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What is the origin of "The Ruptured Duck" insignia?
Last Updated: 07/28/10 08:17 AM
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Latest
Tidbits
Layaway Information
New Payment Terms
Show Information
Site Update Schedule
Welcome to "The Ruptured Duck's" Tidbits section. This is where you'll find me rambling on regarding what is happening and where in our hobby. I'll try to do my best to keep this page as updated as we do the site itself. We certainly appreciate all your positive feedback regarding the set up and content of the site.
A word of caution and qualification. I have linked with dealers and organizations that I have reviewed and evaluated before I selected them for linkage. However, this doesn't serve as a "carte blanche" endorsement of their items. I cannot conduct an ongoing day to day check of these sites. I would like to know if you ever have a problem with one of the dealers on my link page. If I am made aware of something like this it could influence me in keeping or dropping a link.
Buying tip--Purchase from dealers and individuals you trust. Ask around before you buy from a dealer or individual. Reputations are earned and stay with a person for a long time. Collectors have long memories when it comes to this type of stealing. So don't hesitate to seek advice. Also don't hesitate to ask for a guarantee in writing. I'm not talking about a $15.00 War Merit Cross but when it comes to a bigger item, someone who is selling you something for a tidy sum should be prepared to back it up with more than just a verbal OK. If they hedge...then maybe so should you.
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I do receive a lot of requests for and
questions about layaways. I am more than happy to work out a payment plan on
larger items, knowing that the money we use for our collectibles falls under the
category of "mad money". It should not come from "house
money". I have always
subscribed to the philosophy that "Sears and Roebuck was not built on cash
and carry " and fully understand that we all have a
limited budget with which to work. With
that in mind, here are the guidelines for the LAYAWAY
program at The Ruptured Duck.
1)
In order for an item to fall into the category of a layaway, the purchase
price must be at least $300.00.
2) The
length of the layaway depends on the price of the item(s).
This will serve as a basic guideline for the duration of
a layaway:
a)
if the price of the item(s) is $300.00 to $500.00, the layaway time is up
to 60 days;
b)
from $500.00 to $1,000.00, the layaway time is up to 90 days;
c)
from $1,000.00 to $2,500.00, the layaway time is up to 180 days;
d)
from $2,500.00 to $4,000.00, the layaway time is up to 270 days;
e)
item(s) for more than $4,000.00, the layaway time is up to a year.
3) No
interest can or will be charged on layaways.
4) If
the purchase includes multiple items, individual items will not be sent until
the entire layaway has been paid for.
5) The
down payment for a layaway will represent 25% of the purchase price.
This down payment is non-refundable if the buyer does not live up to his
or her end of the agreement.
6) The
remainder of the balance of the layaway will be divided into monthly
installments. We will do the math
for you and we can facilitate these payments if you are using a credit card. We
will make up all the credit cards beforehand and process them on or after the
day of the month agreed upon. In
this case you will not receive a receipt. You will know that the card has been processed when you
receive your statement from the credit card company.
7) Return
policy....Your satisfaction is very important to me and originality is always
guaranteed for lifetime. However,
if you elect to return an item that you have placed on layaway, I shall retain
the down payment as a processing and administrative payment, because I will need
to market the item over again.
8) all
layaways are subject to approval.
Buying Items
I am always in the market for buying
German or Japanese items or doing trades for items I have in stock.
Simply stated, I have three straightforward criteria:
1) The
item must be real and authentic and produced in
the period before May of 1945. Please do not waste my time or yours;
2) I
need to purchase the item for resale and
therefore must pay a wholesale price;
3) I
need to see the item before I pay for it.
Keeping these in mind, I am open to any and all items you might have for sale.
I am willing to travel to buy large numbers of items or entire
collections.
July,
2010: You know we are always busy updating the site with 'new'
goodies for you, but in recent months we've also been 'updating' our
photography! As you may have noticed, many of the items have been
re-photographed and **WOW** what a difference! We've hired a professional
photographer (and fellow collector!) who has spent countless hours on this task
so if you haven't checked out the site, give it a second look ~ you'll be
impressed!
LOOKING BACK ON THE 2010 SHOW OF SHOWS...
I thought I would put this together right away so I didn't keep you
waiting! We've just returned from "The Crusades". We took no
prisoners and the wagons are full of quality merchandise. It's a massive
undertaking, with four days to prepare properly and bring the right items.
Then it's two days travel (on the way down the staff drove through 15 hours of
snow), four days of non-stop action, followed by retracing our steps for the
journey home. I haven't even begun to unpack and have days of paperwork and
follow-ups. Mind you, I'm not complaining, because if it wasn't worth my time,
cost and effort, I wouldn't be going! Let me say, it is, for sure, worth
all of the above. When they let the OVMS members in at 12:30 PM on Thursday, you
could see this wave of humanity streaming down the aisles. The next thing I
knew it was 6 PM and the security was throwing us out!
The weather for the actual show was cold, but thankfully we did not
get too much precipitation.
Friday was an absolute repeat of Thursday, and both my staff and I worked
non-stop throughout the day. Everybody was upbeat and positive about the hobby.
I spend an inordinate amount of time providing consultations to dealers and
customers. It was disturbing to see the number of fake items that were
circulating around the show. Some of these were brought in by the public. There
were more European dealers and public than the previous year, so perhaps things
are loosening up a bit over there. Both sales and purchases exceeded my
expectations, so I am one weary but happy camper!
The show hours run Thursday through Saturday through 6 PM and people really need that extra time to cover this enormous hall, with more than 1,600 tables. In addition to the vendors, there were a large number of heroic military Veterans invited to sign autographs, have their picture taken with the public and share their stories. It's a high-energy show!
I feel strongly that a lot of this success has to do with
the superlative job done by the staff of The Ohio Valley Military Society.
Whether it's the President (Bill C.), the Show Manager (Greg E.), or the front
desk staff like Maureen or Pat, everybody has a smile for you and the right
attitude. The entire environment is upbeat, positive and very professional.
The tremendous amount of work done upfront and even during the show translates
into an organized, well-run event. My hat is off to all these folks. In
spite of the 32 hour round-trip drive, I hope to be a participant and
supporter for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Bill S.
...click
here
to see some of the pictures from the Show of Shows in Louisville, Kentucky
...click
here to go to the official web site of the Show of Shows so you can plan your
trip for next year!!!
MAX SHOW 2009 REVIEW: 25 YEARS OLD AND STILL BREATHING
Well Guys and Gals, we survived another trip to the crusades! "MAX 25" has come and gone and I thought you would like to hear my reflections while they are still fresh in my mind.
First of all, the facility. I have never missed any of the 25 MAX shows and traveled with “the circus” from St. Louis, Baltimore, Monroeville, Charlotte, Indianapolis and now back to the brand new facility in Monroeville. I believe everyone will agree with me that this is by far the best hall (especially if you were in the front portion) of any location we have ever been. The lighting was good, the aisles spacious and the floors were not too bad on your feet. The location was easy to find, the parking was plentiful and free. There are numerous hotels and restaurants within striking distance and next year, the Doubletree Hotel will be open right next door.
The staff of MAX Promotions were extremely friendly and cooperative,
and deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. I felt from start to finish
that they were in our court and went out of their way to make this a good
experience, not only for the dealers who filled the 1,150 table Convention
Center to near capacity, but also the public who did attend. I was asked on a
number of occasions if everything was to my liking, and that tells me The MAX
really cares about keeping the show going and this certainly makes me a loyal
supporter of the show.
Sales were very good. I had one of my best MAX shows ever and I was
very surprised by the variety of items that I sold. Sales were brisk from one
end of the scale (items off my 'junk' table) to major helmets and daggers. From
set-up day on Thursday, right through the closing bell on Saturday, I was
pleasantly pleased with the volume and variety of items that moved. I sold and
signed a number of copies of the book I co-wrote with the late Mike Beaver,
entitled The Collector’s Guide To The Distinctive Cloth Headgear Of The
Allgemeine and Waffen-SS .
Purchases were also very plentiful. Although I honestly did not
have the time to wander the aisles at all, I did manage to get myself in trouble
on a number of occasions. I was amazed by the number of items being offered to
me by both the walk-in traffic and also by fellow dealers! You will see the
fruits of my labor in the upcoming updates on the site.
Attendance was light. This is where The MAX needs to improve. I
know the people who did come were pleased by the variety and quantity of the
items being offered. I had a number of collectors show me gems they bought at
this MAX show that really were bargains! I did not hear one person say
they were unable to pick up at least one item for their collection! It was
certainly easy to walk around. The light traffic gave me the opportunity to
spend a little extra time with collectors, so it turned out to be beneficial
from that standpoint.
My staff consisted of Dave MacKinnon and Mike Vanuga who have been with me for years. The newbie was my son Patrick Shea, who was attending the MAX for the first, but definitely not his last time. Hopefully, we’ll all be around to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The MAX Show!
The future...We really need a show like The MAX at this time of the year! It stimulates the hobby. It gives us the opportunity to put voices and faces to the otherwise impersonal world of the Internet. I feel The MAX is the perfect complement to e-commerce, as it gives you the chance to hold, examine and appreciate items firsthand. No picture can ever replace the chance to pick up and fondle the actual item! It is a great venue for social interaction and a chance to meet and talk to people from all over the globe who share our common passion. I strongly encourage those who have not experienced a MAX Show, and especially those who have not attended for some time, to make it a point to plan on coming by next year. I’d look forward to seeing you and I am sure the other dealers and The MAX would be very happy, too.
I've received some pictures from my friends that attended The MAX Show, click here to see!
Click here to read about The Major Dick Winters Exhibit, appearing at the Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society!
The Ruptured Duck helps out with Disney's film entitled "The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". When you watch this movie, be sure to check out the equipment on the flight crew in the German Bomber (first scene!). Most of it came from us! I've copied the follow-up letter from the props manager, read it for yourself by clicking here...
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Site Update Schedule
We are constantly striving to provide you with the best militaria
available on the Internet. As many of you know, each category of the web site is updated
almost daily, however, many of these updates are to remove 'sold' items. From
now on, 'new' additions to categories will occur according to the
following schedule:
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Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
If you would like to receive a quick e-mail from us telling you that the section(s) containing items you are interested in is due to be updated (we'll notify you the day before), just send us an e-mail or complete the bottom of the secure ordering page. Choose the categories you are interested in and we'll take care of the rest! To ensure delivery of this notification, add my e-mail address ( BillShea@tiac.net ) to your address book so it does not go to your 'spam' folder! Looking forward to hearing from you!
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO OUR
VALUED CUSTOMERS:
Effective immediately**,
we will no longer be accepting PayPal as a means of payment. We
received notification from PayPal's "Compliance Department" that the
content of our website does not comply with their "Acceptable Use
Policy". I was informed that I would have to remove all
"objectionable and offensive materials" before June 9th, 2004 to avoid
"further escalation" of this issue. I made a call to my
"PayPal Account Manager" and told him in very clear and concise
English what he could do with his "Acceptable Policy". Rest
assured you will still have many payment options to continue doing business with
The Ruptured Duck.
**Effective May 11, 2004, we shall no longer accept PayPal as a method of payment. There are a number of reasons for this, but suffice to say I did not think lightly of the following notice that I received from them on May 10th 2004. It read, and I QUOTE:
Dear Bill Shea,
I was recently informed by the PayPal Compliance Department that some items
listed on your website do not comply with the PayPal Acceptable Use Policy.
Specifically, any merchandise associated with Nazi Germany or the Secret Service
"SS" are not allowed to be sold through PayPal due to the offensive
nature of these goods. PayPal respectfully requests that you remove these
items off your website or remove the PayPal option for payment. For
further clarification concerning the PayPal Offensive Material Policy, please
review the information below:
PayPal believes that it is important to respect the diversity of beliefs of our
members, and generally permits the use of PayPal to pay for anything the law
allows. However, PayPal cannot condone the sale of items or support of
organizations that promote hate, violence, or racial intolerance. In addition,
PayPal is a worldwide company with many users residing in countries where the
possession or sale of items associated with hate organizations is a criminal
offense. Therefore, PayPal will judiciously disallow organizations that promote
or glorify hatred, violence, or racial intolerance (such as the KKK, Nazis,
neo-Nazis, and Aryan Nation), from using PayPal to accept payments.
Furthermore, such organizations may not be listed in PayPal Shops, nor may any
website listed in PayPal Shops advertise or support such organizations.
PayPal also may, at its sole discretion, prohibit the sale of items which
graphically portray violence or victims of violence, and lack substantial
social, artistic or political value. PayPal may also, in its discretion
and out of respect for the families of murder victims, prohibit the use of
PayPal to sell items closely associated with individuals notorious for
committing murderous acts within the last 100 years, such as personal belongings
of criminals, letters or artwork created by such criminals, or novelty items
that bear the name or image of the criminal. Further, PayPal prohibits a
person convicted of a violent felony, or his relatives or associates, from using
PayPal to benefit financially from the convict's criminal notoriety.
PayPal will review sellers that are brought to its attention by its worldwide
community, and will look at the seller's entire website, and other public
information to determine whether it falls within this rule. Examples of items
that generally may not be sold using PayPal:
· Items that bear symbols of the Nazis, the SS, or the KKK, including
authentic German WWII memorabilia that bear such marks
· Crime scene photographs
· Morgue shots
· Letters and artwork from notorious murderers
· Electric chairs and related capital punishment items
Examples of items that may generally be sold using PayPal:
· German coins and stamps from the WWII era regardless of markings
· WWII memorabilia that does not bear the Nazi or SS markings
· Books and movies about WWII or Nazi Germany, even if the Nazi symbol
appears on the item
· War documentaries or documentary photos portraying victims of war or
violence
· Items of historical importance associated with acts of violence
against public figures
To read the complete policy governing this category, please visit https://www.PayPal.com/aup or copy and paste entire link into address bar. If you have any further questions, please reply to this email.
Sincerely,
PayPal Account Manager
PayPal, an eBay Company " END QUOTE
Thank you very much for your continued support and we look forward to doing business with you in the future! Bill
Watchdog
Service
I wanted to let the many
fine customers who have e-mailed me when they noticed a "misteak",
either in our spelling, photos or descriptions, that I sincerely appreciate your
effort. I would much rather this happen then to let the mistake continue
to be viewed by the 500 or so daily visitors to the site. Do not
hesitate to let us know when you see something amiss. We will do our very
best to clean up our act and right the wrong. Keep up the good work!
What does **ON HOLD** mean?
Many customers have asked what **ON HOLD** means. That's a very legitimate question! This represents one of the following possibilities:
SHOW SCHEDULE...SHOW SCHEDULE...SHOW SCHEDULE
Remember in spite of all the fanfare related to the Internet, eBay, web sites, auction houses, etc, the Militaria and Gun shows still provide a vital part of this hobby. The shows provide collectors with an opportunity to rendezvous with other collectors and dealers. There are still many hobbyists out there that still have the "touchy-feely" needs. I certainly enjoy the show circuit and find it is an excellent opportunity to interact face to face with many of you. The shows still provide me, as a dealer/collector, with a vital source of merchandise. Bottom line is SUPPORT THE SHOWS! Here's a partial listing of the Militaria-type shows that I am familiar with. The listing of the shows does not necessarily mean that I will attend/exhibit. It is provided as a source of information to the collector community.
Dear Customers and Friends;
I have been asked many times why I do not attend all the shows that I list
in this section. The primary reason is the time factor. The
125 emails per day I receive, in addition to faxes and snail mail, require
a great amount of my time. This, combined with the many hours it takes to
write up descriptions, shoot the pictures and maintain the website, makes for
very long hours. I'm not complaining, just laying out the
facts! The shows require a large commitment of time also. This
includes preparation, the driving time to get there and return and the actual
show itself (which can run up to four days). When I return I am beset
by paperwork, unpacking, reorganizing and catching up on the mail that's piled
up since I was gone.
You folks are used to receiving the best service in the hobby with regards to response times, combined with receiving items you have purchased. You also have grown accustomed to professional packaging and quality answers to your technical questions. In order for me to try to maintain this level of service, I have found it necessary to cut back on some of the shows.
The show that I have eliminated from my show circuit is Allentown, PA (which I had attended faithfully since 1976). I strongly urge you to continue to attend this fine show. You can see my items 24/7, but the shows give you the opportunity to see and physically examine items and interact with the collecting community. I sincerely hope you understand my position. I will still be going to Union, NJ shows, the Boxboro**, MA shows, the Show of Shows in February, and of course The MAX in October.
**This is the former Lowell ASMIC monthly show, now located in Boxboro, MA at the Holiday Inn. I will be happy to provide details and directions, so do not hesitate to email me.
SHOW SCHEDULE...SHOW SCHEDULE...SHOW SCHEDULE
DATE
LOCATION
SPONSOR
August 1,
2010
Boxboro,
MA
Northeast ASMIC Show, Bob Learmont (978) 486-4921
www.northeastasmic.webs.com
September 17 - 19, 2010 Chantilly,
VA
The Nation's Militaria & Arms Show, C&E Gun Shows and Showmasters
www.cegunshows.com
or www.showmasters.us
(888) 715-0606 or (540) 951-1344
September 25, 2010 Union, New Jersey Meadowlands Militaria, Bob Curran (201) 939-8846
October 1 - 2,
2010
Monroeville,
PA
The MAX Show (856) 231-0323
www.themaxshow.com
October 10,
2010
Boxboro,
MA
Northeast ASMIC Show, Bob Learmont (978) 486-4921
www.northeastasmic.webs.com
October 16 - 17,
2010 Allentown,
PA
Forks of Delaware Historical Army Society, Connie (610) 438-9006
www.allentownshow.net
November 7,
2010
Boxboro,
MA
Northeast ASMIC Show, Bob Learmont (978) 486-4921
www.northeastasmic.webs.com
November 13, 2010 Union, New Jersey Meadowlands Militaria, Bob Curran (201) 939-8846
December 4 - 5, 2010
Allentown,
PA
Forks of Delaware Historical Army Society, Connie (610) 438-9006
www.allentownshow.net
February 24 - 27, 2011
Louisville,
KY
The Show of Shows, Ohio Valley Military Society
www.sosovms.com/show_of_shows.htm
December 12,
2010
Boxboro,
MA
Northeast ASMIC Show, Bob Learmont (978) 486-4921
www.northeastasmic.webs.com
A note on pricing:
Many of you have asked, with good reason, about whether I negotiate on items
that are listed on the website. In fact you have mentioned that some items
say 5-10% off or Reduced Price. I wanted to provide you with some insight
(or should I say "in-site") on my philosophy of pricing.
I try my best to price the items at "Fair Market Value". As you are certainly aware these things don't "grow on trees" so I have costs associated with purchasing these items. I work long and hard to buy items you'd be proud to have on display in your collection. This has taken years of developing a fine network of pickers who are out there beating the bush to find me authentic pieces.
Of course, we have all the other costs associated with running a competitive business in this day and age. So that you are aware of my feelings, I want to let you know that I need to get the price listed on the site. If an item sticks around for 60 days or more, I might decide to reduce the price by listing the percent reduction/reduced price, but until I decide to do that I won't negotiate a price.
However, what do you get in addition to the item?
1) Prompt and courteous service;
2) No hassle three day return privilege;
3) Lifetime guarantee regarding authenticity
of items sold by me;
4) Technical assistance on collecting related questions;
5) THE REAL THING!
I'm sure you appreciate where I'm coming from as the response to the site and the items listed thereon has been overwhelming. I am very grateful for your continued support.
All the best,
Bill
