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Post by mitchfit on Jan 4, 2015 21:43:43 GMT
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Post by slide496 on Jan 4, 2015 22:17:11 GMT
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Post by mitchfit on Jan 4, 2015 22:35:08 GMT
Harriet,
OO-oops, nice lady speak'um truth. ^^^^
pls disregard my second link, and switch to her's.
can't actually recall if it was poor typing skill induced, or brain flatulence.
either way thanx for posting correct link, mitchfit
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Post by Colin McCubbin on Jan 5, 2015 22:40:16 GMT
Folks, 3 forum members have contacted me privately regarding recent unsatisfactory dealings with Lenny. I have left messages on Lenny's phone but he never gets back to me. I have also contacted various friends in the USA reso world, and without quoting names I'm afraid that as a result of the responses received I can't personally recommend purchasing anything from him currently. A shame and hopefully things will get sorted out.
Colin
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Post by zak71 on Jan 5, 2015 23:12:30 GMT
3 forum members have contacted me privately regarding recent unsatisfactory dealings with Lenny You just got a PM from a fourth one.
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Post by slide496 on Jan 5, 2015 23:27:30 GMT
Thank you for the update Colin.
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Post by snakehips on Jan 6, 2015 23:53:09 GMT
Hi there !
I've been watching this thread with interest.
I've had various dealings with Lenny Gertoffer over the years, but my first guitar purchase from him was about 9.5yrs ago - a minty all-steel early 1930 Style O, with plating in amazing condition, considering the steel body. It unfortunately didn't go too well and I had to send the guitar back. The guitar had a few issues that not everyone would spot. Lenny gave me a full refund including paying for the shipping costs back from the UK. He felt bad that I wasn't happy so offered me a very, very good deal on a mint but used NRP Style O Deluxe. Unfortunately, despite excellent packaging, it arrived with a crushed cone. Lenny sent me a replacement cone free of charge. So, he felt bad that those first two transactions didn't go too well. After that, to make up for it, he gave me very good deals on various guitars, including one swap/trade. He gave me good deals on a bunch of hot-rod NRP cones and Highlander pickups and tuners too. He got me a great deal on a custom-engraved NRP Style 1.5 German Silver Tricone. He quoted me incorrectly (too low by about $250) but decided to honour his original low quote. (NRP customisations cost more than he thought it would).
Lenny has made himself quite available to me for advice over the years, on guitars I was considering buying from ebay, amongst various other sources. Early in 2014 he was still helping me with advice on a guitar I was buying from ebay.
I had known him on the IGS Guitar Forum before that first purchase, when he used to share his developing knowledge (based on real National guitars coming through his shop) especially on the very early Style O/N/ Lightning Bolt guitars, amongst other things. He freely shared this information knowing we would all be interested in it. If he was a 100% crook, 100% of the time, he would have been rumbled well before now, and would never have managed to keep his business and reputation for this long.
When the London Resonator Centre suddenly closed up, with Mel Isaacs owing people money or guitars, it seems he wasn't dishonest with everyone though, as I sent him £1250 for guitar within a few weeks of the shop closing - and The guitar was sent to me, immediately, with no problems. Perhaps guitar dealers just like me !!
I think Lenny possibly gave up real-estate to follow a dream and start up a guitar shop, with a main interest in vintage Nationals (with NRP guitars to flesh out the product base). I'd love to do something like that !
I think that with online sources (like ebay) being around for so long now, many/most of those forgotten attic/under-bed Nationals are now fewer and further between - so I'd imagine the supply of "new" (old) Nationals is drying up. Combine that with the worldwide economy as it is, demand is dropping as fewer people can afford a vintage National. The writing, perhaps, has been on the wall for a while ?
I don't think there is much to doubt the testimony of people that have been mislead/mis-sold/cheated/lied to. However, "Uncle Len" has been a good guy to me, many times in the past, and quite a few things I bought, including that first guitar, were sent to me before I had sent the full money. So I feel that given half a chance, and with the ball in his court, he could still come good and settle/pay any outstanding debts. I do wish him the best, and urge him to get in touch with all the people who need their disputes resolved.
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Post by zak71 on Jan 10, 2015 17:40:31 GMT
The horror stories just keep on piling up...
Attachments:
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Post by snakehips on Jan 11, 2015 0:13:43 GMT
Hi again ! Oh boy, that doesn't look good. One thing I don't understand is that some of the posts about dodgy dealings say that Lenny's websites are down. I can still get them online : www.hotrodsteel.comwww.nationalguitar.comI don't doubt the testimonies BUT the websites are still there though - so, something not right here.
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Post by washboardchris on Jan 11, 2015 2:46:42 GMT
When someone starts acting out of character like this I tend to think drink or drugs or gambling or any permutation of the three!
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Post by slide496 on Jan 11, 2015 13:26:43 GMT
Hi again ! Oh boy, that doesn't look good. One thing I don't understand is that some of the posts about dodgy dealings say that Lenny's websites are down. I can still get them online : www.hotrodsteel.comwww.nationalguitar.comI don't doubt the testimonies BUT the websites are still there though - so, something not right here. IMHO could be server issues, web host or the people who went and it wasn't up the server was rebooting, takem down for maintenance, or he took the website down while revising it temporarily. The reports on the acoustic guitar forum indicate a serious problem with him, so I hope that people who did successful transactions with him will be able to create the distance they need to be comfortable with whatever is the final resolution .
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Post by snakehips on Jan 11, 2015 13:48:55 GMT
Hi again !
Drink, drugs, gambling ir any combination of the 3 ?
While any of that is possible, in theory, its also poosible that a fairly "innocent" problem could be the cause - eg. like Depression for instance.
Ever the optimist, I am, obviously. Still worth considering, if we are to trying to be fair individuals. After all, we don't know the real cause, do we ?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2015 13:58:03 GMT
edited by TT. TT
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Post by petej on Jan 11, 2015 14:38:20 GMT
he now has his own brand of resonator guitar maybe he made to much of an investment and lost money,you can be the nicest guy in the world when it comes down to losing money self preservation comes first sadly to say petej
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2015 19:39:27 GMT
Sorry but I think speculation on the reasons for Lenny's behaviour is utterly pointless. Let's just hope the situation is resolved and those unfortunate individuals who appear to have lost their hard earned cash are recompensed.
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