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To all of you,
I myself am a person that tries to think positive and always look at the good side of people. Got to admit I got scammed a few times...
I can't believe that some are talking about forwarding money to TATF for the thinning of our trees (no offense to anyone). Let me explain:
First, TATF has never indicated that they need money.
Second, the thinning was to be paid for with the price we paid.
Third, why would I send money to TATF when I'm afraid that I might not even see a return on my investment?
As I've stated before, I own teak as far as 1993, and contrary to Kevin, I didn't see a dime. It's been years since I got any communication or response to my emails. I work in communication and it is easy to reply to emails. If one does not want to do that, you post some information on the Web. I manage websites for a living and you could be amazed how you can post stuff on the Web. So definitely no excuses for the lack of communication.
To summarize, I'm not interested to cough up more money.
Mass45
Hi guys,
I haven't posted for a while, but I've been reading the posts every other day, went through ALL of them.
The Brunners made tons of money in real estate in the US, and we paid for all the farms that he purchased not too far from the coast with our money. So I'm sure they still have a big retirement plan...
I agree that initially, the intentions might have been honest, but like Planb said, if they are not willing to buy grown trees at half-price, the future does not look good for us. My wife and I don't have that much invested, but we do own 1993 and younger trees. Beside the first thinning reports we got several years ago, we got a big fat 0 since then.
I've been to CR 10 years ago and I did see some of my trees. The beach is nice, the horse riding is fun (and almost dangereous), but I don't want to spend more money going there and probably not being able to get in touch with them to visit the trees again.
Bottom line, let's ask ourselves how we ended on this board? We are not happy!!
I know personally I would have been happy getting thinning reports and proceeds after 16 years of waiting and probably buying more trees if TATF were doing their job!
Mass45
Enough is enough,
As you say in point 3, there are thousands of tree owners and you are the only one that got some money out of TAFT. I have 1993 to 1996 teak and got absolutely not a penny from them. The last news I got from them was for the first thinning. Nothing since then.
I assume that several tree owners know how to use a computer and browse on the Internet. If there were owners that did receive money, don't you think they would reassure the others?
No, it really seems to me that it is a scam and that none of us will get any money from this.
A discusted and pissed honest tree owner,
Mass45
I have 1993-1996 teak trees and from what I can remember, I got only the 7 years thinning report in 2001 or 2004, none since then.
Mass45
At that time, I was still hoping for the best, so I decided to wait fot Raleo, since my oldest trees are from 1993 and they were working on the 1992 trees. They make it hard to resist: $2.51 or $0.25 to $0.95.
A few months later, I discovered this blog, so my choice could have been different now that I know everything.
I've been screwed by my financial advisor for TONS of money, my wife had a bad investment in a business partnership and now this...
Where is the honesty in business?
Hi A1,
The only info I got from TATF was through an email in February 2008 saying:
...Raleo can support paying $2.51 per board foot for the teak from the first thinning. If sold on the local market at the time of the thinning, the same wood would have brought about $.25 per board foot on the local market. The market is now paying about $.95 per board foot.
Please know that you are under no obligation at all to wait for Raleo. You have the complete right to tell us to sell your first-thinning teak lumber directly on the local market for approximately $.95 per board foot...
That was an answer to my question concerning the 7-year thinning and any subsequent thinnings.
Mass45
Humm,Happy Tree Owner...
I don't write too often, but I read every post, and I do find it weird that there is a HAPPY tree owner here...
Let me question myself and wonder if your surname is Steve? If not, don't want to offend you, but how can one be happy when you own 1993 trees and haven't received a penny nor a report of some kind for thinnings past the 7 years mark...
BTW, I kind of understand why we are not allowed to harvest our own trees ourselves. Just imagine for a second that one would damage somebody's elses trees at the same time. But TATF should harvest them at our request if we say so, we own the trees, don't we?
I'm frustrated again with individuals that don't consider the investors as people who value their investments and don't have money to trow around without any regrets. Looks a lot like a Ponzi scheme like Madoff's (happy that he got 150 years by the way!).
Absolutely no good feelings at all for my investment with TATF.
Mass45
Well, I'm a tree owner of 16 years old trees and I got NOTHING! Don't even know what happened for the second thinning. Was it done, don't know.
That's all I have to say.
Thanks Mattyo5 for all your input, very valuable.
I went in 1998 in CR to see my trees (1993, 1995 and 1996). As you say, it is comforting to touch your trees and see the name tag in front of the rows. I'm saving to go next year.
By the way, still haven't received a cent from the thinnings. Don't even know if they did the second thinning and so on.
Mass45
Hi Dirkas,
Why I invested in the trees was for similar reasons, plus it was good to diverse my portfolio. Also, one of my friend knew the Brunners and had a good opinion of them.
I myself own trees from '93 and younger and beside reports for the first thinning, I received nothing since then: no money and no news for subsequent thinnings.
Honestly, I think that it's a scam and that I'll never see any money from there. That's too bad, it makes the stock market look better than TATF, which sums it all...
My recommendation for you is not to invest with them. The Brunners are building an empire for themselves with all the prime land they're buying.
Mass45
Hi Just,
Let me rectify that I didn't receive any kind of payments, it would be one person I know. But I'm pounding him with specifics and he's vague. I think he knows the Brunners, so this means that it could be BS, I don't know.
I keep sending TATF emails regarding the first and second thinning and again, not even a reply. The more I read, the more I believe it's a scam.
My friend told me he'll look into it, but his trees could be 1991 or 1992. This means that he must not have received all proceeds because he would have said so. Can you imagine when or if we'll receive something for the 1993 trees?
Thank you all for your output. I just got news that one person I know did receive a couple of thousand dollars for thinning a few years ago. The amount appears to be small though 'cause I know he owns lots of trees. I'll get more info on how old the trees were.
This friend told me about it in 1994 and I bought some that year. He knows Steve and believes in him. So I went down in 1998, saw my trees in the fields with my name tags at the beginning of the rows. Since then though, I don't get too much info. Technically, Raleo should be processing my trees or should have done it not too long ago, since they are in the Santo Domingo farm in the Otro Laddo field.
I'll keep you posted when I get more information. I agree with some of the previous comments on the fact that I do believe the Brunners are into it for the good reasons, but that they are learning the hard way, at our detriment. Unfortunately, I agree that they should be more open on the possible return on the investment and where exactly they are in the thinning and processing.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read and express my opinions. Sorry for my wording since I'm a French man from Canada...
Hey,
I was wondering how some of you folks found out about TATF? Did someone recommend them or was it through the Web? I myself was told to invest by my former portfolio manager. Someone who personally knew the Brunners. Just curious to see if there's something hiding beneath that rock...
Hi guys, sorry it took me so long to get back to you, but I had to read all posts from the start.
I do have 1993 teak, 1995 and 1996. So far, I got NOTHING!! I did get an estimate of what I should get for the first thinning, but i got NOTHING!! I got no news from the second thinning. I don't know how many they cut, I know NOTHING!!
I did see the trees back in 1998 with my name tags in three separate fields. Did anyone of you see RALEO? Why don't we see any pictures. Does it exist?
By the way, I agree with Belmontx and A1derfullife. Sorry fjonas, but I think you don't exist!
Hi,
I'm new on this blog, but I'm an owner of 500 teak trees since 1994. Got so far 0$... As anyone receive a cent so far?