I just ask them to Pay It Forward

[Guest Johnny]

I'm like so many others here, on a low fixed income. But many times someone would be looking for parts (not begging or for free) and I will send them. Most of the time if there is nothing I want in trade I just ask that they pay it foreward.

For those who do not know this term, it simply means do the same for some one else when you get the chance.

Yes things are tight financially, but I'm not going to fret over the price of a couple sodas I really don't need when it comes to helping out a fellow modeler!

Edited July 6, 2012 by Johnny

[JamesW]

Ditto. I've sent out many parts and asked for nothing in return. If it's something I'm not going to use and someone else needs it, I'm more than willing to help out.

[JunkPile]

There's a saying that goes something like "Treat people today the way you would like to be treated tomorrow"

[philo426]

Yes I have sent parts out for free,My policy is if it is under 5 bucks to ship than it is gratis!I like to help out when I can!

[gray07]

Ive sent lots of parts out for free, and ive even got a couple parts from people that i needed and they didnt want anything, the only problem i have with some of the items ive sent out over the years are when the person never contacts you to tell if they recieved it, If i get something from someone i always let them know that i got the part and to tell them thank you, its not hard to do.

[High octane]

I don't mind helping out a fellow modeler every now and then. Most of the times the stuff they ask for and I have, I probably will never use anyway, so why not help someone?

[Jantrix]

I have received parts for free from folks that seem to have no immediate needs. Honestly I'm always thankful to have the part but I'm not real comfortable with that arrangement. I'm a very pay-my-way kinda guy and I'd much rather do a straight up trade.

And I have given parts away to folks I know here and in my model club that I know pretty well if only by reputation (the Good Trader thread for instance). Because I know they would or have done the same for somebody else. I won't do this for someone I do not know. It's gotta be a trade. Call me selfish if you want.

Edited July 6, 2012 by Jantrix

[2000-cvpi]

I have no problem with any of that. Let's remember though, the person I was speaking of asked for kits...whole kits, not parts. No reason why, not even a courtesy offer of paying the postage. In other words the way the post read it was as if he felt they were free for the asking. Heck if that were the case then i've got a list a mile long. It's the difference between someone coming up to you on the street and saying "can you spare a dollar?" and "Hey, give me a dollar". That was my point. Now hopefully the mods won't shut THIS thread down.

I agree completely. It's amazing the boldness some people have these days. I waited until I had over 100 posts before I started trading on this site, and I shipped first so that the trader got my half before they sent my half of the trade . I also would not ask for something free that I knew someone else had to have bought.

[kennysteez]

this made me smile guys thx i agree totally

[MAGNUM4342]

I just recently had a trade of sorts go sideways a little.

A gentleman in Canada no less, (I won't say who unless he wants to chime in here) wanted some decals I was giving away for free. Since they required a larger than usual envelope all I asked was that whoever wanted said decals cover the postage. This person sent me a $5 canadian bill to cover what amounted to $1.76 american to send. The catch was, the bank wanted ten bucks, to exchange a five dollar bill. Seriously!

I sent the decals out, and sent the fiver back with them. I told this person not to worry about it at all. He contacted me back and offered to send me five dollars american. I again told him not to worry about it. He made an honest attempt AND an honest try to rectify it. I appreciated that.

It's all about honesty and courtesy.

I tend to help those who don't expect it as if it's owed to them. I joined this board because of Jacen. In the couple of months i've been here i've completed several trades. Some for thing others needed or wanted, and some for my own needs. All of them were carried out with dignity and respect to the other party. If a deal couldn't be agreed upon we parted, still friends.

Not once, did I expect anything, without offering something. If you are good friends with someone on the board you can most likely send them a part or even a whole kit, no questions asked. You know it's good.

Sure you can get a real good feeling sending someone a freebie. I've given cases, litterally cases of hot wheels to toys-for-tots. I've donated kits as door prizes for charity events, and I don't lament one of them. I just refuse to give stuff away to someone i've never seen before who shows up with a christmas list.

There's nothing wrong with giving. There's nothing wrong with being a nice guy and treating others the way you expect to be treated. It's the way this particular scenario started out that galled Jacen and quite frankly myself.

I will apologise for my part in the chiding that followed that the mods had to delete. I don't usually join in that kind of thing but I did and it was wrong.

[Mike Kucaba]

If I can send something that will survive in a padded envelope.I'll do it. If it requires a box,I'd like the shipping covered. It does help to have an idea that the person needs the part to finish a model.

[mikemodeler]

I think it all boils down to how you ask and what you are willing to do to get the deal done. I have kits and parts laying around that I may or may not ever build or use, but that doesn't necessarily mean I should go out and buy boxes and envelopes and wait for others to post their wants!

As Jacen pointed out, walking up to someone and saying "Gimme!" is not the same as "Could you please help?"

I do limited trades here typically with the same folks as I know what to expect and they do as well.

[59 Impala]

I've given and I've also received parts from others on here and other forums that I belong to. I feel really good when I can help someone out who really needs the help. I don't ask for anything in return for the parts that I send out other than the "pay it forward". Just not to long ago I needed the glass for the '65 Pontiac Grand Prix (which I never new that I needed it since I've had the kit ever since '65). Now, thanks to who ever let me know that the kit had the wrong glass in it from the factory ( sorry, I can't remember who this was, bad memory), anyway, another person saw this and (again I can't remember who this was) let me know that they had an extra '65 glass and needed the '64 glass that was in my kit. No questions asked, we traded and I was able to complete the Pontiac. Now I know this wasn't a freebee but it is along the same lines, sorta. If I had what was needed I would send parts to those who I know and are in need and I'd expect nothing in return. Dan

[slusher]

l have been helped so much, if l have something and someone needs it l always give it away. if your kind you will recieve kindness. l think all use model guys should stick together.....Slusher

[Dr. Cranky]

A few years ago on another forum a youngster asked for kits (the kid had promise and he was really into the hobby) and so we sent him a few kits (he lived in another country far far away) and so the months passed and we didn't hear anything, not even a thanks. When we inquired about the kits he said he'd gotten them but that he had decided to put all his extra time into his schooling. Which is great for him.

Lesson learned? Don't let your kids re-enact scenes from Platoon with Charlie Sheen. LOL.

No seriously, these days I wait and ask more questions of the individual before I even consider paying for the postage or raiding my stash.

[crazyjim]

I try to help out when I can and I've been helped out by fellow MCM modelers. It's really nice to get a thank you after sending a freebie.

[Guest]

I've gave as well as received free stuff several times. Like Rob, I would rather trade for it. But, if the other person doesn't want or need anything,you can only hope to repay the favor someday. There are several good people on this board as well as others that are always willing to help someone out.

Just recently, I had a parts request and not only did I get the parts, I received the whole truck with them! He didn't want anything for it. When I got it,it was so nice that I hated to just rob parts from it. So, I built it. It may have not seemed like much to him,but it meant a lot to me and that model will always have a special meaning to me. Someday,I hope that I can return the favor to him. There are a couple of other people that have done the same thing.

There's one person here that I won't trade with. That's because he and I just give stuff to each other. If I have a parts request and he has it,he sends it and visa versa. He has sent me more than I have sent him,but someday maybe I'll get evened up with him. It's a good feeling to receive something for free from someone,but it's a better feeling to give someone something for free. It actually is better to give than receive.

[Draggon]

Thats what I do a lot of the time. It has paid off well, Ive gotten some vintage 1/24 slot car stuff for free this year.

[57peppershaker]

Good valid point ! I've been help out, Nick the T tops are yours !

[Guest]

When I ask for parts, I, when someone responds, always ask what they want in return. When I offer parts to someone, unless it is a larger part, or multiple parts, I sned it free of charge, with nothing needed in return. Worst case scenerio is if it's a big group of parts, I may ask for shipping.