I hear ya... I meant it in the way that he isn't a con-man in the eyes of the law unless people take a stand, file charges and follow through.
It seems like the opportunity has past for him to communicate what is going on and move forward.
Wits End Order Issues / Joey Romero
- Thread starter quickdraw
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I hear ya... I meant it in the way that he isn't a con-man in the eyes of the law unless people take a stand, file charges and follow through.
It seems like the opportunity has past for him to communicate what is going on and move forward.
Quick update I figured I would share with the group. Reached out again to Mr. Romero via all channels requesting a refund of my money for the turbo order. Of course no response to my various inquiries. Spoke with a police investigator and filed a police report for fraud and theft. My local police department will now reach out and coordinate with the Jackson County Sheriff in Oregon. No update at this time, just initiated the process. Who knows.
For those that may similarly want to file a police report, you have to file the report with the police in the area you reside first (Frequently Asked Questions - Report a Crime - https://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff/Safety/Report-a-Crime/FAQ). Your local authorities will then work with Jackson County. Investigator was interested in all forms of communications, receipts, calls, etc., which I readily had (both historical and recent). Was also very interested in understanding if this had happened to others, so thank you @quickdraw for starting this thread. Investigator also recommended pursuing small claims court as well, which I will begin next week. So two paths currently, criminal and civil.
@woody I'm curious what criteria is used in determining whether to remove someone's Vendor status. Thanks!
For those that may similarly want to file a police report, you have to file the report with the police in the area you reside first (Frequently Asked Questions - Report a Crime - https://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff/Safety/Report-a-Crime/FAQ). Your local authorities will then work with Jackson County. Investigator was interested in all forms of communications, receipts, calls, etc., which I readily had (both historical and recent). Was also very interested in understanding if this had happened to others, so thank you @quickdraw for starting this thread. Investigator also recommended pursuing small claims court as well, which I will begin next week. So two paths currently, criminal and civil.
@woody I'm curious what criteria is used in determining whether to remove someone's Vendor status. Thanks!
@sdcruisin please DM me. Your inbox is full.
Resolved
Francis K
SILVER Star
Mud has nothing to do with any of this, someone paying to advertise on a site has nothing to do with what went down...
bloc
SILVER Star
I get that but at some point that site can choose to revoke vendor status based on reports of fraud. It seems reasonable to ask roughly where that line is.
I haven't bought any of his products but I have met the man. He was very nice and a pleasure to hang out with.
Having said that I have seen over the years all the post about delayed production and the reasons for his orders being delayed. Been like this for the past couple of years. Just seeing that made me not want to do business with wits end. Having his wife go threw what she had to go threw is awful and i send my condolences. But he should of done something different than what he did with wits end. Either hired some one to take care of his duties, Limit production, or even stop taking orders. seem like up to this point he was very communicative on social media. I know he was big on preorders and that's why there was alot of communication on social media. All these points mention makes me think Hes a good person with poor business habits/practices. But, when he would do refunds, he would only change the status and not actually refund money unless he was called out. Also from what i heard threw the grape vine I dont know if this was true, he stole the design or idea (something like that) for the ratcheting timing chain tensioner from a gentleman in Australia who still sells them. And now hes fell off the face of the earth with no explanation, no reason, none of his close friends (bet some are on here) are saying anything, 11 people have been stiffed 6k apiece on turbo kits with no update. Did he die? Is he arrested? What is going on? With all of that I think this was all intentional. He knew what hes was doing. Hes good at coning people not a good person. Just curious has anyone gone to his place of business to see what is going on?
Having said that I have seen over the years all the post about delayed production and the reasons for his orders being delayed. Been like this for the past couple of years. Just seeing that made me not want to do business with wits end. Having his wife go threw what she had to go threw is awful and i send my condolences. But he should of done something different than what he did with wits end. Either hired some one to take care of his duties, Limit production, or even stop taking orders. seem like up to this point he was very communicative on social media. I know he was big on preorders and that's why there was alot of communication on social media. All these points mention makes me think Hes a good person with poor business habits/practices. But, when he would do refunds, he would only change the status and not actually refund money unless he was called out. Also from what i heard threw the grape vine I dont know if this was true, he stole the design or idea (something like that) for the ratcheting timing chain tensioner from a gentleman in Australia who still sells them. And now hes fell off the face of the earth with no explanation, no reason, none of his close friends (bet some are on here) are saying anything, 11 people have been stiffed 6k apiece on turbo kits with no update. Did he die? Is he arrested? What is going on? With all of that I think this was all intentional. He knew what hes was doing. Hes good at coning people not a good person. Just curious has anyone gone to his place of business to see what is going on?
I happened to drive by it yesterday while running errands and couldn’t help but slow down and look to see if there were Cruisers outside. It was a Sunday but there was one, a built up 100 Series, light gold maybe.
I don’t have any skin in the game as a customer but I don’t like seeing anyone get fleeced. I had a brief email exchange with him in March about installing a winch and LRA tank on my 200. It took a few weeks to get a reply to my initial inquiry and he said his shop had 9 builds going currently and wouldn’t have openings until Summer. He was helpful in advising me what to consider and I never followed up as there are a variety of options available for reputable installers. I would have kept him filed as an option but it was shortly after that I began seeing rumblings about poor business practices and legal issues. I’m sure there are folks on here that have a sense of what’s going on with him, southern Oregon doesn’t have a huge LC community but there are some and he is a presence here and online. I only learned of him via a past customer/old friend from whom I almost purchased a 100 Series last winter. Maybe he’s spiraled and can’t manage anything anymore, maybe he’s lawyered up and the advice is to not say a word, maybe it’s something else. Sure does suck for anyone out hard earned money and left in the dark. I’m sorry for y’all. Being so close to his shop I have followed this all unfolding with interest and hope that it works out for those out their money. My only thought is to pool some resources and find an attorney local to SO to funnel all communications (digital, written, in-person) through (everything on the record) and have them attempt to make contact and advise on further steps.
Francis K
SILVER Star
Good people don't steal money from others, the fact that his site is up and still taking orders should tell all you need to know...
awf
SILVER Star
I'm slow to criticize, but I am now also at my wits end. I too have an order "Awaiting fulfillment" (as the order page says). E-mails to Joey using the contact page and to a gmail account others say is his have gone unanswered. Any word from Joey would be helpful: will the order ever be filled, can he cancel the order (I don't want to get what I need elsewhere and then have the Wits End product show up at my house later)? Because I tend to worry about people before I get angry at them, I hope someone can go by the shop and see if Joey is there. Is he alive? If not, please let us all know. If he is, please ask Joey to take down his website until he's able to process orders again -- it's time to stop adding to the community of disgruntled Wits End customers.
If you file a chargeback you will get your money back and push consequences on the bad vendor.
I don't recommend the chargeback route lightly. Chargebacks severely damage a business ability to process payments and limit access to business capital.
However, this kind of situation is exactly what chargebacks are designed for.
Yes, but if AWF's order is less than 180 days old he has the option.
awf
SILVER Star
I'm not hurting as badly as those of you awaiting turbo orders. I'm in for only a bushing press kit for $300 (including shipping). My frustration is increased because I decided to do all the bushings and do it right. So I bought all the bushings and hardware and the Harbor Freight 20-ton press, and they've been sitting in my garage since the beginning of July. August is my least busy time of the year, and I was really looking forward to a few days of working on the truck and then taking it out for some long test-loops in the mountains (east coast variants of mountains anyway). The delay at Wits End has denied me one of the things I really enjoy doing, and I'm reminded of it every time I squeeze past the press in the garage.
Your card will likely point to FTC minimums
x1000
As others have said, do a charge back. Don’t let it go past the required days to do one (usually 60 days depending on the card). I also ordered a bushing press kit back in July. I even got a shipping confirmation a few days after the order. It’s still pending pick up from July 13th as of today. I emailed him and got a response with a story of how 3 other bushing press kits were shipped then lost in the mail and that he’s had trouble with his local post office because of a strike (?) and he would look into it. I even googled if any postal workers were striking in Oregon and couldn’t find anything recent so I was a little suspicious. I just found it odd that 3 of those could get lost at the same time. Possible but I didn’t buy it personally. I emailed two more times after that and never got a response so I filed a charge back with CC company. It’s unfortunate, I really would’ve preferred to get the press kit.
