Re: Verlinden, Last Straw

Tom, hmmm if it was this year then it must have been representing VLS.

Verlinden and Letterman, of Verlinden, Letterman and Stok ( VLS) had a falling out of some kind. Went in different directions , yadda yadda..

There was some veiled mudslinging from both Verlinden and Letterman through the VLS newsletters, VLS kept that name, but the V is no longer part of the picture.

Mike please remove "diespam" to reply

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, perhaps you've misunderstood the situation.

Probably so but this bunch is homegrown.

Bill Banaszak, MFE

I'm intrigued. What sort of attitude do they display?

Bill Banaszak, MFE

Mike

No, over the past dozen years.

Bizarre, but sounds typical of a good number of businesses. Roy Disney was just forced off of the Disney board (as shareholders we follow it to some extent). He was the last family member on the board.

He sent a letter to Eisner telling him to quit for the sake of the company. Gotta agree with that. At least we got rid of Cynthia Harrissssssssss, the Disney California head honcho without a clue.

Now, to find the Revell Peter Pan Pirate Ship, Pirates and Haunted Mansion models, Disney Rocket and the relatively new Indiana Jones airplane toy.....

Tom

Every time I met them at shows they had this "screw you" attitude that I first passed off as just a French thing.

The fourth or fifth time I had a French friend with me. After five minutes with them he had some very rude comments that had nothing to do with being French.

After that I just avoided them.

Tom

It was my understanding that Francoise Verlinden was Belgian, why would French guys be involved? Just curious....

-- John ___ __[xxx]__ (o - ) --------o00o--(_)--o00o-------

The history of things that didn't happen has never been written - Henry Kissinger

Good point. Perhaps I should have clarified that the language and attitude were French.

Wouldn't want to give the French a bad rep. :-)

Tom

Keep in mind....the he is actually Belgian....

No, they do a good enough job on their own sometimes......

-- John ___ __[xxx]__ (o - ) --------o00o--(_)--o00o-------

The history of things that didn't happen has never been written - Henry Kissinger

Yes, that has been pointed out.

I guess they got more French blood than Dutch. :-)

Tom

Eisner has given Disney a nasty reputation even while building up the studio. I remember the Walmart tactics Disney was trying to use down in Maryland when they wanted to build on a Civil War battlefield. It seemed like the 'Mouse' had gotten nasty.

Bill Banaszak, MFE

I'm beginning to think my memory is from the Swiss - cheese, that is!

Bill Banaszak, MFE

Francois Verlinden and his whole family can't stand Americans. The only thing American they like is our money. If they were being rude, then it was Francois and/or his family members. If you need a sample of their attitude, call Verlinden Productions and ask for a replacement part for one of their kits. Just hold the phone away from your ear and make sure little kids aren't within hearing distance. Anybody who got parts replaced in the early years, it was because Bob Letterman replaced them, not Franciose. That kind of attitude is one of the reasons for the split-up. Gerry

Interesting how perceptions can be different. Francois comes into our shop once, sometimes twice a month and he is never anything but friendly. Could be it's because we have something he wants, but I kinda doubt it. We also have rude customers ... they're rude all the time.

I find it amazing that we're both talking about the same Francois Verlinden.

Dean

I had an opportunity to speak with Mr. Verlinden once at the RHCTA show at Chicago back in the late '80's. At first when I went up to him and tried to speak with him, he was reserved, but when we began talking modeling he opened up and was quite friendly.

I don't know if anything has changed, but from my time in the Navy I found many Europeans quite reserved at first - then quite friendly and considerate once they realize that you are interested in their opinions - so I am not sure that there was anything rude at all. Even the French are friendly if you make an effort to meet them half way!

It seems we have been spending a lot of time bashing him and his company on rec models scale, so please, let's let it rest. If you have had a bad experience with him or the company, express your opinion by not buying the products rather than lambasting him on the group any longer...

Trying to remain objective & fair

Bob

Sounds more like either an ignorant redneck tactic or a profoundly stupid reply. Your choice.

Dave

Maybe I was lucky or asked right. I called for a missing part and had no problems and no rudeness. They took my name and address and I got the part in two weeks.

Dave