Roger Atkins

Advanced Video Systems

Hello everyone. I was hoping some of you might be able to pass along your experiences with the above listed vendor. Thanks for your help. Here is the address:

avs-store.com

Tom#B

Roger,

Have you ever heard anything back about avs-store? I just came across their web site today, and they had a 32" Samsung extremely cheap. I'm wondering if they are legit. Please let me know what you've learned and whether you've had some experience with them. Thanks.

Tom

Robb Murdock

Tom#B and Roger:

I too came across avs-store and was blown away by pricing and the fact that they claimed to have the Samsung HLP5674W in stock.

I wired them 3,860.00 for the TV. They responded that I just missed the cut off; and they were out of stock and would have to re-order. That was June 30th. It's now August 9th.

Since then I have done a lot of research on both the TV I ordered and this company.

Before I wired them the money, I checked them out with the Upstate NY BBB. That had 6 complaints that were resolved. I though it might be reasonable.

Now they are up to 11. One of them is mine. And now the BBB has a note referencing the nature of the problems with this company.

They will refund your money when they can't deliver; but levy a 10-20% service fee.

While I can find no evidence that they are frauds, I get the feeling that they are simply making money on the refund service fee.

One thing that bugs me though, is that they said that I just missed the cutoff and they were now out of the TV I ordered. Since then, I have heard some back-channel info from Samsung regarding the HLP5674W and that it is not available yet. If so, then avs-store lied about that.

They tout their credentials; but I advise looking closely at them. They look like forgeries. Logo's slightly mis-aligned, shadows indicating a copy-paste exercise, etc.

I will give them another week then I will ask for a FULL refund. I have a complaint started with the Federal Trade Commission; and will embark on it fully if I don't get all of my money back.

After all of this, however, I really can't say if they are legit, frauds or perhaps just victims themselves of being a middle man in a supply-chain issue.

Frankly, I too would love to hear from someone that has actually received a product from them.

By the way, I checked out their address...It's a 3 bedroom house. I pulled the Title records on it.

Sir Jim White

Robb and others: I may be one of the few who has gotten back all of their money. After waiting a long time I had my girlfriend inquire about the same TV and if it was in stock and how soon could she have it in her home. After asking two or three times, Howard responded that yes they were in stock and it would be shipped in one weekday. AFter that I gave AVS an ultimatum to have it at my house by the 30th or I would contact the Sheriff and State Attorney.

I was purchasing a RCA so I contacted Thomson and asked if they had any factory problems with my set. I included a write up of the problems I was having. I was informed to call their toll free number. I talked with Stacy and Thomson had opened up some tracking number. Stacy assured me that there had been no factory problems. She also told me AVS was not an authorized RCA dealer. I told her about the credentials page but have no idea if they are doing anything about it.

After getting the information from RCA I informed Howard. His reply was that in fact there was a large shipment now arriving but since they would not be able to get it to me before the deadline, they had already refunded all my money. That was a TRUE statement for a change.

I am not going to give up. I had email correspondence with a gentleman who had received 90% of his money back. He used a similar threat and supposedly they have put his other 10% in the mail.

Don't Give UP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a reply to the BBB that I do not consider this problem resolved, it is going out in tomorrows mail.

Jim White

Robb Murdock

Sir Jim White:

I canceled my order back on 7/29/2004, a Thursday. Then Howard Knapp said no problem, but that 'accounting' processes cancellations on a Wed through Wed schedule.

At that time, I stll wasn't sure that this was a complete scam; or perhaps they were just caught up in a Samsung supply chain problem, so I stopped the cancellation.

Today I canceled the order based upon the new evidence. Howard said no problem; but that they processed cancellations on a Mon noon through Mon noon schedule and that it wouldn't be until next Monday before the cancellation would go in. An then, 'accounting' wouldn't process the check until that Friday. That puts today cancellation (8/9/2004) to a 8/20/2004 refund.

I am crossing my fingers and in the mean time am looking for ways to force them to pay up in case they renig.

The odd thing to me is that most of this negative research appeared a week after I placed my order on 7/1/2004; and the company has in fact been around for a while.

Anyway, let's all keep an eye on this guy. Perhaps we can figure out a way to help each other get our money back.

Thanks,

Robb Murdock

Robb Murdock

Sir Jim White:

I forgot to ask, how quickly did you get your refund ? Did Howard give you the claim regarding the 'cycle' in which the refunds are processed ?

When you got the check, was there any problem or delays getting it cashed ?

I want to get some sort of metric to compare against when tracking my refund.

Please advise,

Thanks,

Robb Murdock

Sir Jim White

He advised me on Friday, July 23rd that since they could not meet the deadline I had given them, they were mailing it out that day. I received it on Monday July 26th. I deposited it on Monday the 26th and waited 10 business days to be sure it had cleared. It appears I escaped with them only getting 1 1/2 months interest and me getting more gray hairs.

No there was no mention of weekday cycles at all. It is just BS.

I wonder if the IRS would be interested in this? Did you contact the manufacturer? They might like to know their name is associated with this guy. I'm hoping to hear something from the Sheriff's office but really doubt I will.

Keep us posted. OK??

Jim White

Robb Murdock

Sir Jim White:

Howard said that they 'accounting' changed their payment cycle on him; but that he would do his best to try to get my payment in this Friday's processing.

I think that this was once, perhaps a legitimate business; but is now in a grand check kiting scheme, whereby they simply keep floating money. That's why they offer a deep discount if you 'wire' funds to them. They hold your cash long enough, as you say, to earn interest; and if they keep your cash for at least 30 days, then they are happy to refund it without charge.

As I may have pointed out before, I pulled title records on that property; and it is not a warehouse, it is an old, 3 bedroom house. There are also several names associated with that address, Ralph Olson (owner), Pearl E. Olson, Steven B. Olson and Sherry L. Olson.

I expect to either be mailed a check this Friday (8/13) or next Friday (8/20). Meanwhile, I am gathering evidence and researching facts.

If I get my money, I'll let it go. Either way, though, I want to help anyone else in any way I can to stop this guy before he takes anyone else's money.

Thanks,

Robb Murdock

Sir Jim White

OK Robb - Good Luck and I feel you will get your money - They walk as close to the edge as they can without falling off. However, there mst be laws about this that they are breaking.

I am not giving up. Still don't have my big screen TV either.

It wouldn't hurt to have more people contacting the authorities. I even sent in my story to an Orlando TV station. I doubt they will do anything about it since we are talking NY here. But until they say no, there is always hope. Guys really nead to hang by their Gonads.

Jim

Jim White

Kevin_O

Many thanks to Robb and Jim. I was just about to wire almost $2K to these guys for a Toshiba 65HX93 when I decided to do a due diligence check via Google for complaints. Near the top of the list was a pointer to this discussion thread. Saved at the bell. Needless to say I did not wire any money.

When I emailed Harold this morning that there were problems reported with recent orders and offered him the opportunity to complete the transaction if he would provide positive references, his normally rapid email reply has yet to arrive - 9 hours later. If it would be of any assistance I would be glad to file a complaint as I have all of the emails he sent.

Interestingly, yesterday when I asked him to confirm that the Toshiba 65HX93 was actually in stock he replied that he did but had many bids out to other consumers and institutions and could not guarantee availablility until they were in receipt of my money. What a set up for the 'sorry your too late' response after he had my money.

Thanks again for your candor in sharing your experiences. We should do something to stop this disreputable operater.

Kevin O'Neill