John Bennett
Senior Member
[ukvac] Jonathon Thompson and RAM.
I would like to pass a few comments regarding Jonathon Thompson and RAM.
Before I do I think I had first better explain who I am for those of you who
don't know and also my relationship with JT. I dont want those of you who
dont know
me to think I am on some high horse or a newbie with no right to stick his
oar in.
About Me
--------
My name is Andy Jones. I have been collecting arcade machines in the UK for
approximatly 5 years now. For what its worth, at one time my VAPS entry was
I think
about the 6th or 7th largest and in the UK only second to John Keay. I was
the first
person to ever receive a UKVAC message when X-Y Man first set it up in its
previous
(pre egroups) incarnation. I also hosted the first UKVAC meeting at my home
in
Milton Keynes. I have travelled to every extremity of the UK looking for my
machines
and have also bought boards by mail both from the states and here in the UK
so am
quite experienced in the highs and lows of buying from operators and
collectors.
<brag mode on> My collection now comprises a variety of machines including
Starwars,
Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, hopefully soon BlackWidow and Tempest not to
mention
propably the only place in the UK where the 'Top' 4 classic Williams
machines can
be seen together (Defender, Robotron, Joust and Sinistar). In addition I
have 60+
classic boards including QBert, Empire Strikes Back etc.. (you all know the
type of
stuff). <brag mode off>
For the last few years I have been pretty quite on the collecting front
having all
the machines I wanted and also having a lot of other commitments, Wife,
Kids, Job
etc.. thats my you might not have heard of me at all.
My Relationship with JT
-----------------------
I have known JT for about 2 1/2 years. I first heard of him when reading an
article in
Coinslot which showed a 'rare' SW sitdown which JT had found and was valuing
at 2000
quid. I first met him when a friend of mine was taking him along on a 'raid'
to an
operator. My mate looked like a tramp (ie no money). JT was so flash he
looked like
he'd just come out of a top London fashion store. My friend and I both
thought the
operators prices would double just when he saw JT's shoes. Since then I have
chatted
with JT a few times and more recently have sold him a few parts and he has
sold a
machine for me. He is also in the process of selling another. This is the
sum total
of our involvement.
The purpose of this EMail
-------------------------
I have been concerned about the recent emails regarding JT that have been
floating
around. I would like to pass my opinion for discussion and also make an
offer to any
of you that feel you have been wronged by JT.
My motives for doing is are:-
1. Defamatory emails and flame wars dont help the users of UKVAC.
2. Defamatory emails and flame wars dont help the people who believe they
have been
wronged. It might make them feel better but doesnt actually get them
anything.
3. Defamatory emails and flame wars dont help JT, but they don't actually
hurt him
either. (If you think the people he deals with read this list then think
again).
4. I think some of you could actually benefit by dealing with JT. Not by
buying from
him but by selling to him or swapping stuff with him. JT does not expect
any of us
on UKVAC to pay the sort of prices he asks but believe me he does sell
them for
that money. JT has to have stuff to sell. He would much rather have it in
working,
perfect condition and its getting harder and harder to find, for him as
well as
you. I think at sometime we will become the main source for really
classic hard to
find games and that will put you in the driving seat as long as you have
them.
5. When I have spoken to Jonathon he doesnt feel he has ripped off or conned
anyone.
If this is genuine then it seems to me that somehow, someway, something
should be
able to be sorted out between JT and anyone who feels aggrieved.
The Offer
---------
If anyone feels they have been conned, ripped off or in anyway short changed
by Jonathon
then please email me and let me know. I will try to mediate your despute and
see if we
can come up with an agreement that suits everyone. Jonathon did not suggest
this. I have
contacted him and discussed it and he seems willing to give it ago.
Let me know the full details including exactly what the agreed deal between
you and JT was
and any details of your dispute afterwards. Let me know what you want in
order to put things
right.
If you don't want to email me all the details then email me to let me know
and I'll email
you my phone number for you to ring so we can talk about it. If you email me
your number
I'll ring you if you prefer.
This is a genui
I would like to pass a few comments regarding Jonathon Thompson and RAM.
Before I do I think I had first better explain who I am for those of you who
don't know and also my relationship with JT. I dont want those of you who
dont know
me to think I am on some high horse or a newbie with no right to stick his
oar in.
About Me
--------
My name is Andy Jones. I have been collecting arcade machines in the UK for
approximatly 5 years now. For what its worth, at one time my VAPS entry was
I think
about the 6th or 7th largest and in the UK only second to John Keay. I was
the first
person to ever receive a UKVAC message when X-Y Man first set it up in its
previous
(pre egroups) incarnation. I also hosted the first UKVAC meeting at my home
in
Milton Keynes. I have travelled to every extremity of the UK looking for my
machines
and have also bought boards by mail both from the states and here in the UK
so am
quite experienced in the highs and lows of buying from operators and
collectors.
<brag mode on> My collection now comprises a variety of machines including
Starwars,
Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, hopefully soon BlackWidow and Tempest not to
mention
propably the only place in the UK where the 'Top' 4 classic Williams
machines can
be seen together (Defender, Robotron, Joust and Sinistar). In addition I
have 60+
classic boards including QBert, Empire Strikes Back etc.. (you all know the
type of
stuff). <brag mode off>
For the last few years I have been pretty quite on the collecting front
having all
the machines I wanted and also having a lot of other commitments, Wife,
Kids, Job
etc.. thats my you might not have heard of me at all.
My Relationship with JT
-----------------------
I have known JT for about 2 1/2 years. I first heard of him when reading an
article in
Coinslot which showed a 'rare' SW sitdown which JT had found and was valuing
at 2000
quid. I first met him when a friend of mine was taking him along on a 'raid'
to an
operator. My mate looked like a tramp (ie no money). JT was so flash he
looked like
he'd just come out of a top London fashion store. My friend and I both
thought the
operators prices would double just when he saw JT's shoes. Since then I have
chatted
with JT a few times and more recently have sold him a few parts and he has
sold a
machine for me. He is also in the process of selling another. This is the
sum total
of our involvement.
The purpose of this EMail
-------------------------
I have been concerned about the recent emails regarding JT that have been
floating
around. I would like to pass my opinion for discussion and also make an
offer to any
of you that feel you have been wronged by JT.
My motives for doing is are:-
1. Defamatory emails and flame wars dont help the users of UKVAC.
2. Defamatory emails and flame wars dont help the people who believe they
have been
wronged. It might make them feel better but doesnt actually get them
anything.
3. Defamatory emails and flame wars dont help JT, but they don't actually
hurt him
either. (If you think the people he deals with read this list then think
again).
4. I think some of you could actually benefit by dealing with JT. Not by
buying from
him but by selling to him or swapping stuff with him. JT does not expect
any of us
on UKVAC to pay the sort of prices he asks but believe me he does sell
them for
that money. JT has to have stuff to sell. He would much rather have it in
working,
perfect condition and its getting harder and harder to find, for him as
well as
you. I think at sometime we will become the main source for really
classic hard to
find games and that will put you in the driving seat as long as you have
them.
5. When I have spoken to Jonathon he doesnt feel he has ripped off or conned
anyone.
If this is genuine then it seems to me that somehow, someway, something
should be
able to be sorted out between JT and anyone who feels aggrieved.
The Offer
---------
If anyone feels they have been conned, ripped off or in anyway short changed
by Jonathon
then please email me and let me know. I will try to mediate your despute and
see if we
can come up with an agreement that suits everyone. Jonathon did not suggest
this. I have
contacted him and discussed it and he seems willing to give it ago.
Let me know the full details including exactly what the agreed deal between
you and JT was
and any details of your dispute afterwards. Let me know what you want in
order to put things
right.
If you don't want to email me all the details then email me to let me know
and I'll email
you my phone number for you to ring so we can talk about it. If you email me
your number
I'll ring you if you prefer.
This is a genui
