I went online looking to purchase a solid wood entry door. I ran across amishcustomdoors.com and noticed that it was only 2 hours away. I contacted the owner Richard D Flynn by telephone. We arranged for a custom door with the dimensions to my home to by made. I was sent an invoice through text message saying that I needed to pay half down, by way of cash or money order only. I, hesitant to mail the check to the given address, arranged a meeting with Richard. He drove from Huntington, WV. to Lexington, KY to pick the check up in person. I didn't ask for identifying information e.g., copy of license, copy of a business license, photograph of Richard, tag number on truck he was driving. I naively gave him a money order made out to the name of his business. I was then given a 4-5 week turn around on the door which was to be delivered to Lexington when complete. He falsely claimed he had a wood shop here. For 6 months I was given the run around as to why the door wasn't done and ready to be delivered. His excuses included, "I got hit by a truck", "my dog has to go the The Ohio State Vet", "the engine on my truck blew on the way to the mill", "you know Amish People, they don't communicate well", "theres no phone at the mill", "I can't control the speed at which they work"...etc, etc, etc. A check was handed to Richard in person on June 7th, 2017. On Nov 2nd, Richard texts to say he could bring me the door late in the evening. I called him to express my hesitance at him arriving "sometime between 8pm and 9pm I really don't know" as I was home alone. I then capitulated to his insistence and text him my home address. He never replied and never showed up. This process prompted my fiancé to call Richard. My fiancé arranged a pickup of the door. We agreed with one days notice to go to where ever the door was located. Richard text on Nov 10th saying the door would be in Huntington on the 11th in the morning. I repeatedly text asking for an address to pick the door up with no reply. On the 11th Richard text at 10:30am saying the door would only be in Huntington until noon. I called repeatedly since I'm a minimum of 2 hours drive away, and he clearly knows this since he drove here to pick up the check. My fiancé calls from his number and gets through. Richard began yelling that he had tried repeatedly to get the door to us and that he was leaving at noon and that the only way to get the door was to mail him a check for the 2000$ we owed him plus 685$ worth of fees. After I informed him that he wasn't getting any money until I saw the actual product, he hung up on me. He again text saying that he would only ship the door after I mailed him 2685$. He wouldn't reply when I continuously ask to go and get the door...where ever it supposedly was. Frustrated that I had been scammed I called the Lexington, Ky Police dept. I was informed that I SHOULD NOT MAIL ANY MONEY because this sounded like a clear scam case. They then filed a police report on my behalf. Case #201722280
I could have researched this business prior to choosing them. I was naive and never thought about being scammed out of hard earned money. I saved for over a year to buy this door; Only to have the down payment stolen. If the door was actually made...I still want it!! But, i really doubt there ever was a custom made door for my home. The only photos I received were stock door images and images of a mill with Amish men holding doors. We own our own business. If I had a custom made item and was waiting to get paid, I would do every thing in my power to deliver to get the remainder of my money. If the customer begged to pick up the item... I would surely allow them to do so since I would save a days driving time and fuel.
I have no presumptions about getting my money back. With a little research, I found Richard has had several custom made door businesses listed online. Second of which was doorsdoorsdoors.com. When this business received horrible ratings and reviews he simply switched the name and web address to amishcustomdoors.com. I only hope is that my misfortune can prevent someone else from being scammed. read more