Beware of this con man offering his services here!

[strdsk]

Hey all,
Forums like TapeOp are usually a wonderful place to share, network, learn, and do business. In my years on this board, I have never been burned by anyone for the most part...until now that is. Take this not as a flame, but rather as a friendly warning. A guy named George Rigney (Tape Op handle #37glass) has sold a few units on this forum...usually custom pieces. While I respect that he has delivered some good work to a few people, I feel compelled to tell of my recent and on going experience in dealing with him. I was approached by him in March to build me a custom mastering EQ. To make a long story short, I sent him a few hundred dollars plus components to work with. He promised a three week turn around. Over three months later I have no EQ unit, he refuses to refund me, he refuses to send me pictures of my unit, and I have little to no cooperation and/or communication with him. Many may think him safe since he has a clean track record until now. Keep this in mind however...there's a first for everything. If this was the first in a string of cons by George, I simply couldn't sleep with myself at night knowing that I could have warned my fellow TapeOppers of this holy disaster calling himself the ""The Great ToneMaster . Best...JD!

[RedCrownStudios]

In fairness, I would like to see his response, but thanks for the heads up though.

Cheers,
MB

[strdsk]

The fact that he hasn't responded makes him look all the more suspicious...don't ya' think? I posted my warning to gobs of his posts, he gets an e-mail notification for every post in response to his posts, and still no response. He has, however, contacted me since I posted this stuff...so he does know that I'm putting the word out there. It's amazing how his attitude has changed. Now he wants to send me my money and parts back asap. I'll belive it when I see it though...he's made promises before. JD!

[JGriffin]

T he gets an e-mail notification for every post in response to his posts,

He may actually have that option turned off.

[strdsk]

He mentioned to me in the past that he has that option enabled. JD!

[mingus2112]

Interesting. . .

George (Geo, The Tonemaster) came through for both myself and kentothink on some nice pm1000 rigs. He didn't take very long either (mine actually took longer than he wanted. . .I went on my honeymoon and asked him to wait until I got back to ship).

As far as I know, he is not a company and this seems like side "hobby" work for him. OF COURSE that does not justify giving you the runaround. If you payed up front for a service, then you should receive that service. I would sure hope that George will make good on this.

I don't believe he is a "scam artist," but it certainly sounds like you've gotten screwed here. Sorry to hear this!

George??

-James

[strdsk]

Oh...he has sold prolly 20 different things here and on E-Bay so there is no doubt in my mind that he can do this. I did not pay him in full, but a few hundred dollars is still a few hundred dollars. He may have some personal stuff going on for all I know, but again...that's not my problem. If you can't own up to what you've given your word to do, it's still your job to gracefully bow out, admit what went wrong, and issue a refund. I've done this in the past myself. I take on a custom job for someone, realize that I have no idea as to what the hell I'm doing, and issue a quick refund with an apology. I just don't dig how he's handling this at all. I even warned him that I would post this...still no refund. JD!

[Alex Netick]

I've had shit like that happen, and it pissed me off. I sent a unit to be repaired to a big major respected digital audio company (apogee to be precise), and they bragged about how fast their turnaround was. When that turnaround period expired, and then some, I called up, wondering where my unit was, and they blew me off and told me I wasn't being "professional." It sounds like you'll probably get your shit back, but he's telling you in his own asshole way that you're not as important as some of his other customers, if I'm not mistaken (and I could be).

Hey all,
Forums like TapeOp are usually a wonderful place to share, network, learn, and do business. In my years on this board, I have never been burned by anyone for the most part...until now that is. Take this not as a flame, but rather as a friendly warning. A guy named George Rigney (Tape Op handle #37glass) has sold a few units on this forum...usually custom pieces. While I respect that he has delivered some good work to a few people, I feel compelled to tell of my recent and on going experience in dealing with him. I was approached by him in March to build me a custom mastering EQ. To make a long story short, I sent him a few hundred dollars plus components to work with. He promised a three week turn around. Over three months later I have no EQ unit, he refuses to refund me, he refuses to send me pictures of my unit, and I have little to no cooperation and/or communication with him. Many may think him safe since he has a clean track record until now. Keep this in mind however...there's a first for everything. If this was the first in a string of cons by George, I simply couldn't sleep with myself at night knowing that I could have warned my fellow TapeOppers of this holy disaster calling himself the ""The Great ToneMaster . Best...JD!

[strdsk]

I sure you're right Alex! My next step is to involve PayPal. I warned him that I would do that if he doesn't act quick and shape up. I have a real problem with people taking advantage of my patience and mistaking my kindness for weakness. JD!

[#37Glass]

Hi guys, sorry for the fuss.

He sent two hundred, a cheap Chinese chassis and a soundcraft module I tried to send back last week. (I can post PayPal info)

I bailed on this project due to three tough months with being very ill for one month, catching up on old Bizz, going over his design in the middle of gettin two more tube preamps out to New york etc. etc. and then our tired Ford Taurus blew up and we are very broke right now.

I should have the $200.00 in a few days from ebay sales, and i will send his chassis and soundcraft module back monday, UPS ground, he can sell and get his Moo back for the chassis. i offered to sell them on Tape-Op for him and send the Moo but he refused.

There are also no pictures as I bailed out, mostly because I did not feel I could satisfy the customer and too tired out to try.

Things are slow all over, and when you are out for a month, it can be a real draggy mess to get back up even close to zero.

We have not had a car for a week. i pulled the ECM module out when I finally fingered out where it is and should have a car later next week.

A local ford dealer told us $105.00 to re-flash the computer, then called with a $675.00 estimate!

So in the middle of trying to get back on my feetles, I have to fix this car myself and two weeks have gone in the toilet already. I am not on the computer looking at emails constantly also and there is a real social Thang where people with cellphones or portables can email constantly and old dudes like me have to fire up the big monster to get online.


We spent $60.00 having it towed there, and another $60.00 getting it back home.

Sometimes you just can't do a project because other messes are just in the way.

Anyway, hope the best for JD, tough to be trying to make Moo as an artist, and should have his Moo back soonest. Never refused to send it back, anyone can look at the 100 emails back/forth.

I also never get paid for all the time spent desinging and answering emails to customers. We talked for a month before anything happened.

A friend that is a Beatles guitar and amp collector calles me "The Tonemaster" as one of the odd little amps I restored for him has that name.

Here is link to see samples of some of my

recent restortations and special projects.

http://photobucket.com/albums/b121/SalesBoy/

I have about 400 guitar amps and about thirty mike preamps under my belt over the last ten years or so. I worked in Hollywood in the 1970's building and as a "specialist" that would go out anytime and set everything in a studio to "0" or "+4" on all the gear, de-mag the tape heads, align all the recording EQ's etc. sometimes at 4:00 in the morning.

I also started doing photography again. I have some designs on www.zazzle.com under the artist name SilentFrame


Here is one of my "real Vintage" shots

http://www.zazzle.com/volume_shirt-235590728848509940


I can supply references if needed, all the best,

As Mikey calls me,
_________________
The Great ToneMaster
gEo...

[RedCrownStudios]

Thanks for responding, i think most of can relate to tough times and "life" happenings.
That is in fairness to you. But in fairness to him, i do believe that being totally up front and transparent with people about whatever situation you are in and the best idea would have been to shoot an email explaining and cut your losses.

Sounds like a tough situation all around, lets just say that "poo happens" and move on.

I certainly hope things look up for you.

[mingus2112]

Please don't take this as me trying to squash you, strdsk. I believe that you should receive services you pay for. Unfortunately for me, i've been in tight situations like George and have also taken the "low road" and bailed on things. . .and not necessarily in a "send money and parts back immediately and apologize right away" way.

I know you kind of got screwed here, but it looks as if George is trying to do the right thing here and send everything back to you. The bottom line is that he DOES do good work and i'd hate to see his rep tarnished due to some mistakes he's made.

Look at that guy Dave Thomas with those Apex/Nady mods! That guy DOES THOSE MODS FOR A REAL BUSINESS and has been known to take months if not YEARS to get a mic back. I don't think George is that guy.

I know this has probably left a sour taste in your mouth and you won't do business with George again. But please let us know WHEN George makes good and don't just leave the bad parts hanging over his head.

Sorry you had all this trouble!

-James

[strdsk]

Wow...this guy has a real knack for playing the violin and tugging at heart strings it seems. I, also, have copies of each and every one of our conversations and I can assure you that they went nothing like this. A semi-pro photographer who won't send me pics of my unit? Please! An illness that I was never made aware of? His bad. Car troubles, lack of work, and a back-up of projects? I'm not sympathetic. It's not my problem if your car takes a dump and my unit shouldn't be the factor that suffers. In all fairness, however, no...I didn't want him selling my components or "cheap" chassis...the one he demanded that I supply to him I might add. Looks like my project was never a priority here since I only sent a few hundred dollars. What can I say...gas prices are up! Had he required more up front...then so be it. In retrospect, thank God I only sent him what I did. JD!

[wkrbee]

I have to thank the starter of this thread.Without you I would not have been able to reconnect with George after >30 years.Hope everything wouks out.

[strdsk]

Thanks wkrbee. George has mailed me back my components and sent me a partial refund. He's working on sending me the remaining amount...a little over $100.00. If he does, I'm prepared to forget that this happened, move on, and either remove my original posts and/or write an update clearing his name. My only objective in this was to have George make good on things. Shit happend in life...I totally agree. And, you can't always do what you planned on doing. But to think that I wasn't refunded after almost 4 months burned me up a bit and after a HUGE falling out on the public boards here George is starting to come around again. Glad you two could reunite. Best...JD!