Advice? I was ripped off?

dabass · #1 06-16-2006, 08:48 PM

I need some advice on how to retrieve $1000 for a bass I had on consignment at a "reputable" bass boutique shop in CA.. I must say upfront that the shop I am having this experience with was sold and the new owner is a really a good honest guy... Anyway, I had a bass on consignment at this shop an only part of the money was paid..The bass was sold last year and the old owner has not given me the remaining $1000 he owes me...We have been communicating an he has given me dates where he promised to pay the remaining balance and has done so for the last 6 months...In fact he never told me the bass was sold until I called the "new shop owner" and new owner the told me "the bass was sold months ago"..Snce the old owner left I have been e-mailing calling his new place of employment and nothing, no response..He had the nerve telling me the check was mailed last week and he had the wrong address....What to do????

spudmaster34 · #2 06-16-2006, 08:57 PM

eat his soul.
i would suggest filleting it then wrapping it in cornhusks it helps seal in the flavor

jumbosilverette · #3 06-16-2006, 09:36 PM

More than likely he left a lot of people in a lurch. You might contact the new owner and see how many others are trying to track down this guy. Perhaps as a group you might find a solution. (No posse jokes, please)

Munjibunga · #4 06-16-2006, 11:26 PM

I believe I know who you're talking about. I have met the new owner, and he strikes me as a straight shooter. I think there are some financial dealings between him and the old owner left to be ironed out. You may be caught in the middle of that. I'd call him up and ask him how he intends to resolve the issue. My bet is that, if you deal with him professionally, you'll get this resolved easily, if eventually.

BTW, I've met the previous owner, and he also seems to be honest. "Tracking him down" wouldn't be difficult at all, but may not be worthwhile. Your issue probably is solely with the new owner, who now owns the business with whom you did the transaction. If you can't get this resolved in the next week or two, PM me and I'll see if I can help.

Jomyo · #5 06-17-2006, 04:33 AM

If the shop is in San Diego then you are not the only one who is owed money. If that's the case I would not give the old owner the benefit of the doubt...

Demon · #6 06-17-2006, 05:17 AM

Violence is the solution!

bubinga5 · #7 06-17-2006, 06:07 AM

Send him the cursed bones of a moss rat......

anonymous278347457 · #8 06-17-2006, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demon

Violence is the solution!

haha, that solves everything

mountain drew · #9 06-17-2006, 06:24 AM

Get a lawyer. Your bass was on consignment and you did have a written contract, right? Sue him for your money. Good lawyers are not that expensive and from your description of the situation this might be the only way to get any of your money back.
Good luck.

Joe Boom · #10 06-17-2006, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jomyo

If the shop is in San Diego then you are not the only one who is owed money. If that's the case I would not give the old owner the benefit of the doubt...

Well thought I had been ripped off my the same guy, but when I read this post I was sure.

$#!+ $#!+ $#!+ $#!+ $#!+ $#!+ $#!+ !!!!!

I was nailed by the same guy on my Eden cabinet. Nice and friendly, but I have been trying to get my money for over a year.

I assure you, unfortunately, that you will never see your money.

SBassman · #11 06-17-2006, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Your issue probably is solely with the new owner, who now owns the business with whom you did the transaction.

Doesn't this depend on the t's and c's of the business sale?

Even though the location and business look the same, there are probably two separate corporations here - the old one owned by the scammer, and the new one owned by the new guy.

If so, then the dispute - and necessary legal action - is with the scammer.

SBassman · #12 06-17-2006, 06:44 AM

You really want to find someone who can initiate legal action.

I don't care what anyone wants to say about the guy maybe being a decent guy. He has demonstrated he is not. The amount of other debt this guy might have been carrying as he brought the business to a halt is irrelevant. The only thing that is relevant is that he Did indeed collect money for a consigned bass yet not turn that money over to the customer as required.

No code words are necessary here - this is Stealing plain and simple, and the scammer needs a legal arm twist to make amends. Do yourself - and others in the same boat - a favor by finding an affordable way to initiate the legal action.

britrit · #13 06-17-2006, 07:12 AM

It seems that there is quite a few people here on TB who got ripped off by the guy. Maybe you should all contribute a bit towards a lawyer, and sue for your money, + some for causing you all distress.

blackreverend · #14 06-17-2006, 08:39 AM

To be honest; since you brought this up, I think you should be willing to name names too, since some of us may (or may not) deal with this shop (and perhaps the person in question, if he is still in the industry) so if there is some sort of "black cloud" as it were hanging over this shop, we should know before we initiate any dealings here.

Loel · #15 06-17-2006, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBassman4x

You really want to find someone who can initiate legal action.

I don't care what anyone wants to say about the guy maybe being a decent guy. He has demonstrated he is not. The amount of other debt this guy might have been carrying as he brought the business to a halt is irrelevant. The only thing that is relevant is that he Did indeed collect money for a consigned bass yet not turn that money over to the customer as required.

No code words are necessary here - this is Stealing plain and simple, and the scammer needs a legal arm twist to make amends. Do yourself - and others in the same boat - a favor by finding an affordable way to initiate the legal action.

+100
what you may want to do is obtain legal reprsentation to
launch a suite against both the scammer and new owner
resulting in the scammer getting it from all sides;you, your lawyer,current owner,his lawyer,and any and others here
at TB that may be affected,causing him to possibly buckel under and
reimburse you,OTOH he may choose chapter 11,in any event
good luck with your situation.

Larry

Joe Boom · #16 06-17-2006, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackreverend

To be honest; since you brought this up, I think you should be willing to name names too, since some of us may (or may not) deal with this shop (and perhaps the person in question, if he is still in the industry) so if there is some sort of "black cloud" as it were hanging over this shop, we should know before we initiate any dealings here.

Bass Alone

My transaction occured in March of '05. I have numerous e-mails indicating that I will receive the money due to me. Yet, 15 months later, I am still waiting for the proverbial Check In The Mail.

I have not dealt with them since. If the new owner was not the person that I dealth with, then I can offer not opinion on his business practices.

Munjibunga · #17 06-17-2006, 11:11 AM

Well, if litigation is the way you want to go, I'd suggest small claims court. As I said before, the previous owner would not be hard to "track down." If he thought he was going to have to pay you what he owes you PLUS the cost of you coming to San Diego to sue him, he might be motivated to settle with you. Check the terms and conditions of your contract and see whether he is personally liable or if it's the company.

ric1312 · #18 06-17-2006, 01:49 PM

I've run into similar situations. Often if you just go to a lawyer and have him type up a threatening, that states that if the money is not in your hands by certain date you are going to proceed with legal action, that is enough.

Not sure of your local laws, but you might be able to threaten him with lean as well.

Letter should be mailed from the lawyer and be official. Some lawyers will even take the five minutes of time to call the guy for you.

dabass · #19 06-17-2006, 03:17 PM

Thanks for all the advice..I'm in NYC and traveling to Calf would be difficult and expensive...I know the new owner is a "stand up guy" and I would continue to do business with him, without hesitation...I believe the old owner is a sociopath and can't tell the truth...He's been stringing me along for months and had the nerve to tell me he sent the check and it was lost.....