That's right, you heard it! This is my personal experience with the company.
On April 28, 2008 I went searching on the internet to see if I could possible find a rear tire for my motorcycle. I come across this site called www.cycleparts2007.com. I fill out their contact form. I get a call later on that night from Joe, he claims they have the rear tire in stock and it would be $43.00 for the tire and $15.00 for shipping. I think well that is pretty good deal, I ask them to send the information to me in email. They let me know they only take checks, no credit cards, no paypal.
The next morning I am just about to run the check to the Post office when I a little voice from the back of my mind says, "Wait a minute have you checked this company out? They have a website but won't create the invoice through the website and won't except credit cards. Do some digging before you part with your hard earned cash."
So, I go to the www.bbb.org site and type in the information I have, sure enough unsatisfactory rating for non-delivery of parts, not resolving warranty issues or refund requests, etc. I email back saying I won't be doing business with them because of the information I found on the better business bureau site and I would be informing my bike club not to use them either.
The "owner" of the company threatens to sue me if I tell anyone about the information I found on the www.bbb.org site. He claims I am lying, that he has cleared everything up with the better busiess bureau, all that stuff happened with the old owner of the business and his the new owner.
I email back giving him the direct link of what I found on the www.bbb.org site. He claims I am spreading misinformation and that business on the site isn't his. Hmmmm, okay first he claimed all the reports were resolved, then he says that stuff happened under the old owner, and now he is saying the better busiiness bureau is reporting the wrong company name.
Okay let's examine this. www.cycleparts2007.com is under the company name Hood River Cycle located at 205 C Jefferson St. The Dalles Oregon. www.jeffcycles.com is also under this business name. The owner of the company is listed as Terry Reynolds, yet this guy in email who only referred to himself as Joe claims to be the owner. So when I call him by the managers name listed on the bbb site which is Joe Karber, he claims he bought the company from Jeff Karbar and his name isn't Joe and then he signs his name, Joe. Um, okay for someone who claims to be "cleaning up" the business practices of a former owner you would think the first they would want to do is get the owner's name changed on the bbb site.
You would also think the new owner would want to resolve any old issues instead of letting them sit out there on a public information site. Only a scammer who gets caught would try to claim the person who caught them is a liar and only a scammer would threaten someone with a lawsuit about information that is on a public information web site. The "owner" has since claimed I am harassing him because of what the Better Business Bureau has on file about his company. He seems to have forgotten he threatened to sue and is now saying I am threatening him because I told my bike club president about him.
I must say what odd behavior for an "honest" business man.
Below is the direct link to the company profile from the bbb site.
http://alaskaoregonwesternwashington.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=114&bbb=12
96&firm=22070276
Or in case you don't want to see the pretty graphics here is the information:
Name: Hood River Cycles
Phone: (541) 397-0342
Address: 205C Jefferson St
The Dalles, OR 97058
Website: www.jeffscycles.com
www.cycleparts2007.com
Principal: Mr Terry Reynolds, Owner
Customer Contact: Mr Terry Reynolds, Owner - (541) 397-0342
File Open Date: January 2007
BBB Accreditation: This organization is not a BBB Accredited business.
The BBB has requested basic information from this company but has not received a response. As a result, the BBB may not have current information about the company
Additional DBA Names
Jeff's Cycles
Vintage Cycle Parts Corp
Marketplace Experience
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record
BBB Definition:
unsatisfactory record - A company has an "unsatisfactory business performance record" with the BBB is based on the experiences reflected in BBB files. This file condition results when the company has failed to resolve or respond to complaints, repeatedly failed to respond or resolve issues in a timely manner, failed to resolve the underlying issues for a pattern
BBB Definition:
pattern - More than 2 complaints involving the same allegations usually within 12 months that are significant in relation to the company's size and volume of business.
of complaints, failed to honor their commitment to mediate or arbitrate disputes or honor mediated agreements or arbitrated decisions, failed to substantiate, modify or discontinue false advertising claims that are challenged by the BBB, or failed to discontinue unauthorized use of the BBB name and logo, a Federally protected trademark.
with the BBB due to failure to respond to one or more complaints and or two or more otherwise unresolved
BBB Definition:
unresolved - The company failed to resolve the complaint issues.
complaints. However the business has resolved
BBB Definition:
resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
some complaints presented to the bureau.
Complaints concern delivery and refund issues.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
The BBB processed a total of 53 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period.Of the total of 53 complaints closed in 36 months, 53 were closed in the last year.
Delivery Issues
BBB Definition:
Delivery Issues - Claims alleging delayed delivery of ordered merchandise.
Resolved
BBB Definition:
Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
1 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
Unresolved
BBB Definition:
Unresolved - The company failed to resolve the complaint issues.
3 - Company failed to resolve the complaint issues through the BBB voluntary and self-regulatory process.
Administratively Closed
BBB Definition:
Administratively Closed - The BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution
1 - BBB determined the company provided proper verification that indicated there was no obligation to resolve the issues of the complaint.
No Response
BBB Definition:
No Response - The company failed to respond to the complaint.
28 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
Unpursuable
BBB Definition:
Unpursuable - The company cannot be located or is out of business.
2 - Company cannot be located.
Service Issues
BBB Definition:
Service Issues - Claims of alleged delay in completing service, failure to provide promised service, inferior quality of provided service, or damaged merchandise as a result of delivery service.
Unresolved
BBB Definition:
Unresolved - The company failed to resolve the complaint issues.
1 - Company failed to resolve the complaint issues through the BBB voluntary and self-regulatory process.
Customer Service Issues
BBB Definition:
Service Issues - Claims of alleged delay in completing service, failure to provide promised service, inferior quality of provided service, or damaged merchandise as a result of delivery service.
BBB Definition:
Customer Service Issues - Claims alleging unsatisfactory customer service, including personnel's failure to provide assistance in a timely manner, failure to address or respond to customer dissatisfaction, unavailability for customer support, and/or inappropriate behavior or attitude exhibited by company staff.
Resolved
BBB Definition:
Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
1 - Company resolved
BBB Definition:
resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
Unresolved
BBB Definition:
Unresolved - The company failed to resolve the complaint issues.
1 - Company failed to resolve the complaint issues through the BBB voluntary and self-regulatory process.
Product Issues
BBB Definition:
Product Issues - Claim alleging a product does not meet the expectations of the complainant, including defective merchandise.
Resolved
BBB Definition:
Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
1 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
Unresolved
BBB Definition:
Unresolved - The company failed to resolve the complaint issues.
1 - Company failed to resolve the complaint issues through the BBB voluntary and self-regulatory process.
No Response
BBB Definition:
No Response - The company failed to respond to the complaint.
1 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
Refund or Exchange Issues
BBB Definition:
Refund or Exchange Issues - Claim of alleged failure to honor company policy or verbal commitment to provide refunds, exchanges, or credit for products or services.
Resolved
BBB Definition:
Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
2 - Company resolved
BBB Definition:
resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
Unresolved
BBB Definition:
Unresolved - The company failed to resolve the complaint issues.
4 - Company failed to resolve the complaint issues through the BBB voluntary and self-regulatory process.
No Response
BBB Definition:
No Response - The company failed to respond to the complaint.
6 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
Company Management
Additional company management personnel include:
Joe Karber
Additional Contact Information
Additional Addresses
PO Box 755
Lyle, WA 98635-0016
Additional Phone Numbers
Tel: (509) 637-0369
Tel: (509) 310-9438
Additional Email Addresses
admin@JeffsCycles.com
billing@jeffscycles.com
A blog about scams. Exposing the scams and giving tips on how to avoid them. At times making complete fun of the would be scammers.
*The comment section on this blog is moderated.
Yes they are scammers. Unfortunately I lost some money to them. I filed a report from the local police (who knew of them), the BBB, (who knew of them), and the WA Attorney General (who has an open file on them). The Attorney General of WA got back to me to interview me. I see they are still doing business now under cycleparts2007. I guess that is easier to keep track of since they change their name all the time. Jeff's Cycles, Jeff's Cycle Parts, Vintage Cycle Parts, Hood River Cycles, and now Cycleparts2007. Who nows what their deal actually is, but I am positive it is illegal. Don't worry there is no way for them to sue you for saying you had a bad experience with them.
ReplyDeleteTake a look at this site. http://www.ptctel.com/
ReplyDeleteI contacted regarding some telcom equipment I have for sale, and a guy named terry contacted me. He offered me a fair price and sent me a P.O. number, shipping address, etc. I had a gut feeling about this and started researching names, email addresses and came across your info. It sounds like the same person to me. He is supposed to deposit half of the money in my Paypal account for the items. I think I'll play his game and send him some boxes of dogshit.
I'll report back.
Hello thegun,
ReplyDeleteI did happen to see on other websites about their new venture into telcom equipment scams. Please be careful.
I was also a victim of this site. They are fast to respond to you, and they asked me to use paypal. After I did not recieve my order I filed the report to paypal. They decided in my favor but had nothing to pull from to repay me. Please shut this down.
ReplyDeleteThis Joe idiot from Cycleparts2007 did a number on me. However I sent him payment via Western Union. The person who received the funds is
ReplyDeleteNAME: Shawna Kitchens
LOCATION: The Dalles, Oregon, USA
It's hard for me to do anything as I am in Canada but he got a hudred bucks out of me and I want it back. been to Oregon before, might have to go there again to collect my funds. What's a knee cap worth nowadays???? :-)
They are also running as Shawna Kitchens. I will update the post to reflect that along with tags.
ReplyDeleteYep, they're scammers and they've been sued. See http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1186/story/314275.html. You should contact the WA attorney general if you were a victim: www.atg.wa.gov/FileAComplaint.aspx.
ReplyDeleteJeff's Cycles, Hood River Cycles, Prospect Cycles, PTC Telecom and Denver Monahan Parts are all run by these scumbags.
Please see today's news release at http://atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?id=22938.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Kristin Alexander
Media Relations Manager
Washington Attorney General's Office
Your readers will likely want to know that the Washington Attorney General's Office reached a settlement with these defendants on June 2, 2009. A copy of the news release is available here:
ReplyDeletehttp://atg.wa.gov/pressrelease.aspx?id=22938
I've included it below for your convenience.
Sincerely,
Kristin Alexander
Judge’s order puts skids on motorcycle parts dealer’s deceptive sales practices
Goldendale couple told to pay more than $89,000
GOLDENDALE – The Washington Attorney General’s Office is working to “keep the dirty side down”* for motorcycle enthusiasts who shop for parts over the Internet.
When bikers across the country began complaining about not receiving the parts they bought from a Washington-based business, the Consumer Protection Division hammered down* and sued Slade and Shawna Kitchens, of Dallesport, in September 2008.
“The Kitchens took their customers for a ride when they took their cash but didn’t ship their throttle cables, gas tanks and other parts,” said Assistant Attorney General Mary Lobdell. “Today’s court order shuts them down.”
The state accused the Kitchens of violating the state’s consumer protection law by failing to ship orders, provide refunds or obtain required business licenses.
Klickitat County Superior Court Judge Brian Altman agreed, permanently barring the Kitchens from selling or buying vehicle parts or telecommunications equipment over the Internet. The decision also prohibits them from making misrepresentations should they operate another retail business in the future.
The Kitchens were ordered to pay $25,000 in penalties and $13,400 in restitution for nearly 60 customers. The pair must also reimburse the state for more than $51,000 in attorneys’ fees and legal costs. The order filed today came as a default motion after the defendants failed to respond to the state’s lawsuit.
The Kitchens sold engines, transmissions, seats and other parts online at www.jeffscycles.com and www.cycleparts2007.com. They also sold telecommunications parts online at www.commdataconversions.com. The Web sites are no longer in operation.
They conducted business under a plethora of names: Jeff’s Cycles, Hood River Cycles, PTC Telecom, Cycle Parts 2007, S&S Cycles, Motor Parts Corp., Vintage Cycle Parts, Prospect Tel. & Cycle, Denver Monahan, Hood River Installers, Comm and Data Equipment, Telcom & Data Resale, Gorge PTC, Refurbishing Dock-Comm & Data Equipment and commdataconversions.com.
Slade Kitchens sometimes used the names Joe Matthews, Terry Reynolds, T. Shine and Denver.
The Attorney General’s Office is mailing letters to consumers starting this Friday. Lobdell said the Attorney General’s Office will do everything possible to collect on the judgment but that the Kitchens don’t have much money.
DOCUMENTS:
Complaint
State’s Memo Supporting Default Judgment
Order of Default
Default Judgment, Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
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* Keep the dirty side down: A parting expression between bikers meaning “ride safely.”
* Hammer down: Accelerate quickly.