I run a karate school, and periodically during the year, we hold a series of black belt tests, and reward our students with a personalized black belt in appreciation for passing these tests. In early April, I approached R&L Embroidery to place an order for personalized belts. They promised me I would have these belts ready in time for the black belt ceremony (about two weeks time). The day before the ceremony, they informed me that the belts were not ready, and they would personally deliver them to my school in time the following day.
They did not deliver the belts. They didn't even bother to call me to let me know they couldn't deliver them, and when I called the following Monday, they hadn't even finished the order! Very graciously, I extended the timeline and gave them another couple of weeks.
They gave me excuse after excuse, and now, on June 25th, I went down in person to inquire about the belts. The owner's (Richard Saenz) daughter was working behind the counter. Naturally, she didn't know a thing about the order, and said her Dad, who was handling the order, was out of town until next week. I asked her to call him and find out the status of my order, which she initially refused to do. I explained I was in a hurry, and really needed to get this taken care of. She called her Dad, and after a few minutes of small talk, I became impatient and asked to speak with him myself. She refused to let me talk to him.
I reached out my hand to have her give me the phone, and she yelled that I was assaulting her! She then hung up the phone and ordered me out of her business. She went out to the parking lot and took pictures of my license plate (although I don't understand why, since they have my name and address on file!), and told me she was calling the police!
When I got home, the police were waiting and said she had filed an assault charge against me! Totally unbelievable! Instead of peaceably working this out, refunding my order which they never had any intention of completing, and giving me an apology... they instead are trying to make me out to be the criminal!
Fortunately, after I explained my side of the story, the police informed me they have had a number of nuisance calls about R&L Embroidery before, and they didn't put much stock in the assault charge. They then informed me to take the matter up with the Corporation Commission and the Better Business Bureau (and they are too dishonest to want to be a member of the BBB!), and I'm in the middle of doing so.
I have learned my lesson. Even in dealing with a local business, it pays to check out the BBB reports and the Ripoff Reports. I can only hope and pray that karma will shut this business down before many more individuals are taken in by this scam!
By the way, although several complaints have been filed against this company (both here and with the Better Business Bureau), they apparently feel it is beneath them to respond. This company is worse than Amy's Baking Company, and I don't even have a Gordon Ramsey to help me out!