Hans Duus Blacksmith, Inc. On March 11, 2017 I wrote a personal check for payment in full ($1,815.00) to Hans Duus, Blacksmith, Inc. This amount was payment in full for a light fixture that Mr. Duus had designed for me. During the inquiry and design phase of this project, Mr. Duus was agreeable, professional, and maintained contact with me. From the positive reviews I read about him at various sites and from his professional-looking website I trusted him. That was a mistake. Initially I understood that the fixture would be finished and shipped to me in three month's time. I waited more than six months before I began to contact Mr. Duus about the fixture. I emailed him many times and connected by phone with his answering machine many times but Mr. Duus would not respond to me this is ongoing even now. Finally after another month I contacted his town's Chamber of Commerce the first time. After contacting the Chamber of Commerce two more times, Mr. Duus sent me an email message on October 5, 2017 with a photograph of the nearly finished fixture together with a message that it would be shipped within a week's time.
I replied to that message with words of encouragement and admiration for his craftsmanship. As of yet I have not heard anything despite more calls, and email messages to him and to the Chamber of Commerce. It has been a full year since Mr. Duus received my payment in full for his work. I was thinking that perhaps the BBB would motivate Mr. Duus to at least maintain contact with me while the fixture is being constructed. I have also contacted the FTC and California's Attorney General. Still I have heard nothing from Mr. Duus. I have retained all of the records of this transaction; cancelled check, correspondence, concept drawings, photographs, etc. I plan to file suit against Mr. Duus for fraud and I may also seek for punitive damages as not having this fixture in place at the scheduled time has altered my construction project schedule significantly and this has been a significant expense as well. This is the first negative review that I have ever written but I don't want anyone else to make the same mistake. Moreover, this has become for me a matter of honor and I intend to have it resolved,