Has Anyone Here Ever Bought From Paulo Barata (Esmoriz) On Delcampe?

Hi - Several months back, I purchased two European revenue catalogues from Paulo Barata in Portugal, via Delcampe. He was the author of one of these catalogues, and has been in business for over 40 years... so I assumed I was safe in dealing with him. (For the record, I have never had a bad transaction on delcampe until this).

I bought the catalogues in April, paid for them immediately via Paypal, and - nothing. The man has tons of positive feedback, and as I mentioned he has been in business since the 1970s. I had no reason there would be an issue here.

I thought it was strange that after a month, he hadn't even marked the books as "shipped". I wasn't concerned that I hadn't received them, but I *was* concerned that he hadn't even shipped them. I wrote to ask him if he had sent them but didn't hear back. Then I wrote again, and again, and finally he said "yes I received your payment, the books will be sent next week after I pick up the copies from the printer's". Well, that sounded good to me - because one of the catalogues I ordered was his, so I thought nothing of it,

Long story short, that was four months ago and he is no longer responding to my requests for information. I did get a weird message from him in late July saying that he needed to apply for a "permit" to ship the books overseas, and that he needed my full name, address, and phone number. (I thought that was weird but I already don't answer my phone if I don't recognize the number anyway...)

I am just curious to know if anyone else here has ever dealt with Mr. Barata. He is a very knowledgeable author, I have three of his other works, and it is hard for me to believe that he would just steal from me... but has this happened to anyone else here by Mr. Barata? I paid six months ago, I'm not getting my books, I am not happy...

Barry

Sounds very similar to situation discussed in this earlier thread. Sellers not knowing that all packages and parcels mailed outside of their country are required by law must have a declaration on them.

https://goscf.com/t/78383

BCantin

i did send you 2 emails on this subject (never got a reply) and posted even here on SCF
I am the SCF member who recommended you were to buy this book and I did buy it 2 days before you did. Never received the book either, same as you.
The late July email from Barata stated that all packages he shipped overseas were returned because not having the required custom declaration form attached. I answered his request for email and phone number info.
Early September I received a mail with details of a registered mail on the way to me. So I assume the book.
Waiting to receive it.
I know Pauko Barata is a Covid doctor in Portugal and I accepted that he was slow.

I fixed it for you jossanders52.

I do hope you both receive your books eventually. Please understand the importance you place on the book is different from the importance he must accept due to medical oath . I must think he does feel poorly about the circumstances of the books.

Joss - I do remember you! I am sorry you are still waiting for your book as well.

Shortly after I posted this, I looked a little further into Mr. Barata's pages... I saw exactly what you guys mentioned, that he is a doctor and is on the front lines dealing with Covid... I feel terrible, the man is a hero and here I was worried that he was ripping me off. I wish I had seen that sooner - I really did believe that he is honest but I never could have imagined that he's on the Covid front lines.

I sent him an apology (I was starting to get a little angry because I did not know why he was not responding to my messages). I was always respectful and polite (I am an incredibly nice guy!) and I will not harrass him any more... his hands are incredibly full.

Thanks for the responses! I feel awful for getting upset, it really is a trivial matter when you consider the big picture. I would still love to get the book, and I'll just be patient.


Parcelpostguy - I could not have said it better myself!

Barry

Reading this, I don't really know if that's an ok excuse… I mean yes, but also, it could've been as easy as him saying, hey, sorry, I'm literally busy at the hospital let me refund your money and please buy from me in a year or I'll keep your money and send in a few months with a special signed copy or some extra tidbit for your waiting trouble. Business is business, I don't think you need to get on your hands and knees to beg for an apology…

Apparently before COVID he had lots of time on his hands? Seems unlikely. Seems as if all kinds of assumptions are being made. Seems highly likely that the postal/customs regulations (now enforced) have thrown a wrench into the gears as with other sellers. Answer the mail. There are lots of "hero's" around that communicate just fine.

One would think (hope) that as an MD he would have the wherewithal to put his Delcampe store on vacation if he was being swallowed up responding to the pandemic. Yet he had time to respond via email but ended up wasting an opportunity to set the record straight. Sounds fishy to me. If his books are available on the secondary market or you can live without them, I would be hitting up PayPal for an item not received refund before that door closes.

On October 2, I finally received my catalog. Great to see all Spanish and colonies revenues listed in 1 plcae

I forgot to follow up here - I got my catalogues as well in early October, they were new (both reprints but nice ones) and I am happy, because they are so difficult to find.

Glad you two got your catalogs.
As for him not responding - you can be a hero, you can be the next coming of Jesus and superman combined, but leaving the customer hanging in the air with no reasonable reply? That's not cool.

Rob Roy, no arguments here. I understand he was overwhelmed because he's a hospital physician working covid, but it doesn't take more than a few minutes to communicate to the buyer.