TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Jul 29, 2006 7:21 am

Kmann-I got a business card from Reed and here is some additional contact information:

Home: 507-289-4693
Work: 507-754-5115
Cell: 507-951-2082

He said he got his first Thing in 1983 and has been hooked ever since. His wife was also at the show and was very knowledgeable about the parts, pricing, etc. He has a communications business as his main source of income and does his Thing thing as a business/hobby.

Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:09 pm

Same story here.

I ordered a wiper motor in January. He promised immediate shipping. Nice guy. joked about his bad reputation and current health issues.

2 weeks later I was forced to cancel my order because it was not shipped and I needed the part to pass inspection for my daily driver. Unfortunately my order cancelation was done via voicemail and email (because he never answers his phone or email).

Surpisingly, 2 weeks after that my credit card was billed. But, no part was shipped. Ever.

I called him 6+ times and sent numerous emails since. No part still.

Long story short. Fortunately MBNA was kind enough to refund my credit card and probably offer his business another slap.

Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:54 pm

What a broken record...

I think I'll go look at my 40 year old vinyl LP's.
I bet they'll play better than M.B and Things Unlimited.

M.B. and T.U. has major, major problems.
It's my belief this isn't a 'full time" business anymore.
Vince must be sick to his stomach.
A viable, functioning, and servicing business gone completely to hell, in one year.

Must be union hourly work which is mucking this program up... and maybe lots of other personal issues as well.
Who knows.
Basso does not communicate with anyone in the "Thing community" anymore.
Sad, sad, sad.

If you folks don't get it yet, you never will.

Hasta la vista, T.U.

Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:39 pm

Holy crap. Enough is enough, bro. Time to sell the inventory. You're still sitting on a goldmine - cut your losses and git rid of everything. Do us, yourself and your credit rating a favor, and sell the business to someone who has the time and energy for it.

Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:56 pm

Ordered 2 sets of thing front disc adapters for shipping to the UK in April. Did get one set, but second set never arrived despite payment being taken for the parts & shipping. This has delayed me finishing a car for a good buddy.
Does anyone else sell the thing spindle to 4 stud disc brake adapters as I need a set desperately now.
Mike is not returning my emails or answering his phone-same problem as everyone else has.

Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:29 pm

The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Drums keep poundin' a rhythm to the brain
La de da de di, la de da de da
......

And the beat goes on...yes the beat goes on
And the beat goes on...and the beat goes on on on...
The beat goes on and the beat goes on...

-----Sonny Bono

http://www.twin-music.com/azlyrics/s_file/songs/sc/be.html

Tue Oct 17, 2006 1:20 pm

I wish I read your forum before I spent 2 months and $800 for Thing Parts from this yahoo that were never shipped. I have filed a complaint with the Attorney General of New York to yank this website. I encourage the rest of you that have been ripped by this guy to do the same.

Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:51 pm

pablo espanol,
Sorry to hear of your bummer experience with Mike Basso.
Unfortunately it is getting to be a very common occurrence.
Where do you live? in the States or outside the US?
What were you attempting to buy from this hoodlum?
Post more detail in the thread to make people aware of what actually transpired with Things Unlimited.
How long have you been waiting for your stuff?
Pay by credit card or other means?
Did you ever actually get to speak with M.B. during your attempted purchase?
I assume this was your first purchase from this entity....am I right about that?
I really hope you can get something sorted out with him and get your parts, but if your card has been charge already, I wouldn't count on anything positive happening.
The axiom of caveat emptor ("let the buyer beware") applies now more than ever.

Regards,
ztnoo

Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:58 pm

...and the fact that his site is easily brought up on search engines causes major problems, recently illustrated by the plug that TU got in this month's issue of Automobile magazine. I met Mike back when he was just making side curtains and wiper blades, and he was a nice guy - but that's what he should have stuck with. I fully support any effort to bring down the Things Unlimited website. That website is a dark cloud over our community, and must be eliminated before any more Thing owners are ripped off.

Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:43 am

pablo,

I'll second your notion to the attorny general. Is it easy to do so?

Let me know.

-B

Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:02 am

Perhaps someone within our community could create a "warning website" and publish it to the web so that it shows up when a search is made for Things Unlimited?

Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:29 am

Did I hear someone say "Law Suit"??? :shock:

Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:03 pm

Office of NYS Attorney General
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/

Downloadable complaint form (Internet-related matters only)
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/complaints/pdfs/internet_complaint.pdf

Websites, online business or transactions, Internet Service Providers/DSL Alert
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/online_forms/complaint_alert.jsp

Executive Offices: http://www.oag.state.ny.us/contact/addresses.html#executive

Attorney General's Hotlines : http://www.oag.state.ny.us/contact/addresses.html#hotline
________________________________________________________________________

*Basso resides in Albany County, NY

Albany County, NY
http://www.albanycounty.com/default.asp?id=461
_____________________________________________
Department of Consumer Affairs
Thomas Fitzpatrick, Commissioner

Albany County
Department of
Consumer Affairs
County Office Building
112 State Street
Suite 1207-08
Albany, NY 12207

Phone: (518) 447-7581
Fax: (518) 487-5048
[email protected]
_______________________________________
Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce

Albany Office
107 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
Phone: 518-431-1400
Fax: 518-434-1939
[email protected]
_______________________________________
District Attorney

P. David Soares, District Attorney
http://www.albanycountyda.com/
Albany County Judicial Center
6 Lodge Street
Albany, NY 12207
Voice: (518) 487-5460
Fax: (518) 487-5093
___________________________________
Department of Law
Kristina A. Burns, County Attorney

Department of Law
Office of the County Attorney
112 State St
Rm 900
Albany, NY 12207

Phone: (518) 447-7110
Fax: (518) 447-5564
____________________________________
County Sheriff
James L. Campbell
http://www.albanycountysheriff.com/
Voice: (518) 487-5400
Fax: (518) 487-5037
____________________________________
County Executive
Michael G. Breslin

County Executive
Albany County Office Building
112 State Street
Room 200
Albany, NY 12207

Monday - Friday
8:30 - 5:30

Voice: (518) 447-7040
Fax: (518) 447-5589
[email protected]
________________________________________________________________________
Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau Serving Upstate New York
http://www.buffalo.bbb.org/

Filing your complaint with the Better Business Bureau
https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/GetStarted.aspx

"Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unanswered complaints"
http://search.buffalo.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?I...+Unlimited

Thu Oct 19, 2006 6:22 pm

More Convincing Evidence

http://lists.topica.com/lists/things/read/message.html?mid=812444222&sort=d&start=32617

"Whatever your motivation, thanks for the info. I just got off the phone
with a customer in Puerto Rico (really nice guy) who's furious. Basso
charged his credit card for $1935.00 on Oct 3rd and then duplicated the
charge and charged him another $1935.00 on Oct 4th. He hasn't received any
parts. He has a car show next Saturday so he's re-ordering everything from
me, we'll ship tomorrow.

I forwarded the last couple of emails on the topic including SBK's info to
him. And then I told him how to join Topica and TheSamba."

Michele

Michele Dustman, Owner
The Thing Shop and
NEV Accessories
4147 W. Venus Way
Chandler, AZ 85226
www.thethingshop.com
www.nevaccessories.com
800-898-4464 Orders
480-753-0684 Inquiries
480-753-0688 Fax[/list]

Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:50 am

Some "sort-of" good news: didn't see a TU ad in the November issue of Hot VW's which (hopefully) means fewer victims will be snared. Unfortunately, as long as the website is up others may become entrapped. Gives real meaning to "world wide web" when the unsuspecting become caught in this apparent spider's web.

Mark

Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:10 pm

Things Unlimited
3221 Old Carman Rd.
Schenectady, NY 12303
* photo credit: http://members.aol.com/MPB181/index.html

P.S. Folks...if ya didn't "get it"......this is the humble abode of the The Shyster of Schenectady.

Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:21 am

Just Sending out a warning on things unlimited and Mike Basso.
He is known for credit card fraud, overcharging, asking for people to send their electronic parts for maintenece and never sending them back, charging many times on the credit card, and much more.

If you or someone you know has had this pronblem please report it to your credit card company. The more reports the better! I will see to it that he gets busted!

He gives such a nice car such a bad name.

Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:52 pm

addh79 wrote: Just Sending out a warning on things unlimited and Mike Basso.
He is known for credit card fraud, overcharging, asking for people to send their electronic parts for maintenece and never sending them back, charging many times on the credit card, and much more.

If you or someone you know has had this pronblem please report it to your credit card company. The more reports the better! I will see to it that he gets busted!

He gives such a nice car such a bad name.

Holy crap! Why didn't anyone tell me before?!! :roll:

Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:53 am

Towel Rail wrote: Holy crap! Why didn't anyone tell me before?!! :roll:
We don't talk about fight club!

If it was not for newbies we would not be aware of Mike Basso. After all, a topic only a hour old can not be considered. Right?

Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:14 pm

I'm sure through all these reports and horror stories we've been privy to reading for months and months, maybe some natural curiosity has set in about what the proprietor actually looks like. None of us (especially those who have been robbed blind) would want to risk passing this person on the street and not be able to recognize Thing parts distributor Mal Hombre Número Uno.
Feel free to print, distribute, and post handbills in conspicuous public places as you see fit.

MPB 1: "What was that credit card number again?"

* http://members.aol.com/safari181/main.html

Click here to download the 1998 Kubel Trek Slideshow
http://members.aol.com/safari181/slideshow.exe
____________________________________________________________

MPB 2: Bicycles Unlimited next?

* http://members.aol.com/safari181/museum.html
_____________________________________________________________

MPB 3: MPB with ex-wife

* http://members.aol.com/safari181/allofus.html
_____________________________________________________________

MPB 4: Waiting for the next newbie victim?

* http://members.aol.com/MPB181/info.html
_____________________________________________________________

MPB 5: Any Thing friends left?

* http://members.aol.com/safari181/main.html
_____________________________________________________________

MPB 6: Headed for Mexico?

* http://members.aol.com/safari181/main.htm

Click here to download the 1998 Kubel Trek Slideshow
http://members.aol.com/safari181/slideshow.exe