StoneColdKiller
05-19-2004, 03:54 AM
On February 19, 2004 I replied to an ad in the CLA journal posted by NY Laundry Equipment, Steve or Joe, (516) 536-3606, 5000 Long Beach Road, Island Park, NY 11558. I had about a 15-minute conversation with Joe. I was in search of 11 Emerald Series 125's, 3 phase, stainless fronts. He had everything I needed plus more. Every question I had, he had the answer and the solution. I had to repeatedly explain that I was very particular and did not want him to keep telling me the machines were "like-new" unless he was absolutely sure I would agree upon examination.
He agreed to sell me the machines at 1500.00 each plus total shipping of 1400.00, all I had to do was give him the word and send a cashier's check for the full amount immediately to lock in the order. I told him I needed 24 hours to make my final decision as I was awaiting a quote for new equipment from a distributor.
The following day I received my quote for the new equipment and definitely decided to go with the used equipment from NY laundry.
On February 20, 2004 I called in and spoke with Steve who identified himself as the boss and informed me that Joe, his father was sleeping and any dealing that I had discussed with Joe the previous day would now be renegotiated with him. Please do not misunderstand me, he implied that he would honor whatever his father had agreed to. An hour later I had been upsold on the stainless panels at a premium of $200.00 per machine and we had agreed upon a total of $20,100.00 for the total package including shipping. I was assured repeatedly "like-new" condition. Machines were to be 5-6 years old and only used for probably 2-3 years as these machines were removed from a now defunct laundry for the past two years. All I had to do was send him a cashier's check for $20,100.00 in advance. I informed Steve that I needed a couple of days to get the money together, but I definitely wanted to do the deal. He asked that I send him a deposit immediately and rest of the money to follow the following week. He agreed he could have the machine shipped immediately upon arrival of funds. I requested that he fax me some sort of invoice prior to the release of funds. Within an hour I received the invoice and the next day I put a company check in the mail for $2,000.00 ( I had already informed him that all checks would be company checks and he was more than welcome to sit on them for a couple of days until they cleared if it made him feel any better, after all I'm the guy out on a limb right?).
I heard from Steve almost every day for the following week asking about the status of the payments, etc. He wanted to get those machines out of the warehouse, etc. Had people asking for them, so on and so forth. I assured him to check his mailbox for the deposit. On Feb. 26, 2004 I sent the final payment of $18,100.00. The calls from Steve still came, he had received the deposit but no final payment yet, etc. On or about 6 days after I mailed the final payment, I noted my checking account had been debited the amount of the final payment and I no longer heard from Steve. I had included all the shipping information with my final payment and requested that he contact me ASAP with shipping schedules so that I could coordinate the storage and installation of these machines, etc.
I gave the man 2 full weeks before I called to inquire about my order. 3 days in a row I left messages for the man, but no return call. On the fourth day I called him from my cell phone as usual and received his voicemail, I was at a friends house in a different area code at the time and rather than leave another message I dialed him from my friends phone and guess what?? He answered! We talked for about 15 minutes as he stuttered about telephone systems that did not work, technicians with broken arms, brothers out sick, fathers in New Jersey, more orders than he can handle, machines aren't ready yet, can't find an available shipper. I informed him I was not happy with his performance and I am ready for my machines.
I am not sure now of the date, but I believe he called on April 2, 2004 to let me know the machines had shipped and he expected 3-4 day delivery. I called the shipping company to confirm. They estimated April 7 as an arrival date. On April 7, 2004 I was informed by the shipper that April 12, 2004 was more realistic as my equipment was still in Chicago ( I am in California). On April 14, 2004 I received my 11 machines in very damaged condition. They were individually seated on pallets with a single layer of shrink-wrap around them and a single nylon strap from top to bottom. All the straps, but 3 were ripped away completely, one machine did not even arrive with a pallet, and all 11 had terrible gashes in the sides, faces, tops, etc. It was clear they had been literally bouncing around for the past 2 weeks. The machine with no pallet has a severely bent lower frame (motor mount area), machine is basically crushed. It has clearly been dropped. There are too many damages to list.
Obviously shipping damage is not necessarily the responsibility of the seller, however it is clear that they truly did not care about these machine in the manner in which they were packed. These 600-pound machines were merely sitting on a pallet and terribly crappy pallets at that, very unstable.
Upon close inspection of the machines one machine looks like it has been salvaged from under the ocean, as the entire outer drum is corroded and leaking like a sieve through the seam to the lower pan/ drain assembly. This is not something that could have passed any water test and certainly cannot be classified as "like-new" LOL. The part lists at $800.00 and can be purchased for $550.00 with a bearing job plus for labor cost. Most of the coin drops are inoperable and one machine bearing is questionable. It is clear these machines were used for the past 7 as they're condition proves it (They are 7 years old as per serials, not 5-6!) I have yet to install or test the machines so I know nothing of the motors, etc. At this time I have ordered or inquired for ordering some $3,000 worth of parts to get these machine up and running hopefully.
Oh yea, you all want to know what Steve wants to do for me?? He is going to handle my claim for damages with the trucking company. He sticks to his story that the machines were in top running order when they left. I guess the outer drum sprung a leak in transit and racked up about a lifetime of corrosion and rotten metal. Guess who I have heard from in the past month since Steve basically told me I was out of luck? Nobody. I'm sure there is no claim for damages, nobody cares about doing good business or the right thing for that matter.
I'm sure plenty of you have ideas and suggestion and I appreciate all, but I must tell you and some of you that know me already understand. I don't really care. I will gladly repair these machines and I have no intention of following up on NY Laundry or the shipper. I've got much better things to do with my time than chasing down some schmuck who I already know will get his in time. I really just thought the CLA deserved to know that he used them as a reference and assured me that he was 100% legitimate as per the years of business with no complaint through the journal. There you go. Good luck in your used equipment purchases.
He agreed to sell me the machines at 1500.00 each plus total shipping of 1400.00, all I had to do was give him the word and send a cashier's check for the full amount immediately to lock in the order. I told him I needed 24 hours to make my final decision as I was awaiting a quote for new equipment from a distributor.
The following day I received my quote for the new equipment and definitely decided to go with the used equipment from NY laundry.
On February 20, 2004 I called in and spoke with Steve who identified himself as the boss and informed me that Joe, his father was sleeping and any dealing that I had discussed with Joe the previous day would now be renegotiated with him. Please do not misunderstand me, he implied that he would honor whatever his father had agreed to. An hour later I had been upsold on the stainless panels at a premium of $200.00 per machine and we had agreed upon a total of $20,100.00 for the total package including shipping. I was assured repeatedly "like-new" condition. Machines were to be 5-6 years old and only used for probably 2-3 years as these machines were removed from a now defunct laundry for the past two years. All I had to do was send him a cashier's check for $20,100.00 in advance. I informed Steve that I needed a couple of days to get the money together, but I definitely wanted to do the deal. He asked that I send him a deposit immediately and rest of the money to follow the following week. He agreed he could have the machine shipped immediately upon arrival of funds. I requested that he fax me some sort of invoice prior to the release of funds. Within an hour I received the invoice and the next day I put a company check in the mail for $2,000.00 ( I had already informed him that all checks would be company checks and he was more than welcome to sit on them for a couple of days until they cleared if it made him feel any better, after all I'm the guy out on a limb right?).
I heard from Steve almost every day for the following week asking about the status of the payments, etc. He wanted to get those machines out of the warehouse, etc. Had people asking for them, so on and so forth. I assured him to check his mailbox for the deposit. On Feb. 26, 2004 I sent the final payment of $18,100.00. The calls from Steve still came, he had received the deposit but no final payment yet, etc. On or about 6 days after I mailed the final payment, I noted my checking account had been debited the amount of the final payment and I no longer heard from Steve. I had included all the shipping information with my final payment and requested that he contact me ASAP with shipping schedules so that I could coordinate the storage and installation of these machines, etc.
I gave the man 2 full weeks before I called to inquire about my order. 3 days in a row I left messages for the man, but no return call. On the fourth day I called him from my cell phone as usual and received his voicemail, I was at a friends house in a different area code at the time and rather than leave another message I dialed him from my friends phone and guess what?? He answered! We talked for about 15 minutes as he stuttered about telephone systems that did not work, technicians with broken arms, brothers out sick, fathers in New Jersey, more orders than he can handle, machines aren't ready yet, can't find an available shipper. I informed him I was not happy with his performance and I am ready for my machines.
I am not sure now of the date, but I believe he called on April 2, 2004 to let me know the machines had shipped and he expected 3-4 day delivery. I called the shipping company to confirm. They estimated April 7 as an arrival date. On April 7, 2004 I was informed by the shipper that April 12, 2004 was more realistic as my equipment was still in Chicago ( I am in California). On April 14, 2004 I received my 11 machines in very damaged condition. They were individually seated on pallets with a single layer of shrink-wrap around them and a single nylon strap from top to bottom. All the straps, but 3 were ripped away completely, one machine did not even arrive with a pallet, and all 11 had terrible gashes in the sides, faces, tops, etc. It was clear they had been literally bouncing around for the past 2 weeks. The machine with no pallet has a severely bent lower frame (motor mount area), machine is basically crushed. It has clearly been dropped. There are too many damages to list.
Obviously shipping damage is not necessarily the responsibility of the seller, however it is clear that they truly did not care about these machine in the manner in which they were packed. These 600-pound machines were merely sitting on a pallet and terribly crappy pallets at that, very unstable.
Upon close inspection of the machines one machine looks like it has been salvaged from under the ocean, as the entire outer drum is corroded and leaking like a sieve through the seam to the lower pan/ drain assembly. This is not something that could have passed any water test and certainly cannot be classified as "like-new" LOL. The part lists at $800.00 and can be purchased for $550.00 with a bearing job plus for labor cost. Most of the coin drops are inoperable and one machine bearing is questionable. It is clear these machines were used for the past 7 as they're condition proves it (They are 7 years old as per serials, not 5-6!) I have yet to install or test the machines so I know nothing of the motors, etc. At this time I have ordered or inquired for ordering some $3,000 worth of parts to get these machine up and running hopefully.
Oh yea, you all want to know what Steve wants to do for me?? He is going to handle my claim for damages with the trucking company. He sticks to his story that the machines were in top running order when they left. I guess the outer drum sprung a leak in transit and racked up about a lifetime of corrosion and rotten metal. Guess who I have heard from in the past month since Steve basically told me I was out of luck? Nobody. I'm sure there is no claim for damages, nobody cares about doing good business or the right thing for that matter.
I'm sure plenty of you have ideas and suggestion and I appreciate all, but I must tell you and some of you that know me already understand. I don't really care. I will gladly repair these machines and I have no intention of following up on NY Laundry or the shipper. I've got much better things to do with my time than chasing down some schmuck who I already know will get his in time. I really just thought the CLA deserved to know that he used them as a reference and assured me that he was 100% legitimate as per the years of business with no complaint through the journal. There you go. Good luck in your used equipment purchases.