Al Brown-Browns Boas-Nightmare Transaction

Originally Posted by Drew Zaun

They weren't injured, nobody got hurt so there is no need for an attorney to be involved. Since the plates weren't grounded properly there was a buildup charge of static electricity, the same as if you touch metal in a very dry environment. You get a little shock, not electrocuted. Kind of silly for someone to lose their livlihood over nothing.

Drew,

If I got shocked every time I touched something I would consider that an injury. That should not happen. That you should be so cavalier about what happened here, says something to me about you. I guess you consider products are fine unless you actually get blackened smoking flesh from touching them, huh?

Originally Posted by lucille

Drew,

If I got shocked every time I touched something I would consider that an injury. That should not happen. That you should be so cavalier about what happened here, says something to me about you. I guess you consider products are fine unless you actually get blackened smoking flesh from touching them, huh?

That you could claim an "injury" even though there is nothing physically wrong with you and hire a lawyer to attack someone who did not actually cause you any physical harm tells me a lot about you.

Yes, it was not wired correctly and needed to be repaired. For that you get some consideration on repair costs, not a windfall jury settlement.

For the record I work with electricity every single day. A little shock is NOT an injury.

Originally Posted by Drew Zaun

They weren't injured, nobody got hurt so there is no need for an attorney to be involved. Since the plates weren't grounded properly there was a buildup charge of static electricity, the same as if you touch metal in a very dry environment. You get a little shock, not electrocuted. Kind of silly for someone to lose their livlihood over nothing.

Actually static electricity had nothing to do with it. If the system is not grounded the electricity can arch and thus electrical shock occurs. Plus considering i wear boots with rubber bottoms and a cement floor, this was not a simple shock. Also is sure as heck didnt feel like and static i have ever felt, much stronger.
Im not looking for any court charges or anything of that nature i really just want a refund for this 400 pound paper weight. At this point im sure nothing will come of it since Al doesnt care to even come here and state his side (guess he knows is screwed me out of alot of money) This is a great business man if you ask me.

Originally Posted by Drew Zaun

For the record I work with electricity every single day. A little shock is NOT an injury.

You obviously are defending some shoddy work because of your livelihood. Other electricians might be able to see the point of view of someone who not once, but every time this new item was touched, got a shock. You do not know what another deems an injury, you are trying to minimize the effect of this shoddy work. Sad.

Originally Posted by bryanlucas

Al has also told me he suffers from bi polar disorder.

And? So do a lot of us. What does that have to do with all this?

Originally Posted by Drew Zaun

I am not going to comment on your dispute with Al Brown, I don't know him or you nor do I know what is a fair resolution to your problem as far as money is concerned. What I will do is offer you some advice on how to use the product you have, especially as you sold your old rack?

Steel likes to rust, no doubt about it. If it was not treated correctly it would begin rusting almost immediatly in the average herp room, especially if there was electricity involved, which there is.

The good news is that this is almost certainly just surface rust (any chance on those pics?). Rather than spend an additional $400 that you have to try and recover from Al or whoever made the rack (as sending the product to the manufaturer for warranty work is not unheard of) you might want to try fixing it yourself.

A protable grinder with a wire wheel will get the surface rust off easily enough, you can then prime and paint it. It sucks that you should have to do this after spending $1200 on a rack but at least if you do it now you can salvage the piece and get some use out of it. I am pretty sure no judge will refund you the entire amount since it does still work like it is supposed to, just looks like crap and is slowly deteriorating.

This is a cheap but fast and permanent fix and you can then at least have piece of mind that your animals are fine while you figure out the finer points of the deal at your leisure.

Good luck.

Saves me having to type all that out. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Drew Zaun

That you could claim an "injury" even though there is nothing physically wrong with you and hire a lawyer to attack someone who did not actually cause you any physical harm tells me a lot about you.

Ditto.

Originally Posted by snared99

Actually static electricity had nothing to do with it. If the system is not grounded the electricity can arch and thus electrical shock occurs. Plus considering i wear boots with rubber bottoms and a cement floor, this was not a simple shock. Also is sure as heck didnt feel like and static i have ever felt, much stronger.
Im not looking for any court charges or anything of that nature i really just want a refund for this 400 pound paper weight. At this point im sure nothing will come of it since Al doesnt care to even come here and state his side (guess he knows is screwed me out of alot of money) This is a great business man if you ask me.

I hate to pick nits but static electricity does arc, in fact that is what lightning is technically. But at any rate the type of rubber in your shoes is not insulating, it is not pure enough, and beyond that the shock occurred because of the difference in potential between you and the rack. I really only say this because I would hate to see someone really get hurt thinking they are insulated with any boots or shoes they wear. Insulating gloves and mats are completely different altogether. For the record as well it is not the tires that protect you in a car, but rather a phenomenon known as "Faraday's Cage", where the electricity stays around the outside of the vehicle and does not penetrate all throughout.

Originally Posted by lucille

You obviously are defending some shoddy work because of your livelihood. Other electricians might be able to see the point of view of someone who not once, but every time this new item was touched, got a shock. You do not know what another deems an injury, you are trying to minimize the effect of this shoddy work. Sad.

Oh please I am not nor have I ever defended the rack. I simply pointed out that nobody was hurt or the OP would have stated as much, that getting a shock is not the same thing as being injured, and how getting a lawyer and trying to sue for someone's business because of no injury is absurd. As for what someone deems an injury? It is not up for debate, no physical damage is no injury. And for that matter how do you propose to sue for an injury you can't point to and can not even prove ever happened?

Personally I am getting sick of having to pay so much more for everything because everyone has to have insurance to cover frivolous lawsuits. Thankfully the OP is not taking your advice.

I do realize that Mr. Brown is not man enough, or ethical enough to provide a refund. Heck he will not even come on here and state his case, even though he has been made aware of the thread. At this point i really want other to realize to work this man creates, and the major lack of pride he has in it.

If Mr. Brown is not trying to come to a resolution with you (not sure a refund is in order unless you are sending it back?), and he claims he did not build it, maybe try the person who did? You already have the electrical problem fixed, you just need the rust removed and the metal finished properly to have the rack you ordered, maybe you can reach suitable compensation with them?

As for Mr. Brown, he sold you a defective product for a lot of money and won't stand by his product. That is not good by any means. The side bar between Lucille and I notwithstanding, this is not good business practice and perhaps you should go after him for the cost of repairs if the manufacturer won't help you.

The whole point is that the OP bought a rack that isnt even up to par as far as electrically working correctly. Whether there is a warranty or not the actual rack itself isnt even working properly. He bought an item that isnt functioning, let alone gets shocked by it. It needs to either be fixed by the person who made the rack or the OP gets it fixed and gets reimbursed for the cost.

You dont have to be hurt in order to sue and win. You fall in a grocery store because of a spill you can sue whether your injured or not. Lets say you own a business (a store) and 2 young kids get into a fight in your store. YOU (the store owner) GETS SUED.

If you sue, you will win. I'm sorry but if I bought a product and it shocked/electrocuted me anytime I touched it, I would want a full refund. If the refund wasnt given, I'd sue. I have a 4 year old daughter and if she were to touch that, it wouldnt have been the same as if I touched it. Also it is a fire hazard. Heat tape in general is a fire hazard and it even labels it everywhere that the company isnt responsible for anything. You wire heat tape wrong and you have a fire. The OP has heat PANELS that isnt wired properly and the rack is shocking him when he touches it. He can easily sue and win. $1200 is a large amount and any claim with that kind of money will be taken seriously. If you want to go about it, threaten to sure him and see if he takes you more seriously.

Wanted to correct a spelling error above. The last sentence I put 'sure' it was supposed to be 'sue'.