Built rite

Other builder had a very nice smoker to me in 7 days. Highly recommend FMD outdoors.
 
Casual observation...

The builder sure posts a lot about how hard he's working during working hours.

Sounds like a visit to his "shop" might be in order. Can't work in the rain? buy a tarp and some 2x4's

Sun up to Sun down? buy some friggen lights.

I did chuckle when he posted that his company "puts out" a quality product at a good price.

Good luck. Hope you're selling a ton of BBQ at your store.
 
Is it the same built rite cookers on youtube? if so, he's up loaded videos 1 to 2 months ago of completed cookers. If it's him, you can at least see where your money went even if those aren't the ones your ordered.

edit: Im pretty sure it is. His FB page just posted this on the 27th:
Refund policy

We build custom smokers built to your specs and needs, these are not production smokers.
If for some reason you decide you no longer want or need the smoker we are building, it will be finished, then sold, then I will gladly send you the deposit back.
We are a small business and when your deposit comes in it is used for the build not just to sit in the bank.
Hopefully in the near future we will have some models available for immediate purchase as well as being able to do the complete build with minimal upfront costs.
Until then this is our and most other companies policy.
Thank you all for your continued support

Pretty coincidental it was on the same day this thread was opened back up.
Typical rob Peter to pay Paul type business strategy. Sorry OP, you're Peter this time. Glad you got someone else to build you something nice so you could start to make your money back. Best of luck and I hope you get restored.
 
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I posted a link to this thread on his FB page about his refund policy mentioned above. He deleted it in about 30 seconds and blocked me.


Then I got a message from him. Just Donnie being Donnie....

2exrp6t.png
 
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I think if anyone here at this point wants to do business with him then that is their informed decision. And, they really can't complain if it happens again. With so many other choices out there that make quality products and treat people right, I see no reason to risk it.

I am sorry for the ordeal that you have had to endure, and the lost money.
 
Rockinar said:
I posted a link to this thread on his FB page about his refund policy mentioned above. He deleted it in about 30 seconds and blocked me.


Then I got a message from him. Just Donnie being Donnie....

2exrp6t.png
Click to expand...

We know all we need to know... and again, I hope TipItOff gets made whole.
 
TipItOff,

What ended up happening with the bank hold on funds in Donnie's account? Was the money released to you, or to him?
 
The money was released into his account in October... The reversal was done in February... When the bank done the reversal there were insufficient funds in his account... so the money was already spent... I couldn’t get anything...
 
To be fair to Donnie I will post an update tonight when I get home. More information was shared with me today about other folks waiting on items from Donnie.
 
Didn’t ever anticipate after 9 months I would have had to drive a little over 9 hours to confront Donnie. It was a very long 2 days. The deputy who helped out today was very open and honest with me. He told me he has had to arrest Donnie in the past for this very same thing. Donnie has violated the law because he took money from me and has nothing on his lot to show for it. I had 2 options today and both of them sucked. Option 1 was to have Donnie arrested and charges filed against him in criminal court. I would have also filed civil charges at the same time. Option 2 was to come to some agreement with Donnie. I chose option 2 because I believe it was my only way of ever getting my money back in somewhat of a timely fashion.

Donnie has agreed to pay me all he owes me plus $500 for the trouble. I would liked to have seen a bigger number because Donnie used me like a bank and as such he owes me 9 months worth of interest in my opinion. Donnie however claimed he couldn’t come up with that much money in the 60 days we have set as his timeline. If after 60 days he has not given me everything he has promised then he will be arrested and charged. I will then file civil charges and also looking into a federal charge of interstate commerce fraud because I paid him via a wire transfer from my home state to a bank in Florida.

While I was leaving town today another person came into town looking for Donnie. The deputies were called out to escort the folks to Donnie’s house just like they had done with me. I was also made aware of the fact that in December of 2017 Donnie took a rather large deposit for a food trailer, the deposit was $1500 more than mine. Almost 7 months later that customer has still not received his trailer.

I believe that this is a much bigger problem than any of us are aware of. I believe he may have as many as 15-20 folks who have already put down a deposit.

To Donnie’s credit today he didn’t get rude and act like he has in the past. He did lie to my face today by saying he told me he Built the smoker intended for me but sold it to someone else. He never told me that and the timeline didn’t line up.

Donnie has 60 days to wire me my money or I will be back in Georgia filing charges and suing him in civil court. I hope he uses this last chance and understands that I didn’t want him arrested in front of his family today.
 
I hope you get your money back. People like this shouldn't be in any sort of business.


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I'd say you have taken the high road. Here's hoping you get reimbursed.
 
i had the same thing happen to me with R&O Smokers . You got more help from the local sheriff than I did, they told me it was a civil matter and couldn't do anything. I took the owner to small claims court and won but I still don't have any of my deposit back. I have a piece of paper from the court saying I won. The best advice I would give you is take any money you can get from the guy, sounds like he has done this before I'm sure he knows how it works and what to tell the authorities to get them off his back. I would also post everywhere you can think of to tell people what he has done. I hope your outcome is better than mine.
 
The state where you do business is important when it comes to matters like this. Because Donnie used my money on someone else’s smoker or elsewhere he has violated the law in a criminal matter. Back in January the deputy visited with Donnie after I talked with the deputy on the phone. Donnie showed him what was being built for me. Donnie claims he told me about it and that I told him I didn’t need it. The problem is that it doesn’t fit the timeline with my order to FMD. Donnie sold that smoker to someone else and I asked point blank why that money didn’t come to me and he didn’t have an answer.

The deputy is very familiar with how Donnie does business and isn’t happy having to deal with it. Donnie’s seems to be burning through money because I know at least 4 other folks who have been waiting a good amount of time for what they were promised. I know the guy that showed up yesterday after me gave Donnie money in March and is so tired of dealing with him.

I hope for Donnie’s business he can take this opportunity to relook at how he does business. He has some great designs but the way he does business is just wrong. He cost me a lot of money and he used me as a bank without compensating me for it. I am mad as heck but trying to be the better guy.
 
I think you have done a very honorable job of taking the high road here. At some point though enough is enough and your current line of action is absolutely called for imo. If it was one time and just you it would suck. But its obvious this fella is a consistent "issue" to law enforcement.

I hope this ends to some degree of satisfaction AND compensation for your grievances.
 
Did the deputy say if anyone else has already filed a criminal complaint against Donnie and if the DA prosecuted the case. I'm sure up could file a civil lawsuit and win but it will still be up to you to collect, I don't know if that would put you in a better position to get your money back. Wonder where you would stand if Donnie declares bankruptcy. Who knows Donnie might pay you what he owes you in 60 days and this will all be moot.
 
at some point it has to go beyond Civil matter to Criminal matter......Plenty of people Locked Up for Ponzi Schemes, Swindling Old People in Scams, Fraud etc........?
 
I’m with Smitty. I may not get my money back, but Donnie would never walk the same.


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