Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/12/2024

  Type:Delivery Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I have paid a 50% deposit for furniture and upholstery and the sellers have stopped responding to my calls.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/31/2024

  Type:Delivery Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I responded to a listing on Facebook marketplace for a custom dining table on 9/18/23. I wanted the table to arrive before Christmas and he assured me this would be no problem as their lead times were about 8 weeks. He sent me a link to their company website ********************************/. We chatted back and forth about design, finishes, dimensions, delivery and spent over an hour discussing details on the phone. He emailed the sales agreement and Zelle link on 10/01/23. I paid the $975 deposit via zelle and signed contract on 10/02/23. Up to this point, he had always been responsive but that changed over the course of the following 17 weeks. Per contract, he was to mail me physical finish samples to select a finish and that never happened despite my several attempts to have them sent . Many of my emails asking for updates would go unanswered. When he actually did respond, he would avoid questions and give very vague details. After weeks of poor communication I started asking for progress photos of the table as proof of construction which he ignored. I tried calling his cell phone, it went to voicemail and his business number which was busy. Throughout, he would reassure me that the table would deliver before Christmas, and said this even as late as 12/10/23. Christmas came and went and I still had no table, no samples and no photos to prove the table even existed. On 12/22/23 I asked for a refund if the table had not yet been completed, which was ignored. On 12/26/23 he stated delivery would be end of January and that the finish samples would be sent out the following day. I emailed again on 1/26/24 (17 weeks from deposit) and today 1/31/24 asking for an update and a refund, and he has yet to reply. At some point he started offering custom cabinetry on Facebook Marketplace with a 4-6 week lead time. As of today, 1/31/24, his Marketplace listing are gone, his Facebook is deleted, business website is shut down so it's clear this was a total scam.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/30/2024

  Type:Delivery Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On 10-22-2023 I ordered a customer table and i was originally contacted by the seller from Facebook Marketplace months before. I contacted him back in October 2023. ***** ******* of St James Furniture said he could build the table for the $1350 and deliver for $150. I paid him half the money $725.00 and then the problems began. He was supposed to have the table built and to me in 3 weeks. I contacted him the end of the 2nd week to see how the table was coming along and it took me several times to get him to respond. I called, texted, emailed, and contacted on facebook messenger. Finally he got back to me stating he could not get the wood and was waiting for the delivery of more wood. I asked him why he did not let me know sooner or would not even respond. We went back and forth for months still hard to contact him. We had delivery times set up 3 different times and he always had an excuse why he could not deliver. The last time he said the table was buckled and could he deliver after Christmas. I told him that would be fine, however, once again NO table. And he has stopped responding. I have tried to get in touch with him and asked for my money back via text, messenger, email. He will not answer the phone or any other communication. I noticed someone else has entered a complaint on the better business bureau for the same reason. Derek Ruecker takes the money and then never delivers anything. Just a scam.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/08/2024

  Type:Delivery Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On May 10th I signed a contract with ***** ******* to commission him to make a king-size bed frame, 2 nightstands, and a dining table. I paid him $2,100 as a deposit by Venmo. He said it would take 5 weeks to deliver the furniture.
  
  As of today, 1/4/24 I have still not received the furniture and he has since stopped responding to my messages.
  
  Since I signed the contract and sent him the money, he has given me nothing but excuses as to why my furniture was taking so long to deliver. At one point in November he said he was going to deliver my order with only a 2 day notice (after telling him numerous times I need a 2 week notice to rent the elevator in my building). I told him I couldn’t take delivery with such short notice but turned around within minutes and told him I would take delivery because I was afraid this would be my only chance to receive it. He never acknowledged or responded to my message. When I finally got a response from him a week later, he said he didn’t bring my furniture with the other orders he delivered because I had told him I couldn’t take delivery.
  
  I told him in November I would like a refund because the process was taking way too long and I was losing hope that he had even started the order. (I had asked for pictures of the pieces to see the color and he never sent any pictures.) He said we would talk about giving me my money back after Thanksgiving so I checked back in then. That’s when he told me he put the furniture in consignment and would pay me when they sold. I asked for links and pictures of the furniture and he ignored me. Now he has stopped responding to me altogether.
  
  I have been nothing but understanding, respectful, and patient this entire time. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and this is what I get - no furniture and I am out $2,100. I still see him posting ads all over Facebook trying to get more business and it’s so infuriating that he could be scamming more people like me.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/03/2024

  Type:Delivery Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I commissioned a piece of furniture from Mr. ***** ******* on February 7th 2023. I paid a deposit which was half of the full price for the commissioned piece of furniture. The rest to be paid upon delivery of furniture. I was given a timeline of March/April. I reached out to seller on May 9th, since I figured these things take time. At that time I was told some personal things had affected the time of completion. I reached out back on August 2nd, to send some fabric information I needed to provide before completion. At that time, I was not updated on any delivery information or date of completion. I reached out again on August 19th, to which I received another message about company growth and personal things that was affecting the business as a whole. On August 20th I asked for an update on possible delivery or date of completion, no response was given. I reached out again on August 24th, this time I received an update with the date being end of September our furniture piece would be completed. I received no update or delivery date. I reached out again on October 3rd to verify delivery date, I received a message stating they were out of town. I reached out again October 12th, October 17th and October 20th. I finally got a response October 20th, and was told just a few more weeks. That my piece of furniture was part of that batch being made. I reached out again November 14th, November 17th, November 23rd, November 28th, and December 4th. All to no avail, at this point I requested we get a refund for our deposit. I reached out to the spouse privately to pass on the message and received an email on December 4th stating that my furniture would be delivered December 23rd. At this point we stated that if we did not receive it by then, we would like a refund. We still have not received anything or had any response back.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/28/2023

  Type:Delivery Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  - table commissioned on 7/18/23
  -promised delivery date in October 2023, again week of Thanksgiving and again end of December
  - $900 deposit paid
  - no goods received
  - no communication

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/14/2023

  Type:Delivery Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My wife ***** was working with ***** ** ******** Seller of the St. James Furniture Company. She provided a $600 deposit for an outdoor table to be made by *****. ***** first engaged with ***** in January of 2023. After a lot of back and forth communication between ***** and ***** we thought we had all details worked out for ***** to complete our table. At this point I have e-mailed the company multiple times requesting our $600 be refunded since the table has not been completed. I have called the company's number 25 times and always get a busy signal. I have reached out to ***** on his mobile and so has my wife but all communication has stopped. At this point we just want our $600 returned to us so that we can move on. The payment was made by venom. A contract was provided but we never signed it and it is attached below.