Rooney brushes

Surely there are various gentlemen that frequent this forum that have purchased brushes directly from Mr. Sabini (M&F) or Rooney?

This being the case, there will be an invoice associated with the goods containing the suppliers details including the Registered Company Address, Co. Reg No. and VAT No.?

Has anyone ever seen an invoice from Mr. Sabini (M&F) or Rooney?

Or do they just take money with no visible paper trail? That being the case, I'm sure it would pique the interest of HMRC ...
 
But you can't buy direct from Rooney, that's the point, that they're so guarded. I've bought two Rooney brushes from Executive but even they say that Rooney are hard to deal with... it's the reason that Executive are clearing out their remaining stock. Last one that I had a fault with, Brian had to put it right himself (even though the sale of goods act puts the final onus on the manufacturer to reimburse the retailer or give him replacement stock of faulty goods)... he explained that despite emailing the factory a few times he'd not heard from them in months and he's kind of given up on them.

I seriously doubt any company with any public profile is selling direct with no paper trail, and I'd find the idea a bit far fetched if I'm honest.

but please confirm that they actually do have a workshop and people are working there.

Sorry Lee, I've only just seen this. Yes there appears to be a physical workshop (small factory unit) where I thought it should be, I assumed it was Rooney as every other unit there was named and signed. On this unit the windows were grated and I couldn't see in, I asked at the intercom if this was where Rooney brushes were assembled but they wouldn't discuss it and I came away none the wiser. I can only draw vague conclusions from that, and nothing that I'd have any back up for, sorry I can't confirm anything concrete.
 
You may not be able to buy from Rooney directly, but you can from Mr. Sabini it would seem under his M&F umbrella.

A quick search on www.companieshouse.gov.uk suggests that Morris & Forndran Ltd & R A Rooney Ltd were dissolved some time ago ...

Try and find any trace of the two businesses in UK official channels & you may well be frustrated.
 
However, and at the end of the day, if that is how Mr. Sabini and others wish to run their business, then that is entirely their perogative.

If they are producing quality brushes at reasonable prices, the market will dictate if their rationale is vindicated. It would seem it is - there is a good following for their product.

It is not a policy I would adopt for our company ... transparency, ease of communication & a 'voice' to talk to are core values that Simpson customers remind me that we do better than most.
 
Well said Mark, just my two pennies worth I would have to say having dealt with many many companies and their customer services throughout the years I would personally have Simpsons customer service the most helpful friendly and efficient I've ever dealt.

Jamie.
 
Mark Watterson said:
Surely there are various gentlemen that frequent this forum that have purchased brushes directly from Mr. Sabini (M&F) or Rooney?

This being the case, there will be an invoice associated with the goods containing the suppliers details including the Registered Company Address, Co. Reg No. and VAT No.?

Has anyone ever seen an invoice from Mr. Sabini (M&F) or Rooney?

Or do they just take money with no visible paper trail? That being the case, I'm sure it would pique the interest of HMRC ...

i have bought two brushes from lee directly, he was very friendly and helpful, i dealt with him via email and over the phone and then just sent funds via paypal and as promised the brushes arrived with no issues.

he used to sell bits on ebay and i only found out that the Ebay username was Lee via another forum member.

i have no issues with how he runs his business, if it works well for him then good luck to the fella, the brushes he has sent me were awesome !!!!!

Steve
 
pugh-the-special-one said:
Well said Mark, just my two pennies worth I would have to say having dealt with many many companies and their customer services throughout the years I would personally have Simpsons customer service the most helpful friendly and efficient I've ever dealt.

Jamie.

+1, I had problems with a brush once, it happens. But Simpsons were great it was sorted out very quickly and with no bother.
 
Thank you fellas but please, I'm not here to hijack this thread or try and point score ... I believe that the forum members are trying to get some clarity on Rooney.

From a personal point of view, I'm all ears too!!!

Any information which can be shared is good information.
 
I'm sure all Simpson owners appreciate your hard work and support that comes with a Simpson brush. I know I certainly do :)

With regards the the Rooney story, I've just accepted that its a mystery. I just get on with enjoying the brushes that I have.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that in my collection, I've got brushes with history (Simpson, plisson..) so that box is ticked. Not fussed about the rest but only in how they perform.
 
Mark Watterson said:
Or do they just take money with no visible paper trail? That being the case, I'm sure it would pique the interest of HMRC ...

Wouldn't they also be interested in making sure "Made in England" is in fact made in England?

I know the US takes that very seriously. Although our standards for made in the USA is very specific and very high. Even assembled in the US is a higher standard.
 
I'm suspecting this might be a veiled comment regarding our brushes being manufactured on the Isle of Man?

You have actually PM'd in this regard have you not?

I'm not quite sure that the few miles of sea between us & England makes that much of a difference but people will vote with their hard earned on that point - so far, we seem to have been 'lucky'.

Our location has never been concealed in an effort to deceive or distract - Generally, the shaving aficionado & fraternity know their onions. They are a well versed and researched group.

Mark

asharperrazor said:
Mark Watterson said:
Or do they just take money with no visible paper trail? That being the case, I'm sure it would pique the interest of HMRC ...

Wouldn't they also be interested in making sure "Made in England" is in fact made in England?

I know the US takes that very seriously. Although our standards for made in the USA is very specific and very high. Even assembled in the US is a higher standard.



As a side, our Taxes and National Insurance contributions are paid directly to the Isle of Man Government who in turn have a revenue sharing arrangement with HMRC.

Death and taxes, nothing more sure in life.

Our location also gives us quite a disadvantage in manufacturing costs - carriage prices are extortionate and we must ship everything effectively twice to the UK / GB being an Island.

We are held to ransom slightly by the local sea carrier but that's life.

Mark

asharperrazor said:
Mark Watterson said:
Or do they just take money with no visible paper trail? That being the case, I'm sure it would pique the interest of HMRC ...

Wouldn't they also be interested in making sure "Made in England" is in fact made in England?

I know the US takes that very seriously. Although our standards for made in the USA is very specific and very high. Even assembled in the US is a higher standard.
 
I think the one thing that we do know is that Rooney aren't a company per se any longer, probably just a brand name only now, applied to some good brushes made by someone who doesn't want to discuss the detail. Ho hum.
They're good quality, I think we're agreed on that.
 
Canuck said:
I think the one thing that we do know is that Rooney aren't a company per se any longer, probably just a brand name only now, applied to some good brushes made by someone who doesn't want to discuss the detail. Ho hum.
They're good quality, I think we're agreed on that.

Yes,,and handles and knots made in China too , as many we suspect...:-/
 
Mark Watterson said:
I'm suspecting this might be a veiled comment regarding our brushes being manufactured on the Isle of Man?

You have actually PM'd in this regard have you not?

I'm not quite sure that the few miles of sea between us & England makes that much of a difference but people will vote with their hard earned on that point - so far, we seem to have been 'lucky'.

Our location has never been concealed in an effort to deceive or distract - Generally, the shaving aficionado & fraternity know their onions. They are a well versed and researched group.

Mark

asharperrazor said:
Mark Watterson said:
Or do they just take money with no visible paper trail? That being the case, I'm sure it would pique the interest of HMRC ...

Wouldn't they also be interested in making sure "Made in England" is in fact made in England?

I know the US takes that very seriously. Although our standards for made in the USA is very specific and very high. Even assembled in the US is a higher standard.



As a side, our Taxes and National Insurance contributions are paid directly to the Isle of Man Government who in turn have a revenue sharing arrangement with HMRC.

Death and taxes, nothing more sure in life.

Our location also gives us quite a disadvantage in manufacturing costs - carriage prices are extortionate and we must ship everything effectively twice to the UK / GB being an Island.

We are held to ransom slightly by the local sea carrier but that's life.

Mark

asharperrazor said:
Mark Watterson said:
Or do they just take money with no visible paper trail? That being the case, I'm sure it would pique the interest of HMRC ...

Wouldn't they also be interested in making sure "Made in England" is in fact made in England?

I know the US takes that very seriously. Although our standards for made in the USA is very specific and very high. Even assembled in the US is a higher standard.





Interesting, but no. But that misinterpretation explains your response.

Let me just say it plainly so there's no more confusion between us.

Based on the evidence, I don't believe Rooney currently has a factory in Britain that even does the cursory, stamps the handles or glues the hair, that would legally make it Made in England.

Vulfix & Simpsons clearly has a factory. In fact, Vulfix & Simpson is the only company off the top of my head where you can actually take a tour of their factory and they publicly disclose where their factory is. Very transparent and I commend your company for it.
 
Mark Watterson said:
Surely there are various gentlemen that frequent this forum that have purchased brushes directly from Mr. Sabini (M&F) or Rooney?

This being the case, there will be an invoice associated with the goods containing the suppliers details including the Registered Company Address, Co. Reg No. and VAT No.?

Has anyone ever seen an invoice from Mr. Sabini (M&F) or Rooney?

Or do they just take money with no visible paper trail? That being the case, I'm sure it would pique the interest of HMRC ...

The problem, Mark, with Rooney and M&F brushes is that they are nearly impossible to purchase in Europe, now that executive-shaving has sold their last Rooney brushes.
I have to have a friend from Badger and Blade pick some Rooneys up for me on the vintageblades.com shop, since they don't offer shipment outside of the US - that's the only way possible to get hold of the Stubby 2XL and 3XL brush I want (2 awesome brushes, that I find have equal quality compared to my Chubby 2 2-Band and Duke 3 2-Band)

It appears the owner of Rooney and M&F, Lee Sabini, is next to impossible to get in contact with. I have sent him numerous emails and got one reply where he offred me to buy an M&F Blonde Badger, but then I replied that I wanted to buy that brush, he never replied back to me and it's now 2 weeks ago:icon_cry2:

This guy and Rooney & M&F brushes are like ghosts - you know they exist, but you never really see them - only on websites - and if you live in the US.
I finally got my Stubby 2XL, so I know they do exist - but they are damn hard to find.........

Claus frm Denmark

jaycey said:
Their premises are about 15 minutes drive from where I work.
I will be doing further investigations in the near future;)

I look forward to hearing what you find out about this infamous company :exclamation:
 
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