(WICHITA, Kan.) — Erin Velez thought she was doing everything right. Months before her due date, she ordered a crib from Tiny Tykes Furniture.
“I thought paying cash I’m done…I should see my crib soon. It didn't work out,” says Velez who is one of several parents who have contacted FactFinder 12 regarding Tiny Tykes Furniture.
The store’s owner told Velez it would take four to six weeks to receive the crib.
“I let eight weeks pass trying to be nice,” says Velez.
But weeks turned to months and Velez started doing her own research.
“There are many, many people saying the exact same thing. They are hearing the same excuses, same lines and same waiting periods.”
Jennifer Thomas is one of them.
“Pretty much the only excuse he gave me was that I misunderstood,” says Thomas who also ordered furniture from Tiny Tykes Furniture.
Thomas eventually demanded her money back. Velez got her crib months later. She waited longer for conversion parts for it.
Both women say Tiny Tykes blamed the manufacturer, so that's where they went next.
“The man was more than happy to talk to me and said there's no reason you shouldn't have had your crib in four weeks,” says Velez.
Thomas also called the manufacturer.
“I discovered from the manufacturer that it had never been ordered. The truck that it was supposedly on did not exist. The trucks had already left for the end of the year and there was no bed on it. There was no order at all from Tiny Tykes,” say Thomas.
One manufacturer told FactFinder 12 that Tiny Tykes was behind on payments so it stopped shipping furniture to the Wichita store. We learned that wasn’t communicated to customers.
Tiny Tykes also has an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau.
There were 26 complaints including 12 delivery complaints.
14 were classified as “no response” until FactFinder 12 brought it to the attention of owner Keith Kasper.
Customers fed up with Tiny Tykes Furniture
“Since then any complaints we've had especially with the BBB have been answered,” says Kasper.
We checked, since we first approached Kasper those complaints have been answered.
Kasper, who initially told us the delays weren't his fault, changed his story.
He's now accepting blame for the “miscommunications”, and decided to go on camera to explain how he's changing the way he does business.
“We've basically come up with a new filing system that we can check on orders,” says Kasper.
Kasper says he's also calling customers who haven't received furniture, explaining the delays and even offering refunds.
“The economy has affected all business people and I’m not saying I haven't made mistakes. I have and I'm not infallible. I’m just trying to rectify the mistakes at this time,” says Kasper.
Thomas and Velez understand that a business may struggle in these financial times, but says that doesn’t mean others should suffer.
“He was taking other people's money and he was trying to survive,” says Thomas.
They’ve also learned a lesson.
“I've learned I need to do more research before I make a purchase like this,” says Velez.
Kasper says he also learned a lesson, and is asking customers for another chance.
“I sincerely apologize to people and for the errors that I’ve made. I'm not out to get anybody or cheat anybody,” says Kasper.
The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice whenever you order merchandise:
- It says never pay the full amount, a quarter or half is sufficient.
- Use a credit card. That offers you more protection if you don't receive the item.
- And get the refund policy and estimated delivery date in writing. Never do it verbally.
