Dear Friends

I am probably the stupidest man on this planet. Read this and learn from my mistakes.

When I joined this forum, you may recall me singing the praises of one Ben Horton. I have now proof that exposes him as an utter crook who stole from me.

In my initial correspondence with him, he quoted me 450 GBP (British Pound - My keyboard lacks the correct icon.) for a copy of Laugier. By the time I had finished paying him for the book and his quote for postage, the amount was 573 GBP. Fool that I am I then accepted his quote for 275 GBP for Bob King's Brescia Bugatti, and I duly paid him this amount of money. When the book arrived on the 11th of November 2007, I was so excited I failed to notice the invoice for 250 GBP attached to the parcel.

I, of course, immediately wrote to him to thank him profusely for the book , and (fool Johan, fool) ask him for the amount of the outstanding postage. He replied that him and his family was on their way to Australia and that he will bill me for the postage upon his return.

In the meantime I had met Jeroen Vossen through this forum and ordered a copy of Magnum through him. So impressed was I by his open and honourable way of conducting his business that I decided to end my relationship with Ben Horton as soon as I had paid the outstanding postage. But it never came, so in early January I wrote to him and requested an invoice for any outstanding fees.

Beginning March I received the following e-mail from him :

Dear Johan
Sorry for not having been in touch. Our life at
the start of every Year is always very busy. The amount
outstanding for postage is £100.00.But please could
you put this into my new account,same address but here
is the account name and other details.Account name:B
Horton T/A Hortons,Sort code 309841,Account
no.1202406.Now what can I offer you this Year are you
still looking for Bugatti or do you want to change
direction.I have to commend you on Bugatti Magnum it
is a truely fine book.Hope all is well and hope to
hear from you soon
Yours Sincerely Ben Horton

By this time I had already committed myself to books from both Jeroen and Martijn, and it was with a heavy heart that I wrote to these two men, both of whom had treated me with great honour, kindness and friendship, to inform them that I have to postpone paying them their money, seeing that the postage for Brescia Bugatti was 100GBP.

Martijn exploded and Jeroen sent me an e-mail address for Royal Mail. I sent them (Royal Mail) a scan of the receipt and a copy of Ben's quote for 100GBP for postage. Today I received a most courteous reply from Royal Mail in which they explained to me that there is no way that a book can cost more than 50 GBP to be sent to South Africa from Britain. Suddenly everything became very clear to me, I've been played for a fool.

I have now sent 3 e-mails to this low-life criminal, each one more insulting than the last, but I am still hopping mad. Just to recap : I have paid Ben Horton the total of 848 GBP ; in return I have received the following :

1 x Copy of Laugier's T57S - no slip cover - no English translation

1 x Copy of Bob King's Brescia Bugatti.

Here is the swine's full address :

<edit Herman> I took the address out. Interested people will probably be able to find it. <end of edit>

Please avoid him like the plague.

In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that it was Jeroen's honour and integrity that showed me how a loyal client should be treated. Not only can I recommend him without reservation, but I intend staying with him for all future purchases for out-of-print books. Not forgetting Martijn's help, but I must point out that Martijn is not a book dealer, he is however a generous and helpful friend and I have as much faith in him as I have in Jeroen.

These two remarkable men has enabled me to keep my faith in the basic decency of man. Friends, I thank you both.

Regards

Johan Buchner

PS. I am still really pissed off.

PPS. I am now going to log off and read Laugier; God knows I've paid enough.

I have had similar experiences with Ebay auctions. Be careful if shipping is not known beforehand.

In Germany there are 2 different rates. It happened to me twice that the seller insisted on shipping with the expensive rate (18 euros to Holland) but actually shipped with the cheap rate (8 euros). Which means 10 extra euros in the pocket. Quite annoying.

_________________
Vive la Marque !!

I can make no comment on your dealings with Mr. Horton who also sold me some books which I have picked-up when I was in England and gave me good service.

However, There is lately some dishonesty amongst the "Bugatti set".

The England Bugatti Club lost its assets when Mr. THEODORE THOMAS AMBROSE VARLEY the Club Secretary "did a runner".

A well-known England "Brescia" owner ran up a large debt at Molsheim and refused to pay the bill. A Mr. R. Symondson paid up to keep the factory "sweet".

Nothing changes.

Crooks are everywhere. Unfortunately...

In my business I deal with them regularly. Usually you see them coming, but every now and then you get surprised.

Anyhow, Johan, although he paid too much, has 2 magnificient books, which are diffucult to get, and through this forum, met people who treat other people with respect, not as extra wallet.

_________________
Vive la Marque !!

Live and learn. Allow me to now draw a line under this whole unhappy episode. I have heard from Ben Horton, he is protesting his innocence, and claims to have proof that I do owe him a hundred pounds in extra postage.

We shall see.

Anyway, we are done.
johan

Two stories which make me realise how old I am.

1. A Bugatti fitted with a Vauxhall (I think) engine advertised in Motor Sport about 1959-60 for around £85. Box number - got a reply but missed the car.

2. Standing on the steps of the Queens Hotel in Cheltenham around 1960 when Hugh Conway tried to persuade my mother to top-up my meagre savings to enable me to buy the 29-30 Indianapolis car on offer by Horridge for £90.

When I hear of our South African friend being cahrged £100 it makes me cry.

These things happen.

My father once discovered a Jaguar and a Isotta Franchini in a barn (back in the days). Only to be sold as a lot. He convinced a now well known Bugatti restorer (retired) to buy either car. My father took the Jaguar, the other guy the Isotta........

_________________
Vive la Marque !!