Author Topic: Do Not Buy From James Linthicum (Read 5569 times)

brad541thb · « **on:** May 20, 2006, 11:02:01 AM »

Don't Buy From James Linthicum.

He went by the username of sharpsman most recently.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

James Linthicum
1315 Brightside Ave Apt A
Dodge City, KS 67801

No damn phone #.

I paid this guy in full to make a gun stock for me. I sent a $300 wood blank way back in Dec of 04 along with another stock valued at roughly $50, and I sent him a $300 money order in Jan 05. So roughly I'm out of $650 not counting my shipping.

To this day I have yet to receive my stock. So I'm putting the word out about this guy so others will know not to deal with this guy.

I wished I lived close by to this guy. Justice would be served one way or the other. Anyone who lives in the Dodge City, KS area, and would like to pay James a visit on my behalf to let him know that I'm still alive and would love to see my stock before I die, would be very much appreciated.

Brad Clodfelter

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2006, 11:29:08 AM »

Geez Brad, I was hoping that was resolved, sorry ya got burned and thanks for the heads up.

I bought a Marlin stock from him a couple years ago and he took his sweet time to ship it, but fortunately, I did receive it 3 weeks after he said he would ship it!

Tim

FWiedner · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2006, 12:47:14 PM »

So you're in MO and it's too much trouble for you to drive to KS for your property / $650.00?

Why would you let it drag out for over a year?

Sorry to hear that you think you got ripped off, but were it me, those couple miles wouldn't keep me from making contact with the fellow that I believe was treating me like a chump.

Personally, I'd be knocking on his front door, and the money wouldn't be the issue.

:?

ms · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2006, 06:53:49 AM »

If it was me I would make a vodoo doll of him pray to the devil stick a nail in is head that all. :twisted:

brad541thb · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2006, 07:51:22 AM »

I have mail fraud charges pending against him.

I thought of making the 10 hr dive to Dodge City, and maybe I eventually will. But even then there is no guarantees I will get to speak with the guy. Plus who's to say what may end up happening if I do.

I doubt I would want to do much talking.

Brad

Brett · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2006, 08:11:04 AM »

You are smart to let the authorities handle it. As you yourself said there is no guarantee that he would be home when you got there. Even if he was it is unlikely that you would get your money back and probably not even your stock blank. Also, If you did find him home you could end up in a fight and wind up spending the night in jail, the hospital or worse. So at best you would waste 20 hours and a couple of tanks of gas. In my younger days I probably would have payed the man a visit but with age (read that experience) comes wisdom.

FWiedner · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2006, 12:24:40 PM »

Nobody said that there had to be any violence or even any "trouble".

Call him and tell him that you are going to be in town and want to pick up your stuff.

If he can't see fit to make himself available at your convienience, then politely explain to him the process involved in filing that fraud complaint, and what the current status of the complaint is.

As I said, the issue is not money.

The issue is that a man who holds himself up as a business man should show an appropriate respect for his customers.

:?

brad541thb · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2006, 04:46:06 PM »

Quote from: FWiedner

Nobody said that there had to be any violence or even any "trouble".

Call him and tell him that you are going to be in town and want to pick up your stuff.

If he can't see fit to make himself available at your convienience, then politely explain to him the process involved in filing that fraud complaint, and what the current status of the complaint is.

As I said, the issue is not money.

The issue is that a man who holds himself up as a business man should show an appropriate respect for his customers.

:?

You don't know this guy like I do.

Reasoning is the last thing on his mind.

I figure if I can't get him to give me my stock, I'll at least make his name one that a lot of internet gun readers will remember, so he won't screw as many people in the future.

I'm not worried about getting even, I'm worried about others losing more than I did from this guy.

Brad

brad541thb · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2006, 04:48:48 PM »

Quote from: TM7

Eventually report a fraud and theft to the authorities, and see what happens from there. There is also small claims court, but it is always hard to collect court awards.

...........................TM7

Your a smart cookie. :lol:

Small claims court is a joke.

Even if you win, your on your own when it comes to getting your money.

Brad

brad541thb · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2006, 04:52:04 PM »

James says he doesn't have a phone which may be the truth. I know for a fact that he has been driving with expired plates for quite some time by speaking with authorities in the Dodge City area.

Like I said, he's a real winner. :roll:

Brad

marv · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2006, 05:32:50 PM »

Brad541thb, I think you should post in cassified traders down by cassified adds. Let every body know, Marv.

ms · « **Reply #11 on:** May 22, 2006, 08:08:19 AM »

Brad here in detroit we have people like this. We call the tv I would call ks tv to see if they can help you . THEY ARE GREAT :wink:

brad541thb · « **Reply #12 on:** May 22, 2006, 02:16:36 PM »

I got the certified letter today. James says he wants the additional $135 for his services within 10 days after I receive this letter. He also said if he doesn't receive my $135 within the next 10 days that he was going to start charging me $5 a day to store the stock. Then he will add that amount to the balance due($135) plus his collection costs to date($150 worth of letters, postage and leagal research). He also said according to Kansas law, once the total of these charges reaches the reasonable liquidation value of the stock, it may be sold immediately to cover the costs of his work and expenses.

He is waitining my reply.

He did send me some pictures of the stock with his barreled action in the stock to help keep the stock from warping. I can tell it is my wood blank. And the work looks to be excellent.

I guess I'm going to send him the $135 and try to resolve this matter tomorrow. Maybe I shouldn't, but so far I have yet to get any help from other sources. I'm going to take my chances. I am going to get the letter I send with the money dlelivered via delivery confirmation that way I know that the USPS did in fact deliver it to his mailbox.

I'll let you guys know more later. But as for now, I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't. This has went on long enough.

Brad

brad541thb · « **Reply #13 on:** May 22, 2006, 02:21:46 PM »

Here's some pictures of the stock with his barreled action.

FWiedner · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2006, 04:31:39 PM »

So the guy was holding on to your stuff because you owe him money...?

Oops.

:oops:

brad541thb · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2006, 05:47:51 PM »

Quote from: FWiedner

So the guy was holding on to your stuff because you owe him money...?

Oops.

:oops:

No!

I paid him in full. But he chose to do some extra work on it, and he said it took him longer than it expected. Plus shipping rates have went up and bla bla bla. We agreed on the price he qouted me, and that was even after he seen pictures of my wood blank. If he thought he would have to spend more time on it, he could have told me that up front. In other words, if you aren't sure of your price, then make your price higher to cover maybe added cost like filling fill spots, etc. I paid him what he told me to send him in money, and that's including shipping the stock back to me.

I'm sending him another $135 to hopefully get my stock. I don't want too, nor do I feel like I should, but when you wait all this time and don't have anything to show for it, you really have nothing to lose. I just hope he ships the stock after I pay him his additional $135 that he later told me I owed him.

I hope you understand that I hate to wait on the USPS mail fraud complaint center to get this guy to ship me my stock. That's why I decided tp pay him another $135.

This guy is just mad at me because he got booted off of RFC due to his business conduct, and I posted some negative complaints about him. So I think he is just trying to suck some more money out of me to try and get even. Remember there was others he done the same way too. He originally told all the guys that bought stocks from him that he should have them ready to ship back to us by May of 05. Yea right! :twisted:

Brad

fe352v8 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2006, 08:29:24 PM »

Before you send the extra money, you might want to go to www.kslegislature.org and look up this statute, 50-626, Unfair Trade and Consumer Protection Practices. If the situation is as you describe your stock-maker has a problem.

Under Kansas Statute 50-631, the Attorney General is empowered to investigate claims under 50-626. Their Hot-line number is 800-432-2310, as you are not in Kansas; you may have to dial the toll number785-296-3751.

His collection threat is contrary to Kansas law, there is a very specific method of securing what would be a mechanics lien on personal property and what you are describing is contrary to Kansas statute, I think it is under Chapter 58 of the statutes.

If you contact the AG office you will find them most accommodating, I am not an attorney and I am not giving you legal advice, but as I do a lot of work for car dealers, and I have to respond to several AC investigations a year and they are through.

Even if you do send the money, once you get the stock, I would still file a complaint, as the AG can impose fines penalties and award compensation

Good Luck

jon

Savage .250 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 23, 2006, 01:49:02 AM »

Looks like this guy has got you by the "short" hair!
Hope all eventually turns out well.

ms · « **Reply #18 on:** May 23, 2006, 07:11:23 AM »

what a d head I WOULDN'T GIVE THIS SOB 135. :twisted:

Keith L · « **Reply #19 on:** May 23, 2006, 09:55:48 AM »

I have to ask, and don't take this as a shot: with all the red flags you put up on this guy (trouble on rfc, no phone, expired plates on car) what does he do that made you want to do business with him? Or did all this come up after he had your wood and money? Maybe the rest of us can use this to make sure we investigate those we do business with.

Thanks,

urrlord · « **Reply #20 on:** May 23, 2006, 12:34:45 PM »

sounds like he is trying to gouge you for a few more bucks.like a mechanic who takes apart your engine for some minor work and suddenly finds more problems that will prevent him from finishing the job until he gets more money for parts or machine shop work..i hate to say it but the firearms field seems to attract a more than normal percentage of flakes and whack jobs.i've known a few like that.just another azz.

brad541thb · « **Reply #21 on:** May 23, 2006, 03:28:28 PM »

Keith,

It all was found out after he had my money.

TM7,

I'm not the bad guy here. I have the email to prove it if you would like to see it. James set a price from the get go by email. I said okay and sent him my wood that he already approved for the set price.

Like I said, I did my part of the bargain. I paid him what he wanted. Now he wants more.

I'm done her guys.

I just thought I would let you know a deal gone sour..

Brad Clodfelter

brad541thb · « **Reply #22 on:** May 23, 2006, 03:30:24 PM »

Keith,

It all was found out after he had my money.

TM7,

I'm not the bad guy here. I have the email to prove it if you would like to see it. James set a price from the get go by email. I said okay and sent him my wood that he already approved for the set price.

Like I said, I did my part of the bargain. I paid him what he wanted. Now he wants more.

I just thought I would let you know a deal gone sour. Hopefully none of you will have to experience my pain and agony all this time.

Brad Clodfelter

DWTim · « **Reply #23 on:** May 23, 2006, 05:36:02 PM »

Sounds to me like he's charging you an annoyance fee. What does his original quote say for price range and time range? I WOULD NOT send this guy any more money. Unless you can talk him out, it's probably best to cut your losses and complain to the appropriate agencies.

I don't know if there are any exceptions where this guy does business, but what he's doing is pretty much universally recognized as fraud in the rest of the US of A.

brad541thb · « **Reply #24 on:** May 24, 2006, 11:46:42 AM »

Sorry I double posted.

brad541thb · « **Reply #25 on:** May 24, 2006, 11:47:46 AM »

TM7,

When you shoot someone a price with a list of things that the customer wanted after looking the job over, you should stay set to that price unless something comes up unexpected or unforseen. He seen my wood beforehand. He said it would make a real nice stock with hardly any fill spots by the pictures. I can tell you I''m no wood expert, but this wood blank I sent him didn't have hardly any fill spots. I told James, I didn't want studs put on the stock. He did it anyway. I didn't tell him to put a stock cap on the bottom rear of stock. He did it anyway. Now he wants more money for his work that I didn't request. I can tell you why he did this though. He is using my stock as a show piece to show people how good of work he does. He wanted to make my stock look real good for his own behalf to help advertise his future stock making work. That's why he added the extras to my stock.

Brad

PA-Joe · « **Reply #26 on:** May 24, 2006, 12:11:14 PM »

I hope you paid him with a US Postal Service Money Order!

brad541thb · « **Reply #27 on:** May 24, 2006, 12:45:24 PM »

Quote from: PA-Joe

I hope you paid him with a US Postal Service Money Order!

Why?

I did that the first time. The old saying that you can trace a money order, or stop payment on one is no bettter than writing a check. When he cashes a check, you will know it. You can stop payment on a check as well.

The whole point is this, if he chooses not to deliver the stock, I'll only be in the same perdicument I am in now except another $135 added on.

If I get screwed this time, a road trip with some buddies will take place. I already got 2 guys lined up for the task.

Hopefully it won't come down to that.

But I do know this, relying on the USPS to help you on a mail fraud complaint, is like waiting on the world to come to an end.

Brad

victorcharlie · « **Reply #28 on:** May 24, 2006, 03:58:59 PM »

Quote from: brad541thb

But I do know this, relying on the USPS to help you on a mail fraud complaint, is like waiting on the world to come to an end.

Brad

At least you got that figured out......I'm from the government and I'm here to help...........

I hear ya......no doubt a misunderstanding and you seem pretty clear on telling the guy what you wanted and didn't want.......

Maybe he gave himself a raise to keep up with inflation....or the higher price of fuel.........just kidding........

Either way.....no need for you to become what he is......two wrongs never make a right.......Unfortunatly, the world seems to be full of these people.....Lets hope he see's the light and does the right thing.......but think long and hard before crossing the state line and committing an aggravated assult, or worse.......

By any chance, was there any type of written contract? Does the fellow have a written price list?

brad541thb · « **Reply #29 on:** May 26, 2006, 05:54:33 PM »

I hear ya.

I'll let you guys know what happens.

Thanks for listening.