Hello All,
I am so sorry. I do not know where to start. This post is too little, too late and as such I'm not going to spend a huge amount of time proof-reading it, so just take the facts as they are.
I'll try to respond to everything in order, and quote up the points made, but please bear in mind a couple of things:
- I've not read any of the other threads which may be saying bad stuff about me
- not a single person complaining has called me on the telephone*
- I run a publicly trading company. I am available via telephone, SMS, email, webchat, facebook, twitter, and probably some other social media
.....I haven't heard from any of you except Fred.
At All.********************
Lets first of all deal with some falsehoods:
NO 1 from "lotusflasherman"
Always lists a set of 15" OZ wheels for £375 4-x-lotus-15-oz-ruote-wheels but never has any ... I've never seen it not ' Out of Stock ' ..
Look at the link. I had one set. They were sold. They are ALWAYS out of stock. Link doesn't change. Check it any time. I am sorry, removing stuff from the website effs things up and I've not yet had time to work out how to remove things permanently without messing up our SEO.
I believe on several of Jeemy's the bearings just fell in ... and fell out ! link to the thread
I think it was 2. Sorry, due to circumstances I don't know more.
NO 2 from Toys2 and Brit-Car-Nut (who DOES have not only my Skype, but my home phone number, and has called my sick wife in the middle of the UK night many times)
The eBay listing says: "This will be the first of the next production run, delivery mid-January for orders placed before month end."
When I publish the listings, thats the correct information. They then languish for months. So some info is out of date. Its FAR from my capabilities to plan around ripping people off over PayPal - see (4)
NO 3 from Fred
Can anyone help me here? I still haven’t received my wishbones so I am about to start legal proceedings against this thief.
Absolute hands up here. Fred's been waiting ages. I had to try to get certification for the wishbones, and when NONE of them sold past the first 10 sets I had made, I was in a financial hole. So his set has been around the country trying to get certified, showing to people for examples trying to get corporate sales. Yes, I should have been faster but just go to the (*) at the end.
Fred is very cross. I don't blame him. But I didn't stop responding to him. I emailed him a week back, and messaged him today.
NO 4 from Rambo
Several members of Clan McElan have also had issues and problems with Jeemy. And I know that some of our American cousins have also had issues with the custom rear hubs in the past and considered, or proceeded, down the litigation avenue. You will see some of the issues if you search.
AFAIK one Scottish member had an issue; in fact, thinking about it, that was Rambo. And he didn't have an issue apart from I was slack and didn't send something so he cancelled it. Correct me if I am wrong. I am not going anywhere, talk to me about it.
NO 5 from "theelanman"
I think this could be a case of delay tactics until its worth making say a batch of 10.......
Is "theelanman" Gareth? Did he previously produce stainless wishbones? If so I think he should contact me directly.
NO 6 from "par"
I think you are giving him more credit than he is due around the organisational skills required to plan for this approach!
He is always on the verge of just sending, waiting on packaging, waiting on courier etc.
Those of us from the original group buy who paid up front (years in advance as it turns out) funded the tooling and production probably for his whole initial run allowing him to make a profit on the unreserved wishbones. It is disgusting that it turns out there are people from the group buy still waiting
I was totally frustrated with the seller and it appears I was one of the lucky ones and only obtained one of the first sets by constantly badgering him, turning up at his unit etc.
I have said previously it is a shame it has turned out this way because Jeemy could have been a real asset to this forum as the wishbones are extremely good quality
Sorry man, but who are you exactly? You're not George? You didn't turn up at my "unit" - nobody has apart from George. The people who paid in advance were 7 people @ £500 each or so, for a £25k production run. Hardly funding my lavish lifestyle.
NO 7 from "Brit-Car-Nut"
John, I'm really disappointed to see that from you. You know Bob B ripped me off. We worked together on lots of stuff. At one point we were on the phone many nights. We talked during the hubs debacle. You've got my number. Why not call it? You left this forum for good as you felt so slighted and you were left in the lurch on some plastics. You know i got ripped off on the Samco stuff too......
NO 8 from "georgeguthrie"
Geordie, I like you but the guys next door telling you "I'm unreliable but you'll get your goods??" These guys vandalised my property and vehicles, what is their testimony good for? I spoke to you that day, while you were outside my property. You also told me, and I quote
Many thanks for the wishbones - they are excellent!! And extremely well packed. Unlike others I never doubted that we would get them. I realised you were busy both on the family and work fronts and also the hassle you've had with business partners and premises. I will keep an eye on LEC to see if you start any other projects.
NO 9 from "GeoffSmith"
João, conversely he has/had a lot to gain by being honest and open. Plenty of people have tried to point this out to him, but he has not responded which is not in his, or our, best interests.
Sorry Geoff but when you say "plenty of people have tried to point this out to him", what - exactly - do you mean? I'm not going to push a point particular as it appears BCN has had a reversal on it, but there is something we may need to come back to later.
All I'll say for now is that I've made it clear for a while life has been hard. It started being hard while I was already committed to LEC projects - most of which have cost me (and others) more than they have made me - when my family suffers, I have had to step back. I made it very clear at one point that a telephone call would be the best way of contacting me, and that I might have difficulty getting onto the forums for a long, long time.
So if people have "tried to point this out to him" on LEC, forgive me, I thought I'd made it clear to the moderation team that I might be unable to check the forums and/or respond.
I put my number at the bottom of my profile 3+ years ago when all this started, and told you and the mod team I might not be online for a while. Nobody called me!
I really wish I had time to get on the forums; I love the cars, I love you guys! I'm not going to disappear! Not even John called me!
OK, Now some Truths.Which I own up to. This is not a vindication......NO 1 from "georgeguthrie"
we're not happy with the level of communication from Jamie.
Well, I completely get that. See No 3.
NO 2 from davidcgriffiths
I'm still waiting
Dave's wishbones are out with the BSI/corporates. See later.
NO 3 I realize at this point, I have to be completely honest with what has happened to me/
Since I joined LEC, what, 5 years back, I've done some good stuff and some bad stuff. At this point, I am now running SVS full-time. You'll read back on me and know this was a hobby for me, and yes, Geoff, I *was* an enthusiast. Now, Lotus rebuilds, car refurbishment, and parts sales are my life. I've been self-employed my whole life, since I was 16 years old. Do note, this may mean I am not used to being polite. I am a nice person but according to my wife (!) I don't know how to speak to anybody as all I've done is work and haggle for almost 30 years. So I probably come across rude. I don't mean to be. But I am honest. That doesn't mean I will magically fix everybody's problems tomorrow at 9AM. It means I will fix them eventually, and as quick as I can.
So in the last 5 years, I've had some problems. I mailed Dave Pink about them about 2 years back so he knew the situation. So that if things went the way they have now gone, he would know at least.
Its actually ended up worse than I ever thought it would be, and if anybody wants the full story, I'll tell them it.
But to be honest I think you'll all think its made up. Just to give you the main points
- my wife is critically ill and has been for 3+ years. so I look after the kids, and her
- I've been self-employed all my life. I ran a print firm and a recording studio
- print went downhill, I bought an M100
- I started SVS
- print continued to go downhill, I decided to make SVS my focus, and split from my print partner
- my studio partner came in with me
- I rented a premises
- I bought a premises
- the day before I signed my lease, the landlord pulled it out from under me
- my studio partner pulled his funding, changed the name and legal entity of our studio, and took £7k out of our account
- by this time with my wife's illness, I didn't have money to fight legal battles. I decided to give up everything and go full-time with SVS.
Since then, I've been running to stay alive. My partner in the studio invested in SVS but when it went sour, he booted me from the business, and pulled his investment. Last summer, I got ripped off for £3,000 by a German tuning team. I delivered the vehicle and the funds were pulled back. Shortly afterwards I got stiffed on an Austin build for £7,800. Its not an excuse, its just a fact. I pay rent, I buy gas, I have expenses. It doesn't mean I am a thief!
Enough of my moaning. Here is where I am now.
(1) Hubs. AFAIK there were 2 bad out of approx 30 sets. I used the same company as Bob Brown did. All I did was take on production and try to sort us all out. I know 1 guy (Alan?) was awaiting me to lend rear hub/disc originals, and I never got that done. I am really sorry about that. We can get more made, and the bad ones will get replaced, but AFAIK there were only 2 bad.
(2) My general slackness. See bold/underline above. I don't know what to tell you guys. If this was MumsNet, I'd be critically acclaimed for managing to run a business while I look after 2 children. As its LEC, I am really on the back foot.
I've not been on here, because every single day since my last post, I run my schedule, trying to fulfil orders, get stuff out to people, chase couriers, deliveries, problems. All around feeding my boys and waking them up, taking them to school, picking them back up. I sleep about 4 hours a night. I never stop working.
(3) I don't want any sympathy. Its absolutely brutal here and has been for years. I hope to God it will get better. You guys shouldn't have to suffer, all I can say is I am not dishonest - only in time can I prove it. Nothing is getting fixed tomorrow.
(4) We are a publicly trading company and not intending to rip anybody off, or disappear. My details are at the bottom of my profile. I've just added my personal mobile to that. Nobody apart from GG has ever called me. I am not Bob Brown. I will not disappear.
(5) I am not a liar, cheat or thief. Nobody EVER gets left without their goods - I've told you what has happened to me - it should not affect business dealings, but it has. Goods have been delayed, and I am truly sorry LEC has suffered. But NOBODY will be left without parts, or orders. That is a fact.
The damages to me and my company will take far longer to repair. If I was planning to rip people off, I would not be upset about that, and LEC actions would not affect me. I'd just liquidate.
As it is, I spent thousands at a time on hubs and made no money. I and partners spent £25k on wishbones. Do you know, we've not sold a single set past the initial run? They have been advertised and everybody gives me gyp about it, but what am I meant to do? If I withdraw everything from sale, I'll go bankrupt and nothing will be supplied. I have to advertise.....
As far as I know and correct me publicly if I am wrong! -
a) Fred Flanagan is awaiting his wishbones - they are at BSI trying to get me a certification so I can sell them as "new". I spoke to him 3-4 times in the last 3 weeks. He is very cross, and I have tried to get them back early, he will have them within 14 days. I believe they were signed off today.
b) Dave Griffiths is awaiting his wishbones. They are at a corporate, the last of 5, and they've all held onto them for way too long. I manufactured 25 sets and sold 7 internally here. This is my only chance to try and make my money back. I mailed Dave about a month back.
c) What else have I done wrong??
I assure you that I am sorry and sad about this. This company is my life and I will never give up.
Of course bad press costs. But you misunderstand why.
-I don't care if you guys don't pay me.
-I don't care if you publicly try to discredit me!
- if (and this would never happen), you pay me £300 for goods and never get them, you lose £300. If you then tell everybody, I will never sell again. I lose £3,000, £30,000, £300,000 - except its not about the top line.
My £30k production run gives £15k of goods to LEC at £7.5k. I expect to sell the remaining £15k for £22.5 - £30k and break even or make some. Until I do, I am £22.5k to the wind......
I've already sunk everything I had, £50k plus, into this. My costs are gone. Plus £22.5k on the bones, plus the hubs issues - I have a fully outfitted workshop with lifts, welding gear, etc, and projects every week! Not only am I not going to stop, I can't!
The only remaining opportunity cost is the chance of making everything right for everybody and providing a future for myself, my family and children. I am not sitting on a pile of your money, or your parts. If I was, I'd send them out to you and go sit in a pile of bricks; or keep it all and go sit in a pile of sand. I certainly wouldn't keep trading if things were that bad either way...
If you want to go public and discredit me and try to damage me, *of course* you will succeed - I am already very damaged, but I would *never* walk away from such matters, or further damage. I'll take it all, and will make all good. No matter how much flak I take, I will never take the easy escape.
Couple (in fact, a f**king lot) of final questions/things:
a) I see a very emoticon-heavy post from John_W. Quoted, but I can't find the original.
John, are you John Watson? (sorry for what may appear a stupid question but our workshop is by the sea and internet is not easy/cheap, so I have no access to my records). I will resolve your query publicy or privately, whatever suits. But I thought you had your stuff?
b) Tuga112
You understand the damage I am receiving. I have no choice but to take it. I have a LOT to lose, and frankly its already lost. Thank you for understanding how this stuff makes things worse.
When I speak to a supplier about why my custom made sway bars (£15k worth) have taken over a year, I am told (these things take time, Mister Jeemy). I take it. But as I face the actual customer, I can lose the sale of all of those. They are for a JDM car I deal with, and I will sell them. But its hard going.
Windscreens went crazy. Some idiot literally smashed the tooling. We have them again, but its 8-10 weeks delivery. Which means if you order one, you can't moan at me if its not ready within less than 8-10 weeks! (this happens a lot).
And yes, if you work with me, I'll get you rear hubs with the PNM mod.
Finally Tuga, every post I have ever made has my telephone number at the foot. Nobody has EVER called me. I have receptionists (not as plush as its sounds, its £1.50 per call tele-service). Point is, I would know. Windscreens are readily available.
c) GeoffSmith. Its not that I have "not responded". Nobody has contacted me! Yes, I should come on the forums. But sorry, its just me here now, and I work all day every day, and I never finish my emails. Call me if you want to talk.
d) Rambo
Frankly, I think your comments are more than inflammatory.
You say:
Has this only just been resolved from the group buy in 2014 ?
Well, yeah they took me over 2 years to get produced. And they cost me more than anybody here ever paid?
You say:
and considered, or proceeded, down the litigation avenue.
Sorry pal, I've been in business for myself, all my life. Yes, s**t gets bad, but nobody has ever taken me to court.
I've bared my soul here, and your comments about "Can't promise you'll get hold of him or he'll ever get back to you though
" aren't really very helpful.
e) There is a post here I will find from a guy who didn't get a light. It was put into shipping late and the consignment expired. Months later, he contacted me and was rightly cross. I then took ages to sort it out - reason being - my wife's dad died. He got his light but by that point he had ordered more and I forgot to add it to the shipment. Stupid, incompetent, yes. Not dishonest. Its all sorted and I hope to get him to post here a correction once verified.
Please believe I don't take pleasure in telling you guys my personal woes. But I've behaved so awfully I need to give you at least *some* context,
*IN CONCLUSION*
Yes I am a crunt.
Yes, I have an excuse.
No, its not enough.
and, frankly, yes, you guys have done enough to bankrupt me, and I am sure you feel I deserve it. All's fair.
But I'll tell you 2 facts..
FACT ONE: Call me on the f**king telephone and I'll tell you whats what.
FACE TWO: No matter how badly you slander me, I will never give up*.
*because do you know what? I could liquidate tomorrow. Walk away and get a f**king job as a binman, and leave 1,2,3,4,5 guys without their parts.. I will NEVER do that. f**k anybody who thought I would. f**k anybody who didn't bother to call me before slandering me.
Its been done to me, and I know how it feels.
Peace.
You just confirmed what I wrote is TRUE... 
