A free publication from Allan Heywood Enamels - all links will open in a separate browser window


Steve Proyer's "Stop the Press"


At first glance one could be forgiven for assuming that eNAMEL is advertising the company whose banner ad. appears above. The bizarre set of facts that follows is, however, intended not to promote Steve Proyer's screen printing firm - far from it - but rather to enlighten those who might unwittingly fall into the trap of attempting to do business with the elusive, and in our view, brazenly dishonest Mr. Proyer.

In passing we note with amused disbelief that young Steve apparently sees nothing unusual from a business point of view in promoting on the "Stop the Press" website what one can only assume is his personal latex rubber fetish! Perhaps that should have alerted us to the fact that something was not quite kosher around u2, Burmarsh Studios, Marsden Street, London NW5 3JA.

A chronological email record of our frustrating and mostly futile attempts to communicate with the invisible Mr. Proyer in order to get him to produce water-slide transfers for which he was paid in advance by direct deposit to his bank account some 6 months ago or refund our AUD 501.68 follows:


*** Since this article was written in August 2003 much additional correspondence with Mr Proyer has occurred. However it took the commencement of legal action to force him to make partial restitution. On December 10th 2003 Stop the Press transferred AUD 406.43 to my account. That presumably was GBP 180.00 less transfer costs. It's a niggardly, petty, sulky, kicking-and-screaming-all-the-way-to-the-bank adolescent response to what should have been a straightforward business transaction between adults.

1/ email TO Stop the Press January 9 2003 11.30am

g'day folks

Are you able to reproduce the attached design ( Adobe Illustrator 8 .ai ) accurately in the form of a ceramic waterslide transfer ? The minimum stroke weight is 0.05mm.

What is the finest stroke weight you are able to reproduce ?

If so, what are the likely costs involved for your minimum run?

Yours Sincerely

Allan Heywood
2/ email FROM Stop the Press January 11 2003 1.11am

Hi Allan,

Thanks for your enquiry for water slide transfers & sending the Illustrator attachment (if only my Brit customers could do things in such a straight forward way!!)

I'd be pleased to make the water slide transfers for you. There is no minimum order quantity, though I'd probably produce 50 with say 30 finished to suitable quality. The cost of setting up including films, screens & make ready including 30-50 transfers would be £140- . If you require a larger quantity the cost would come down considerably. If you are doing this as a tester run perhaps I can suggest a dry transfer (rubdown) , it's temporary & would rub off easily, but good for modelling/photographing.

The two images 87.5mm/sq & 43.7mm/sq would be produced on 1 sheet for you to cut.

I hope this is acceptable to you & within your budget. If you'd like to proceed, could you send your fax number to me so I can send my bank details for you to credit. (This is probably the safest way at the moment).

Regards

Steve Proyer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stop the Press!
u2. Burmarsh Workshops
Marsden Street
London NW5 3JA
Tel: 020. 7691.4242 www.stop-the-press.co.uk
3/ email TO Stop the Press January 11 2003 9.09am

G'day Steve

Thanks for your prompt reply, and for your quote which seems very reasonable.

I'm in the beginning stages of a project which may or may not go ahead I'm sure you know the story - and I need to get some idea of prices and whether the level of detail can be achieved so that I don't end up with egg on my face.

I assume that accurate registration of the three colours won't be a problem ?

"If you are doing this as a tester run perhaps I can suggest a dry transfer (rubdown) , it's temporary & would rub off easily, but good for modelling/photographing."

By "tester run" do you mean for display to the client prior to approval Steve?

"I can send my bank details for you to credit."

Can't do that from here mate - I'm in Australia. If it goes ahead CC or IMO would be my preferred forms of payment.

cheers

Allan
4/ email FROM Stop the Press January 11 2003 10.46am

Hi Allen

I assume that accurate registration of the three colours won't be a problem ?

As the artwork is in Illustrator there will be no registration problem... it's only 2 colours, red & black (the grey will be represented as half tones of the black.

"If you are doing this as a tester run perhaps I can suggest a dry transfer (rubdown) , it's temporary & would rub off easily, but good for modelling/photographing." By "tester run" do you mean for display to the client prior to approval Steve?

A rubdown is handy for visual interpretation & initial photographs. Say for a new shampoo bottle graphics. Probably an expense & risk too far for you, it could get damaged in transit too.

I can send my bank details for you to credit. Can't do that from here mate - I'm in Australia. If it goes ahead CC or IMO would be my preferred forms of payment.

Int. Money Order's fine, Thanks

Have a good weekend, from snow-bound London Town

Steve
5/ email TO Stop the Press January 11 2003 11.12am

g'day Steve- it's heading for 35 C here - gonna get hotter too.

the grey will be represented as half tones of the black.

I'm printing proofs out as I go to check the drawing on an EPL-5800 laser which prints 1200 x 1200 real dpi - at line weights of 0.05 mm 1200 x 1200 halftoning provides broken lines. That's why I've set it up as three distinct colours.

Unless there's something I'm missing here ?

cheers

Allan
6/ email FROM Stop the Press January 17 2003 12.50am

Hi Allen,

Sorry I haven't been in touch, we've been very busy here.

If you want the clock face done in 3 colours, that's no problem & on second evaluation, probably a better idea. It does though raise the price to £170 to cover the extra film, screen, set-up & print.

There is no problem in reproducing the fine lines.

Regards

Steve
7/ email FROM Stop the Press January 17 2003 4.45am

Thanks Steve

Good you're busy, keeps the b/m happy ! Pretty hectic around here too. Just one more question - what are the screen's usable dimensions, so that I can see how many different dials I can fit onto the one screen ?

Cheers

Allan
8/ email TO Stop the Press February 27 2003 3.40pm

g'day Steve

Attached is an Illustrator 8 file of 3 layers - red, grey and black.

Will forward an IMO in the amount of STG 170 + postage as soon as you advise the postage costs.

Thanks

Allan
9/ email FROM Stop the Press February 28 2003 8.06pm

Hi Allen,

Good to hear from you again, unfortunately the Illustrator artwork didn't come through properly.

Possible reasons: make sure all layers are in CMYK , and "Save as" Illustrator eps format. (and outline all fonts.)

As far a postage, say £10 recorded air mail. I'm very busy at the moment, so I can't give you a delivery time, but as soon as I get the artwork, I'll make the films & screens, it's just when I can get the beds free for what probably amounts to 4 days work. I'll keep you informed though.

Regards

Steve
10/ email TO Stop the Press February 28 2003 8.43pm

Goodoh Steve, thanks.

----- Original Message ----- From: Stop the Press To: pictures Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 9:04 AM Subject: Re: water slide transfers, Moorhouse & Waltham dials

Hi Allen,

Good to hear from you again, unfortunately the Illustrator artwork didn't come through properly. Possible reasons: make sure all layers are in CMYK

- they were

and "Save as" Illustrator eps format. - OK, this one's .eps

(and outline all fonts.) - there are no embedded fonts - it's all vectors

As far a postage, say £10 recorded air mail. I'm very busy at the moment, so I can't give you a delivery time, but as soon as I get the artwork, I'll make the films & screens, it's just when I can get the beds free for what probably amounts to 4 days work. I'll keep you informed though.

Regards Steve
11/ email TO Stop the Press March 5 2003 11.41am

Steve, if you email me your bank account details I can have an IMT carried out by my bank

cheers

Allan Heywood

ps did you get the Illustrator file OK this time?
12/ email FROM Stop the Press March 6 2003 1.15am

----- Original Message ----- From: "Stop the Press" To: "pictures" Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2003 1:15 AM Subject: Illustrator file

Hi Allan,

Yep, I've got the Illustrator file ok. Just to check, the largest dial is 66mm in diameter..yes??

ps did you get the Illustrator file OK this time?
13/ email TO Stop the Press March 6 2003 10.16am

Hi Allan,Yep, I've got the Illustrator file ok. Just to check, the largest dial is 66mm in diameter..yes??

Not quite Steve - it's 65.584 mm x 65.038 mm and needs to stay exactly that - the file is a 1:1 file - when you open it what I want is right there.

cheers

Allan
14/ email FROM Stop the Press March 6 2003 11.4am

Thanks for the transfer Allan, I've sent the file off for film to be made, hopefully the screens will be made over the weekend. Please delete the jpeg & any other details from your hard drive. Paranoid? You would be too, if you lived in London.

Steve
15/ email TO Stop the Press March 6 2003 11.52am

goodoh - I've removed your account details from the JPG Steve - I had previously deleted the emails containing the information as you requested.

Alln
16/ email TO Stop the Press April 4 2003 10.32am

g'day Steve

What's the state of play in re the decals ?

cheers

Allan

17/ email TO Stop the Press April 9 2003 6.07am

Please advise eta of decals Steve.

Thanks

Allan Heywood
18/ email FROM Stop the Press April 11 2003 5.07am

Hi Allen,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, we've just moved out Mac system over to OSX and have only just received our emails, coupled with that we've been very busy.

The artwork you sent had to be readjusted and the films have had to be remade. I hope to be sending out the finished decals next week. I hope this hasn't been an inconvenience to you.

Regards

Steve
19/ email FROM Stop the Press April 11 2003 6.23am

g'day Steve

The artwork you sent had to be readjusted - what do you mean by "re-adjusted" Steve ?

Allan
20/ email TO Stop the Press May 9 9.10am

Steve

I'm deeply disappointed and quite angry that you've failed to honour your promises after accepting my client's money in advance. Your failure to meet your obligations has caused me considerable embarrassment as I try to make excuses for your company's unprofessional behaviour and the non-appearance of my client's decals.

It's time you either admitted that you can't do the job and immediately returned the monies paid to your account or got off your arse and did the job for which you've already been paid and which you claimed would present "no problems" for you.

Allan Heywood
21/ email TO Stop the Press May 26 10.40am

The Principal
Steve Proyer
"Stop the Press!"
u2. Burmarsh Workshops
Marsden Street
London NW5 3JA

Tel: 020 7691 4242 www.stop-the-press.co.uk

Steve

I can't imagine why you've chosen to behave in this manner, unless it's embarrassment at having to admit you can't do the job properly - everyone in business comes up against this problem at some time or other - they bite off more than they can chew - it's not a big deal unless you let it be!

If it's more serious however and you are unable from a solvency point of view to repay the money already paid to you then we must come to an agreement for you to repay the money in several installments.

The way to resolve the matter though isn't to continue to ignore my concerns. You should understand that your non-performance has damaged my business' credibility with the client on whose I behalf I ordered and paid in advance for the decals. I'm sure you would understand that from the point of view of my client's trust in me in the future it is not an option for me to allow the matter to go unresolved.

If you don't need to enter into an agreement to repay by installments then the amount in full of GBP 180.00 should be paid to our account at the Commonwealth Bank, Montgomery Street, Skipton 3361 Victoria Australia by close of business Friday May 30th 2003 to avoid action to recover the debt.

Allan Heywood
Heywood Enamels
P.O. Box 999
Skipton 3361
Victoria Australia

+613 5340 2092
22/ email TO Stop the Press June 6 12.52pm

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Decal prepayment recovery due to non-delivery Date: Fri, 06 Jun 2003 12:52:07 +1000 From: Allan Heywood Organization: Allan Heywood Enamels To: Steve Proyer

G'day Steve

Have engaged http://www.creditdebtlegal.co.uk/home/index.htm to act for us in the matter of recovering moneys ( 180 pounds Sterling ) paid to your company in advance for the supply of decals which have not been delivered.

Pity it had to get to this stage.

Regards

Allan Heywood
Heywood Enamels
P.O. Box 999 Skipton 3361
Victoria Australia
23/ email FROM Stop the Press June 11 6.13pm

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Back up & running Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 19:15:29 +0100 From: Steve Proyer To: Allan Heywood

Hi Allan,

My apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I have had to move my production works to larger premises outside London and have experienced problems with the installation of a new ~DSL server (and other moving difficulties), resulting in your emails only just getting to me.

On your part I understand your action for the recovery of moneys. The artwork layers had to be adjusted & new films made. The screens are ready to be put on the flatbed for a test-run; if you still need the job done, I am happy to proceed. If however, you have had them done elsewhere, then I am happy to refund you, less, of course, the cost of the films & screens.

Regards

Steve
24/ email TO Stop the Press June 16 11.25pm

Allan Heywood wrote:

G'day Steve

Steve Proyer wrote:

Hi Allan, My apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I have had to move my production works to larger premises outside London and have experienced problems with the installation of a new ~DSL server (and other moving difficulties), resulting in your emails only just getting to me. On your part I understand your action for the recovery of moneys. The artwork layers had to be adjusted & new films made.

What adjustments specifically had to be made ? No alterations to dimensions or line weight are acceptable, as was made clear on several occasions previously.

The screens are ready to be put on the flatbed for a test-run; if you still need the job done, I am happy to proceed. If however, you have had them done elsewhere, then I am happy to refund you, less, of course, the cost of the films & screens.

My deadline has long since passed Steve and from that point of view the damage has been done - however you say you can do the job and I expect that it will be done EXACTLY as agreed or ALL moneys will be refunded.

Allan Heywood
25/ email TO Stop the Press June 16 11.25pm

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: Back up & running Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 11:24:59 +1000 From: Allan Heywood Organization: Allan Heywood Enamels To: Steve Proyer References:

g'day Steve

The artwork layers had to be adjusted .....

I'll ask for the 3rd time - what exactly do you mean by the above statement Steve ?

No deviation from the original line weights and dimensions is acceptable.

The screens are ready to be put on the flatbed for a test-run; if you still need the job done, I am happy to proceed.

That's very gracious of you - I still expect the job to be done as agreed.

If however, you have had them done elsewhere, then I am happy to refund you, less, of course, the cost of the films & screens.

If the job isn't done according to our agreement I would expect that you would refund ALL moneys Steve.

Allan Heywood
26/ email TO Stop the Press July 22 7.20am

It is now more than another month since you sent your last email - what is the position in re my decals Steve ?

Allan Heywood
So ..... the situation as it stands now is that as of August 15th 2003 Mr Proyer still hasn't contacted me, shipped my decals or refunded my money. Regardless of what time I phone him, his answering service is on and he doesn't return my calls ( the most recent made at 9.00pm on August 15th 2003 ).

"A tad short-sighted" is one phrase that springs to mind given the number of hits this site gets annually from people who would potentially be customers for young Steve, although "barking mad" is probably more accurate !