Honesty to the extreme.
 

My father and myself were driving our 1930 Model 'A Fordor Sedan in the countryside a long way from any real civilization. This was about 1968. We were running low on fuel and to our amazement there was a lonely fuel station in the middle of nowhere.
We pulled in to a pump and there was not a soul to be seen. The lights were on and the doors open. A large sign on the door said' help yourself. Pay and take your change'. There on a table by the door was a large tray full of notes and change. We duly filled the tank, paid and took some change. We watched as the two cars behind us did the same.
You wouldn’t see that these days.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Actually, you would still see that in parts of the world. Most people here in rural North Carolina are very honest. Like anywhere in the world, there are a few bad apples, but most apples here are good.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I bought something on Marketplace last week. The seller had an issue and couldn't make the appointment we made. She said just leave the $$ and take the item. I did and got a nice apology she couldn't make it and let me know she found the $$ where I put it.

Lot of great folks out there. They just don't make the news.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I remember when I was young in the 80's my dad would always 'trade' as he called it (buy gas) at a small station in town. He'd fill up his car then tell the guy he was going to go home and get my mom's car, fill it up and pay for both! Probably worked because he never got gas anywhere else that I can recall.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I am amazed with those stories and glad to hear that some people are still decent.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Growing up in Minnesota in the 60's, 70's and 80's we'd go out of our way to help someone. Pick up a hitch hiker? Sure. Help someone change a flat tire? You bet. Give someone a jump start? Absolutely. But now days you're likely to get car jacked and your phone stolen. You don't dare even let your car warm up for 5 minutes on a cold winter morning or it'll be stolen. Pretty sad.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

At this year's Hershey swap meet, I saw several tables with all sorts of parts and stuff in bins, with a sign that said $1 each. There was a box at the end of the middle table that said to pay here. Nobody standing guard or anything. I found 3 things I wanted, and dropped $3 in the box, just like everyone else was doing. Nobody thought twice.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Last few years I’ve spent some time camping with the grandkids in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. That way of doing things is not uncommon for selling firewood, eggs, corn and other things from roadside stands - nobody around, just leave some money. Frankly I enjoy it, kind of refreshing from the urban environment I normally live in.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

When I moved to central Utah 19 years ago, you'd fill your tank then go in and pay. I guess now with the widespread use of cards it has all changed.
Wayno

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I live on a small rural farm place in Southern Illinois. I can't leave anything outside overnight or the meth heads will steal it.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I flew into a lonely Montana back country airport. An elderly man with an old but serviceable pumper filled me up. He told me when you get home just mail me a check and gave a business card. It’s not unusual for small unattended airports with self service fuel to have snacks and cold drinks and a basket to put your money in.
Some back country airports have courtesy cars, old police vehicles, with keys on the counter so you can drive in to town to eat. The expectation is you will put gas in it.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

We still have a number of folks who put their home grown veggies on a small stand out for sale by the road. There's always a money box with change which everyone seems to respect and use with honesty.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Hello, years ago at the Gulf gas station I hung out at , the owner would let people run up a “tab” that is charging gas to be paid for later .Also in rural areas of northwestern Pa. Many vegetable stands are unattended pay , just past a pumpkins for sale today that was like that.But don’t think it would work too well in Erie .

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Many years ago we bought a side of beef, and had it packaged 'to order'. When my wife went to get it, she had forgotten her wallet, the owner told her to take the beef and the next time she was out, just drop off a check! This was in Baldwin Park, CA, in the late 60's. The owner was one of the in-n-out burger family. There are a lot of good people around. I am handicapped, and rarely have to open doors for myself. I go to the post office regularly, and people often offer to carry my packages inside!

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

We go to a U-pick corn field in the summer and pay in a mailbox by the house. Our rural airport has a courtesy car also.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Many years ago someone conducted an experiment. They placed unlocked cars in different locations with the hoods open. In some locations the car was picked clean in a matter of hours. In other locations the car was left unmolested for days and even had people shut the hood.

Regarding Seth's comment in Post #10 about not being able to leave anything out or the meth heads will steal it, I suggest leaving out a dead skunk wrapped in plastic inside a cardboard box.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

When I was buying a lot of parts a few years ago I was surprised by the number of sellers that would ship parts to me before they had received my payment. As a seller I have done this myself and was never burned. I wonder if it is still like that in our hobby?

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

That's the way God intended for us to treat our neighbors. Thou shalt not steal.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of low lifes out there who don't know or care about the Ten 'Rules' of clean. proper living.....
They think they are slick now, but we ALL have to stand trial one day in front of the Man.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I had to have a new water heater installed earlier this week - probably all of $1500 or more. When the guys finished up I asked them if they needed payment now. There comment was "naw, the office will bill you" and they left. Don't see that way too much anymore, usually I'm asked for a credit card before a vendor will even schedule a visit, much less do a replacement.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

At this year's Hershey swap meet, I saw several tables with all sorts of parts and stuff in bins, with a sign that said $1 each. There was a box at the end of the middle table that said to pay here. Nobody standing guard or anything. I found 3 things I wanted, and dropped $3 in the box, just like everyone else was doing. Nobody thought twic
e.
__________________ the reason for this..............


The sellers didnt care about the few dollar parts- you must do this to NOT lose your yearly rental space at Hershey. Many just use this system to park on the fields...........

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I have just been to New Zealand ,I drove up to Auckland ,and on the motor way south there was a small car obviously broken down on the side of the road, on my way back the next morning it was up on an old car jack and blocks of wood ,all the wheels were gone.
Lawrie

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

There was a fellow, Walt, up in Portland Oregon who had a business selling new and used stove part for very old wood stoves. Many times I called him from Calif. for part for our 100 year old stove we use daily. He would mail the parts to you and you were instructed to install them first to make sure the fit before sending him the money. If they didn't you just mail the parts back to him. They fit every time.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Back in the 50s in Southern California, the only time we locked the house was when we went on vacation.
Wayno

Honesty to the extreme.
 

After nearly 20 years in business,
I still extend trust to folks I don’t know.
Most folks are honest.

Jim

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I agree with that but it is the dishonest few who spoil it for the rest of us and that applies everywhere.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I sell a few car parts now and then.
Have always shipped the part…. Advised the customer the part has shipped…
Asked them to please mail a check. Never been burned.

I try and buy my Model A parts from Sam at Arizona Model A.
Those who buy from them know…. They promptly ship your part out.
When you get the part… then you do your part and mail them your check.
This is one more step in saving you money… there is no extra
cost added for the using the credit cards. Great people.

Gil. NoCal

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

I remember a story about a preacher in a small church that passed his hat around to get the peoples gift to the church,After a time his hat was returned empty.He said at least I got my hat back.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

...

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

When I started dealing with Sammy, he didn't take cards. Am I correct in saying he now does? It would sure make things easier.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Best of my knowledge… Arizona Model still takes no cards.
Ships the product promptly…. After you get it you mail your check

Gil. NoCal

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Pretty hard to beat that deal! Good for them,and good for us too.:)

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Lots of great stories here to renew ones faith in people. We live in crazy times but there are still lots of good honest people. Back in 2010 I was in one of my mustang phases. I had the hots for a high performance mustang and found a 2008 Shelby gt500 with 384 miles on it at a dealer in New Hampshire for 40k, which was a lot of money. I immediately put an add in hemmings for the modified Murray four door I had owned for 46 years. Found a buyer in texas named Arnold. After a long talk on the phone Arnold decided he didn't want me to lose out on the Shelby so he overnighted 17k to me so I could go up and buy that Shelby. So is that amazing or what. When Arnold came later from texas to pick up the Murray he was very happy and so was I.

Re: Honesty to the extreme.
 

Bill Johnson (since passed) who owned BJ's Model A Parts in Indiana was the nicest person I ever knew. He always sent parts without prior payment. He would always say send a check if they were acceptable or send them back. More than once he mentioned that the only people he had trouble with getting paid were doctors or lawyers! Funny, we had a guy in our Model A Region named Doc but not a real doctor who would take forever to pay Bill. Most of the time I had to visit Doc to push him to pay Bill. Disclaimer: I realize most doctors and lawyers are not that way.