DID THIS EVER HAPPEN TO YOU?

[W2PFY]

How often have you sent information to fill someones request and you didn't get so much as an acknowledgement? I actually have developed a phobia about sending anyone Heathkit information!

I guess things can happen where the person requesting the information such as your message going to their spam file? Maybe they fell off their horse broke both arms and have no one to reply and say thanks

I am the first one to admit that I could be better at answering emails and I know I live in a glass house so I do not judge too harshly.

One last comment...Thanks guys for all that you have sent me in the past including information and parts. Your the best!!!   

[WD8BIL]

Yes, Terry. It happens to all of us at times.

What rips my shorts is (soap box time) is getting a response to my suggestions and insight that basically says I'm all wet, that'll never work and they don't know why they wasted their time reading my crap!

Then you hear them on the finally on the air explaining their great idea about  how they fixed their .... whatever and it's the exact advice you sent them.

So, don't be suprised by those non-responces. You just might hear it on the air with a new owner!

[WA1GFZ]

That happens when you deal with people with who have no class dispite their self worth.

[W3GMS]

Terry,

It happens to me all the time even dealing with want post on this site!  At times, I will give the guy the part and also pay shipping to deliver it to him and I never even get a thanks.  

Others assume that I will just give away stuff free even when I have purchased the item and would like to break even!  I get a response once I let him know I have it and he will say something like "I will cover the shipping".  He just assume that the item is free.  Sometimes it is and sometimes its not.  

A lot of Ham's are cheaper than whale shit.  A lot of these same guys will flip stuff on E Bay and gleam over the money they make.  

The one case that really bothered me was a replacement choke for an HT-37.  I told the guy I would like $20.00 for it and he said ok.  I took the choke off the chassis and measured the inductance and did a Hi Pot test.  I then took it to the UPS ship point to let them weigh the choke for shipping.  The shipping was close to $10.00.  So after doing all of that, he said he changed his mine and did not want it.    

So I am very careful who I deal with in the future and my "black book" is filling up sorry to say.

Joe, W3GMS  

[W1RKW]

Terry,
Yep, been there done that too.  But it goes with the territory.  You don't have to worry about me though.  I will always thank someone for their effort.  Like Frank said, it's a class or manners thing.  

[WQ9E]

I used to be a lot more generous sending out free parts but the lack of thanks (or even an acknowledgement that the parts arrived) from many of the recipients has changed that for me.

A noticeable exception are some of our most senior hams I have helped out after meeting them on a regional net.  I still get Christmas cards each year from 3 of them that I helped years ago.

Sometimes I am overwhelmed by others generosity.  I recently acquired a very nice Drake MSR-2 receiver and one of the Chicago area hams learned about this and is sending me 6 new Nixie tubes for spares.  He refuses to accept payment so now I have to find something cool to send back in return.

But don't worry, it isn't just hams.  Every semester I write recommendation letters for students applying to various grad schools and around 30% of them acknowledge the effort it takes to provide a quality letter that will really improve their odds of acceptance.  But I will keep writing good letters until I retire because I won't to be petty about something that really can significantly impact their future-I just write it off to poor parenting skills

[K5IIA]

i do like a nice courtesy wave

[K5UJ]

Hi Terry as you know by now you are not the only one.

Most AMers have class; there are one or two who I have sent parts to, tubes even, and never even gotten an email.

I don't expect their first born or anything but how hard is it to shoot me an email that says hey thanks, much appreciated or something like that?

It probably has to do with upbringing.  There are others who have asked me a question (thinking I am some kind of expert, ha) and I have taken some time to write a detailed answer and with some research behind it.  Then they disappear into thin air.

I don't say anything but I have a memory and a mental s*** list and they don't get any free lunch from me after that.

[k7yoo]

I love the wave Brandon--especially since she is using all of her hand!!
That must not be in NYC.

I have spaced out a "thanks" a few times myself, and will continue to send out parts to the needy. In general, so many people have been generous to me I couldn't begin to keep up.

Skip

[w3jn]

I'm a believer in radio karma.  When I was back in the states and I saw someone needing something I had, I'd send it out.  In turn, it always seemed that when I needed some unobtainium someone helped ME out.  Skip, you pulled my nuts outta the fire with that nice vacuum relay you sent me some years ago.  Another member helped me out with a few 7586 Nuvisters.  I've sent out lots of tubes, the front panel to a Wilcox xmitter, one of those B&W switchable input networks NIB, lots of caps, coils, a complete parts SX-28, etc.  Most I've received a thanks (and I've always been careful to thank those that help me out).  I'll continue to help out as I'm able to, thanks or not.

One thing that burns my ass is someone will post a question here and get some good answers.  No acknowledgement that they tried the suggestions, that they worked, etc.  Even worse sometimes they'll then post the identical question on ANOTHER radio site.  WTF is wrong with people 

[WBear2GCR]

Hey I love you guys... wait, ummm... ok, no, I mean almost everyone has been really great. Actually I can't think of anyone who hasn't. I've sent out some stuff, and gotten some stuff too.

I want to apologize to anyone that I did NOT thank who has helped me or sent me stuff. Although I do try to follow up, it just doesn't always happen as I want it to.

                        _-_-bear

[flintstone mop]

Hey I love you guys... wait, ummm... ok, no, I mean almost everyone has been really great. Actually I can't think of anyone who hasn't. I've sent out some stuff, and gotten some stuff too.

I want to apologize to anyone that I did NOT thank who has helped me or sent me stuff. Although I do try to follow up, it just doesn't always happen as I want it to.

                        _-_-bear

Great C Y A "Bear" A blanket T-Y
And it's ok to love guys. There are more guys hugging each other these days, in a fraternal way.
I seen it on TV!!!
Fred

[K1JJ]

There is a bell curve to everything.   Some people are fat and some are thin while the majority are in the middle.   Some people are tall and some are short while the majority are in the middle.   Some people are mean and others are kind while the majority are in the middle.  Same holds true when it comes to people saying "thanks."   It's a random outcome when it comes to what kind of person we are dealing with.

The bottom line is we are only disappointed when we have expectations. When we expect nothing we are not disappointed by the outcome.  When I help someone, it's the old bell curve of probability whether they will thank me or not.  To expect thanks every time is like expecting never to be in a traffic jam.  Probability allows for everything and having no expectations of other people is the answer.  

Easily said but hard in practice, of course...  

T

[KM1H]

I always say thanks when its offered and again when told its shipped but not when received. Maybe I feel 3 times is pushing it plus items rarely get lost anymore.

If someone specifically asks to acknowledge receipt then I respond.

[W9BHI]

On TWO different occasions I came across hams on QTH looking for parts for their SB-220's.
One needed a bandswitch wafer and the other needed a grid choke.
I had these parts laying around for years and didn't really have any use for them.
Being the nice guy I am, I gave the items away for free, you pay for shipping.
I received the shipping but needless to say, neither hams ever replied back to say thanks.
I learned my lesson.

W9BHI

[K5UJ]

I have never had any probs with the regulars on this site.  All have been FB to deal with.

[WB2CAU]

I was going to get into specifics, but decided against it.  Yes, it has happened to me numerous times.  As time goes on I become more and more reluctant to take the time and trouble to help anyone because it seems to go unappreciated. 

If someone goes out of their way to help with parts or printed information, they are obligated to at least send an email of thanks.  It doesn't take a lot of time to do so. 

Eric

[W4AAB]

I sold a 1956 RADIO Handbook on this site a couple months ago. I never got the money for the book.Maybe it was an oversight. I still owe some stuff to folks, but I do update often. Not getting overtime is making life unpleasant. I love helping others when I can. That is the fun in it.
                                                         Joe W4AAB

[Burt]

Terry,

.  

The one case that really bothered me was a replacement choke for an HT-37.  I told the guy I would like $20.00 for it and he said ok.  I took the choke off the chassis and measured the inductance and did a Hi Pot test.  I then took it to the UPS ship point to let them weigh the choke for shipping.  The shipping was close to $10.00.  So after doing all of that, he said he changed his mine and did not want it.    

So I am very careful who I deal with in the future and my "black book" is filling up sorry to say.

Joe, W3GMS  

No good deed goes unpunished