Bill Burton "WildBill"

Purchased 67 console which was represented to be solid. The pot metal was as represented but the plastic conole was in poor condition. Upon arrival it was cracked. After exchange of a few emails "Wildbill" sent the following message.
I've received damaged/broken shipments and the shipper must deal with Fedex as they will not adjust with me. I had told Bill this and at first he said he would contact but now says I'm to do so.
I'd send him a message and ask him who wants tach and sell it but he will not read my messages.
Being a lawyer carries a heavy pricetag but not sure anyone ever reacted like WildBill. Warning--if your a lawyer don't let him know and if you write him a note don't do it on business stationary.
I'm sure many of you have had pleasant dealings with him and I do not think he intentionaly tried to take advantage. It's when things don't go perfect that is a true test and if you have a problem thought you should be aware of this reaction. Take it for what it's worth. Here's the response I received as a PM>


<TABLE id=post class=tborder border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" class=alt2><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2></TD><TD noWrap>Topcat Status: Offline<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_", true); </SCRIPT>
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</TD><TD width="100%"> </TD><TD vAlign=top noWrap>Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Cornfield.Indiana
Posts: 3,594


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- / user info --></TD></TR><TR><TD id=td_post_ class=alt1><!-- message, attachments, sig --><!-- icon and title --> Re: 67 console
<HR style="COLOR: #9fb2b8" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Quote:
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset" class=alt2>Originally Posted by rlcokc
Might be interested in buying console for 67. If you would send photos to cookr@oge.com. Also advise of price and shipping to 73102--oklahoma city. Thanks
Rod
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Rod.....i gave you instructions on what to do on that console to get a full refund. You have not done as instructed.The return deal is off.

I have someone that wants to buy the tach(just the guts)....as long as you have'nt hurt it.......$250.00 plus shipping.

So tell me again(i have all your e-mails...have'nt read the last three) that the console and tach was'nt worth the $360 you had into it after i paid for the shipping,gas to FedEx and tape.About the repairs...that was a non-issues as it looked great and was done well.....you should have contacted FedEx about the damage and took photos of the part and the box it was shipped in to send me....it was their fault....or maybe someone in your buldings receiving department.
That was probaply one of the best and strongest boxes i have ever shippied in....a double layer of double-walled cardboard.....it got a 52" plasma safely from China !

Since you contacted me thru V8Buick.....call me out in the buyer/seller feedback section and we will air this out among the V8 members and see if they think i owe you an "adjustment"......

Should have sent your check back like i thought about doing when you sent it along with a note and the shipping address written on your personal stationary from the law firm i guess you work at.....have'nt Googled you yet p

The console is now yours.......FedEx is who you should deal with.....

I've been on V8 for years and have sold a lot of Buick parts to members......i don't do people wrong, just ask......hell i might have even thrown in a free 24x36 GSCA poster like i do when i ship the long stuff....

I will not read any PM's that you send me.....




Peace WildBill
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WildBill Burton

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We don't have the benefit of seeing the emails that were exchanged between the two of you so we can only imagine why the final contact from WildBill took that tone.

I am also imagining that you had the benefit of at least a few pictures of what you were buying, and could tell that the damage occured after it left WildBill's hands. (Those pictures should and could be used in a Fedex claim.)

A couple minutes of research at the Fedex website (snippet attached) indicates that you as the buyer bear the burden of proving to Fedex that the damage was related to the shipping.

I hope this issue gets resolved. I have dealt with WildBill Burton in the past, and don't doubt that I will again if he is selling something I am looking for.

 

Wild Bill was sure good to me, I would not hesitate to do trade with him. He went above and beyond sending me the ultra cool Gus poster. Thanks again Wild Bill.

 

Wild Bill is as good as a man as there is and fine member of the Buick community. You are wasting your time trying to tarnish his good name and reputation.

If you are looking for the general publics opinon in regards to your deal then my advice is this: the package was damaged in shipping, it is your responsibility as the recpient of the package to deal with the courier in matters of damage and reimbursement.

We've all been part of a parts deal that didn't go as planned but from what I read you have clearly dropped the ball on following his procedure on getting a refund and refuse to talk to the courier service yourself (which is a pretty straight forward task) and are now suffering the consequences. Furthermore, despite the deal going "sour" he has been a big enough person to help you get some of your money back by offering a lead to parting the piece out. Man up and take care of business and quit :ball:

 

I have known Bill for quite some time, and in my opinion, he is one of the most "up Front" people I have ever met. If Bill said you screwed up, then own up to the fact that you did !!

 

Have you ever thought about what the letters PM are standing for ?

It's Private Message

So what makes you think that it's okay to post private messages on this board o No: o No: ?

 

I'm doing a claim thru fed-ex right now for a damaged cobra alternator,it is your responsibility to take pictures & leave the package "as recieved".It is the shippers responsibility to file the claim.Fed-ex picks it up & evaluates it,then it's up to them & out of both of your hands.

And i have had nothing but outstanding service from Bill,you must have pissed him off:shock:

 

I find it hard to believe that an actual lawyer doesn't know how to get a claim form submitted and paid for.:Smarty:
You were obviously touting your "lawyerness" by sending the note on that stationary. I would also have been leery of selling you anything.
I would be willing to bet alot of money that part was not damaged when it was packed, and it was in the same or better condition as described. Bill is a real stand-up guy.:TU:

You need to go try intimidate fed-ex some, or maybe they're too big for you?o No:

 

I'm going to send a screenshot of this thread to Rainey, Ross, Rice & Binns, P.L.L.C. :Comp:

Let's see what they think about the fact that one of their attorneys is acting like this on a public board.

 

117 post versus THIRTY SIX HUNDRED !!!!! I'm sorry, what's your name again?????? Bill has been nothing but a gentleman when dealing with me.

 

[QUOTE=rlcokc;1491264.

"Being a lawyer carries a heavy pricetag but not sure anyone ever reacted like WildBill. Warning--if your a lawyer don't let him know and if you write him a note don't do it on business stationary."


I am an attorney, Wild Bill knows this, and I have never had anything but the best of dealings with him. This has been the universal experience of so many friends here too. He has to be one of the very best people on this Board. And I have been here since the day the V8 Board started.

I am sorry there is a misunderstanding over this transaction. If there is interest I will be glad to try to mediate some resolution that is mutually acceptable.

 

I had a bunch of N.O.S. Buick emblems for sale Bill Burton asked about a 66 Grand Sport grill emblem He asked the part # on back and How much :dollar: for it.I gave him part # and ASked him what would be a fair price and he could have it for that price.He P.M. me back saying that the emblem was very rare and that many people on this board would be happy to give you $300 to even $400 for it and at this time he can not afford to get it.(he could have told me $50 and I would of been OK with that)I P.M. him back and let him know I was VERY impressed with his honesty and to show my appriciation for his honesty he could have it for $150.He sent me check.Its people like Bill on this board why I trust in Buick people.I have never had a bad dealing on this board buying or selling and I have bought big and small all Across USA.

 

the shipper's (Fedex, UPS, etc) specify WHO must initiate the claim process. If the sender must do it then WildBill needs to handle it. The recipient will probably need to be available to get the item back to Fedex along with the packaging.

You two need to drop the bows and arrows, DO WHAT THE SHIPPING COMPANY REQUESTS, and it will likely be taken care of BY THEM. They have a SPECIFIC CLAIM PROCESS so whatever that is BOTH OF YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IT. You guys can hammer each other all you want after that.

As a person who ships alot I expect to have to handle any damage claim (or at least initiate it) on a damaged shipment. Fortunately, I've only had one damage claim....a console shipped to Matt Knutson via UPS. I had to initiate the claim to the best of my recollection--since the contract was between ME and UPS (I paid them for their delivery services--it matters not to Fedex or UPS that the buyer paid the seller additional money to cover shipping when the sale took place...they could care less as that's not a CONTRACT they were a party to). The recipient of the package is just a third party beneficiary of the shipping contract that is formed when the seller ships the package and pays UPS,Fedex,etc.

Act like adults, drop your differences, and get the claim handled BY DOING WHATEVER THE SHIPPING COMPANY REQUIRES....that's all the "mediation" that is needed in this situation.

 

Well said Patton, I couldn't have said it any better.. :gp:


Mike

Iggycat

NJ

 

You guy's must understand that he e-mailed me and wanted an "adustment" because the console base had a 10 inch crack in it when it arrived.It's a FedEx claim that must be initated by him.....
This information supplied in an e-mail where he supplied NO pictures of damage to the part or the shipping box..............................WTF.................i'm an honest V8 member and i would'nt even be in this crap if i had'nt tried to get a friend a few more bucks for his console when he offered it up in another thread to someone looking for one and he was jumped by buyers(posted and private) who wanted to buy his console.....he did'nt know what to do.....at that time... i told him"i will post that i went ant bought it".....he was out of the mess......later this summer i ran into him and he said he wanted to sell it....i said i would sell it for him at the BPG nats......no sale there so i posted in a thread for another seeking a 65-67 console and Rod contacted me thru a PM from that thread....

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=181966

although at the time i did not know that it was a 65 console and there may be some differences....

The man has his value from the deal....even with a shipping induced crack.....heres a few pictures of what he recieved..........








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Peace Wildbill

 

Called Fedex..... twice.....both times (different service person each time) they responded that "the shipper files the claim". I'm sure the recipient can contact them also but the shipper is going to have to get involved since the shipper is the one that purchased their shipping services. The damage claim is paid out to the shipper also IMO (at least it was with UPS when I dealt with them).

I suspect it's a deal where the recipient notifies Fedex of the damage and then Fedex looks to the shipper to file the actual claim, provide proof of value, etc. That's how the claim I had with UPS that I referred to seemed to work.

 

I've had experience with both Fedex and UPS damage claims.

I received a shipment from Fedex and the NOS part had some damage. I contacted the seller, who Fedex stated needed to start the claim. However, I had to provide pictures to the seller to show to Fedex up front. Once the claim was in process, I had to have the package, with packing materials, available for Fedex to send an inspector. I actually ended up driving to their closest location for the inspection.

 

I ship and receive parts for a living in my business, the shipper has to initiate the claim, not the buyer. In fact, the buyer can turn down the delivery if the box is damaged (which is exactly what I would have done, had the box shown up damaged)

Bill needs to make this right, plain and simple. That is the straightforward answer, regardless of emotions shared by long time board members

 

I originally posted just to let fellow board members know what happened. I'm not after Wildbill nor am I assailing his character. They last posters are correct--I do not and cannot initiate the claims process but I offered to supply photos to Bill of damage, offered to keep box and item at office for fed ex to examine. He wanted me to ship back to him and I advised once that was done no claim could be made.
Shipping expense and my time in in having to repack-I suggested a partial refund of $100 and be done with it. I thought reasonable since I paid $400 for console which included shipping--about $35. Would have cost additional $35 to return so a credit of $65 for cracked plastic on console.
I don't know Bill-just communicated by emai. I see nothing wrong with sending notes on my stationary and never dreamed people would somehow read something into it. I use it because my handwriting is awful and the note(stationary) shows all my contact information.
If Bill would provide me name of guy who would buy tach for $250 I would appreciate that and would contact him. I would be happy to sell as I have no use for it.
The purpose of my post was for information for board as I understood that was the reason for this forum. For those that are offended I apologize, for those that just don't like lawyers there is not much I can do about that.
Rod

 

Hey Rod - If I could make a suggestion, I would go off line and speak with Bill and sort this out. I'm sure he would be reasonable to ensure his part of the shipping is reported and this can be resolved.

Sorry to butt in but we're all grown-ups here and this appears to be a nice rare console and you are owed the damages regardless of how it was originally handled.. Good luck to the both of you..

This is a GREAT hobby isn't it?? :TU:

Mike

Iggycat

NJ