MailMarketplace.com Kirk Johnson Internet Fraud Minneapolis, Minnesota

We purchased a Challenger paper folder on 9/4/09 at a cost of $2500. Since this was the first time we were purchasing a piece of equipment "sight unseen" we asked if we could pay 1/2 of the money up front and the balance once the unit was ready to ship. Kirk Johnson, the owner, agreed. We paid 1/2 invoice amount ($1250) to begin refurbishing. The unit was to be refurbished and ready within 10 days. The check was cashed by Mail Marketplace on 9/9/09. After more than 10 days, I left messages and sent emails to Kirk Johnson with no response. Finally, on 10/1/09, someone named Gwen called me to explain that they had some employee issues and that we had fallen through the cracks and that the folder was being refurbished over the weekend of 10/3-10/4. She informed me that because of the all of the issues, they would give us a $250 discount and pay for the shipping of the unit. Gwen called me back on Monday (10/5/09) to let me know that the unit was ready to be shipped but that we needed to pay the remaining $1000. She sent me a UPS overnight shipping label for the check. We reluctantly sent the remaining money. That check was cashed on Thursday (10/8/09). I contacted Gwen on Thursday (10/8/09) at the number she had called me from on 10/5/09. At first she acted like she did not know who I was. I explained that I had talked with her on Monday about the folder and she seemed to at least somewhat recall what I was talking about. She told me that she need to contact the warehouse. She told me that she would call me back either that afternoon or Friday morning. After not hearing from her, I called her again on Friday (10/9/09) at about 1:30pm. She told me she was trying to find out what was going on with the folder and that she would call me back. On Friday (10/9/09) at 2:00pm, I sent an email to Kirk Johnson detailing basically what I am describing here and requesting a shipping number. I also stated that if I did not receive that shipping number by Monday (10/12/09) that I wanted a full refund. This email was sent with a read-receipt which showed that my email was read at 3:12pm. I received a reply response back from Kirk Johnson at 3:13pm (10/9/09) saying "We are replacing a nylon gear with a hairline crack. That is the delay. thank you for your patience. Kirk" After not hearing anything again by Tuesday (10/13/09) I finally had enough and sent an email to Kirk Johnson to cancel the order and give us a full refund. As of 10/14/09 I had no response.  I filed a complaint with the BBB on 10/16/09 and a complaint to the Minneapolis Police Dept on 10/22/09.  Both have gone unanswered.  On 11/4/09 I purchased another folder from another vendor on Ebay.  I received the folder the following week.

MY ADVICE...DO NOT DO ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS WITH THIS GUY!!!