My story is very similar to the others. I was going to wait to see how things progress but I cannot anymore since it seems there's no denying there's fraud going on here, and maybe together we can get resolution.
I met David on December 7th 2007 at the show in Toronto with the great promise that I could get my custom V-Rod gas tank partially chromed. I gave him his show special payment (first mistake) via Visa and he said he'd call with a UPS pickup arrangement. He did call but said he'd pick it up personally (looking back maybe this was my second mistake since there's no record of this now). The tank was picked up on the week of the 14th of December from my house and was told it would be about 3 weeks.
I called a couple of weeks later and told them to hold onto the tank when complete since I had another brilliant idea to have another expensive part done which I'd bring up when picking up the tank. I called another week later to ask how it was going and was told there was a flaw but it was being redone and should be done in a couple of days. I again reminded him that I'd be coming to pick it up along with some more parts (hard saddlebags) for a quote. I called once more to say I'd be coming up the next day (Jan 18th 2008) with my new parts and to pick up the tank now that it was done.
When I arrived at the "shop" which looked like an abandoned motel with stuff scattered about, David told me they were in the middle of moving and showed me the rest of his complex from the back window where all the work is done. He told me my tank had shipped the day before. Despite my disappointment in his lack of ability to follow my repeated instructions, I fell for his moving story.
Then came my mistake #3. I gave him my $1600 hard saddlebags for a quote which he happily gave me a good price to use his amazing chroming process on. He showed me the same chrome sample I'd seen at the show and in my stupid excitment that he was playing on, I left the bags for him to complete in 3 weeks (he said). On my way out I thought I should get a receipt just in case, since none was offered.
On Feb 9, 2008 I emailed him a courteous letter to let him know that my V-Rod tank had never arrived in the 3 weeks since he'd said he'd sent it, hoping he'd misplaced it in a backroom during the big 'move'. I also asked how the saddlebags were doing. No reply.
I waited a couple of weeks and then left a couple of voicemails at the number listed above. No reply.By the way, the phone number on my Visa receipt is 705-327-7366 but it's just a full voice mailbox. I waited until this week and started looking on the internet for any information on this company and found these reports on canada-complaints.com.
I called the OPP yesterday and a constable from the Orillia detachment got back to me yesterday saying that it is a legitimate company and that he's talked to them. I told the constable that I believe he's being strung along like the rest of us on stories about how David got ripped off by his supplier in the US and all orders should be about 3 weeks late. Based on the time length I've been strung along, the rest of your stories with similar excuses, hindsight, and the complete lack of communication after he had my parts, I can no longer give him the benefit of the doubt.
What bothers me most is not so much the possible loss of my money and parts, but that I'll not be able to continue my joy in life that is motorcycling when Spring comes. It also greatly bothers me that there are people on earth like this that have no conscience when it comes to how they've affected others.
I will post any follow up when it comes. Thank you to all who've also relayed your experiences.
Mark
Bowmanville, Ontario
Canada
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