Simon Winter: I personally do not konw of any dealers who ask for deposits up front and sit on custome'rs money. Some models are not made for years if not at all. I would never give any dealer a deposit! The Train store in Canadian took deposits and went out of business and left numerous OMI customers high and dry without models and loss of deposits. Any dealer who ask for deposits, people should turn around and RUN! If People changing their ninds or their situations changes is part of doing business. Dealers who take deposits should financially not be in business and not trusted. Stephen
Stephen, What I'm thinking is a nominal figure to keep out those who are blowing hot air, as in: "I want it, I want it.......oooooh I have to actually pay for it......No Thanks! It's a two way street and unsavory customers are just as odious as unsavory dealers. Toss in the overseas builder and it becomes even more complicated.
The whole idea of brass is a bit of a crap shoot for all involved. A lot of what you get depends on the builder, and you don't always know who that is and quality can vary pretty widely throughout a run. Some of the stuff I have seen makes me wonder if either the Importer or Builder has ever seen a picture of the prototype.
As for myself, I sort of like to see what I'm, getting before I plunk down my money (at least if it is a sizable amount) regardless of what it is I am buying.
I always think of Pecos John Smith: "If you want to make a small fortune importing brass, start with a large one."
Simon
