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:12/11/2023

  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.

  I purchased a paramotor (powered paraglider) flight training and equipment package from Flat Top Global on April 3, 2023 (The Pro Package) in the amount of $16,554.00 via bank wire transfer. The price of the paramotor, engine, weight shift kit, reserve parachute, and shipping totals $9,745.00 (as listed on the business website) and this is what I paid for said items. Before my purchase, on or about March 31, 2023, I telephoned the business and spoke with Dell S****** and asked when I could expect to receive the paramotor after I placed the order. I was told that I could receive the paramotor as soon as before training begins (training started June 9, 2023). Training came and went and I didn't receive the paramotor. I've since learned that the paramotors were no longer in production when I placed my order and I was not given this information before placing my order; there never was a paramotor to sell. I have also been told by the business owner that he does not have the required materials to build my paramotor. I have told Mr. S****** that I do not consent to any further delays of my order and I wish to cancel and receive a refund, however he refuses to issue one. The business has also deleted my customer order inquiries on their Facebook page. The owner states that he has my other items for the paramotor in his possession, but he will not ship the items upon my request. I have tried repeatedly to reach a satisfactory solution in this matter, but the business owner will not cooperate. I have been scammed by this business. I have all correspondence with the business available for examination.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/22/2023

  This is very custom hand made gear and a time estimate was given on delivery not an exact timeframe.  Items are sourced from all over the world to complete the unit and the unit is in fact being built.  All the main gear was already delivered and only the paramotor frame has been delayed.  We apologize for this issue but it is a custom order and to get it absolutely perfect takes time.  This customer has already been posting false complains claiming fraud and other things all over the internet which really is dishonest and inappropriate and does not in any way reflect the actual situation.  No you can't just cancel a custom order while it's being created for you.  This is not a simple TV that you can get anywhere it's the only legit paramotor in existence and they are hand made one at a time.  So while we apologize that sometimes there are delays there is a huge difference between that and a "scam" which the customer is falsly claiming.  The item will be delivered as quickly as is humanly possible and it will be done correctly as this is a personal aircraft.  Training was provided and the other gear was already shipped.  So to claim it's a scam is very dishonest.  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/31/2023

  
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  I do not agree with and I wholly reject the business response. Mr. S****** does not seem to understand that I am not interested in this non-existent, "custom" paramotor that I did not order. On November 23, 2023, he stated in writing that he is unable to even source the metals needed for building this imaginary paramotor. When I asked him about production and facilities, he stated he would not answer my question. However, this is not even the advertised paramotor I ordered originally and it has been almost 9 months now since I placed my order. He told me and led me to believe that I would receive the paramotor I purchased and that was advertised on his business website promptly (before June 9, 2023). I flew the same model paramotor I ordered during training and was led to believe by Mr. S****** that I would receive a new, identical model - he even had me take pictures of the particular setup for me, so I could configure mine when I received it. I have since ascertained by a former employee of the business that the business was "bankrupt" and that the paramotor I ordered from Mr. S******'s website did not exist and was "no longer being manufactured" at the time I placed my order. Mr. S****** knew this and deceptively took my money regardless. The former employee stated that he texted Mr. S******, urging him to make the situation right with no success. Mr. S****** then stated in an email to me that it is a bad idea to let "scammers" like his former employee try to "murder" me, which I found very disturbing and nonsensical. I have informed the business in writing on multiple occasions that I do not consent to any further delay of my order and I wish to cancel the order and receive a full refund to which I am entitled by law. The Utah Division of Consumer Protection is currently investigating this matter and the Division has advised that Mr. S****** is engaging in deceptive business practices and he is, in fact, required by law to cancel the order and issue a refund upon my request. I have informed him that I wish to and I have tried diligently to keep this matter between us, but he is being obstinate and he is refusing to refund my money. Mr. S****** has deleted my inquiries for customer assistance regarding my order on his business Facebook page and has deleted my comments on his YouTube platform concerning this matter, avoiding addressing this issue in public forums, which I find quite suspect. Mr. S****** also stated to me twice in writing that if I report him to the Better Business Bureau and/or discuss any of this online, he will delay my order (I have this correspondence.) Mr. S****** states in his business response here that gear was shipped to me; the only thing I have received from the business to date is a paraglider and a stuff sack that took nearly four months (I was told 6-8 weeks) to receive because he stated it was lost in a move and that his son said he would ship when he "feels like it." The paraglider and training are unrelated to this complaint and are not being contested here; however, I wanted to address it since it was mentioned by the business owner. I have been defrauded of my money by this business that knowingly advertised goods for sale that did not even exist and were not being manufactured at the time of my order. I have posted no false complaints anywhere and I can demonstrate that everything I have stated is unequivocally true and factual. I have all correspondence with this business and I can prove beyond any doubt that Mr. S****** has indeed defrauded me. I made this purchase in good faith because I believed what Mr. S****** told me to be true, but he acted deceptively by not telling me that the paramotor I was purchasing was obsolete and was no longer in production at the time I placed my order. Had I known this, I most certainly would have never done business with him. Mr. S****** has put me in a very regrettable situation due to his deceptive, unconscionable business practices. This is costing me extra money as well because, due to the amount of time that has passed, I have been unable to fly and I will have to pay again to retrain. Mr. S****** also never provided me with a purchase receipt for anything. Again, I want to make very clear that I did not order the paramotor he is supposedly building; the paramotor I ordered did not exist and was not being manufactured at the time of order and that fact was withheld from me - that is fraud. This "custom" thing he says he is building but cannot source materials for does not concern me and I am not interested in it whatsoever, as it's not what I ordered. It is absolutely NOT acceptable for a business to take customers' money for merchandise that does not exist (and will not be produced) while knowingly withholding this information from them and this is precisely what has occurred here no matter how it's being portrayed by the business. Imagine an automobile dealership advertising and selling a customer a particular model vehicle, knowing that they don't have it and they won't have it, and then later attempting to justify the sale by saying they will produce a new "custom" model for the customer whenever they can source the metal for it at some point in the indefinite future - it's a ridiculous proposition, yet it is exactly what has occurred here, only with ultralight aircraft. The actions of this business are reprehensible. I will be satisfied with a cancellation of order and a full refund of my paramotor purchase (Flat Top 200R, Weight Shift Kit, Reserve Parachute, and Shipping, totaling $9,745.00) from this business and I will be utilizing all resources at my disposal to obtain this. Thank you.
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  ***** ** *****