Complaint Review: Dominican Baseball Tours

This January of 2007, I was scammed out of nearly $3,000.00. The name of the company is Dominican Baseball Tours and the owner is Rich Johnson. I am simply warning others of not only losing there hard earned money but also potentially being killed.

The purpose of the trip is to experience Domincan Baseball in the winter months in the Dominican Republic. The owner Rich Johnson who can be seen in most of the pictures on www.dominican-baseball-tours.com is simply stated an arrogant, pompous, hick. Mr. Johnson advised me I would have a wonderful trip, this ended up being the worst time of my life.

My first 3 days on the island, I was supposed to have a guided tour of the Island and my surroundings since I have never traveled out of the US before. I was told to exchange $500.00 American [which was not nearly enough, considering all the "hidden" charges.] Instead of a guided tour by Mr. Johnson, I was abandoned on the Island for 3 days until the main group arrived.

I was all alone, did not know the language or my surroundings and I was extremely uncomfortable in the beginning. I do have jewelry and the guard at our hotel told me in broken english " I wouldn't be alive next week if I wore my chain out in public" I wa svery disturbed hearing this. According to Dominican-Baseball-Tours.com I was supposed to have travel to and from the games my first 3 days, but this was not true. I was forced to find my own cabs to the baseball games.

Not only could I have been robbed in the city of Santo Domingo but, potentially could have been killed easily. Mr. Johnson bragged about how much he knew the country and people, but he failed to tell us how dirty the conditions were in and around the hotel. By wednesday I was deathly sick & ill. There was no soap in ANY of the bathrooms ANYWHERE, we were NOT staying in an ALL INCLUSIVE RESORT. Mr. Johnson was able to make quite a profit by placing us in a cheap hotel. I am almost positive I probbaly got sick on the food in the hotel or the fruit.

When the group finally arrived on Thursday things did not get better. We were suppsoed to see a game on Thursday and Friday night. Both of these games were rained out and we were never refunded our money. This was hoarded by Mr. Johnson. He did not even offer to refund us. We did see a game on Saturday and Sunday, but Mr. Johnson was drunk on Saturday and he actually punched me on my shoulder to ask me if I was having a good time. He hit me hard enough where it hurt. This was a buisness owner who is supposed to be leading the group and setting an example for others.

The turn of the trip was on Saturday night when I met a women out in the city. She was dominican, and beautiful, she actually spoke english! We enjoyed a wonderful night together. However, the very next day I was pulled to the side by Mr. Johnson. He was accusing me of bringing a prostitute back to the hotel! I couldn't believe my ears! I give this man $3,000.00 and he turns around and ruins my trip!

The only thing I could possibly think of was that Mr. Johnson was either drunk again or had taken some kind of a drug. However it was ok for Mr. Johnson, to crack jokes and make sexual comments to all the women at the baseball games, this was coming from a married man with 2 children.

I immediately reported Mr. Johnson, his business, his supposed other business Karboa LLC, to the IRS, the state attorney generals in both Indiana and Illinois and the BBB in Indiana and Illinois. This man and his business need to be shut down immediately.

DO NOT! I REPEAT, DO NOT, SPEND ANY MONEY with Domincan Baseball Tours, Karboa LLC or Rich Johnson. This was an absolute scam! I reported Mr. Johsnon to the IRS as well becuase he had me write out a check to himself rather than his business. I have prooff of this and I can fax it to anyone that may inquire.

Lucas
Williamsville, New York
U.S.A.