Robert Coombs (Chondro’s Unlimited) Deal Gone Very Bad !!

Robert Coombs (Chondro’s Unlimited) Deal Gone Very Bad !!

Name: Robert Coombs

Address: 307 stone ave.
Mountain View AR, 72560

Phone#: (870)213-8626

Email addresses:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Website:
www.chondrosunlimited.com

On January 14, 2005 I contacted Robert via email in regards to purchasing (4) of his arboreal cages that he advertised on another websites classifieds. We agreed on a price which included (4) white PVC arboreal cages complete with pro-products heat panels, sliding glass doors, lights and 2- forked dragonwood perches per cage. We agreed that I would send him half up front so that he could order material and start production.

The total came to $982.75.

On January 21, 2005 I PayPaled Robert $492, half of what I owed, so that he could purchase materials and start production on the cages.

On January 31, 2005 Robert emailed – Quote – “Jason, I have 2 cages built, I am waiting on panels to come in from pro-products, the dragonwood came in a few days ago and you can send the balance when your ready, depending on when the panels get here they should be ready to go in a week or so”.
Best regards,
Robert

On February 10, 2005 Robert emailed – Quote - Jason, If you could ,Please send the balance via Postal Money order I am having some problems with my paypal account
My address is
Robert Coombs
307 stone ave.
Mountain View Ar,72560

Best regards,
Robert

On February 11, 2005 I sent a money order over-night for the remaining balance of $490.75

Robert received the money order on 02/12/2005 and cashed it.

Robert claims he shipped the cages on 2/28/2005. He printed up FedEx labels online using his account and emailed me a notification that they shipped. He included (4) tracking numbers.

This is where things get interesting. When I pulled the tracking numbers up on FedEx online to check the status of my shipment, there were no origin scans or destination scans. I contacted Robert and expressed my concern that although I have the tracking numbers FedEx does not show that the packages where ever received nor were there any destination scans.

Robert assured me that he had indeed shipped the cages and that they should arrive shortly.

On 3/9/2005 I contacted FedEx and expressed my concerns. FedEx assigned a Trace Agent to investigate the situation and the result of FedEx's investigation determined that Robert Coombs ordered shipping online using his account, printed his own labels, but never turned in the packages to be shipped. FedEx confirmed this with the location in which Robert supposedly dropped off the packages. No packages were ever received!

The bottom line is that Robert Coombs ripped me off for $982.75. I have no cages and he has not responded to my request for a full refund.

I have detailed email and phone records with all my correspondence with Robert and would be more than happy to post them. In addition, FedEx has issued a control Number 0310506112 and will be mailing a detailed report of their investigation.

As of Today 3/11/2005 I have sent emails and left voices messages with Robert asking for my money back with no avail.

All I’m asking for at this point is that Robert Coombs do the right thing and refund my money.

Regards,
Jason Kuta

File A Complaint

with the US Post Office. When you sent a USPS Money Order, he cashed it, and never came through with the goods he committed mail fraud. Let the post office pursue it and you should contact the local police in his home town where the crime was perpetrated. The FBI Internet Fraud Division will also help. Nobody here can do as much as these agencies. You need to do this immediately. I've been where you are and the local police detective issued the case went to the guys house and got the job done. I received a full refund as well as a number of others. Good luck.

Shortly after I posted, Robert responded to my emails and phone messages.

Again, Robert was adamant about dropping off the cages on 2/28/2005 at the FedEx location located at 1101 W. Main Street. Heber Springs, AR 72543.

Robert seemed sincere in his concern to correct this situation. He assured me that he will drive to the FedEx office in Heber Springs first thing Monday morning to do whatever he can to resolve this mess.

Until I hear from Robert Monday afternoon I will give him the benefit of the doubt and consider the possibility that (2) FedEx Trace Agents have made a colossal error.

Let’s hope that I get my cages or Robert refunds my money!

Regards,
Jason Kuta

Sounds like Rob has one of the problems that seem to be common with new cage makers...getting in a little over his head.
greg

Jason Kuta said:

Shortly after I posted, Robert responded to my emails and phone messages.

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I would just like to point out that I have never been out of phone contact or e-mail contact for this entire transaction ... In fact I had talked to Jason TWO times the morning of 3/11/2005 before his original post was made here After the second phone call at around 1:00 pm 3/11/2005 I returned home from work did dinner with the family all the usual things .. went to check my e-mail thinking I had resolved the issue until monday afternoon as agreed By me and Jason on the phone earlier that afternoon 3/11/2005 . I get an e-mail @ 8:21 PM as follows
"Robert,

Based on the FedEx investigation I’m confident that the cages are not in route to me nor will they be anytime soon.
I’d like my money back ASAP. Send me an email or call to let me know how you plan on refunding my money. If I don’t hear from you this evening I will assume you have no intention on doing the right thing. I’d like to avoid turning this into an online circus or having to contact my attorney to pursue legal action."

After the reciept of the above e-mail message I went to check my cell pone which I had left in my truck there was a voice mail from jason at that time I called him back and Talked to him again at this point I am informed of the thread allready posted here and that it will be deleted/edited when cages are recieved or payment is returned!( which I dont think is possible?)

I thought the issue was allready resolved earlier in that same day

I state again the cages have been shipped and I will be getting to the bottom of the issue Monday My hands are tied untill I can get to the local shipping hub during their normal business hours Believe me no shipping company is Perfect I have had many lost shipments over the years

Jason I would like to say this post is merely in my self defence if I chose Not to PAY to post this message It just makes me look Like I am avoiding the subject at hand and making myself look like some sort of criminal and I appreciate the benefit of the doubt at least

I will also be looking into the legal issues of having to PAY to defend my self here
as always on Fauna, Guilty until proven otherwise


Robert Coombs

Robert, I can sympathize with you as far as not being able to get a hold of shipping companies at certain times...it can be frustrating.
But if you have had "many lost shipments over the years", you might want to change your shipping vendor or habits...that seems quite unusual. Aside from the recent DHL merger that f'd up a lot of packages, most deliveries go as scheduled.
It does look like Jason may have been a little premature on his complaint, but in this day and age of rip-offs, consumers are a little paranoid...if you are too kind, you end up losing a lot of money. And, yes, I know...it puts the strain all on the seller's back...which is why I raised my prices, and lowered my work load.
People will complain for a while about the higher cost, but when you deliver everything on time, or ahead of time, they keep quiet, and come back !
greg

I will also be looking into the legal issues of having to PAY to defend my self here
as always on Fauna, Guilty until proven otherwise

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There's only one flaw with that: You didn't have to pay to defend yourself. You needed only to email Webslave, tell him that there is a thread about you on the BOI, and you wouldn't have been given access to post without paying a dime.

RobertCoombs said:

I will also be looking into the legal issues of having to PAY to defend my self here
as always on Fauna, Guilty until proven otherwise
Robert Coombs

Click to expand...

Now that is not really fair to say, since WebSlave has already stipulated that people who have bad guy posts can defend themselves for free.

I see nobody saying you are guilty of anything and the post about you is true.

I posted a link that showed you made good on a previous post on this board.

Jumping on and threatening legal action is know way to get you brownie points are to get your point across.

This is not a court of law you do not have to pay to defend yourself but you sure will in a real court.

Greg thanks for the feedback on a positive note, As per finding a different method of shipping I have looked in to them all FedEx for one is the only hub within 40 miles of my home and by for the most economical for oversized packages such as cages but I have had lost packages with every shipping company out there DHL being my all time worst experience and beleive it or not Delta Dash for animals being a high #2 worst for loseing packages of mine
I Understand completely How Jason feels about the whole thing I would feel the same way but also in this day in age it takes years to remove a blemish on your record that takes all of 30 seconds for someone to black out

I Understand completely How Jason feels about the whole thing I would feel the same way but also in this day in age it takes years to remove a blemish on your record that takes all of 30 seconds for someone to black out

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Having your business ethics questioned would disturb anyone. Let me reassure you that if there is a satisfactory resolution to this, you won't have a blemish. Everyone has had difficult deals, miscommunication, shipping gone awry, etc. It's all a matter of how they get resolved.

We ship via FedEx as well. When you dropped it off, what was the procedure by the clerk?

Dennis Hultman said:

Now that is not really fair to say, since WebSlave has already stipulated that people who have bad guy posts can defend themselves for free.

I see nobody saying you are guilty of anything and the post about you is true.

I posted a link that showed you made good on a previous post on this board.

Jumping on and threatening legal action is know way to get you brownie points are to get your point across.

This is not a court of law you do not have to pay to defend yourself but you sure will in a real court.

Click to expand...

Well all I know is when I clicked to respond it said I couldent .. no where did it say to email any one to access this thread ...sorry I am not a "usuall" here I never threatened legal action.. only stated I would be looking in to the issue as it it obviosly not advertised any where when you go to respond that I can e-mail and post freely

Robert Coombs

Well, in the big scheme of things, it is probably worth the money anyway...and as far as the blemish thing goes, I don't see any. In your other thread, you handled the situation...I am sure you will handle this one...I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to a buyer.
All that being said, you may need to forwarn your customers about deliveries and time delays...most of them are o.k. with all of that, as long as they are kept within the informational loop. I have actually started calling or emailing every customer every other day to keep them aware of how their particular project is going, even if it is just a :" just finished carving the frame" etc...has done wonders for the business !
greg

Any way I suppose it is a small price to pay to defend your dignity any how I never meant any thing as a legal threat I just found it disturbing to find that I couldent respond and the only way I found I could respond was by purchaseing a membership

Robert Coombs

I think it is a giant conspiracy formed by Webslave to make millions of dollars, and retire to a tropical beach with Halle Berry...

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh your giving away the plot

Ok let me say,That maybe, Im to trusting or niave but in My opinion Robert should pay-pal the money back to Jason.Robert says he shipped them and now they are lost, And if the cages show up then Jason just returns the money Im only saying this because "if they are lost" when they get to Jason,They are damaged, and Robert is going to have to refund anyway, This way Robert keeps his Rep in tacked and Everybody is happy Bottom Line here is as each day goes by we stop trusting each other and that adds alot of stress to an all ready stressful business JMHO

Clearwater_Reptiles said:

Ok let me say,That maybe, Im to trusting or niave but in My opinion Robert should pay-pal the money back to Jason.Robert says he shipped them and now they are lost, And if the cages show up then Jason just returns the money Im only saying this because "if they are lost" when they get to Jason,They are damaged, and Robert is going to have to refund anyway, This way Robert keeps his Rep in tacked and Everybody is happy Bottom Line here is as each day goes by we stop trusting each other and that adds alot of stress to an all ready stressful business JMHO

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Maybe you can point out a few other Businesses that operate in this manner?
and No if the cages are damaged when they are recieved they are insured through fedex ..the proper channels would be to file a claim with them I would be more than happy to replace a cage if it were infact damaged as long as the proper channels are used
Not to mention that these cages are fully outfitted with heat panels lights and branches "all custom options"

RobertCoombs said:

Maybe you can point out a few other Businesses that operate in this manner?
and No if the cages are damaged when they are recieved they are insured through fedex ..the proper channels would be to file a claim with them I would be more than happy to replace a cage if it were infact damaged as long as the proper channels are used
Not to mention that these cages are fully outfitted with heat panels lights and branches "all custom options"

Click to expand...

sorry forgot to add my name ....


Robert Coombs

Robert,
Do you have a receipt or billing statement that shows that you shipped the cages? Whenever I've shipped through Fed Ex I receive a receipt that has the tracking #, destination, date shipped, weight of the package, etc. on it.
If you can scan or take a digital photo of your Fed Ex receipt, that would prove that the blame lies with Fed Ex and it may ease your customers mind a bit.