CompuServe Messages

Gary I understand everybody's feelings on this…but please try to understand. I have lost a LOT of money this way…and I don't see anyone complaining about those people who ripped me off!!! I guess I was just raised differently…my father always told me that "cash on the barrelhead is better than a promise" and I understand that now; after having been ripped off more than once. I was only trying to protect my interests. I realize it was not gentlemanly…but there seems to be bloody few gentlemen left in the business world today and I am NOT going to be walked on again. As for your comment about what if you did the same thing to me with the GVP board…it HAS happened to me. And I did not flame people publicly for it. I simply realized that it was business…and since the vendor was trying to make a profit he took the highest offer. I did give the other party a chance to meet the offer…and I informed BOTH parties as to what was going on…I did not lie to anyone nor did I cheat anyone. I simply took the best offer. There is no crime in that. Since you run a business, I thought you would understand…if someone walked into your shop and said "I'll give you $30 for that product (it being the last of it's kind that you have) next week" and then someone else comes in and lays $50 in cash in front of you for the same thing…what are you going to do? It make better buisiness sense to take the up-front (and higher) offer. I did PUBLICLY apologize for my actions…I do recognize that it was not "honorable" and have publicly said so. But please try to understand my postion…I was conducting business. I did not commit any crime, nor did I lie to anyone. As for your comment "Grow up and do the honorable thing" well..I HAVE grown up. That is why I don't let people walk on me anymore. I used to trust people at their word…and have lost hundreds of dollars for my trouble. In response to that comment…why don't YOU grow up and complain to the people who rip others off? Then people like me wouldn't have to protect themselves because we would all trust each other. As I said: I did not lie, I did not steal and I told both parties what was happening. Gentlemanly: perhaps not. But I did sell my product. I must say though…I appreciate the courtesy of a private e-mail message. I have never offended (at least not deliberately) anyone publicly on the board. At any rate…the products have been sold and the issue is closed for me. I again apologize for the furor this has caused…and for not being totally gentlemanly in my buisiness dealings. I hope we can all get on with our lives now, as I am sure we all have better things to do than waste our e-mail allowances on something like this. Again: PUBLIC APOLGY from me to the offended parties. I must also admit that from the number of responses (both public and private) this has generated that it appears there are many more honorable gentlemen here on this service than elsewhere. And I acted out of line, and will conduct myself accordingly. Again: I apologize publicly for my action, and have learned from my error. Sincerely, Richard Williams Course laid in sir: AUTOPILOT engaged. Ahead warp one.