Several people in Northeast Ohio are trying to figure out what to do after they say a local furniture store took their money —and didn’t deliver on its promises.
They all say they heard nothing but good things about Best Furniture, which had stores in both Mentor and Parma, or say they had good experiences with the company previously.
Over the last couple of months, however, they say things took a very quick and costly turn.
Jackie Rainge, of Warrensville, said she bought items from the store, including a couch. Her first time buying from Best Furniture went without a hitch.
So she went back to Best Furniture in Mentor to get one more couch for her newly-renovated home.
“Put a couch in layaway for the basement,” Rainge said.
But this time, things didn’t go so smoothly.
Rainge says she’s paid $700 on the couch since September and for the last few weeks she’s tried to make the final payments, but hasn’t been able to get in touch with anyone at Best Furniture.
“10 o'clock in the morning, 12 o'clock, two o'clock. No answer, no answering machine or anything,” Rainge said.
Earlier this week she drove there to get answers, finding an empty showroom and a “for lease” sign on the front of the store.
“I said, oh my God, okay, this is what's happening. I've lost my money,” Rainge said.
According to court documents, the company that owns Best Furniture filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy back in August.
That’s a month before Rainge bought her second couch, and Joe Lozinak and Nicole Stephenson both bought several items from the store’s Parma location.
“I have a king-sized mattress and box-springs, a full-sized mattress with box-spring, and two recliners,” Stephenson said.
The total cost was more than $3,330 with the delivery date now come and gone.
“So far we have yet to receive any merchandise,” Stephenson said.
Lozinak paid more than $4,000 up front and got some of his furniture, but is still waiting for another $2,000 worth of merchandise. Since then, he hasn’t been able to contact the store—so he took matters into his own hands.
He put a note on its front door with his phone number to connect with others who’ve also been burned and try to come up with a solution. He wants more people who have had similar experiences with Best Furniture to give him a call at 440-897 7252.
“I hate to say it and I think Nicole is the same way. I want my $2,000 back. Keep your furniture I'll go elsewhere,” Lozinak said.
The BBB says the best thing to do in these kinds of situations is to file a complaint with the state attorney general.
News 5 reached out to the owner of Best Furniture and also his attorney, but have not heard back yet.
