In May of 2013, I got in contact with Tim to restore my father's pinball machine, and to build a MAME emulator arcade cabinet for me. I paid him ~$6600 for the two jobs, and he picked up the pinball machine. At the time of this review, in February of 2015, Tim still has my money, my machines, and has been refusing all communication with me for the past three months.
Towards the summer of 2014, I became suspicious at the long string of excuses he was using. He always had various issues that prevented him from delivering the completed projects; He scratched the side of the pinball machine with his belt buckle. His wife was in the hospital. His mother in law was sick. He was in Florida working on another project. He had a toothache. His driver was sick and unable to make deliveries. His toothache got worse and he went to the hospital. His driver was in California on another job. Eventually he just stopped responding altogether.
I eventually flat out told him that I was tired of getting the runaround, and would pick up the machines myself. All he had to do was provide the location of the warehouse and I would pick them up. In response, he explained to me that he had been dishonest with me, that there was still a problem with the machine and that rather than tell me, he had been avoiding me and stalling for time hoping that a replacement part would come in. He apologized and asked me to give him until early November to complete repairs.
The date came and went with no further news or correspondence.
I responded (understandably upset), saying that I wanted to pick up my machines as soon as possible, and that I no longer believed his excuses. He sent an e-mail back on 11/12/14 saying that he was tired of working on the machines anywyas and had no desire to complete the repairs. He would be in contact with me as soon as he was back in town to set up an appointment for me to pick them up. That was the last contact he would contact me.
I have tried everything within my power except physically driving to his house and knocking on his front door to get in contact with him. I've e-mailed him numerous times, I've left several messages on his business and cell phones, I visited his (now defunct) storefront in Mesa. He is refusing all contact with me. He has my father's pinball machine, he has my MAME emulator, he has my $6,600, and he has absolutely no interest in returning them.
I urge anyone who reads this message to carefully reconsider giving Tim your business. Talk to me, talk to others who have posted bad reviews. The nightmare I've been through could well happen to you as well. I cannot sleep at night from stress and worry.
Tim, you will read this message, I am sure, as you've read and responded to others who have left poor reviews. Please return my father's machine. It is one of the very few memories I have left of him, and if anything happened to it I would be devestated beyond words. I am available at any time. You know how to contact me.
Jennifer
Edit:
Tim has deleted this review from his facebook page. I have yet to receive any word from him.