Man charged for trading ivory
- Thread starter Gmanpoke
- Start date
Make it an Octoberfest and I'm there.
I own a Gilbert and a John Davis full splice with a phenolic joint and the last several I have owned were SS joints. I can play and feel what I'm doing with any of them. I have played with an ivory joint and I don't remember much about it.In my opinion I get all the feed back I need through a wood to wood or phenolic half joint, Now I'm no pro but I can play and I'm not saying I wouldn't own one but it's not going to effect the game in anyway. IMO
Didn't read the whole thread and probably should just keep out of it but , I'll just say this , most everything in the various "news" reports is either twisted , a combination of unrelated events spanning over at least a few years and some nicely edited manipulation of the facts thrown in for good reading.
1 clear fact however , yes , the cubans are gone.
1 clear fact however , yes , the cubans are gone.
Im sure others who have done business with them got an email today, as I did. This should clear everything up.
Greetings from beautiful and sunny New Smyrna Beach
where there is never a dull moment.
I know it's unusual to see an email from us at the beginning of the month but a situation has arisen which requires our attention and as such we're going to address it. I would ask that you please bear with me and read on as this is a humbling moment.
This email is sort of a double edged sword since many of you already know where I'm going with this and most of you probably don't have a clue as to what has transpired over the past few days and there's probably a third group that don't care. We decided that it would certainly be in our clients and friends best interest to address this issue and set the record straight since the gossip mongers seem to be enjoying themselves by distorting the truth. We've just now found out how evil and low people can stoop over other people's perceived misfortune. Some are just plain sick and they have our sympathy. So without further adieu here goes…
I don't have the time nor the inclination to get into the specifics nor do I have time to answer the morons on the idiot forum who have no life and are in general a bunch of losers. These idiots sit at their computer in their underwear with nothing better to do but profess their expertise and ethics and dream of success that they'll never have.
Here's the deal: In December 2007 the Federal Government executed a search warrant on our business looking for smuggled ivory. Days later we hired the finest lawyer in the state of Florida; Don Lykkebak. At that point it became his problem and we went on running our business. Fast forward almost three years later, the end result was that they confiscated 200lbs of perfectly legal scrap (off-cuts) ivory which the government agreed was purchased legally, 1,800 Cuban cigars (for those of you who are counting, that equals 98 boxes and most were well aged for you cigar aficionados).
The outcome is that we shipped three (3) of what they call "ivory laden" pool cues to England without a permit. Do you have that? We shipped three cues to England without a permit; period. I don't know if a butt cap, joint collar and ferrule qualify as "laden" so I guess it's a matter of interpretation. I was never formally arrested and that's the whole fiasco. I plead to a misdemeanor of not having a permit to ship three (3) cues to England and as part of the agreement I had to forfeit the 200lbs of scrap ivory; oh yeah and the cigars. Why did I have to forfeit the ivory if it was legal? Because I'm burned out and tired of fighting and at this point it doesn't matter nor do I even care. The ivory was written off the day they confiscated it and I moved on with my life and ran the business accordingly. I know 200lbs sounds like a lot of ivory to give up but it's not especially in the form that it was in. We never skipped a beat and ran our life and business as if nothing had happened. For those of you who want to make this into a larger matter that concerns our clients – no sales records are in the Feds hands nor were they ever in the Feds hands as they were only interested in where and how we purchased ivory. We had and have impeccable documentation as witnessed by the Feds agreeing that the ivory was in fact legally purchased. Period, end of conversation. Life is good, I'm a happy camper that I have closure and another adventure in my life is now a closed chapter. Time for coffee and a VSG Sorceror (that's a cigar for you non aficionados). Non-Cuban of course.
And now life moves on and it's back to business. To finally have closure after 3 years, I want to offer all of you some of our good fortune and show just how happy we are to put this behind us. Most of you will take advantage of this sale and the clowns on the idiot forum will say that they won't touch it with a ten foot pole (only because they have no money and no orders). Truth is we'll cancel any orders from the pinheads and they know it because that's what we do as we don't want their business under any circumstances. Besides all they know how to do is sit in front of a computer in their underwear dreaming of success that they'll never achieve. Next time you read a detrimental post about us, picture the idiot sitting there in their underwear because he has nothing else to do; what a picture!
Now if you really want to read something funny let me share this with you. I made the front page of the Daytona New Journal or whatever that rag is called. The headline was New Smyrna Beach man pleads guilty to ivory trade or something like that. We made page one for a misdemeanor plea. On a much more minor note, an 800 lb seizure of marijuana and a $1.5 million dollar cocaine bust ranked high enough to make it to page two. I kid you not!
Anyway, time to get back to work as it's a crazy Monday. I've been sitting here since 7am and it's now 3 pm answering emails, etc. I'm normally done with that crap at 10 or so. Busy weekend ; I wonder if national press had anything to do with it.
And to everyone who works hard and is successful -- Have a fantastic week!
I'm just going to put a few items on sale as follows:
Moori Medium tips only $9 each.
*******************
*******************
The following ivory is for USA sales only and all perfectly legal and well documented.
While supply lasts…
Ivory Ferrules -- $11.50 each
Ivory Joints ----- $26.00 each
Ivory Butts ----- $60.00 each
Ivory slabs only $12 per ounce if you buy 10 ounces or how about $175 per pound!
This offer expires Tuesday November 16th 2010.
To order, just place your order online at our regular prices and mention 'Joe Special' in the comments field and we'll reduce the prices when we charge you out.
We have an unusual supply of ivory at the moment and we've gotten an unusual surge in inquiries over the past month; especially the past week. If any of you want to purchase tusk sections, please email us and we'll advise you as we decide to sell some sections. Pricing will be in the $100 to $150 range per pound. Can anyone use a 240lb pair or a 190 lb pair at $165 per pound? Serious inquiries welcomed and prices are firm as I don't want to haggle nor do I need to sell them for less. They're gorgeous and worth every penny. Terms are available to an appropriate buyer.
I want to thank all of you for your continued support and I want to especially thank all of you who wrote to us over the past few days offering support and rationality. Thank you!
Joe Barringer
P.S. We have two cues up on eBay:
Greetings from beautiful and sunny New Smyrna Beach
where there is never a dull moment.
I know it's unusual to see an email from us at the beginning of the month but a situation has arisen which requires our attention and as such we're going to address it. I would ask that you please bear with me and read on as this is a humbling moment.
This email is sort of a double edged sword since many of you already know where I'm going with this and most of you probably don't have a clue as to what has transpired over the past few days and there's probably a third group that don't care. We decided that it would certainly be in our clients and friends best interest to address this issue and set the record straight since the gossip mongers seem to be enjoying themselves by distorting the truth. We've just now found out how evil and low people can stoop over other people's perceived misfortune. Some are just plain sick and they have our sympathy. So without further adieu here goes…
I don't have the time nor the inclination to get into the specifics nor do I have time to answer the morons on the idiot forum who have no life and are in general a bunch of losers. These idiots sit at their computer in their underwear with nothing better to do but profess their expertise and ethics and dream of success that they'll never have.
Here's the deal: In December 2007 the Federal Government executed a search warrant on our business looking for smuggled ivory. Days later we hired the finest lawyer in the state of Florida; Don Lykkebak. At that point it became his problem and we went on running our business. Fast forward almost three years later, the end result was that they confiscated 200lbs of perfectly legal scrap (off-cuts) ivory which the government agreed was purchased legally, 1,800 Cuban cigars (for those of you who are counting, that equals 98 boxes and most were well aged for you cigar aficionados).
The outcome is that we shipped three (3) of what they call "ivory laden" pool cues to England without a permit. Do you have that? We shipped three cues to England without a permit; period. I don't know if a butt cap, joint collar and ferrule qualify as "laden" so I guess it's a matter of interpretation. I was never formally arrested and that's the whole fiasco. I plead to a misdemeanor of not having a permit to ship three (3) cues to England and as part of the agreement I had to forfeit the 200lbs of scrap ivory; oh yeah and the cigars. Why did I have to forfeit the ivory if it was legal? Because I'm burned out and tired of fighting and at this point it doesn't matter nor do I even care. The ivory was written off the day they confiscated it and I moved on with my life and ran the business accordingly. I know 200lbs sounds like a lot of ivory to give up but it's not especially in the form that it was in. We never skipped a beat and ran our life and business as if nothing had happened. For those of you who want to make this into a larger matter that concerns our clients – no sales records are in the Feds hands nor were they ever in the Feds hands as they were only interested in where and how we purchased ivory. We had and have impeccable documentation as witnessed by the Feds agreeing that the ivory was in fact legally purchased. Period, end of conversation. Life is good, I'm a happy camper that I have closure and another adventure in my life is now a closed chapter. Time for coffee and a VSG Sorceror (that's a cigar for you non aficionados). Non-Cuban of course.
And now life moves on and it's back to business. To finally have closure after 3 years, I want to offer all of you some of our good fortune and show just how happy we are to put this behind us. Most of you will take advantage of this sale and the clowns on the idiot forum will say that they won't touch it with a ten foot pole (only because they have no money and no orders). Truth is we'll cancel any orders from the pinheads and they know it because that's what we do as we don't want their business under any circumstances. Besides all they know how to do is sit in front of a computer in their underwear dreaming of success that they'll never achieve. Next time you read a detrimental post about us, picture the idiot sitting there in their underwear because he has nothing else to do; what a picture!
Now if you really want to read something funny let me share this with you. I made the front page of the Daytona New Journal or whatever that rag is called. The headline was New Smyrna Beach man pleads guilty to ivory trade or something like that. We made page one for a misdemeanor plea. On a much more minor note, an 800 lb seizure of marijuana and a $1.5 million dollar cocaine bust ranked high enough to make it to page two. I kid you not!
Anyway, time to get back to work as it's a crazy Monday. I've been sitting here since 7am and it's now 3 pm answering emails, etc. I'm normally done with that crap at 10 or so. Busy weekend ; I wonder if national press had anything to do with it.
And to everyone who works hard and is successful -- Have a fantastic week!
I'm just going to put a few items on sale as follows:
Moori Medium tips only $9 each.
*******************
*******************
The following ivory is for USA sales only and all perfectly legal and well documented.
While supply lasts…
Ivory Ferrules -- $11.50 each
Ivory Joints ----- $26.00 each
Ivory Butts ----- $60.00 each
Ivory slabs only $12 per ounce if you buy 10 ounces or how about $175 per pound!
This offer expires Tuesday November 16th 2010.
To order, just place your order online at our regular prices and mention 'Joe Special' in the comments field and we'll reduce the prices when we charge you out.
We have an unusual supply of ivory at the moment and we've gotten an unusual surge in inquiries over the past month; especially the past week. If any of you want to purchase tusk sections, please email us and we'll advise you as we decide to sell some sections. Pricing will be in the $100 to $150 range per pound. Can anyone use a 240lb pair or a 190 lb pair at $165 per pound? Serious inquiries welcomed and prices are firm as I don't want to haggle nor do I need to sell them for less. They're gorgeous and worth every penny. Terms are available to an appropriate buyer.
I want to thank all of you for your continued support and I want to especially thank all of you who wrote to us over the past few days offering support and rationality. Thank you!
Joe Barringer
P.S. We have two cues up on eBay:
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It's so funny that he thinks emails
From customers or people in general is crap. I like the prices dint get me wrong but customer service sucks. And as far as forum people in underwear I wonder if that's what he is wearing when he sits on the computer answering crap question people have?
From customers or people in general is crap. I like the prices dint get me wrong but customer service sucks. And as far as forum people in underwear I wonder if that's what he is wearing when he sits on the computer answering crap question people have?
I like this guy already, railroaded by the media.
Maybe its the way he says and maybe its not but several things definetly dont add up. It probably was in his best interest to send out an email and im sure they will continue to do business with lot's of people but some things in that email were written while in a ticked off state and almost seem directed at the reader. I delt with them a few times and though I found their products to be good, the delievery time and customer service needed work.
1 - how is it the lawyers problem, a lawyer is not the one going to jail or fined
2 - why did they confiscate legally documented material
3 - why agree to let them take the legal material, must have been a larger fine or possible sentence on the mailing without permit's aspect of the case.
4 - why no charges filed on the cigar's
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I won a box of Pre-Castro (1959) Cubans by phone bid on a Christie's auction back in 1999 for $4800.00 and they were Fantastic, to say the least.
They auctioned the 2nd box (identical) at over $8000.00 and rumor has it that
Rush Limbaugh was the winning bidder.
I wonder what the confiscated Cubans would have brought on the current market ?
However, NO amount of Cigars or Cash is worth being locked up.
Ask Tony Chohan, now that he has had plenty of time to reflect on the past.
They auctioned the 2nd box (identical) at over $8000.00 and rumor has it that
Rush Limbaugh was the winning bidder.
I wonder what the confiscated Cubans would have brought on the current market ?
However, NO amount of Cigars or Cash is worth being locked up.
Ask Tony Chohan, now that he has had plenty of time to reflect on the past.
I don't know what went on or what he really may or may not have done, I thought it was funny he bashed then he thanked. I had a friend recently who was raided and painted to be a nut by the local paper, the county just stole what they could took him to jail using baloney charges. My friend has had a lawsuit on the city and county for a while and the sheriff is campaigning for re-election, not hard to figure out. I'm sure he'll be suing again for slander and a few other things. Everyone else who reads the paper believes what it says with no questions, now this could be the case with Joe that everything is trumped up. I don't know but it wouldn't stop me from doing business with him.I agree it's hard to know unless you know Joe well but the paper will twist as necessary. They wouldn't add up if you lived next door so all you have to go on is what you read and that's not reliable.
here is a bust in the bush of poachers, those are small tusks, Glad they killed the poachers,
I think about 2 pages back in this thread i explained how it works in Africa with anti-poaching rules and when lethal force is permmited,
when it comes to ivory, poaching or hunting ivory, O'l Fatboy know his stuff. <----just giving the haters more to hate me for:wink:
here http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=207334&page=11 posts #152 and #154.
i'm AMAZED to see this story in American news, its common news in Africa. I'm amazed...and happy they got it right once.
I think about 2 pages back in this thread i explained how it works in Africa with anti-poaching rules and when lethal force is permmited,
when it comes to ivory, poaching or hunting ivory, O'l Fatboy know his stuff. <----just giving the haters more to hate me for:wink:
here http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=207334&page=11 posts #152 and #154.
i'm AMAZED to see this story in American news, its common news in Africa. I'm amazed...and happy they got it right once.
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I think there will be some cuemakers watching the police auctions in New Smyrna Beach lol.
Do you have proper paperwork for that cigar in your avatar senior?
it already is unless it is pre banned ivory.
Those were 100% legal, pre-ban Cubans!
You are the one who needs education, because there are many reasons why someone would want ivory in their cues...not the least of which, is how it plays!
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
I completely agree. I love the way ivory plays. As I stated in an earlier post in this thread, there is already FAR more legal ivory already stockpiled in this country, than the cue industry can EVER exhaust.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
I'd have to agree with what you said....
Of course I never killed anything for sport i shot everything I ever hunted in the head...I'm not to much into taking the head or the skin as trophies.
I shoot a deer...
in the head...I grab it skin it tan the hide...eat the meat..I keep the antlers and bone for future use in my cue....I dont hunt them for my cues....mainly the meat . everything else is just a bonus.
same for....
water buffalo...
elk.......
elephant......
tiger ........
hogs/boars.....
moose.....
Snakes...(pythons)
turkey..........
squirrel........
you get the picture?....I think thats all I mainly shoot at or have killed so far...
but I do want to say that the email cuecomponents sent out is somewhat wierd... I got some pics of the ivory confiscated from him....and I do have to say that it's not all scrap as he claims.....
But that's his business .....
I DONT think I knocked the man down except when he called me a underwear wearing, envious broke nerd.
but here's a pic of some that was confiscated from him....
just wanted to clear up his email....
PS ....do kill an elephant and collect the tusk for your own use...you might find the experience life changing....that's why I do not buy elephant ivory...I let the customers do it.
I have many different kinds of ivory and two different ones that hit just as good but not an animal derivative....they are more expensive than elephant..... the ivories out there can be used....I might not believe in elephant as being the best for any cue.... but that's my business not yours...
I dont push this on anyone.
And besides.... when you say ivory people think elephants....not
narwhal, hog, hippo, elk (yes they do produce Ivory), walrus(fossilized and non), wart hog, rhino..... they even say the molars of some whale also is ivory..(not all the teeth just the molars) so for everyone here that wants to protect the elephants.... you should buy my natural ivory substance ...
price....75 ferrule ...including install.. 150 joint installed..... 200 butt up to 3/4 thick...waiting time is about 1-2 months...
I'm seriouse to this shit's expensive
Narwhale.... from an animal killed in 1929 for meat and oil and hide..
ferrule $600 250-300 a half inch cube
joint $2400 8- .5 cube
butt $4800 16 - .5 cube
those prices are for the best narwhal ivory money can buy.
And this is the best (in my opinion and others who have hit with them) hit.
so if hit is what's important...eeryone should buy these material..
my other natural non animal ivory I have
ferrule $150
joint $300
butt $600
so there you go...
if you dont want elephant and want something else that might look better
those are other options..and for those that want ivory for "hit" Im telling you Narwhales the way to go.... and so is the other piercy exclusive non-animal ivory..hit's almost like narwhale but hits better than elephant ivory(my opinion, but then again alot of people who has hit with this also agree)......Good luck everyone.
heres the pic... of some of the scrap that was confiscated from cuecomponents..
Of course I never killed anything for sport i shot everything I ever hunted in the head...I'm not to much into taking the head or the skin as trophies.
I shoot a deer...
in the head...I grab it skin it tan the hide...eat the meat..I keep the antlers and bone for future use in my cue....I dont hunt them for my cues....mainly the meat . everything else is just a bonus.
same for....
water buffalo...
elk.......
elephant......
tiger ........
hogs/boars.....
moose.....
Snakes...(pythons)
turkey..........
squirrel........
you get the picture?....I think thats all I mainly shoot at or have killed so far...
but I do want to say that the email cuecomponents sent out is somewhat wierd... I got some pics of the ivory confiscated from him....and I do have to say that it's not all scrap as he claims.....
But that's his business .....
I DONT think I knocked the man down except when he called me a underwear wearing, envious broke nerd.
but here's a pic of some that was confiscated from him....
just wanted to clear up his email....
PS ....do kill an elephant and collect the tusk for your own use...you might find the experience life changing....that's why I do not buy elephant ivory...I let the customers do it.
I have many different kinds of ivory and two different ones that hit just as good but not an animal derivative....they are more expensive than elephant..... the ivories out there can be used....I might not believe in elephant as being the best for any cue.... but that's my business not yours...
I dont push this on anyone.
And besides.... when you say ivory people think elephants....not
narwhal, hog, hippo, elk (yes they do produce Ivory), walrus(fossilized and non), wart hog, rhino..... they even say the molars of some whale also is ivory..(not all the teeth just the molars) so for everyone here that wants to protect the elephants.... you should buy my natural ivory substance ...
price....75 ferrule ...including install.. 150 joint installed..... 200 butt up to 3/4 thick...waiting time is about 1-2 months...
I'm seriouse to this shit's expensive
Narwhale.... from an animal killed in 1929 for meat and oil and hide..
ferrule $600 250-300 a half inch cube
joint $2400 8- .5 cube
butt $4800 16 - .5 cube
those prices are for the best narwhal ivory money can buy.
And this is the best (in my opinion and others who have hit with them) hit.
so if hit is what's important...eeryone should buy these material..
my other natural non animal ivory I have
ferrule $150
joint $300
butt $600
so there you go...
if you dont want elephant and want something else that might look better
those are other options..and for those that want ivory for "hit" Im telling you Narwhales the way to go.... and so is the other piercy exclusive non-animal ivory..hit's almost like narwhale but hits better than elephant ivory(my opinion, but then again alot of people who has hit with this also agree)......Good luck everyone.
heres the pic... of some of the scrap that was confiscated from cuecomponents..
Attachments
You are the one who needs education, because there are many reasons why someone would want ivory in their cues...not the least of which, is how it plays!
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Yes, values are subjective.
This is a common comparison error persons make. Some think that because I like this or that or dislike this or that, then EVERYbody "should" also. It is why most voted yesterday one way or another, btw.
Jeff Livingston