Many many eons ago, when I was a mere lad of 19---I ordered a resin model kit from a small "company"(a couple of brothers) which shall remain nameless. It was a kit of one of Vincent Price's characters. Not much had been done of Vinney at this point---so I paid immediately! Ready to get to work on this beauty!!
1 month, turned to 2, then 3, then 6, then 8. I stopped calling the guy. Because I called multiple times beforehand and got excuses about resin fumes being hazardous, about it being a part time gig, sick parents, pet dogs being hit by presidential motorcades, Cthulhu rising up from the ocean's depths and causing typhoon like conditions in their area, just anything to shut me up and string me along.
They lived 3 1/2 hours from me. I could've walked the distnace there and back twice in 8 months. They just wanted to keep my money and hope that I got tired and "wrote it off".
I was just going to do that very thing. "It takes money to go to college" after all. But then I made one last ditch effort. I left a message on their answering machine and basically threatened them. I told them I would call the magazine they ran their ads in ---and anyone else who would listen----and tell my story.
3 days after that call I got my kit via priority mail.
It was a decent kit for its time. But after the hell I went through to get it----I didnt want it in my collection. I traded it immediately.
A customizers work can be solid, even amazing. But if they refuse to maintain contact with you after you have paid them: drop them like a hot potato and let others know your story. When the money tap dries up, they may re-evaluate their customer service. Money talks.
Gotta work on things that will bring in more $$.
