A less than nice correspondence would be even worse. Somebody said they told him that they'd sic the ATF on him etc.,
Heck, his wife probably checked his E-mail, saw the irateness of correspondence and shut it down herself so he couldn't get on there and stress himself to death over it.

If it were me, I think I'd send em a snail mail (hard copy) of a letter/card expressing concern and sympathy, and detailing the property he has and saying that when time & health permits, to contact you to work out the details of return. Then his wife could save the letter(s) for him to go through when he is stronger.

You know how loving wives are...talk like you care, friend for life. Act like you dont care, on the s**t list and not even worth a response.

 

[Ledbetter]

Regretfully: No man is an island.

I've had guns worked on by George and I like him. However, I would not describe him as timely in his dealings.

Also, I believe there is a huge cultural discrepancy between Tennesee (and other southern states) and urban California in matters involving speed of response to requests for service. Just an hour a day in the shop would allow the identification of items that should be returned to their owners rather than retained any longer. Has anyone received any property back from George in the last three months?

I wish George a speedy and complete recovery but I disagree that it is improper to demand your property back after the passage of so much time. It is also improper to sever communications with patrons owed money or their property, for any reason.

After enough time, any excuse for inaction begins to wear thin.

 

[Nero Steptoe]

Hey, Rick! WHEN did you say you sent your gun to George? Your sad saga sounded so interesting the first seven times you told it, I thought you'd just tell it one more time, for old times' sake.

If George had my money and gun, I don't think I'd make lots of threats and do my best to cause him to have another heart attack. What I would do would be to write a letter to George's wife and/or son, send it "certified, return receipt requested", and see what happens. If I were from California, I'd know every morning when I took my first breath that I had a lot more problems than anything that George Stringer could visit on me.

 

[Reaves]

Edit: Deleted in the interest of peace and harmony.
Johnny Guest

 

[Mylhouse]

Maybe, just maybe now, people will stop making excuses for ole George!

This guy must have built up some kind of goodwill on TFL to get as many passionate apologists as he has.

 

[Sisco]

Well, lets see if we get the story straight from the horses mouth.
http://members.sitegadgets.com/GeorgeStringer/board/2514.html

 

[Reaves]

. . . .

 

[Byron Quick]

Folks,

This discussion will follow forum rules or it will be shut down...period.

 

[romulus]

This guy must have built up some kind of goodwill on TFL to get as many passionate apologists as he has.

What you call an apologia is actually basic consideration. Meaning now is not the time to excoriate publicly a man who's just been near death. I was taught not to kick people when they're down, even if I arguably have some moral right to do so...

 

[Reaves]

. . .

 

[romulus]

Glib and juvenile...

 

[reddevil]

. . .