MartinSheaths (Martin Swinkels) is a crook

[scobun]

I am a long time lurker and I know how this goes. First time poster, ripping into a well known retailer, you all think I'm trolling. I wont' share them here, but I have a log of payment, three years of emails, phone calls, facebook posts, blog posts, and facebook messages. I've tried everything I can to get a hold of Martin. This is only meant to warn my fellow knife enthusiasts. I've found this forum to be VERY helpful and hope to return the favor.

Three years ago, I ordered a sheath from Martin for my Fallkniven S1. A friend of mine had one of his sheaths and the work was outstanding. I sent him a Paypal payment for $55 (half down on the order). Once he had the money, we exchanged a few more emails. After about six months, no more emails. First I thought it was related to Martin hurting his finger. Ok. Three months and six emails later, I figured they are getting eaten by his spam. I sent some emails from another address. No response. Next I posted up on his blog asking for him to get in contact with me. No response. Then Facebook posts on his wall and messages. No response.

I did learn from the Facebook posts that this is a common theme and many people are sending him money and he's disappearing on them. Anyway, it is three years and I am out $55 with no sheath and no contact. His work is impeccable, but he is a crook.

Anyone else making leather wrapped kydex sheaths as well as him?

 

[felizalde55]

Bad news! I saw his work and I appreciate him by this, so sorry about your frustration and 55 bucks.
Thanks for your information.

 

[stitchawl]

Have you tried a phone call?


Stitchawl

 

[rayban]

Scobun....you may want to move this one to the Good, Bad and Ugly.
He's been the topic of such a discussion over there as well,. and the way I read it, it looks as if something unpleasant has happened to him.
I assure you he is not a crook...he was an excellent craftsman and a stand-up guy when he was frequenting this forum.
If you are so hard up for $55 that you would trash a guy like you do without researching the situation, let me know, I'll see if I can start up a collection for ya.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

rayban, that's not fair. We know what happened to Martin Swinkels, he took more orders than he could get to, and hasn't got time to even answer his mail. So he gets buried under follow-up mail, and his customers are still waiting. I bet scobun hasn't missed a meal for the $55 but it is his money and he deserves better. Do not blame the victim.

 

[scobun]

Double post

 

[scobun]

Have you tried a phone call?


Stitchawl

Yep, tried that too. Still no sheath.

Scobun....you may want to move this one to the Good, Bad and Ugly.
He's been the topic of such a discussion over there as well,. and the way I read it, it looks as if something unpleasant has happened to him.
I assure you he is not a crook...he was an excellent craftsman and a stand-up guy when he was frequenting this forum.
If you are so hard up for $55 that you would trash a guy like you do without researching the situation, let me know, I'll see if I can start up a collection for ya.

If he has somehow died or become an invalid over the last three years, someone is still taking orders under his name and posting to his blog and his Facebook. This isn't about the $55, it is about the money he's still apparently taking from other folks and not delivering anything. The fact is that he can obviously still type, is still making stuff, and is avoiding responding to me and many others. I'm understanding, but when I give you money and you disappear with it, you are a thief. I agree his work is first rate. However, he is a crook. He took money and left me with nothing.

Martin, if you read this and contact me, I'll gladly offer an apology, retract all this stuff and life will go on. If anyone wants to see my endless emails and correspondence, I will share it. If you look at his Facebook MartinSheaths, you can see this is a major problem not relegated to just me.

 

[Karda]

Mr. Swinkels is now notified that he has one week to make arrangements or to make those he owes whole before his membership here will be terminated.

 

[scobun]

Mr. Swinkels is now notified that he has one week to make arrangements or to make those he owes whole before his membership here will be terminated.

Thank you.

I will gladly share any and all information on the outcome with 100% honesty. If there is some plausible reason why this all happened and it gets resolved, I'll retract my aspersions.

 

[dericdesmond]

Mr. Swinkels is now notified that he has one week to make arrangements or to make those he owes whole before his membership here will be terminated.

Nice to know :thumbup:

If you are so hard up for $55 that you would trash a guy like you do without researching the situation, let me know, I'll see if I can start up a collection for ya.

:thumbdn:

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

Scobun....you may want to move this one to the Good, Bad and Ugly.
He's been the topic of such a discussion over there as well,. and the way I read it, it looks as if something unpleasant has happened to him.
I assure you he is not a crook...he was an excellent craftsman and a stand-up guy when he was frequenting this forum.
If you are so hard up for $55 that you would trash a guy like you do without researching the situation, let me know, I'll see if I can start up a collection for ya.

Man, It takes a lot to surprise me here in feedback, but this is pretty bad. Rayban, you think that holding someones money for 3 years is cool?
Martin Swinkles has always been admired for his work, but he has dropped off the map for a while now...I guess this is where its headed.
Another reason I will never take orders when I make the jump to maker...seems like the only sure fire way to ruin a good name.

 

[skyhorse]

Scobun....you may want to move this one to the Good, Bad and Ugly.
He's been the topic of such a discussion over there as well,. and the way I read it, it looks as if something unpleasant has happened to him.
I assure you he is not a crook...he was an excellent craftsman and a stand-up guy when he was frequenting this forum.
If you are so hard up for $55 that you would trash a guy like you do without researching the situation, let me know, I'll see if I can start up a collection for ya.

Maybe it would be a better idea to start up a collection for Martin Swinkels so he doesn't have to resort to taking peoples money and giving nothing in return.

 

[scobun]

Still no refund, no sheath, no solutions from Martin. What would be a fair outcome?

 

[MerryMadMonk]

Still no refund, no sheath, no solutions from Martin. What would be a fair outcome?

I think Karda made it pretty clear in post #8:

Mr. Swinkels is now notified that he has one week to make arrangements or to make those he owes whole before his membership here will be terminated.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Scobun....you may want to move this one to the Good, Bad and Ugly.
He's been the topic of such a discussion over there as well,. and the way I read it, it looks as if something unpleasant has happened to him.
I assure you he is not a crook...he was an excellent craftsman and a stand-up guy when he was frequenting this forum.
If you are so hard up for $55 that you would trash a guy like you do without researching the situation, let me know, I'll see if I can start up a collection for ya.

I believe your comment shows poor judgment and taste, but so did my initial response to it. I apologize.

 

[Jamboi]

I am glad you posted this thread. I was seriously thinking about placing an order with him.

 

[sheathmaker]

Thread drift, please excuse, but this can not go unanswered.

Insipid Moniker: Your response in the post above should have had the same response from Esav that he gave Rayban.

I dare say you don't know or have done any business with Rayban, and therefore probably don't have sufficient personal knowledge to come to such a conclusion. I don't think, based on my personal knowledge, that you would ever have any mis-dealings or disappointments with Rick (Rayban).

While I would have also defended Martin a couple of years ago, his later behavior has set that privilege aside

Thank you for your input, and I certainly defend the right for you to express your opinion......just don't have to agree with it.

Paul

 

[scobun]

So since my chance at winning the Powerball is apparently the same as hearing from Martin ever again, is there anyone who makes a kydex leather sheath like his who I can actually send money to and get a product back?

 

[MerryMadMonk]

[...] is there anyone who makes a kydex leather sheath like his who I can actually send money to and get a product back?

I don't know off-hand, but you may be interested in this thread in the sheath makers subforum:


Sheath Makers and Such of Blade Forums

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Thread drift, please excuse, but this can not go unanswered.

Insipid Moniker: Your response in the post above should have had the same response from Esav that he gave Rayban.

I dare say you don't know or have done any business with Rayban, and therefore probably don't have sufficient personal knowledge to come to such a conclusion. I don't think, based on my personal knowledge, that you would ever have any mis-dealings or disappointments with Rick (Rayban).

While I would have also defended Martin a couple of years ago, his later behavior has set that privilege aside

Thank you for your input, and I certainly defend the right for you to express your opinion......just don't have to agree with it.

Paul

That's fair and I accept that I typed without thinking. Apologies to Rayban for that and I will edit my comment accordingly.