This kind of story is among the toughest to do. Company shuts its doors leaving customers in the cold, and no one wants to take responsibility.
We really try to find some kind of resolution in these reports. But sometimes the people who run these businesses would rather run and hide than face the music.
Alaya Decor, a furniture store in Auburn, shut its doors weeks ago. We tried to speak with the people behind the company, but no one wanted to speak to us. Just a,"hey, we're sorry, we blew it" is something many of us would understand.
After sometime, we got a hold of one of Selene Hill's attorneys. She is listed on the corporation papers as one of the governing people of Alaya Decor. Her lawyer told us not to speak to her, but only to him. Fine.
We drove all the way to Tacoma to talk with the lawyer. When he saw me, he refused to say a word. So, that's when we ended up going back to his client's house. She called the cops on us.
Folks, there will be times when we can't get your money or items back. But part of our job is to remind some of these business people that they cannot ignore their customers' calls, e-mails, and letters.
If we can't find resolution in some of these reports, what do you think we should do?
Expose the business, drop the story, or something in between?
Full story.
Unfortunately, this sort of thing is pretty common in the furniture business. Usually, though, it's due to a legitimate bankruptcy, and there's not much that can be done under current law. A law that required stores to place customer deposits for furniture and other big ticket items into a trust account protected from the bankruptcy courts would be the only real solution.
This particular case, however, sounds more like out-and-out fraud, with the owner absconding with all the assets, either without or immediately before declaring bankruptcy.
You absolutely should pursue this, and get the King County prosecutor involved as well.
Unfortunately, this sort of thing is pretty common in the furniture business. Usually, though, it's due to a legitimate bankruptcy, and there's not much that can be done under current law. A law that required stores to place customer deposits for furniture and other big ticket items into a trust account protected from the bankruptcy courts would be the only real solution.
This particular case, however, sounds more like out-and-out fraud, with the owner absconding with all the assets, either without or immediately before declaring bankruptcy.
You absolutely should pursue this, and get the King County prosecutor involved as well.
Definate Exposure. Let myself and Seattle area know who NOT to do buisness with.
Here's a good example that its not always big box retail biz that scum-bags its customers. Keep the heat on these kind of people Jesse. I hope King keeps this program funded for awhile.. Retailers make mistakes for lots of valid (and invalid) reasons. Some make mistakes designed to be a profit center.