Anyone seen or spoken to Ruffkintoy?

i wouldn't say i'm being "holier than thou", though i see how it could come off that way, and i'm sorry if i did.

i'm just speaking from bitter personal experience. ;)

you've said that you're unhappy. you've said that you think it's wrong that he's not communicating. that's all there for the world to see, so anyone thinking of ordering from him can find it.

i guess the thing i don't get is what you actually hope to change by getting so angry over the whole thing? you've made the point known that you're unhappy. what more is there to actually *do*?

i never understand anyone who is just lashing out wildly without a goal... it just doesn't seem to achieve anything.

if anything, the reason i keep stressing that this is pretty common is so that the people reading this know that the reality of the situation is that this is not rare or isolated to just ruffkintoys, and that you shouldn't be surprised when it happens.
 
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popcorn-WB.jpg
 
i wouldn't say i'm being "holier than thou", though i see how it could come off that way, and i'm sorry if i did.

i'm just speaking from bitter personal experience. ;)

you've said that you're unhappy. you've said that you think it's wrong that he's not communicating. that's all there for the world to see, so anyone thinking of ordering from him can find it.

i guess the thing i don't get is what you actually hope to change by getting so angry over the whole thing? you've made the point known that you're unhappy. what more is there to actually *do*?

i never understand anyone who is just lashing out wildly without a goal... it just doesn't seem to achieve anything.

if anything, the reason i keep stressing that this is pretty common is so that the people reading this know that the reality of the situation is that this is not rare or isolated to just ruffkintoys, and that you shouldn't be surprised when it happens.


you are right, point made, and point taken...*sigh* :)
 
stormtrooperguy is correct that long waits from costume makers in this hobby is the norm, not the exception!!! On average the only time you really get parts right away (from ANYBODY) is if they have them pre-made. Not just Star Wars costuming either.....ANY type of high end costuming. I've been in this scene for over a decade now and it's always been the same way.

COMMUNICATION:
That's just how this hobby is because every costume maker has a life outside of making your parts and doesn't spend 24 hours a day sitting at their computer waiting for people's PMs or making parts 24 hours a day either. That's just like saying some random stranger gets mad at you for not doing whatever job you do for 24 hours a day, see how it sounds? ....and if they were sitting at their computer all day waiting for messages ( or TYPING THEM when they always seem to have massively filled inboxes ) then they wouldn't have time to be in the shop making your parts, right? Not every costume maker is like this, but practically all of them. You just someday receive your props on your doorstep and are thrilled to get them and begin working on them.

REFUNDING MONEY:
Here's how most prop guys see it I think....someone comes to you and thrusts money into your hands. Would you seriously say "no, I don't want your money?" I don't think so. That money helps pay your bills and your supplies to continue making props for people. This is not only about Chuck, but ANY costume/prop maker. So, someone comes and is excited to give you money, and you tell them it'll take a while to make (since you already have other peoples orders to fill) and you say "fine" and pay the maker. Then whenever they have time to make your things (around everyone else's small and/or large orders and/or real life stuff they have to do), they make your stuff and mail it to you. As has been mentioned, obviously many transactions from many suppliers never fall within the timeline that you want them to, but you still eventually get your package in the mail, right?

I can see some people get all worked up over it, but I must be of a different mindset because for me personally, as long as I GET the parts I ordered at some point, then I did get them and all is good. Example, I had a full extensive costume built for me at one point years ago and waited over two years for it to arrive, but it did arrive and that's all I wanted. I have no hard feelings towards the seller either. I've personally had costume stuff arrive fast and stuff arrive slow from a variety of sellers, and as long as I get my parts, I'm all happy.

I've only spoken to Chuck one time on the phone since his neck injury a few months ago, and that was weeks ago. He said he was still having some short-term memory loss and was working on peoples orders as fast as he could. He still isn't fully set up in his new place yet either, so besides working some of his days on doing things like painting and sanding walls and cabinets, running new electrical wires, etc to have a comfortable place to live in (with cold winter fast approaching), he's spending the rest of the time during his days filling orders from more message boards than just TDH. Honestly that's all I know, but I have met other "prop guys" besides Chuck and just about every single one of them has had people complaining about them on the boards at one time or another over the years, and it's always the same complaints about everyone, either the wait time or the lack of daily updates you're so anxiously waiting for. Like was said by another long time member, stormtrooperguy, that is part of this hobby and if you can't make stuff yourself, then you must wait for artists who can make the parts you want for you.
 
stormtrooperguy is correct that long waits from costume makers in this hobby is the norm, not the exception!!!

I was going to stay out of this, but I just can't. :eek:

It's one thing to tell your potential customers that your props are in high demand and that there is a long wait time. I myself have waited months to get props, and I know people who have waited over a year.

It's another thing entirely when you tell people they will have their goods in a couple of weeks and then give every possible excuse as to why they have not shipped, or you stop communicating altogether.

I know that everyone here has a real job, some have more than one. There is such a thing as respect however. As a consumer of these props I respect the prop maker's time and artistry. I also feel that they should be compensated for their efforts - heck I have paid several hundred to over $1,000 for helmets I have bought.

The flip side is that the artists should respect and honor the time and money of the people they are selling to. It's not to say that they shouldn't take 6 months or more to build and deliver a part. Only that they should act in an honorable manner and treat others as they would like to be treated themselves and let the buyer know that it will be 6 months. I understand that they want to take money when they can, but it becomes an issue if they do so with a lack of integrity, taking the money and crossing their fingers behind their backs, knowing that they cannot deliver on what they have promised.

I have been in the hobby for a couple of years, and honestly I have had nothing but good experiences, but I have been lucky. I am on several other boards where people have parted with their hard earned cash and waited over a year to get what was "in hand and ready to ship tomorrow".

Okay, let's say I fix up used cars and sell them in my spare time. It's just a hobby, not my living. You notice in an ad (or someone tells you) that I might have a Volkswagen bug for sale and you want to buy it for a trip that you're taking with your new girlfriend. "Great" I say, "I just have to throw a carburetor on it and you'll be good to go for the weekend." But dang, I get tied up with some stuff at the office. Sorry, no weekend trip for you. "No problem" you say, "will I at least have it for the wedding I want to attend in Carmel next month?" "Heck, that's easy" I say - until a few days before the wedding when you can't get in touch with me and I am not returning your phone calls, angry emails, or the letters with anthrax that you're now sending my way.

Listen, I am not knocking Ruffkin here. I honestly don't know what is going on in Chuck's life. We all have our problems, and I have seen more hardship in the prop circles than anywhere else for some weird reason - heck, is it something we did? My comment is a generalization on a pretty small sector of the prop community that seems to feel that they have a lack of responsibility to deliver on promises that they have made. It's not that they even have to communicate with each individual person, they can usually just make a general post to let people know what's going on - 5 minutes of their time max. This is about trust - on these boards your word is your bond. In my brief two years of this I have seen several well known prop makers go down this way and eventually all left the hobby because of it.

Anyway, sorry about the rant. In my work I often find that the biggest problem in negotiations and conflict issues is a basic lack of communication. In whatever I do I always try to under promise and over deliver. I see way too much of the opposite in life. That's why I so respect most of the prop makers here on TDH who bend over backwards to make sure they deliver what they promised, when they promised it - or at least let us know if there is a problem.

Okay, stepping off my soap box now... sorry if I stepped on any toes along the way.
 
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stormtrooperguy is correct that long waits from costume makers in this hobby is the norm, not the exception!!! On average the only time you really get parts right away (from ANYBODY) is if they have them pre-made. Not just Star Wars costuming either.....ANY type of high end costuming. I've been in this scene for over a decade now and it's always been the same way.

COMMUNICATION:
That's just how this hobby is because every costume maker has a life outside of making your parts and doesn't spend 24 hours a day sitting at their computer waiting for people's PMs or making parts 24 hours a day either. That's just like saying some random stranger gets mad at you for not doing whatever job you do for 24 hours a day, see how it sounds? ....and if they were sitting at their computer all day waiting for messages ( or TYPING THEM when they always seem to have massively filled inboxes ) then they wouldn't have time to be in the shop making your parts, right? Not every costume maker is like this, but practically all of them. You just someday receive your props on your doorstep and are thrilled to get them and begin working on them.

REFUNDING MONEY:
Here's how most prop guys see it I think....someone comes to you and thrusts money into your hands. Would you seriously say "no, I don't want your money?" I don't think so. That money helps pay your bills and your supplies to continue making props for people. This is not only about Chuck, but ANY costume/prop maker. So, someone comes and is excited to give you money, and you tell them it'll take a while to make (since you already have other peoples orders to fill) and you say "fine" and pay the maker. Then whenever they have time to make your things (around everyone else's small and/or large orders and/or real life stuff they have to do), they make your stuff and mail it to you. As has been mentioned, obviously many transactions from many suppliers never fall within the timeline that you want them to, but you still eventually get your package in the mail, right?

I can see some people get all worked up over it, but I must be of a different mindset because for me personally, as long as I GET the parts I ordered at some point, then I did get them and all is good. Example, I had a full extensive costume built for me at one point years ago and waited over two years for it to arrive, but it did arrive and that's all I wanted. I have no hard feelings towards the seller either. I've personally had costume stuff arrive fast and stuff arrive slow from a variety of sellers, and as long as I get my parts, I'm all happy.

I've only spoken to Chuck one time on the phone since his neck injury a few months ago, and that was weeks ago. He said he was still having some short-term memory loss and was working on peoples orders as fast as he could. He still isn't fully set up in his new place yet either, so besides working some of his days on doing things like painting and sanding walls and cabinets, running new electrical wires, etc to have a comfortable place to live in (with cold winter fast approaching), he's spending the rest of the time during his days filling orders from more message boards than just TDH. Honestly that's all I know, but I have met other "prop guys" besides Chuck and just about every single one of them has had people complaining about them on the boards at one time or another over the years, and it's always the same complaints about everyone, either the wait time or the lack of daily updates you're so anxiously waiting for. Like was said by another long time member, stormtrooperguy, that is part of this hobby and if you can't make stuff yourself, then you must wait for artists who can make the parts you want for you.

dude, if chuck is having memory loss, and cant get his orders taken care of, then refund the customers' money...now your statement is truly holier than thou...c'mon man...kudos for you for waiting....once again, it is not the waiting...why cant you people get that!! it is the lieing....read the thread man.. we are told our order is ready, and just needs to ship, and then 3 months later we get our order...wake up!! you defenders keep saying the same thing...read the thread man!(y):cheers(y)
 
when you sell stuff here, you have a responsibility to be honest with customers....heck ya you want to take their money, it helps with your business...but that in itself is where the problem lies...ya, you need the money to buy supplies, buy food, whatever...that is the problem...if this is just a hobby, then he doesnt NEED the money...look at stormrider...he does everything first, buys the supplies, first, and if he runs out, what does he do? he tells us...in a thread...ya know what, i havent seen one thread started by chuck, in reference to a run, someone's stuff, or even just defending himself...:confused if i saw a thread in my name where i was being accused of something, i would be here in a heartbeat explaining what is going on, ya know? makes no sense...:facepalm
 
It seems that some of you miss the fact ...again its not the waiting !!!! as a seller and prop artist he has an obligation to tell buyers if there is a problem for wotever reasons and not leave buyers in the dark with no communications !!! yeah sure they have a life ect but face it ,if i was selling or making props and i took off with your hard earned money with no communications wouldnt you be a bit pissed !!!
Just think about that !! ;)
 
lol i remember when i first came to TDH i ordered something (cant remember what of from who) and i posted on the selling thread that i haven't heard anything in like 3 weeks and was getting nervous......next thew threads was ripping me from other members saying I'm inpatient and need to learn how to wait......my how times have changed :confused:confused:wacko
 
All I have to say is, Scarlett is hot. :cheers

yes, yes she is :)

we all just keep running in the same circle.

there are clearly 2 camps: the ones who feel that they should be treated with respect, and the ones who have come to understand that they won't be.

that's really what it comes down to, again and again.

those that are upset in this thread keep talking about responsibility, honesty, decency, trust... those things just plain don't always exist. it's terrible, but it's true. just because you give someone money doesn't mean that someone is going to feel any responsibility to you. should he? sure! will he? maybe.

i don't think it's a case of people not reading the thread... it's just a more cynical world view on the part of the "defender" side of things. the folks who have been bleeped time and time again have just taken to accepting it and moving on with life, rather than raging with righteous indignation.

and i don't really see anyone "defending" so much as just saying "yeah, we know, that's how it goes more often than not".

i think it's time for me to check out of this thread... i don't think i need to reply the same way to the same posts anymore ;)
 
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