Anyone from the U.S.A able to help me please ?

[Scraperman]

I started a topic in this section of the Forum on the 9th of March asking about shipping spares from the U.S.A. They were made by the Curtis Machine Inc. in Dodge City, Kansas. I haven't found them particularly helpful but they do have the items I need (or at least they say they do !) They emailed me a Pro-Forma invoice which had to be paid before shipping. The invoice had details of the company's bank account but when I attempted to pay, my bank (HSBC) gave me a list of addresses to choose from and none of them matched that on the invoice 100%. They were very close but I think it was the ZIP code that didn't match.

I have questioned Curtis about this and in an email from Curtis today a letter dated June 2nd 2022 was attached, from the American Cast iron Pipe Company giving me that company's bank details which are totally different from the Curtis account details on the Pro-Forma invoice. I questioned all of this and have been sent another email informing me that on March 1st 2024 the Curtis Machine Company (no longer Inc.) had been acquired by the American Cast Iron Pipe Company, who are in Birmingham Alabama, and that the only thing that will change are the bank details.

The spares are quite expensive and I am trying to make sure that I am not being scammed. I would be extremely grateful if anyone could give me some advice about this please. I am really asking for information as to how to investigate the company situation in the U.S.A.

 

[Lancs Lad]

I started a topic in this section of the Forum on the 9th of March asking about shipping spares from the U.S.A. They were made by the Curtis Machine Inc. in Dodge City, Kansas. I haven't found them particularly helpful but they do have the items I need (or at least they say they do !) They emailed me a Pro-Forma invoice which had to be paid before shipping. The invoice had details of the company's bank account but when I attempted to pay, my bank (HSBC) gave me a list of addresses to choose from and none of them matched that on the invoice 100%. They were very close but I think it was the ZIP code that didn't match.

I have questioned Curtis about this and in an email from Curtis today a letter dated June 2nd 2022 was attached, from the American Cast iron Pipe Company giving me that company's bank details which are totally different from the Curtis account details on the Pro-Forma invoice. I questioned all of this and have been sent another email informing me that on March 1st 2024 the Curtis Machine Company (no longer Inc.) had been acquired by the American Cast Iron Pipe Company, who are in Birmingham Alabama, and that the only thing that will change are the bank details.

The spares are quite expensive and I am trying to make sure that I am not being scammed. I would be extremely grateful if anyone could give me some advice about this please. I am really asking for information as to how to investigate the company situation in the U.S.A.

I'd reach out to someone like C&C equipment https://www.ccsurplus.com/default.htm
Long shot but I'm sure he'll know someone who can at least point you in the right direction.

 

[Scraperman]

I'd reach out to someone like C&C equipment https://www.ccsurplus.com/default.htm
Long shot but I'm sure he'll know someone who can at least point you in the right direction.

Thank you for that. I'll give it a go and report back.

 

[Keif]

Maybe I’m dumb but after a couple pm I was unclear on what I was supposed to do to help.

 

[Keif]

How much are they? I guess I could buy them because I can use a payment method that can refunded if the part never shows, unlike a wire transfer.

 

[DaveDCB]

Definitely done the right thing questioning it!
Other than trying someone else I’m not sure there is much you can do.
What is it you’re buying?

 

[Scraperman]

Maybe I’m dumb but after a couple pm I was unclear on what I was supposed to do to help.

You posted in #9 of that topic "I’ll help if I can" I didn't know what you would be able to do and so I pm'd you and sent pictures and more details.

 

[Scraperman]

How much are they? I guess I could buy them because I can use a payment method that can refunded if the part never shows, unlike a wire transfer.

They are $775.37 and then I have to pay for shipping but which DHL have been very helpful about. But I really don't know what is going on now. It would appear that Curtis are no longer in business independently, as I mentioned in #1 they appear to have joined the American Cast Iron Pipe Company after the death of the owner of the business. But whenever I receive an email from Curtis it is very brief and reserved. I haven't got a clue as to who is sending the emails because there is no sign-off of any type. It usually consists of just one sentence and that's it. I am becoming very suspicious about the whole matter. Does whoever is emailing me actually have the gears and shaft that I need ? But thank you for your offer of help.

 

[V8Druid]

You posted in #9 of that topic "I’ll help if I can" I didn't know what you would be able to do and so I pm'd you and sent pictures and more details.

think @Keif 's post below is a pretty good indication of the effort he will go to for you @Scraperman

How much are they? I guess I could buy them because I can use a payment method that can refunded if the part never shows, unlike a wire transfer.

just have to refund Keif

 

[Scraperman]

Definitely done the right thing questioning it!
Other than trying someone else I’m not sure there is much you can do.
What is it you’re buying?

I need a couple of spiral bevel gears, one drives the other so they intermesh and a shaft which goes through one of them. The one gear is splined internally and that fits on the shaft. I don't have a photo. of the shaft but this is the one gear and the other one is a similar size.

 

[V8Druid]

They are $775.37 and then I have to pay for shipping but which DHL have been very helpful about. But I really don't know what is going on now. It would appear that Curtis are no longer in business independently, as I mentioned in #1 they appear to have joined the American Iron Pipe Company after the death of the owner of the business. But whenever I receive an email from Curtis it is very brief and reserved. I haven't got a clue as to who is sending the emails because there is no sign-off of any type. It usually consists of just one sentence and that's it. I am becoming very suspicious about the whole matter. Does whoever is emailing me actually have the gears and shaft that I need ? But thank you for your offer of help.

dare say @Keif is better placed (and with the right accent) to establish that for you @Scraperman ... do you have any phone numbers you could pass on ?

 

[Scraperman]

think @Keif 's post below is a pretty good indication of the effort he will go to for you @Scraperman

just have to refund Keif

Yes, but the situation has become more difficult as per #8

 

[Scraperman]

dare say @Keif is better placed (and with the right accent) to establish that for you @Scraperman ... do you have any phone numbers you could pass on ?

No 'phone nos. Just the email address to whoever I have been dealing with at Curtis and I have sent an email to the American Cast Iron Pipe Company using a general email address for that company and hope to receive a reply today sometime. They are 5 hrs behind U.K. time

 

[Keif]

I called 620-277-7164. Spoke to a nice lady a Curtis manufacturing named Lisa. They have the gear but said they need the number off the mating gear because the were made as matching pairs for different gearboxes. They need the other number to make sure it’s correct but suggested buying both as a pair to do it properly.

Said they most likely have it in stock once they know the other #.

 

[Scraperman]

I called 620-277-7164. Spoke to a nice lady a Curtis manufacturing named Lisa. They have the gear but said they need the number off the mating gear because the were made as matching pairs for different gearboxes. They need the other number to make sure it’s correct but suggested buying both as a pair to do it properly.

Said they most likely have it in stock once they know the other #.

Thank you so much @Keif for taking the trouble to do that for me. I really appreciated that very much. The other gear is still attached to it's shaft and the box will have to be stripped to get at it. I will try and make progress on that tomorrow. It may well have been Lisa, as shown below, that I have been emailing but the emails have been very impersonal and since Curtis have been taken over by another company and now appear to use the same bank as the parent company I have become a little suspicious of things. I have been told that the lady who was owner of Curtis retired and that's why they were taken over by the other company. Worst case scenario is that this is someone who says that they have the gears but don't and I lose my money. I have no wish to be rude to anyone who hasn't wronged me but I wish I could have proof that the gears and shaft actually exist and that they will be shipped once I have paid for them and arranged the shipping. Thanks again Keif.

 

[Keif]

Thank you so much @Keif for taking the trouble to do that for me. I really appreciated that very much. The other gear is still attached to it's shaft and the box will have to be stripped to get at it. I will try and make progress on that tomorrow. It may well have been Lisa, as shown below, that I have been emailing but the emails have been very impersonal and since Curtis have been taken over by another company and now appear to use the same bank as the parent company I have become a little suspicious of things. I have been told that the lady who was owner of Curtis retired and that's why they were taken over by the other company. Worst case scenario is that this is someone who says that they have the gears but don't and I lose my money. I have no wish to be rude to anyone who hasn't wronged me but I wish I could have proof that the gears and shaft actually exist and that they will be shipped once I have paid for them and arranged the shipping. Thanks again Keif.

View attachment 58785

No problem. I was able to take care of it in the little office before doing the important paper work this morning. lol.

Honestly the way things are here, they’re probably worried about being scammed as much you are. From everything I could tell they are a legit outfit.

 

[Scraperman]

No problem. I was able to take care of it in the little office before doing the important paper work this morning. lol.

Honestly the way things are here, they’re probably worried about being scammed as much you are. From everything I could tell they are a legit outfit.

Thank you again @Keif I do appreciate your help. But they wouldn't be releasing the parts unless payment has cleared and so I don't see how they could be worried about being scammed. But it is interesting that you actually spoke to someone who, by your jusdgement, is a nice lady. Whoever I was dealing with never asked me for a part No. from the other gear because I have it in the parts book for the machine, which I quoted, and she said that they do have that gear on the shelf as well. Incidentally, I did actually think that the parts were a bit expensive. The gear that I sent you a picture of is priced at $239.40, Does that seem a reasonable price to you ? Thanks again for your help.

 

[Monkeybusiness]

No problem. I was able to take care of it in the little office before doing the important paper work this morning. lol.

Honestly the way things are here, they’re probably worried about being scammed as much you are. From everything I could tell they are a legit outfit.

I’m assuming that’s a euphemism and you made the phone call whilst on the khazi.
(That’s where I tend to be my most productive tbh, get lots of thinking and sorting done!)

 

[Keif]

Thank you again @Keif I do appreciate your help. But they wouldn't be releasing the parts unless payment has cleared and so I don't see how they could be worried about being scammed. But it is interesting that you actually spoke to someone who, by your jusdgement, is a nice lady. Whoever I was dealing with never asked me for a part No. from the other gear because I have it in the parts book for the machine, which I quoted, and she said that they do have that gear on the shelf as well. Incidentally, I did actually think that the parts were a bit expensive. The gear that I sent you a picture of is priced at $239.40, Does that seem a reasonable price to you ? Thanks again for your help.

If was any less expensive I wouldn’t trust it.

 

[Keif]

I’m assuming that’s a euphemism and you made the phone call whilst on the khazi.
(That’s where I tend to be my most productive tbh, get lots of thinking and sorting done!)

My first day at a new place boss man said that, then disappeared. A little while later the phone rings for him. I’m searching all over thinking, where the f is this office I don’t know about. I walk across the shop get hit with a wave of stank, see the lights on the the bathroom and then finally I figured it out. Lol.