Things Unlimited Still Around?

[ztnoo]

An item of particular interest to me about this topic is the fact that despite the mountain of posts and factual information concerning shady and unscrupulous business dealings over the period of the last year, not once has this vendor offered a public explanation anywhere concerning the allegations of deficient delivery performance and fraudulent credit card posting as documented and explained, at length and in detail, by numerous posters at the three major Thing forums.

The proprietor has never offered an argument in his own defense. If he were truly innocent of all these scams and charges, I would think loud, long, detailed, and frequent replies would be rolling off the cable or phone line in unending succession defending his honor and business ethics. Such is not the case.
Why?
I believe the sheer volume of evidence speaks for itself. I believe it to be true.

That fact seems especially odd to me given the fact this vendor was an early and frequent contributor to the Topica site from the beginning.
Dec 28, 1999:
http://lists.topica.com/lists/things/read/message.html?mid=700084563&sort=d&start=50

In a post dated Apr 25, 2003, this vendor lured the Thing community into supporting him when he announced his acquisition of the business in question from Vince Sadowski.
http://lists.topica.com/lists/things/read/message.html?mid=806227187
Included in that announcement were the following statements:

"I have tried my best to emulate Vince's best qualities. I hope to serve you in the same manner that Vince has and carry on his goodwill.
Vince has taught me many of his tips and tricks involving our peculiar vehicle. I will try to live up to the same expectations you had from him.
I would also like to thank Vince for choosing me to take over the business. Our #1 goal will be customer satisfaction.
All orders will go out promptly via UPS, Fed Ex, or Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation."

Later in 2003, another message appeared at Topica by a different poster. An explanation was offered from that poster's perspective about how and under what circumstances the acquisition and transfer of the business occurred.
Nov. 10, 2003:
http://lists.topica.com/lists/things/read/message.html?mid=807770664

"Early on Mike Basso asked me (under a veil of our online friendship) for a letter that supported his passion and honesty for OUR beloved Thing.
He did so under somewhat false intentions. I responded with very positive recommendations. Soon after, I realized that he had asked for my support under false circumstances. Sadly, I was struck with the realization that I had been a political puppet/tool used to support his Things Unlimited take over. Here in lies the rub.
No person (in my opinion) can ever replace Vince S."

Huummm.....
So, what we would seem to have previously was conscious, calculating manipulation of others to achieve what one desired, in that instance, acquisition of the business.
What we seem to have now is conscious, calculating manipulation of others to achieve what one desires (and likely desperately needs to keep one's head above water) by devious means, purposeful non delivery of goods, and credit fraud.
I think the seeds of the current unethical behavior were planted long ago, unfortunately...... unbeknownst to any of us.

If this vendor lurks the three Thing forums, and doesn't reply to the documented allegations against him, and has no intention of replying, everyone should realize what the true implication of his non defense stance really means. To me, it's an affirmation of his guilt. It should be an affirmation of his guilt to every member of this list.

The most important thing this list and the other forums can do is proactively stop this thievery NOW.
Go to http://www.stopthingsunlimited.info/ to join the battle.
Avoid this business like the plague.
Cut it off at its knees.....don't deal with it.....don't give it your credit card numbers.
Cut off its feeding source....$$$$$.....and it won't prey on more innocent victims.
It will then die by its own hand because of unethical financial and business shenanigans, massive miscalculations, and sheer stupidity.
Good riddance!

[markie61]

[Ferretkona]

[No_2_Things_Unlimted]

Well well well... since this Mr Mike Basso has been given the ability to steal from all us poor suckers due to the power of the Internet I think it is only fair that the fight begins where it began.

I have had my money stolen by Mike Basso and Things Unlimited.

My actions to date have been very subdued in an attempt to get something back.

Well I have given up on that approach and am currently following through on legal action.

While this ball is gathering speed I think it in the nest interest of the 181 Community to ensure he has no more victims.

I have setup mikebrasso.info and over the next few days will build a site there with all the info anyone will need to ensure they do not fall for the same line that I and many others have.

If you have had dealings with Things Unlimited that were negative and resulted in you loosing your money then please email me at [email protected] so I can add your info to the file and use it to help the legal approach. I will also add you to the info list so you can be kept up to date on events as the fold.

If you have info on Mike Basso or recent locations then I would appreciate this as well.

Feel free to check out my Ebay auction for one very rare Things Unlimted Credit Card Bill also, I mean if you want to get one direct of Mike Basso then feel free to get your own, if not then you can buy mine at a fraction of the cost – item id 260047527821

Regards,

One Very Pissed of Things Unlimited Victim

[ztnoo]

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

[Ferretkona]

[Towel Rail]

[addh79]

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.

[ztnoo]

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.

[markie61]

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
_________________
Whut is that-there Thang!?
------------------------------
Chicks dig my Thing - so what if it's little and yellow...!?

[ztnoo]

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]

[ztnoo]

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

[Video Bob]

Did I hear someone say "Law Suit"???
_________________
Ya can't have too many Vdubs!
1956 Oval
1966 Beetle
1974 Thing
1974 Super Beetle
1976 Westy P22

[Woreign]

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?

[saintb]

pablo,

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

Let me know.

-B

[Big Luni]

...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.

[ztnoo]

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

[pablo espanol]

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.

[ztnoo]

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

[UKbillybob]

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.