Well, at least if I gat a REPLY from the maker to inform me that he's busy,I'll understand...but to ignore a person totally is bad.If you got time to post on FB and reply others then it think it's rather rude.
Anyway a promise is a promise.Is this considered a breach of contract?
Sorry for my rambling but I am not a happy camper.

Hi Bob,since you are in contact with Tim,do you mind asking him to contact me ? I would appreciate that.
Thanks in advance
Frankie

You have all the right to be mad about it and I think you can claim a breach of contract. Read your contract carefully. But having a response is a good start.

Frankie I'm so sorry to hear about this ungoing problem. It makes me angry and very,very hesitant to do business with these guys.

Frankie recently built me three expensive and beautiful marionettes and his customer service was second to none. If there was a hold up he was prompt in his contact.
Frankie, you should not have to except less!!

Brad

Been there, done that. I too have experienced this and as such, I buy completed figures from eBay, Ventriloquist Central and directly. I have a beautiful collection of Selbergs, Hartz, and Dummyworks (Tim Cowles) that I only had to wait a few days for. Something is wrong when you have to wait a year and a half for a STOCK figure.

I can say there is at least one builder who is true to his word, Brant Gilmer. Not only was the figure I ordered built on time, I actually got it ahead of schedule. Brant, gives you a TRUE timeframe of WHEN he will be able to start your figure and when it should be completed. None of this, it will be completed in 4 months. I ordered it at the 2009 Vent Haven convention, and I was told he would start work on it in the spring of 2012. Yes, that was a year and a half wait. But, I WANTED the figure and was WILLINg to WAIT that long for it. As it turned out, he had 2 cancellations and I had the figure in hand, October 2011.

I just checked Facebook and Tim Cowles posted an update a couple of hours ago.

I personally did not have problems when Tim C. built my custom figure so I really can't tell what is happening between Frankie and Tim C. ... I hope Tim responds to Frankie's emails soon.

I also have lots of stuff from Frankie...all delivered promptly and no problems in communication. I in fact have an order and got an update from Frankie just a few days ago.

I also sell stuff and I have to agree that communication between client and buyer is VERY VITAL to ensure a smooth transaction.

Ooops, I meant 2011 and not 2012.

Although not wood carved Dan Payes also works very quick and usually has the figure finished before his due date.
Scott Bryte also gives a specific time frame and delivers his wood carved figures on time with status updates.
I too am very saddened to hear about makers not responding or delivering on a due date. I work out of the court system he in Ma.and if you have given money and have a due date that is a contract and if the product is not delivered as stated in your contract that is called THEFT. I can honestly say I have only heard of these horror stories about paying for figures and then the makers not responding just in our little nitch. This would never take place in any other field.
Dan
http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com

I emailed Tim Cowles the other day about my order and he emailed me today to advise he has shipped it, so to date I have no complaints.

Thanks to Bob Baker,Tim responded! His computer died and he's been outta town etc...
He says he'll ship my Mortimer when he gets back home.
All is well.Thank you everyone for your support.
I do like Tim Cowles work.Sometimes things do happened.
Thank you for listening to my rambling.I am getting old.

Glad to hear...

That's good news...

Glad it all worked out for you

Thanks everyone for your care and concern

Hey Guys, I am now on the Magic Café.

So Tim... when can you upgrade the headstick of my figure?

Hey Wanlu,
Good to hear from you. You mentioned that you couldn't swing the price at the moment, so I kind of left it alone. If you are ready, let me know.
Tim

Hi Tim - I still have one of your figures - he was called Egbert in your "catalog", although mine looks different slightly than the one you're currently showing;
Here's mine;



Here's the original picture from your site when I ordered him way back when (I've had him quite a while);

He's a very nice figure. How long you had him for?

That's a tough one Aussie, I never kept track of when I got any of my figures. The closest I can come on a guesstimate of how long I've had him - my friend and figuremaker Rick Price passed away in 2002, and I believe I got this figure two or three years before that, so somewhere around '99 - 2000 area.
And thank you, yes, he is a very nice figure, I've been very pleased with him.