OT- traveling barn painters

[Anonymous-0]

Some guys from south carolina have been in the area painting barns,roofs etc.Several people let them paint and it looks pretty good.I had them paint some buildings for me with a strong gas odor.Today when i went back the lane they had both of there trucks side by side pumping gas into the paint tank.I walked around the barn so they couldn't see me and walked toward them.As so as they saw me he ran over and tried to get me away from the truck by asking questions about a tank they were supposed to paint,then he said they were just filling up the air compressor tank.The painter was pumping gas for 15 minuites before i saw them.I guess my question is,wouldn't gas be expensive to use as a thinner?

 

[Anonymous-0]

They're CROOKS; run 'em off the premises asap!

 

[Anonymous-0]

I fix machines for these fellas sometimes and they use gas for thinner alot. I would stay away from these fellas.

 

[Dick L]

That stuff has been around for many years. Probly 40 years ago a group went around here in the summer. I think they were from Oklahoma. The neighbor across the road had them paint his barn red and the roof silver. First rain most of the silver was gone. Two years later the red was back to where it was before they painted it. I was told that they were using white gas to thin with.

 

[georgeky]

Dad hired them to paint two barns for him about 6 years ago. The deal was he would hire them if they used paint instead of gas. On the first barn right by the house dad watched them and they painted right from the barrel. On the back barn he did not go watch and it was cut with gas. The front barn still looks pretty good, but the other didn't last two years. Beware as they will tell you a story about being away from home to long and needing to do one more job to get home on. There is also a crew from the Carolinas that roam around selling shop equipment. Engine hoist,porta power,shop presses and the like. They are cheap tools with high prices. If buying just keep saying no and the price will get right. Same with the painters, just say I can't afford to right now and they will keep getting cheaper.

 

[Anonymous-0]

The one's that come around here have been told that if they come back on our property they will be dealing with the sheriff. There are several stories that lead up to that but to make a long story short they aren't welcome here.

 

[John (MO)]

If they haven't already stolen everything they can find.... THEY WILL BE BACK. I suggest you call the law now, they are from a while community of crooks. Do a web search and you'll find out more than you want to know about them.

 

[gordy from Iowa]

Had some guys from Kentucky or Arkansaw paint a machine shed roof with white latex paint. It was easy to see they had run low on paint and thinned some with water so much it almost ran off the roof. Of course they would be back the next day to take care of that. Well, they did spray something to make it white anyway.

So, get a good reliable local painter to do the job. Saves lots of fustration.

 

[The Researcher]

Scam Artist to the Max.

(Long article)
Read bout em

 

[Clint Youse MO]

Tell them to get lost thier paint wont last through winter Before I bought the farm I live on the guy had Riley From Kentucky paint the roof on a shed a year later it looked worse than it did to start with Well Riley's boy came bythis year wanted to know if I wanted that roof painted I told him it should be free it was done by his dad 2 years ago he just stumbled around his truck and left I will get a local guy to do it when I can afford to have it done they will tell you any thing to get the job had a neighbor one time that he told he would do for the price of the paint guy said fine whenit was done they painted a 50x60 building and only had 10 empty 5 gallon can and that is the paint he got charged for.

 

[Midwest redneck]

Chase those scammers away, with a shotgun. If they look like mexicans then they are bums. (too bad you cant legally shoot them.)

 

[Anonymous-0]

Red, I have to laugh at that remark. When I'm out in Cohoctah I try not to make eye contact with anyone for fear they might do what you are thinking.

 

[Wild Bill]

After reading the news link below, I reallized that I almost bought some square cut drill press bits from "Rebel Tool and Die" on ebay. I thought the deal was a little too good to be true

 

[RayP(MI)]

Was out in the yard working on the tractor and hay rake the other day, a scruffy old pickup pulled in the drive, and an equally scruffy man stepped out. "Who owns the big barn?" This took me a bit by suprise, because my 35 x 60 dairy barn, over 50 years old, is hardly big anymore. So, I asked which barn, thinking he was asking about the neighbors.... He finally got down to point that he was going around putting rubber coating on barn roofs. Told him roof was only two years old, certainly didn"t need his attention. He was outa here as fast as he came. No doubt, one of those scam artists. If I have any contracting areound here, it"s going to be a local firm with a good history of reputable work.

 

[keh]

Researcher came up with a good article. I live in SC and we are aware of the Irish Travelers. They will pull scams here but not too close to home. The Murphy Village is in North Augusta on highway 25. It started out as a trailer park but the houses have been getting more luxurious down through the years. A step above the Mcmansions the developers build, with very fancy front doors with decorative glass. I am told they leave a new house vacant for a year so the evil spirits will leave and at some point the house is blessed by a priest. Friends of mine lived in Augusta, she worked at a jewelers and said some of the Traveler girls were known to shoplift.
A guy with one of the last names listed in Researcher's article has been painting barn roofs with aluminum paint for me for years. Can't really complain about the job, the paint seems to last as well as any other I've bought. Of course the first time he came by years ago I asked to see the paint. At that time his selling point was that the paint had tar in it, which appearantly did, and it lasted ok. Appearently his business model was to develop a route and try for repeat customers. A lot of scams people pull would be just as profitable for the effort they put in them if they would deal honestly with their customers. This guy that deals with me has had the same employee, a black guy, all these years, and he trades trucks each year. On the gasoline thinning scam, that has been going on for year and was known to me before I started dealing with this painter. Didn't realize he was a Irish Gypsy until there was a TV program on the a few years ago. Their activities hav gotten the attention of the state tax people and they are being watched a little more closely. Hey, it's one thing to cheat people, but quite another to cheat the government.
Anyway, it a good idea to be suspicious of people who drive up in your yard offering you a bargain. Like someone said, sometimes its a scam to get your attention while an accomplice breaks into your house.

KEH

 

[Anonymous-0]

They show up here twice a year, the windiest day of the early spring, and the windiest day of late fall. They painted a couple of my mother's barns, and my truck, and my tractor, and a couple of trailers, and numerous other unintended objects. I got out my 24 volt drill/driver and drove a few dozen screws into the inner dually tires of all of their trucks, I figure were even, till the next time I see 'em!

 

[Jimmy King]

I live next door to my Mother she is 91, and still pretty sharp. There is a house straight across the road from me, and a lady lived there I have known all my life she is in the nursing home now and she is 95 now. A few years ago like 4 or 5 a guy stopped and wanted to seal her drive way. He worked a few minutes then told her he needed so much money so he could go buy more sealer and she gave it to him. You all know the rest of the story she never saw him again.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Every summer at my place, its the same thing. Dude drives up in a newer-looking pickup. Says "We're just painting a barn up at (insert another locals name here), and we were wondering if you wanted your barn painted.

Every year I tell them no, they try to talk me out of it, and then I tell them hell no, and they drive away.

My question is, who falls for these scams anymore? That gas-in-the-paint thing has got to be the oldest trick in the book.

 

[Davis In SC]

You are right, about the tool sellers. Funny part is, they get the tools from a company in Travelers Rest, SC... No real relationship between the travelers and Travelers Rest, Just an odd coincidence..

 

[Davis In SC]

Best to avoid having any dealings with them... Some are dangerous, prone to violence, if you cross them...

 

[MNredfarmer]

They just showed up here on Tuesday. Brand new pickup from a local dealer. Told him "no thank you" about 8 times before he left.

 

[MN Scott]

A few times a year steel gate salesmen stop here and try to sell gates. Several years ago they stopped in and dad said he wanted to see a 16 ft gate at ground level. The one guy grabbed one from the top of the load and set it on the ground. Dad said loader back up not interested. If one guy can lift down a 16 ft steel gate its made from tinfoil. We do have a guy J. Wells, that paints our barn and shed roofs. He rescrews and paints one a year or so. Usally last 10 years or more before the rust shows thru. Looks on the rough side but is honest and does good work.

 

[georgeky]

They stopped at my place one day about 10 years ago as I sit in the shade by the road. The guy said this was his last load of stuff and needed to get back home. His truck had NC plates on it. I told him the only thing he had that I didn't was a 30 ton shop press. He said he would make me a deal I couldn't refuse. I told him I was broke and if steam ships were only a nickel all I could do is holler ain't they cheap. He started at 375.00 for the press. Before he finally left he was down to 125.00. I just kept saying no. He went right down the road and sold it to a neighbor of mine for 300 and he was bragging to me about the deal he got. I told him he should have held out , that he offered it to me for 125.00.

 

[Anonymous-0]

These scamers are VERY well known. There has been 2 or 3 TV 1-hour specials about them over the last several years. anyone who hasn't been under a rock should know to tell them no and mean it. NEVER fall for the ole "we are working up the road" or "we just finished up a job and have materials left". Only deal with contractors where YOU initiate the contact. Tom

 

[Spook]

I am from Cohoctah. We don't want any shifty eyed types here.... Followed a Dodge p/u down the road today, rebel flag in the rear window, 2 young scruffy types inside. Made me think "tweakers".

 

[paul]

Pete C. from Tenneesee comes by every summer in his red pickup. His painter dude has the old painter truck with Texas plates.

Twenty+ years ago his dad painted the barn for dad.

Always the same story, got to wait for the 3rd or 4th price....

But, they do a good cheap job with white paint or the aluma paint on the old galvanized.

I _always_ supervise, and then the door frames get painted, etc.

I've not found Pete or his dad to mess up the paint quality. I find they do a quick & fast job rather than a high quality careful job. One is better to be there watching....

But, things get painted at least!

--->Paul

 

[Nolan]

Gasoline is cheaper than many thinners, if not all thinners. And it works better than turpentine or mineral spirits both as a cleanup material or as a paint thinner.

 

[Anonymous-0]

"GYPSIES"We used to get these in the UK , Set your dog on them ,One will be spraying your barn while the others are casing the joint and the next night your workshop gets emptied ?

 

[christine barnes]

My family and I started a professional family owned barn painting company in 2005. We are not your low cost option but we are low risk...... we are insured and we warranty our work in writing. What ever happened to good old fasioned hard work? those gypsies make life tough for everyone.
Barn Painting