Mats
Tiffin Mats, Inc.Information and Alerts
Alert Details
This business has 2 alerts.
Government Actions
MD AG Office for Consumer Protection v Tiffin Athletic Mats
On 06/06/2025, the Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has issued a Final Order against Gerald Stringer, who owned and operated Elkton-based Tiffin Athletic Mats, for violating the Consumer Protection Act by selling athletic equipment to consumers, nonprofits, and schools in Maryland and outside of Maryland without providing the promised equipment or refunds.
The Consumer Protection Division’s Final Order prohibits Stringer from taking payments from a consumer, including schools and nonprofits, before providing services unless he first posts a surety bond in the amount of $300,000 with the Consumer Protection Division; it also requires Stringer to pay a $174,000 penalty and return all the monies the company collected from consumers for purchased athletic equipment that was not provided. The Division had entered into two prior settlements with Daniel and Bradely Tiffin, the company’s prior owners, in which they too agreed to pay restitution to harmed consumers. The Tiffins sold their company to Stringer in 2017.
Stringer sold athletic equipment under various names including Tiffin Mats, Inc. and Tiffin Athletic Mats, Inc. (Tiffin Mats). Tiffin Mats collected thousands of dollars in advance payments from consumers but failed to provide the equipment. Tiffin Mats frequently misled consumers about its ability to provide the mats and the timing of any deliveries. When consumers requested refunds, Tiffin Mats often misled consumers about the status of their orders and then failed to refund consumers’ payments. Often the monies Stringer collected were from funds raised by school wrestling teams and cheer squads, and his failure to provide purchased mats forced these teams to use older mats or to borrow replacements.
The Office of Administrative Hearings took testimony and evidence from 30 consumers, schools, and nonprofit organizations victimized by Tiffin Mats. Based on this evidence, the Division found that Stringer owed these consumers at least $139,431.20 for payments they made to Tiffin Mats for equipment that was not provided.
Consumers with questions may call the Consumer Protection’s Division’s hotline at (410) 528-8662.
Alert
BBB believes that this business is temporarily closed, due to a fire that took place recently. While we are able to still accept complaints, we can not ensure that the business will have the ability to respond to the complaint. BBB will continue to monitor the business progress of reopening and/or closing permanently.
Important Information
Believed to be out of business
According to information in BBB files, it appears that this business is no longer in business.
Additional Info
BBB believes that this business is temporarily closed, due to a fire that took place recently. While we are able to still accept complaints, we can not ensure that the business will have the ability to respond to the complaint. BBB will continue to monitor the business progress of reopening and/or closing permanently.
Additional Info
On 4/12/2023, BBB initiated an investigation into Tiffin Mats to research the numerous unanswered complaints on their business file. Most of the unanswered complaints allege unreceived orders after payment and poor customer service when attempting to address these concerns.
Over the course of the investigation, BBB discovered the following:
BBB successfully made contact with the business to discuss investigation concerns but have since been unable to reach the business for followup discussion.
As of 5/1/2023, the business could not be reached again to identify an active complaint handler.
As of 5/1/2023, The business has not provided a formal response or action plan to address the unanswered complaints on file.
BBB shall continue to monitor this company for further developments.
BBB encourages anyone who has experienced these or other suspicious activities by Tiffin Mats to report the incident to:
- www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint
- Maryland Attorney General’s Office- Consumer Protection Division
Pending Government Action
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has filed charges against Daniel J. Tiffin, Gerald Stringer, Bradley Tiffin, and STI Leasing, Inc. d/b/a STI Athletic Mats, Inc. (collectively, “Tiffin Mats”), who manufactured and sold gymnastics and wrestling mats online to customers in Maryland and other states. Tiffin Mats’ principal office is located in Elkton, Maryland.
According to the Statement of Charges, after accepting customers’ payments, Tiffin Mats failed to manufacture and ship the purchased equipment to customers and refused to refund customers’ payments when refunds were requested. Tiffin Mats’ customers included both individual consumers and nonprofit organizations, such as cheer teams and athletic clubs. The Division alleges that although its customers routinely made multiple attempts to contact them about their orders or request a refund, Tiffin Mats repeatedly offered false excuses for its delayed or unfulfilled orders to its customers.
The Division is seeking an injunction, as well as the payment of restitution, penalties, and costs for the alleged violations of Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act. A hearing has been set for July 15, 2024, at the Office of Administrative Hearings, 11101 Gilroy Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031.
For more information, consumers may call the Consumer Protection hotline at (410) 528-8662 or toll-free at (888) 743-0023.
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