OK…so for the last two weeks I’ve been getting letters in the mail - sometimes three or four a day - from this guy. They’re all handwritten, with very large letters so one page only has 6-7 lines, and barely legible. All of them are asking me to buy model railroad books, magazines, equipment etc. from him. All include a self-addressed return envelope, and most ask me to call him after 7PM.
I have no idea who this guy is, but apparently he must have some connection to model railroading since that’s what he’s writing me about, and I’m guessing that must be how he got my name. I didn’t find his name in the NMRA member info.
Just wondering if anyone else has ever gotten these, or if anyone has otherwise come across him.
So did I. The guy I landed on is 62, lives on Wenohah Avenue, not a full block from the railroad tracks. Nice brick house with a daylight basement and a cute dormer, oak trees out front, nicely kept lawn. The acme of normalcy from the look of things. I couldn’t find any business associated with his name so at least it doesn’t seem like a scam or grift operation.
'fwas me, I’d probably just call him, after 7pm. Let him know I don’t need any more mailings and <am | am not> interested in his books. Eight seconds on the phone with him will tell you if he’s compos mentis or just some sad guy trying to unload his stuff because it’s time to sell the house or something. His mother is 95 and lives in St. Charles, maybe he’s trying to deal with all that. Life is hard on folks.
The phone number and other info matches what I and the replies above found online. The latest letter today mentions that he likes my layout, so I’m guessing he’s either seen the pics I posted here on the MR site, or the pics published in a couple of prior Walthers catalogues, then perhaps got my address through the NMRA directory perhaps? Anyway, it wouldn’t seem logical I would be the only person he’s sending letters to, since I have no knowledge of any prior contact.
To be honest, I’m a little leary about calling him. I worked on the phones in a call center for many years and I’ve found folks who are not 100% stable can turn very quickly when hearing something they don’t want to hear.
Here’s a radical idea - write him back! Maybe you’ll find he a great pen pal. Letters and snail mail are a bit passé these days, but what have you got to lose, except a bit of time and a stamp or two?
I started receiving letters trying to sell me stuff right after my layout was in MR-June 21. It was several sheets of large barely legible printing (I’m a retired pharmacist and even I had some problems reading this stuff) Two weeks ago I received a postage due of $.84 envelope from this guy. It was a regular sized envelope with 5 more envelopes folded inside and about 6 pages of items I might want to buy along with a request for pictures of my layout. I sent the whole bunch back to him in a large envelope but only put a “forever” stamp on it so he would have postage due at his end. Told him to send me $.84 and not to contact me again. No money in the mail yet. My wife who is a Learning Disabilities teacher said this is some one who probably has some developmental issues.
If anybody has any more info on this guy please share it here.
When I get the next letter, I’ll see if I can scan a page and post it so folks can see what it’s like.
I could see getting a letter - one letter - from someone saying “hey I saw your layout in _________ and it looks good! I sell model railroad equipment and books, if you’re interested, go to my webpage and take a look.”
But what I’m getting is like 4-5 pages of notebook paper, each side with 5-6 lines written on it lower case letters about 1" high and spaced about 1" apart. Barely legible, roughly like what maybe a 7 year old would do.
Kinda like this:
call me# call me after 7 pm# i have lgb# lionel# matchbox hot wheels# trainbooks PTJ magazines
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Besides, the other guy took the first step.
Maybe a bit less paranoia will result in a new relationship. He’s already got the address, so what’s the downside?
If, as others have suggested, the guy has some developmental issues, connecting with someone through letters might do him a world of good. The OP too, for that matter - befrending someone who is reaching out, however clumsily, may be very rewarding.
Sending several letters a day sounds like he may be desperate for some contact with someone who may have a similar interest in model trains. The OP could mention that he isn’t interested in buying anything, but is interested in knowing more about how the writer engages in the hobby. If there’s no reply, that’s it. On the other hand, the guy may be very pleased to share his hobby with a pen pal.
Caution is warranted of course, but I’m not suggesting giving out a Social Security number or something. Just a friendly reply.
Except he’s not asking for a pen-pal. He’s not saying anything about himself, or asking anything about me. One letter had one line where he mentioned he liked my layout (no idea where he saw it), all the rest have been several pages of scribbles listing things he apparently wants to sell me, folded into a tiny wad, stuffed into an envelope, which is then folded up and stuffed into another envelope. No prices, no website, no indication he’s an actual vendor/seller or anything.
Imagine you came out of your LHS with some stuff you bought, and a very loud, disheveled guy in a tinfoil hat intercepted you and started screaming at you about how he liked trains and wanted to know what you bought and wanting to come to your house and see your trains. Would you engage him in a friendly conversation hoping to make a new friend, or would you get in your car, lock the doors, and drive off?
Like I said earlier, something is not right, so maybe a call to the police where he lives is in order. They may attend the address with a social worker to make sure he is ok.
It would depend a bit on what he’s trying to sell me. If it wasn’t anything of interest to me (my scope is a bit narrower than many), I’d respond with a polite “No thank you, not interested.”
