Explorer Appliance Corporation Ripoff Dishonest Fraudulent Practices Non-Communicative San Diego California
I made a VISA purchase of a propane refrigerator with a 120-VAC option and prepaid shipping to be delivered to a marina in International Falls, MN with intent to export to Canada where they said the unit was approved. They billed immediately, but shipped after 6 weeks. My pre-paid order came COD for shipping - double billing.
The 120 VAC option was not included, numerous parts were missing (shelves, flue baffle, etc.). The unit would not cool to acceptable safe food handling limits - not even close. Jeff = Geoffrey D. Rael was my salesman, but never available once I bagan to call for service to get my order completed and my double billing refunded.
Numerous telephone calls and letters over the next 2 months went unanswered/ignored. They even refused a Certified Letter! I made a compalit to the California Bureau of Consumer Affairs & Explorer promised them that they would refund my double billed shipping - after 5 months. They never paid. I said I want to return the unit the malfunctioning unit - they have refused quoting several different policies, but never the one in the user's manual that say "complete satisfaction within one year." Paul Rael passes as the "Service Manager," but under the name of "Paul Dale."
Their "Agent for Service, Geoffrey D. Rael, refused a Certified "Demand Letter," later accepted a Small Claims summonds, but later still denied that he was served by the Sheriff - who's lies? They did not show up for the Court Appearance (they were sick - Corporations do get sick, they may be sick, but they don't get sick), but have Appealed the judgement which is rescheduled on 1 March 2004 at the same time as another case against them in which there is a judgement.
Anybody else who has a compalint should show up at the 8950 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Courthouse in Division 2 at 10AM to be a witness. I hear they had an Internet PC sales scam going, too. On their web site, they list "Service Centers" - I called every one of them and they are all bogus, they had never heard of Explorer! I do hope that the FBI fraud people like that one!
Carl
Camano Island, Washington
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Carl
Camano Isalnd,Washington,
U.S.A.
The Last Laugh, we received a check from the County of San Diego!
#2Author of original report
Mon, June 21, 2004
On Saturday, 6/19/2004, we received a check from the County of San Diego as a result of attaching Explorer's bank account to obtain satisfaction of the judgement.
We sued them in Small Claims Court in their own backyard of San Diego. We could have sued them in the jurisdiction where we made the contract to purchase or in the town where they do business. Both venues have worked for others in recent history. Explorer was sued over 20 times in 30 months. Almost everyone wins, but Explorer NEVER willingly pays off. The key to collecting the judgement is knowing where the money is. Explorer had a blind account through Bank of America in Los Angeles that forwrded all funds to other accounts including the holdings 0of the Rael Family Trust It was not possible to trace the money past BofA until a resourceful lady in Northerm California outfoxed them and willingly shared the bank account information with other victims of Explorer - thanks Yorkie Lady!
It took about 6-months from first filing, including 3 court appearances, until the arrival of the check, but it was worth it. Patience pays.