Cindy's Design Solutions, ie, also now Greystone Antiques and Flea Complaint
|
|
|
The Dishonest Designer - furniture and custom window treatments
|
| - 5475 Hwy 280 East, Birmingham Alabama |
We just relocated to Chelsea Alabama from Ohio. On 11/1/08 through 12/3/08 we ordered 3 rooms of custom bedding, window treatments and furniture from her store. The total came to $30,860.75. We paid a deposit of $15,510.14, including tax, and an additional $5350.61 on items that were delivered for a total of $20,860.75. With credit given the remaining balance comes to $8619.33. Of the items delivered, 2 of them were damaged, totaling $2699.29. She was supposed to replace and has not. She has breeched her contract with us by failing to timely deliver the remaining furniture and has not refunded any of the money we have paid to her as requested. We asked for the amount due to us, including the damaged furniture, of $11,318.62. We have notified the Better Business Bureau, she did not respond to them, we had a letter sent to her by an atty, she did not respond, she will not take any of our phone calls, she always seems to be out of the store, according to her receptionist, and never returns calls when we leave a message. She will not call us and has made no attempt to contact us, even though her receptionist has told us a couple of our items are in the store. Our case is over the limit for small claims court and to take her to litigation would cost us even more and we have already lost so much to her. She continues to operate and sell furniture and bring in an income and we have net been refunded a cent. This is fraud. If I were to walk into her store and take something or take money from her cash box, I would be arrested for theft, what is the difference between that and her not delivering and keeping our money and continuing to operate a business and bring in income. We were told at one time there was another person picketing outside her store, probably another unhappy consumer and I also was told she has done this before to other people, and she owes other people money. I am just asking for our money to be returned and I don't feel she should still be in business as she is a very dishonest person. Anything you can do to help us would be appreciated. I think other people in the area would like to know what kind of a person they are giving their money to. If people are unaware of her dishonest dealings, they will continue to support her with purchases from her business. We work to hard for our money, we don't need lazy people and dishonest businesses abusing the innocent consumer and still reaping the benefits. Read Next Complaint >>
Email Story | Comment on this Story
Read more consumer reviews from Complaint Catalog -> Furniture Stores
Reader Comments:
Posted by debrafulton112 on 07/07/2009
I am the unhappy consumer who wrote this article and would like to further add that we were given a delivery time of 4-6 weeks, 12 at the most because of the holidays. As you can see, we are still waiting.....
Posted by cam1759 on 07/24/2009
I am aware of the complaints that this consumer made against Cindy's Design Solutions. I was a former employee who had enough, she owes me over $2800 in pay. She also has taken money from employees pay checks for insurance premiums and never paid the insurance company for the insurance. Now those 3 former employees are out the money for medical services and havent been reimbursed for the monies taken out of their checks for months. She also owes multiply people for service done for her, one has sent her a notice for small claim court and of course she hasn't answered. We won't even mention the fact that she hasn't filed any taxes, or paid any federal or state tax. I am not the only former employee that hasn't received pay owed them. How can this issue be resolved?
Posted by debrafulton112 on 08/18/2009
this woman is victimizing consumers. I have contacted the BBB,whom she did not respond to, a lawyer, who inturn sent her a letter of demand for the return of our money, which she chose to ignore, and I've also contacted the Attorney General, who is in the process of contacting her. I have tried to contact her numerous times myself, the last being yesterday, and she won't retun my calls. If she is not paying taxes and has stolen money from employees paychecks, this woman needs to be held responsible. She is still in business???? How can that be?? I am still pursueing...I want my money or some kind of resolution...
Posted by lpeters on 11/09/2009
We share a very similar experience with Cindy's Design Solutions. We have been cheated out of almost $4,000.00 worth of merchandise. The owner of this store lies and dodges phone calls like you wouldn't believe! Her crew covers for her. I don't expect to ever see my merchandise or my money at this point. It's been over a year! I am a stunned and saddened to see a small business like Cindy's Design Solutions remain in business with such poor service and blatant FRAUD!!!
Posted by debrafulton112 on 12/16/2009
comment to lpeters - sounds like we have something in common. would be interested in talking to you. feel free to e-mail me at debrafulton112@att.net
Posted by domismomi on 12/28/2009
I have had the same experience. Now no one answers the phone. Is this place still in business? She still has my order!
Posted by debrafulton112 on 01/03/2010
comment to domismomi: I know she has been evicted.. I would welcome your e-mails and comments. I am corresponding with another unhappy customer. I have an atty. I think we should all try to get together and do something. There's more strength in numbers. Feel free to e-mail me at debrafulton112@att.net. Debbie
Posted by debrafulton112 on 04/07/2010
It is my understanding that the building in which Cindy's Design Solution and the business she ran after, ie, Greystone Antiques and Flea Market, is now under new management by the owner of the building and is now called Greystone Antiques. They have tried to start a new business with the vendors that were previously there and also adding new vendors. I wish them well with their business and I hope new customers will stop into their establishment. I know I will......
Posted by Susieqbham on 04/27/2010
I just wanted to let everyone know this shop is no longer run by Cindy. It has new management. I am a vendor there and things are run very professional and honest now.
Posted by DOVETAILS2 on 05/13/2010
I can't believe I am reading this. I have had quiet the opposite experience with Cindy. She has not only decorated my home in Shoal Creek, but she also has done my Lake Martin Home and my beach house in Rosemary Beach.
She has been the designer not only for me, but also for my family and numerous friends. We have all been using her for at least the last 11 years. We all would recommend her for any job. And in fact, we do recommend her and one by one she has pleased every person we have referred.
Not only did she do an exquisite job, but I cannot think of one bad thing to say about her. She is a lovely woman who is an incredible designer. She is a Mother, a friend, a sister in Christ. And sadly enough, in the last year of her life, has suffered many losses.
When I read this, I was shocked and upset. It brings tears to my eyes to see you talking about her like this.
I contacted Cindy and asked her about these complaints. She handled the comments with a kind hearted reaction - which is Cindy. She explained to me the sequence of events and her regrets that things could not be more perfect. But... she did not say one ugly thing about any of you. She did not defame your names, like you have done to her. She spoke highly of several of you on this board, but she was also shocked. She did not say anything ugly about any of you, because that is not Cindy.
I also took the time to speak to 4 of her former employees. They were all familiar with each of you. They verified that your stories are not completly the truth.
Here are a few things that I found out.
Many of the things I am reading on this board are not quiet the truth. In fact, some of the people complaining are leaving out important details.
Let me begin by saying that based on my research, the following is what I found out.
The only part of the stories that match up are the fact that the items were late. Cindy was behind on her business and was struggling to get these items.
lpeters has failed to mention that Cindy wanted to do an inventory of her home, which was the only way that Cindy knew to try to come to a conclusion. lpeters could not produce receipts and came into the store and demanded a check for money she claimed she was owed. However, she could not produce proof of any money she was owed.
Also, Laurie... according to people Ive talked to... your business has struggled as well. Is it perfect??? Have you ever had problems???
Debra Fulton - several of your items are at the store and have been taken, given away, sold by the current manager and owner. Not one penny from the sales has gone to Cindy. In fact there are pending lawsuits regarding this. You should go there and collect your things, if any of them are left. If they are not there, and they are items you paid for.... you should pursue legal actions against Forrest Frost, Phillip Tatum, Leona Tatum and Christine Collins. They are the ones who have sold, given away, or kept your items. Im not sure what you are owed.
I believe you lost your deposit - which you signed an invoice for that clearly stated it was non-refundable. For anyone that has ever ordered custom, we all know that that is standard. You cannot change your mind on custom. Also, didn't your husband take items back to the store and refuse to let them finish the order???
Next, I believe you wanted to cancel your order after the fabric was received and refused to pay for the balance of the custom work.
As for the unhappy employee... weren't you fired for not producing??? Just because you continued to come to work after you were fired, does not mean you get paid!!! I was told by other employees.. that you did not sell one thing your entire last month. When you don't sell in a commission only job... you don't get paid. We all know that.
You are a coward because you did not list your name. However, there has only been one employee with those initials, so they knew who you were.
She does not owe you one penny. You never claimed that she did. You did not sell anything to be paid for. You worked on commission. After Ethan Allen and your ending there, I think you know about being terminated.
According to the records I viewed, you owe Cindy $2500.00 for the paint sprayer you never
returned.
Further, how can you be owed wages from Cindy, when you were receiving unemployment from Ethan Allen?
As for the other employees and their insurance claims. I think they should address that... not you. Speak for yourself. Not only are you lying about your situation, but your lying about other employees situations. You are not privy to confidential employee files and maybe you don't know the truth.
The employees told me that the insurance was stopped and they were given warning by Cindy that they would no longer receive insurance benefits. The insurance premiums were paid in arrears. But you know that.
To All of You....
When you tell a story, you should
tell all the details. Not just one side and not dishonest facts. You all know you are not being honest.
Either way, I think you all need to be careful, because there are such things as libel, slander and defamation of character. I have copied your comments, which are written and will be forwarding these to Cindy's attorney. Since Debra Fulton and Laurie Peters so clearly identified themselves, I will let the attorney know who posted these. The attorney can decide what she will do.
If the others would like to tell me your name, I will give those to the attorney as well.
Additionally, as for the new store that is opened. Before you assume that things are being run "honestly." Perhaps you should do a little investigation.
*check the Shelby County Court System.
*You may find lawsuits regarding wrongful eviction because Cindy was paying rent.
*You may find pending criminal charges for theft of property and receiving stolen property.
*You may find a lawsuit for fraud and breach of contract. Contempt of Court, Obstruction of Justice.
Better yet, Google the owner, Forrest Frost, and see what comes up. Since you are singing the praises of the new owner and manager, maybe you should check them out first.
I'm very upset at the lack of class demonstrated on this complaint board. Although I have not seen any kindness or honesty exhibited in your comments, I would like to give you a fair warning. I would not want any of you to be arrested for receiving stolen property. So, just a tip. Before you buy anything from this new place, you may want to make sure they own the property and therefore have legal rights to sell the items.
As for complaints, there have been numerous complaints against the new owners and management.
Here are a few of the complaints that I have heard through research and interviewing customers and vendors... both present and past vendors.
*Management is horrible and does not do anything but take 50 smoke breaks a day.
*The store looks like a junk store. They allow vendors to bring anything in the store and several of the items are not fit for a garage sale.
*The only nice things they have to sell have been stolen from Cindy. The rest is junk.
*They go through vendors like water.
*They change the hours frequently. Vendors do not receive refunds for the amount of time the store is closed.
*They are late opening.
*They have court orders against them and have even had a court ordered inventory.
The people who have complaints with them have chosen to take it to the legal system, which our country has provided for us, instead of slandering the names of people online.
I hope everyone that reads this realizes there are two sides to a story. He who barks louder is not always right. Things are not always as they seem.
Shame on all of you. Instead of producing receipts, evidence, testimony, etc. in court.... you have all decided to go online and post facts that are not true.
I challenge you to admit that you are wrong, retract your statements and show proof of what you are claiming... if it exists.
Good luck to you. You may have created a lawsuit against you.
Posted by ihavefaith1234 on 07/16/2010
Just wanted to let you all know that the above post (dovetails) was posted by Cindy herself. There is no truth to what she is saying.
Just like everyone else, she owes me a large amount of money. I am pursuing legal actions to get my money. I am trying to get a judgment against her.
Her stuff was taken from her at Greystone because she had not paid rent in months and owed almost $100,000.00 in back rent. She also stole money from the vendors for their sales the last two months.
She bounced numerous checks for the month of October 2009 and has been arrested for several of these checks. She was recently on the cover of a local paper "just busted" which shows mug shots for criminals.
From what I have found under her record, she has been in trouble for bad checks several times and has been arrested before.
She also has charges for various things in several different courts right now.
For those of you that want to collect from her... and want to put a stop to her stealing from anyone else please help me to stop this crook.
She is working at Mazer's on Greensprings Hwy. in Homewood, as a designer.
She is doing design work out of Mazer's and is probably doing the same thing to her customers that she did to us.
I think that Mazers should know what kind of employee they have working for them. Please call and talk to the owner Mike Mazer and let him know what kind of employee he has on staff.
Also, call the District Attorney's Office in Shelby County and tell them to prosecute her. Tell them what happened to you and tell them to remember this when they sentence her for bad checks.
She has to be put to a stop, or she will continue to so this to honest people.
If anyone would like to contact me, feel free to email me. ihavefaith1234@yahoo.com
Posted by ihavefaith1234 on 07/31/2010
FYI: I found out Cindy's telephone number. It is 205-382-8845. Call her to ask where our stuff is. I heard she is now being evicted from her house that she rents. Another person out of money from Cindy.
|
| |