Choice Furniture and Auction Gallery Choice Furniture Gallery, Choice Auction, Treasure Coast Auction Gallery, Inc., Warren Choice Furniture TOOK approximately $30,000 of my Antique Furniture, Furnishings and complete Household. Stuart Florida

I entered into a written Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Choice Auction, Choice Furniture Gallery and Treasure Coast Auction Gallery, Inc. (collectively, hereinafter referred to as “Choice”) on July 3, 2019.  The purpose of this Agreement was to have Choice sell my furniture, furnishings and household & kitchen items…i.e. my entire household of antique furniture, furnishings and goods valued at approximately $30,000.  The sales were to be on a 50/50% consignment basis.  SEE:  Exhibits 2A-2K

The verbal agreement and intent of this arrangement that I had with Warren Keith Trowbridge, co-owner was that he would arrange to pick up my entire household of belongings and place my furniture and furnishings on display in their showroom located at 2020 NW Federal Hwy, Stuart, FL 34994.  They would then sell these items.  The smaller nic-nacs, misc. tools and kitchen items would be placed on auction at 8930 S. US Hwy 1, Port St Lucie, FL 34952.  These items were to be sold at auction.  SEE:  Exhibits 2G-2K.

After they picked up my belongings and a period of time had passed, I called them to inquire about my account and I was informed that they had donated all my furniture and furnishing to an un-named charity…SEE: attached “EXHIBIT – 1” for the rest of the details.  In summary, I was informed that my entire household was gone and that they were within their rights to donate all my belongings.

Since, I have received 4 checks totaling $136.25.  In the statements, accompanied with the checks, they had listed some of the items that I was told that were donated and unrecoverable.  I believe this is just an attempt to cover-up what really happened to my belongings.

Anyway, I reported this case to the Martin County Sheriff’s Department to investigate Choice and its owners, I have found several of their past customers with similar complaints.  SEE:  Exhibit-7, Customer Complaints.

I believe this is their way of doing business by defrauding people and stealing their belongings under this guise of a consignment business.  SEE:  Exhibit-7, Customer Complaints.

My primary intent with filling this complaint is to alert people and to help stop these people from doing this to other unsuspecting innocent people.

I have taken the liberty to provide you with supporting documents.  Please see the various Exhibits.

List of Exhibits:

• Exhibit-1, Affidavit
• Exhibit-2, Choice Furniture paperwork and Inventory List
• Exhibit-3, Pictures 
• Exhibit-4, Pictures of Buffet in Brenda’s office
• Exhibit-5, Statements and Envelopes
• Exhibit-6, Pictures of Owners
• Exhibit-7, Martin County Sheriff’s Case Number and Customer Complaints
• Exhibit-8, org Documents
• Exhibit-9, Business Cards
• Exhibit-10, Misc. Data

(Exhibit-1  Affidavit – Choice Furniture and Auction)

Choice Auction & Choice Furniture Gallery & Treasure Coast Auction Gallery, Inc.

(Locations, Owners and phone number are:   2020 NW Federal Hwy., Stuart, FL 34994;  8930 S. US Hwy 1, Port St Lucie, FL 34952;   904 SE Prima Vista Blvd. #200, Port St. Lucie, FL  34952;  Choice Auction Gallery of Palm City, 3953 SW Bruner Terrace, Palm City, FL  34990;  Phone numbers: Warren K. “Keith” Trowbridge & Mary Jo F. (Francis) Thiboult, Owners, Cell # 772-486-3439, Office 772-359-1400,772-872-1005,  Brenda 772-341-9909, 772-631-2231)

I, James “Jimi” Hurst a resident of Florida on this 12th day of October 2019 hereby swear that the below statement is my complete and honest truth.

Sometime before August 6, 2019, I was referred to Choice by a furniture store owner in Vero Beach. I went to a Choice facility located on US-1 in Port St Lucie and I spoke with the General Manager who I believe her name was Laura (she mentioned to me that she use to live in either Central or South America). 

Anyway, I asked her how Choice worked and she explained to me that they would pick up my furniture and kitchen & household items and bring them to 2 of their facilities.  She explained that the furniture would go to their furniture showroom and the smaller kitchen & household items will go to her location to be auctioned.

She informed that they have a minimum bid policy of $5 for an item at auction and if the highest bid is $5 then the item is sold. So, I should be prepared to sell some items for $5.

She further explained, that the furniture would be sold on consignment at the furniture store and if the furniture did not sell within a reasonable time period that I had 2 options.  In either case I would be notified that the sale period has expired and I could either decide to pick up my furniture or I could elect to donate it to charity.

After my conversation with her, I called Keith Trowbridge the owner on his cell phone at 772-486-3439 and asked him to explain how they worked.  He pretty much told me the same thing that the GM told me.  I explained that I was referred to by a furniture store owner in Vero Beach and he informed me that since I was referred that our agreement would be on a 50/50% basis instead of a 40/60% basis. 

I informed him that there would be 2 relationships: one with me and one with my roommate…i.e. there would be a combination of my items and her items. I informed him that I would prepare 2 Inventory lists: One list for me and one list for my roommate. 

He then informed me that if I want to move forward that I have to speak with Melisa at his office and schedule a date to pick up my furniture and kitchen & household items and execute an agreement.

So, I called Melisa and scheduled a date for August 26, 2019 to pick up my items and we entered into an agreement.  She informed me that it would be extremely helpful if I drafted the inventory list for them.  So, I drafted the inventory list before the pickup date so it would be ready for when the delivery men will arrive to pick up my items.

Anyway, on August 6, 2019, I dropped off some items to the Port St Lucie location on US-1 and gave them to the GM.  She filed out the paperwork and gave me my copy. See attached: Exhibit-1 – Consignment Auction List (B7663).  At this time she informed me that in the future it would be very helpful if I drafted an inventory list of my items for them.

On August 26, 2019, Joshua Kimbrough and another delivery man from Choice came to my house to pick up my and my roommate’s furniture and kitchen & household items.   During this time, Joshua showed me a video on his phone of him as a Choice auctioneer auctioning a pair of sneakers and I remember thinking these people will sell my individual kitchen & household items with this same great deal of individualism and effort. 

Anyway, they made 2 trips to pick up all mine and my roommate’s items.  Then I signed a new agreement and Joshua Kimbrough from Choice signed my inventory lists.  See attached:  Exhibit-2 – Consignment/Auction Agreement & Inventory and Exhibit-3 – Picture of Furniture and Kitchen & Household Items.

A day or two after my items were picked-up, I received a call from Brenda at Choice.  She informed that because I had a very detailed Inventory list that the smaller kitchen & household items would be bundled and placed in boxes and the boxes would be auctioned.  I agreed to this arrangement. 

On September 23, 2019, I called Melisa and left a message. 

She returned my call on September 24, 2019 and I asked her about my account and she informed me that I have to call Brenda at 772-341-9909.

I called Brenda on September 24, 2019 and left a message.  Then Brenda returned my call and she informed me that I had 4 checks that were mailed to me:  $10, $48.75, $70, and $7.50.

It was now October 8, 2019 and I have not received any checks.  So, I went to Choices’ Port St Lucie and the Stuart showroom locations to see mine and my roommate’s furniture and kitchen & household items.  Our items were not at these locations. 

So, I proceeded to go to Brenda’s Choice location.  I entered her office and began to ask her about my account and the whereabouts of my furniture and kitchen & household items.  I informed her that the credenza in her office was my “Baker” (mfg.) antique solid mahogany buffet. See attached:  Exhibit-4 – Picture of Antique Solid Mahogany Buffet in Brenda’s office.

Anyway, she went on to her computer and informed me that they gave my furniture and unsold kitchen & household items to……by the name of “something ‘HOPE’ or ‘HOPE’ something.”   Charitable thrift store. I asked her for the name again and she said that they give things away to many charities and that they do not track or account for anything.  She further informed me that it was well within their rights to give my things away and repeatedly informed me that it states so in our agreement.

I had informed Brenda that during this entire process that I called the owner Keith Trowbridge and asked him what my Sharp Aquos 70” flat screen smart TV should sell for and he told me that it should sell for around $500.  Brenda looked on her computer and told me that both of my TVs (Sharp Aquos 70” and 40” flat-screen smart TVs) were not listed in my account.  She then found my TVs listed on their house account and found out that my 70” TV sold for $240+ and that she would send me a check for $120+. 

As of this 12th day of October 2019, I have not received any checks nor anything else.

On October 15, 2019 I received 2 checks from Choice:  $48 & $10.

On October 16, 2019 I called Brenda and left a message.

On October 25, 2019 I received two checks: 1. For $7.50 for the 2 chairs that I was previously told by Brenda that were donated.  They are trying to cover-up their tracks; and 2. For $70.00 for misc. items.

In the meantime, I have left several messages and to date (10/29/19) I still haven’t had a return call.

I hereby swear to my statement is both honest and truthful.

(Exhibit-7  Affidavit – Martin County Sheriff’s Case Number and Customer Complaints)

(Exhibit-2F – Choice Consignment/Auction Agreement)

(Exhibit 2G  -  Furniture Inventory)