[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Hello? Calling Lew Tippie! (Page 1 of 6)
Posted: 10/18/2004 1:48:31 PM EDT
|
Lew, Seems like you at least get into this forum and read. Or someone forwards stuff to you. I've read all the other posts and threads regarding some of your unfinished Business. And kept quiet about OUR dealings. Sad, but it seem this is the only way to contact you! It is not my wish at this time to air your and my issues. But I will if it gets some kind of results. As you know, we're not talking about the small amount of $1200.00 from Mikes [bear slayers] thread. We're talking about a substancial amount more than that amount which has been outstanding now for 22 months. Are you going to make me jump through all the hoops, spread the word around, and go through all the filings, your commander, and proceedings to get your invoices cleaned up, the outstanding debt to MS, and my rifle back? Balls in your court pal. What do you want to do? You remember.... Your former engineer! |
|
|
Sure.. some! the VERY short version! Way back when I called Lew tippie my friend. I still struggle because I think Lew is a bunch of fun to be around and I miss his humor. My company, RKB Engineering, which at one time was listed on the tippie competition web page, [but is no longer for obvious reasons] made the Tippie Competition rear sights. Our name was removed from the web page by our request due to Lew's clients calling us for their product they had paid for and Lew had not delieverd. Because Lew was my friend and I thought he had some great ideas, we [my business] helped him with his start up business. in more way than I can sit here and type out. We made several "runs" of rear sights, dealt with Lew's customers, and helped Lew in every way we knew how. As an engineering firm we performed taskes not within the scope of normal engineering such as paperwork, helping him setup his shop, many trip from Florida to Ga. and vise versa helping Lew get started. Too many to actually list here......... I even went so far as to allow him to use my MSC account due to my matrix in pricing. He has outstanding invoices since march of 2003. I was even stupid enough to make more parts for him after he did not pay his invoices on a promise he would pay. In the mean time... I am a high power shooter and deeply involved with the NRA. I had Lew rebarrel my number 1 competition rifle. That was in May of 2003. Have not seen my rifle or payment of invoices since. My last conversation with Mr. Tippie was Saturday evening, while I was in Waco TX 2003 HELPING HIM at the AR15.com convention, when he requested yet more rear sights or he would find another engineer. I told him if he could find someone to work for free..... to have at it. But he owed the outstanding balance. I've not heard from Lew since. I have heard from his Wife and do not hold her responsible for any of his debts. The MS......... There is a very influential person I've known for over 20 years. He has lobbied congress for over 40 years protecting our gun rights. After retiring, he opened a little "mom and pop" gun shop that caters to the police officers. I mistakenly introducted them. We cut a deal. MS paid for the upper, which Lew was to build, shoot at a target and send the upper and target to the mom and pop gun shop. The local sheriff was going to take the upper and target before the county commissoners and have ALL the SWAT teams geared with Tippie tactial uppers. That was in April of 2003. 4 months later, MS wanted his money back due to undelievered product. To date.. no reimbursment, no upper. Obviously the window of opportunity had long passed. Additionally everyone has a little egg on their faces due to the deal. I tried to reimbursed MS because I felt responsible for introducing MS to Lew. MS refused my offer saying I'm not responsible for Lew's debt. So far.. everyone is out of money. Me, MS, the Sheriff, MSC, and 2 other business which I am not at liberity to type their names here are all out more than several thousand dollars. Even when Lew was deployed, we offered to continue to produce his product , assist his wife with distrubution and bank money for him until his re-deployment. 2 reasons.... one to get his debt paid. 2 to continue his newly started business. This offer was declined. In the nicest way of course <cough> Waiting on you Lew! Still............................... |
|
I completely understand Campy. I've held my tongue for a LONG time. Even In Waco ... I could have told everyone.... including Ed Sr. but out of respect for AR15.com and Ed and Lew... I waited. If you lock this thread.. well............ Someone reminded me recently..... If I had opened my mouth even a year ago, maybe it would have saved someone else from making a bad business decision. |
|
tattoo darlin, Don't be sad. You are a true friend! You've known about this for a long time [along with a VERY few others] and respected my wishes to keep a lid on it. Thank you.... But I find it most difficult to bury this any longer while others in the shooting community ...ummm.... make unwise decisions. I feel other people getting taken advantage of is particially my fault... for not speaking up earlier. |
Man that's FVCKED up. 
|
i just wish it would have been taken care of by now...i have a few invoices in my shop that have been out for about a year (nothing to do with arfcom or tippie) and have tried to collect them so i know what your going thro other then the ones i have were not freinds of mine. |
|
i heard rumblings about this but never got the details. Check your IM for my cell number. or give me a number i could contact you with. If you don't mind i can use all the info i can get. I was supposed to be paid off by the 15th. Well today is the 18th and not even the courtesy of a fuck you phone call. Will probobly be filing in court as soon as i can take a day off. I spoke with his soon to be a few days ago and her attourney stated lew is only TDY and NOT on active status. Therefor the soldiers and sailors act does not apply to him. If we can help each other out we might need to talk. mike |
Yup - this sucks... I met Lew in Illinois at the first BRC - nice guy. Did a trade with him about a year and a half ago (my AR10 waffle mag for a Jewel trigger) which was a great deal for me. I'm really sad to see this happening, and even more sad to see it happening to his "friends".
|
i almost wonder who paid for that jewel trigger he traded you. Some poor schmuck that is missing a rifle i bet
|
Tippie Active Stats Communication Post Count :: 1819 Posts Per Day :: 1.41 Last Login Date :: 10/7/2004 2:58:06 PM Last Post Date :: 9/9/2004 9:43:18 AM |
|
+1 I could not agree more. I have alittle unfinished businese with a scumbag EE seller myself. |
Damn. That makes me want to yank it out of the rifle. I hate the thought of someone else's stuff missing and I got a deal. Lew - get this shit straight! These are, or at least were, your friends. |
|
joking deals on the dorknutz board. i hope they aren't within a hundred miles of this place. solstice arms/gary gucciano was enough of a black eye for the ak community. like gus, i first met lew at the ill. brc. he seemed to be a nice guy, friendly, helpful, dispensed lots of good advice. i have no clue when the wheels came off or why. a career in the army and marines and his skill as a rifleman gave me lots of respect for him. i sincerely hope he can find that inner respect for himself and deals with this. |
I think this thread does some explaining of who they are. ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=109&t=222385 I've linked it, but hopefully this thread doesn't get off topic with R Guns discussion. |
Me too, seemed really nice, even offered to free float my AR10 barrel for nothing. I didn't take him up on his offer, the two that did took it in the pooper big time. Didn't see their rifles for the better part of a year. Same BS no calls, no e-mails. Sad to see this happening. |
|
well im glad to see this post and even more happier to add to the thread. to all those that were taken i hope you get your items or money back. to lew i suggest that you make good on this. better yet perhaps the doj or the atf pays you a nice visit since peoples rifles are involved. |
|
Zoometta. Very sorry to hear how you've been screwed over. As a general comment..this thread won't be locked as long as it stays civil and doesn't turn into a "get a rope" thread. The information or at least contacts here might prove helpful to those in The_Beer_Slayer & Zoometta's position. |