Marion David Poff...good luck dealing with this guy

geegee

geegee

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A couple of weeks ago, I replied in a thread posted by Marion, where he was looking for some Becker scales.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=791188

I said I had a pair and would like to trade them for a sheath. I originally wanted a sheath made for my Emerson PUK, that would be somewhat out of the ordinary. It would be made to fit a pocket in some cargo pants, so essentially would be a square. He said he could do that, but also sent me a link to sheaths he already had, one of them being for a Becker Necker.

He did say he could make the square one I wanted, but after I thought about it, I decided that it would be easier on him (instead of designing a new sheath) to just request one for the Becker Necker. I have a couple of them and figured this would be the cheapest and easiest method for him, since he already had them in stock. I sent him this PM on November 18th:

Let's make this easier. I measured the knife and placed it in the pocket and decided the fit wouldn't be what I wanted. If you're okay with this, I'd like to just get a sheath for a Becker Necker. Everything I own is black so if you have one already made in any color, I'd be fine with that. Let me know.

The DC# for the slabs is 0308-0070-0000-2929-8097.

Thanks,
Paul
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I never heard back from him. On November 20th, my Becker scales were delivered to him, yet I still never heard from him. They were mint, but figured I get an obligatory "Scales arrived, looked good, working on your sheath (or sheath is going out), etc." I waited a while and sent an email, but still no answer. Like so many gripes that show up here, here's my biggest complaint.

Hey Marion, if you have time to log on to this site, you ought to have time to shoot me an email or a PM! :mad: Damn, what's up with guys like this that they figure their end of the deal is all done at their convenience? Yeah, I can see he has positive feedback, but in the past year, I've seen a couple of guys show up in threads here where other members have admitted that they had a negative experience with another member, but didn't want to post anything negative. Mabye they're new to BFC, or maybe (like me) they just didn't want the drama it sometimes brings.

To be perfectly honest, at this point, I could care less if I ever see that sheath, but I'll be damned if I'll let one more day go by seeing him log on here but figure he doesn't at least owe me the simple courtesy of an update. Can't make the sheath, or don't actually have one like you said? No sweat, just send me an email or a PM! I think I'm pretty easy to deal with and stuff happens to all of us, but to keep coming here Marion, and not communicating at all after you've received my stuff in a trade is BS and you know it.
 
I have your sheath. PM me your address, and I will ship it on Monday. And I will give you a Delivery Confirmation Number when I do.

We moved, and things have been a muddle since. I got my shop settled in the basement, then the sewer system froze and started pumping our waste into the basement. This obviously necessitated moving the shop. And we do not have internet out at the house, as of yet.

I thought I had send you a message this last Wednesday, but I cannot find it. My screw-up.

I have not communicated with you as often as I should have, and that is my fault. I had reasons, but no excuses.

I hope that my mistakes will not ruin your enjoyment of the sheath.

Best,
Marion
 
Life happens. I didn't have my man-servant help me with this trade, I wrapped the scales and mailed them because I said I would. We all have things that get in the way of commitments we've made and those happen to me as well as anyone else. What chaps me more than anything is a lack of communication when at the same time there were times when Marion was logged on here. Had he sent an email or PM saying "Something's come up and here's what I'm dealing with," I would have been fine with that, but he didn't.

I used to travel a great deal in my previous career and once or twice I had a trade going on at the same time I was away from home (and my PC), and my laptop crapped out. I went to Kinko's, rented some computer time for a dollar or so, and sent an email to whoever I dealt with that let them know what was happening. The solution just wasn't that difficult.


My position here is that it's unlikely something wonderful will happen this week that didn't in the past three. I have too much clutter in my life and have no desire for more, even and including keeping up with receiving a sheath that may or may not ever be sent . How many threads have we seen here where a guy stiffed someone in a deal and then posted "The money, or knife, or sheath, etc. is on the way." The recipient then keeps posting that he hasn't received it. And on it goes, soon into a multiple page thread (check the ones active here right now). More clutter. I went through this before with another sheath maker (whose work is top notch) and it was a PITA. This time, I'll cut my losses quickly and just walk away.
 
geegee said:
Life happens. I didn't have my man-servant help me with this trade, I wrapped the scales and mailed them because I said I would. We all have things that get in the way of commitments we've made and those happen to me as well as anyone else. What chaps me more than anything is a lack of communication when at the same time there were times when Marion was logged on here. Had he sent an email or PM saying "Something's come up and here's what I'm dealing with," I would have been fine with that, but he didn't.
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+1.

Im so sick of members that have an abundance of excuses, but not a dash of courtesy. Thanks for the heads up op.
 
Paul,

You have a package on it's way to you. I got your address off the mailer, and while I prefer not to do it that way, in this case I have little choice. I have sent you a PM with the USPS Delivery Confirmation # in it.

I was looking for Camillus Becker handles, and for some reason, you sent me Ka-Bar Becker handles. I am returning them, as I have plenty of those.

You will also find the Becker Necker/EsKaBar sheath in the package. If you decide that you still do not want it, feel free to give it away, as I am sure that someone would enjoy having it. And something positive should come from this little fracas.

Finally, as I do not think you intentionally tried to deceive me, I will refrain from following your example and posting negative feedback.

Kind Regards,
Marion
 
Marion David Poff said:
Paul,

You have a package on it's way to you. I got your address off the mailer, and while I prefer not to do it that way, in this case I have little choice. I have sent you a PM with the USPS Delivery Confirmation # in it.

I was looking for Camillus Becker handles, and for some reason, you sent me Ka-Bar Becker handles. I am returning them, as I have plenty of those.

You will also find the Becker Necker/EsKaBar sheath in the package. If you decide that you still do not want it, feel free to give it away, as I am sure that someone would enjoy having it. And something positive should come from this little fracas.

Finally, as I do not think you intentionally tried to deceive me, I will refrain from following your example and posting negative feedback.

Kind Regards,
Marion
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Man, you're a real piece of work. Those Becker scales have been in a Becker box for about five years. I've never owned a Ka Bar Becker, not one, not ever, but I guess you feel the need to take that parting shot.

while I prefer not to do it that way, in this case I have little choice.
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Little choice? No one is forcing you to keep your word about what you committed to doing in our trade, and I sure made it clear enough where I stood on the issue.

And something positive should come from this little fracas.... I will refrain from following your example and posting negative feedback.
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Right, so after clearly saying I didn't want the sheath and was just fine with moving on, you decide to be so magnanimous as to send me the sheath anyway, but then lie about what I sent you? Seriously, you're pathetic. You know what would have been positive? If you would have just let me know what was going on during the course of a couple weeks of hiding from doing the right thing.

After posting what you've just posted, could you possible look any smaller or more ridiculous? I certainly titled this thread appropriately.
 
On the negative side of dealing with Marion:

I had a Spyderco Mule. He turned me on to where I could get scales for it. Very nice Halpern G-10 scales custom fitted for my S35VN Mule. Marion told me that he had a 6 to 8 week backlog for making me a sheath. Kydex as in his website pictures - only change was that I didn't want such a large sheath but one that would just fit the knife to the scales and allow me to use my thumb to pop it off.

I've had a few made by a forum member who makes such beautiful kydex sheaths (with jimping to thumb the sheath off while still in pocket) that any small knife owner would weep with joy at owning one.

Marion kept silent although his forum activities were steady while I waited over two months and began to email him and bug him on a weekly basis. He was telling me the same reasons, moving, sick, family issues. So I backed off.

Around about the 3 month mark I received my (pre-paid) kydex sheath. I wish I had taken a picture before I threw it in the trash. The gauge of the kydex was thicker than the kydex on my Esee Junglas and it was a pan caked/ foldover - a rush job - and the top was apparently "sawed" or "whittled" away irregularly making it appear so appalling that I was near to having a stroke when I saw it. I ended up selling my beautiful Mule (at a loss) for lack of a sheath and the rotten feeling I got every time I looked at it.

The positive:

I informed Marion about the low quality of the sheath, not to mention the thickness if the Kydex - which would have made a good splash guard for underneath the engine of a car and that the knife wouldn't even fit inside of it. He told me to keep it and refunded the money I paid him. I will give him that credit - he gave my money back.
 
Paul,

You can believe whatever you want. But, my comments were not a parting shot.

Think this through... You get on this forum and criticize me for not meeting your expectations, and then you think that I won't respond by considering all the factors, and deciding what I think my reasonable response should be?


1. The handles that you sent me are not what I need.

The contour of the scales you sent me match the Ka-Bar Becker handles I have, and they are dissimilar from the Camillus Becker handles I have.

And the insides of the scales, the mold marks, match the Ka-Bar Becker handles I have, and are dissimilar from the Camillus Becker handles I have.

So, since they do not meet my needs, they might as well be returned. And, if I am going to return them, I need to have an address, which in this case meant taking it off the mailer, since you refused to provide it an alternate way.

As I said, I do not think that you were trying to deceive me, and maybe Camillus changed molds somewhere in production.

Simple fact... I don't know why they are not what I anticipated, but I don't attribute that to you.


2. And the sheath? Maybe you can enjoy it.


3. My lack of communication with you was in no way an intentional insult.

Kind Regards,
Marion
 
cziv,

I took way too long, I own that.

The roughly made sheath, was a test, to see if the fold-over or 1 piece was going to work the way you wanted, and I emailed you in advance of it's arrival, informing you of that. You might remember that you asked me to make something that I was unsure as to whether or not I could meet your needs.

And it didn't fit, because of miscommunication somewhere, I made it for Option 3 handles, and you had Option 1 handles. How that error took place, I don't know.

We could have resolved those issues, and I would have built you the proper sheath, finished to my usual standard. But, by then you were so frustrated at me, that we could not resolve it, and you chose a refund.

Kind Regards,
Marion
 
I purchased a BK2 sheath earlier this year from Marion. Payment sent immediately so he can custom make the sheath. After 4-5 weeks and a friendly email about the status, I heard nothing. He finally got back to me regarding the delay, Marion’s response was a family issue and waiting on Tek-Lok. So I eased back on the emails. Another two or three weeks later I never heard anything from him. At this point I was furious, I demanded my sheath or one he had available to ship ASAP. I was aware that it takes time to prepare and make a custom sheath but after several emails and no responses, I grew tireless. He finally sent me a sheath for theBK7. Overall, it took close to three months to get the sheath.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=740171
 
One should not be in business is there are family issues that seem to always interfere with the appropriate ways to conduct business.

Emergency issues sure, constant family issues; take a leave of absence.

I would have delivered but I broke my leg, I would have delivered but my Mom broke her leg, I would have delivered but my Mom's leg will not heal, I would have delivered but, but, but, but, but............................time for a REFUND
 
Several years ago, Camillus sold a number of the custom linen micarta scales for Becker Knives. I bought a few pair of them and replaced the stock scales on my knives with those and put the stock ones away. I'll say it again, I have never bought a Ka Bar Becker, nor have I ever owned one. If you suspected those scales to be Ka Bar's, why did you wait for the two weeks you had them in your possession to let me know? You were logging on to BFC the same time I was, so why not shoot me a PM or an email that said "You know, I've got a problem with what you sent me," but you didn't. At least not until this thread appeared.

You're doing yourself no favors at all with your responses, in fact, quite the contrary.
 
I orderd a sheath 6 months ago..... Still waiting.....Get the same email message...
I am catching up with emails, and will be to your email soon. Thank you for your patience. Kind Regards,Marion
 
Marion David Poff said:
cziv,

I took way too long, I own that.

The roughly made sheath, was a test, to see if the fold-over or 1 piece was going to work the way you wanted, and I emailed you in advance of it's arrival, informing you of that. You might remember that you asked me to make something that I was unsure as to whether or not I could meet your needs.

And it didn't fit, because of miscommunication somewhere, I made it for Option 3 handles, and you had Option 1 handles. How that error took place, I don't know.

We could have resolved those issues, and I would have built you the proper sheath, finished to my usual standard. But, by then you were so frustrated at me, that we could not resolve it, and you chose a refund.

Kind Regards,
Marion
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I would like to confirm that Marion did indeed refund my PP and was prompt in answering my emails. I wish things would have worked out because the man has talent but I don't think he's a full time maker and can handle the demands that we're used to having met from full time makers. :) No hard feelings from me Marion.
 
This Poff character should go on Oprah, he's got the most moves/family illnesses/car breakdowns/house fires/alien abductions I've ever seen any single person have.
 
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