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Joined: Mar 2001
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Hello all,

It is important to share information about potential threats in this hobby, regardless if you are not a headgear collector, this man has daggers and insignia alike. I purchased a cap on February 26, 2016 while attending the Show of Shows in Louisville, Kentucky. The seller told me to my face that if the cap wasn't right he would give me my money back. I paid $4,000 for the cap. Upon photographing the cap and posting it for discussion on this forum, the cap did not turn out to be what it needed to

The seller provided me with a piece of paper saying he acquired the cap in 1976 while attending a gun-show and it was purchased from George Peterson and he also provided me with his phone number and address (P.O. Box)

When I spoke with him on the phone about the outcome of the thread, he stated he would accept a return but needed some time to gather the money. I mailed the cap back to him and it was picked up and signed for after some time, I believe by his wife. The tracking details are here:

https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction?qtc_tLabels1=2315%201670%200000%204311%200912

Gus Villarreal has not returned my money, has ignored every possible attempt to contact him, and has taken back the cap. He still sets up at the shows and goes about like he did not blatantly steal $4,000 from another collector - but that is exactly what happened.

I am out this money and Gustavo of San Antonio, Texas still has his cap.

GUS S. VILLARREAL
P.O. Box 461426
San Antonio, TX 78246
(210) 638-9977

I thought you all should know.




When discussed on the forums the cap was given a thumbs down in two different sections:

SS Panzer M43 cap w/ two-piece insignia - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums

SS Panzer M43 cap w/ two-piece insignia - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums

Here are the two pieces of paper Gus provided me with that he wrote out when I purchased the cap. Considering I sent him back the cap on April 8th and he has not refunded me (and will not answer or return phone calls) this is what my $4,000 has bought me. Like I said, he told me he would give me my money back to my face in the event the cap turned out to not be what it needed to be.

William Kramer

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Joined: Mar 2006
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Sorry to hear about this.

I had a similar situation with another Texas dealer. It was only with the help of a number of GDC members that I finally got (most of) my money back. What is it with Texas dealers?

You did the right thing by outing this deal and posting the details here.

Good luck.

John

Last edited by JohnZ; 07/28/2016 05:22 PM. Reason: Sp

Always looking for Eickhorns and etched bayonets.
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G
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G
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I think I'm missing something here... Isn't the cap exactly what the bill of sale says? -
A private purchase / late war cap with authentic insignias on it..
It is certainly something a SS Pz man could have worn yes?

1,I really don't see where anyone outright says the cap is no good.[?]

2,You made a few mistakes. You bought a expensive piece without really not know enough about it.
3, for that kind of money you should have gotten a way better bill of sale.

4, You sent back the cap!

I hate rip off dealers and really hope you get the hat or the money back.. Me,, for $4k rip off,,I'd take a couple days off work and go to his house and talk to him directly wink

Last edited by Gaspare; 07/28/2016 08:04 PM.
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What is it with Texas dealers?

That's like saying what is it with these Canadians??
There are weasels and cheats on both sides of the border you know.


Last edited by Texasuberalles; 07/29/2016 04:07 AM.
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Texasuberalles, I was only kidding... and taking a potshot at my Texas buddy, Tom.

J


Always looking for Eickhorns and etched bayonets.
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Just to give a quick update that the lines of communication have been reopened through a third party and Gus has agreed to make this right. I will update the thread with any new developments.

Thank everyone here for their continued support.

William Kramer

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I hope he sticks to his word

good luck


Regards Sean
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Originally Posted By: JohnZ
Sorry to hear about this.

I had a similar situation with another Texas dealer. It was only with the help of a number of GDC members that I finally got (most of) my money back. What is it with Texas dealers?



John

WOW John ,,, So Mike Morris did not pay you back in full.. Sorry to here that.. Of course he shorted me also... But It always made me feel better when he ended his e-mails with and I quote (God Bless) of course I'm being sarcastic.
Regards: James

Last edited by DAMAST; 08/07/2016 03:19 AM.
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M
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M
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hi members
what the hell is going on with gus and now mike morris damm whats so hard to do in this military collecting with some of these dealers common dealers use your heads besides a hat rack these collectors are our buying customers read this loud n clear when i sell any third reich items they are guarenteed for life money back imediatly if not sooner i dont care if they return it a year later if some one else said hey its fake its bad its this or that my reputation is on the line and i am only intrested in happy customers yes most of my items cost more but they are real and they are in condition and condition cost more if you get cheap it will all ways be cheap and mostly to gus and mike morris take care of these buyers thanks and i all ways end my post in respect to all god bless andy militarynut any thing wrong with that fraze let me know

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Militarynut, periods, punctuation and paragraphs are you friends ! Kinda made my eyes bleed just trying to read that.

This is not a clear cut case, and the issue doesn't even seem to be "its fake, gimme my $$ back" !
It was sold and bought as a private made variation, and that it is. Whether or not this variation occurred during or post war is impossible to say ,,, But this is no outright scam.
Buyer apparently took a chance to reap a tidy profit, got jumpy when people at WAF weren't unanimous that it was perfect [quite a few seem to like it], and requested a refund, seeing his planned flip drying up with some negative remarks.

Why he just up and sent it back without solid arrangements for a refund is beyond me, I do hope it works out.


Doug
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M
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hi doug
yes lets hope it works out with gus and him there was a lot of monkey crap put together by outher dis honest people in those early years im sure it will work out have a great day andy militarynut

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I personally don't buy a guarantee I buy the item...

Last edited by DAMAST; 08/10/2016 03:48 PM.
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M
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Correct word usage also. People who live is glass houses........

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Doug, Correct word usage also. People who live is glass houses........

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Have no idea what you are talking about, "kinda" threw you for a loop ??

While we are at it, not typical to end a sentence with ........


Doug
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good evening,

I am pleased to say that Gus did in fact give me the refund in-person at the Max show. Gus and I spoke for around ten minutes after the transaction took place and I think we are both glad to put this behind us and move on. Water under the bridge. I would like to thank everyone for their support throughout all of this and of course would like to give a special thank you to the key people (you know who you are) that were instrumental in facilitating everything.

William Kramer

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Great news !

I am going to lock this topic and leave it to be read for a few days then ... Whoosh.

Dave


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