Clearing the air on SSW engine & kit sales

Just to clear the air. Sometimes I get an email questioning the amount of my sales here on SSW. Profit?! NO! I sell these engines on this site, with the frequently added (... if for any reason the buyer is not completely satisfied with the purchase, your funds will be cheerfully refunded... and so on). I GET GREAT PLEASURE SELLING USABLE ENGINES AND KITS TO GUYS WHO WILL BE HAPPY WITH THEIR PURCHASE--THUS, SUPPORTING STUNT IN MY OWN SPECIFIC WAY. We cannot all be stunt aces with a shelf of trophies, but we can contribute where we can.

I always "almost" never break even on my sales, when one includes shipping. Most of my engines come from Italian estate sales. Close to Super Tigre sources, through a relative, time, money, hours, trips to the post office, emails, etc. Typically, I buy great NIB rc engines and send them to a well known machinist in NM for upgrading: rings bearings venturis etc. I simply add the money for upgrades to the engine costs. In other words, I create a Stunt engine that did not exist before I got involved. Leonard has created a great site here, allowing many folks from diverse Stunt interests to meet and interact. Thanks, Just to clear the air. William

I have bought a kit and an engine from Henri and find that he not only offered a "deal" but was honest in his description of what he was selling.
As to whether he is making a profit or not is not my concern and shouldn't be anybody else's concern either. If his price is right then buy, if not, go somewhere else.
Someone, somewhere will eventually sell the kit you want at the price you want.

LAST EDITED ON Apr-14-04 AT 11:06 AM (CDT)
 
Do you have a website or a list of items you have for sale?

Thanks Leon

I don't have a website or regular business. I would be happy to help with vinatge parts if I have them. Thanks for your response.

Largely because of small operators like yourself, stunt is experiencing a "Golden Period" in it's history. I personally have met few people in my lifetime that can equal stunt flyers as a group for honesty and integrity. Most of the small cottage business's in our sport is dependant on that level of integrity just to operate. Because of that, in your case, honest dealings is assumed!

Milton G. Graham/Proparc

>Just to clear the air. Sometimes I get an email questioning
>the amount of my sales here on SSW. Profit?! NO! I sell
>these engines on this site, with the frequently added (...
>if for any reason the buyer is not completely satisfied with
>the purchase, your funds will be cheerfully refunded... and
>so on). I GET GREAT PLEASURE SELLING USABLE ENGINES AND
>KITS TO GUYS WHO WILL BE HAPPY WITH THEIR PURCHASE--THUS,
>SUPPORTING STUNT IN MY OWN SPECIFIC WAY. We cannot all be
>stunt aces with a shelf of trophies, but we can contribute
>where we can.
>
>I always "almost" never break even on my sales, when one
>includes shipping. Most of my engines come from Italian
>estate sales. Close to Super Tigre sources, through a
>relative, time, money, hours, trips to the post office,
>emails, etc. Typically, I buy great NIB rc engines and send
>them to a well known machinist in NM for upgrading: rings
>bearings venturis etc. I simply add the money for upgrades
>to the engine costs. In other words, I create a Stunt
>engine that did not exist before I got involved. Leonard
>has created a great site here, allowing many folks from
>diverse Stunt interests to meet and interact. Thanks, Just
>to clear the air. William

I for one am glad Will provides these service. If it wasn't for guys or cottage industrys such as his, we in the CL Stunt community would be in bad shape. What bothers me is the implication that for Will and other entrepeneurs to make a profit off of their hard work is a bad thing. I celebrate their entrepeneurial spirit and wish them the best. My father was a small business entrepeneur from 1948 until he retired in 1986. He supported a family of 5 kids and my mother ran the administrative part of the business. He was known in the community as a scion of honesty, integrity, hard work and his product was first class. We in the Stunt community are blessed to have the same caliber of entrepeneurs. Thanks Will.

William,

I don't know what took place to prompt your posting, and anyone who begrudges you making a profit might be happier living in Cuba.

I do, however, tend to look askance at all the selling which takes place on Len's site. Not saying there is a problem here, am *not* calling you or anybody else out on this.

I will tell you this: If I were in Len's business, part-time or full-time, and I went to the trouble and expense of setting up this site, the only selling of goods allowed would be done by me.

You know, kinda like the guy with a hobby shop who refuses to allow the local garage-sale participants table space right in the middle of his store.

That Len allows it, indeed seems to encourage same, among other things means that he is a lot more generous of heart than I am.

And he no doubt deserves a lot more thanks for this than I'll bet he gets from any of us, you and I included.

LAST EDITED ON Apr-14-04 AT 08:09 PM (CDT)
 
Hi Dan: thanks for your input.