For more details, see the blog posts listed at the bottom of this page.
For more details, see the blog posts listed at the bottom of this page.
For more details, see the blog posts listed at the bottom of this page.
FYI
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anglen, Robert
Date: Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 9:40 AM
Subject: Story on camelback consign
To: Glenn Michaels
Story is in today's paper. Your blog is mentioned prominently in the story. Thanks for all of your help. Here is a link:
http://www.azcentral.com/
> 40 COMPLAINTS... BUT WHO'S COUNTING?
Your state legislature? The media? Anyone?
FYI
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anglen, Robert
Date: Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 9:40 AM
Subject: Story on camelback consign
To: Glenn Michaels
Story is in today's paper. Your blog is mentioned prominently in the story. Thanks for all of your help. Here is a link:
http://www.azcentral.com/
From: Anglen, Robert
Date: Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 9:40 AM
Subject: Story on camelback consign
To: Glenn Michaels
Story is in today's paper. Your blog is mentioned prominently in the story. Thanks for all of your help. Here is a link:
http://www.azcentral.com/
> 40 COMPLAINTS... BUT WHO'S COUNTING?
Your state legislature? The media? Anyone?
As of October 3, 2014, I count 30 individual complaints about Mike Burns and Camelback Consign & Design, listed on various websites, like Yelp and the BBB, or emailed directly to me. (Those are captured and displayed below.)
This doesn't include lawsuits filed against that firm, or against Mike Burns, Justin and Terilyn Burns, individually.
The Office of the Attorney General, the Johnsons, Ms. Stenehjem, the Albas & Ms. Schoenfeld, JM Wainwright and I have all filed lawsuits against the Consignment Vampire. Discounting my suit, since I counted myself already, I can identify 35 individual complaints.
Joe Ducey's April 30th segment for ABC 15 lists three additional individuals: Jessica Richards , Susan Frano and Andrea Davis. That brings the count up to 38 complaints.
There are two other individuals whose complaints I am aware of, but haven't posted for various reasons. Any guesses how many others have been scammed by the Consignment Vampire (aka Mike Burns)?
Let's add in Burns' former landlords, Bill Roach and partners (owners of 1030 E. Camelback Road) and Ms. Amy Berberich (owner of Burns' condo rental) to whom the Consignment Vampire failed to pay his rent, resulting in eviction.
The Arizona Republic, in its Sunday, September 28, 2014 edition > Arizona Economy section, identifies Don Davis of Paradise Valley, as yet another victim.
And that, dear reader, brings us to 43 known victims. So far.
On July 30, 2013, Dave Cherry of 5 on Your Side reported that Camelback Consign & Design wasn't paying its consignors on time. Thereafter, despite a steadily growing number of reports regarding that firm's unethical practices on the BBB website, YELP! and elsewhere, it stayed open until the end of May 2014, when the landlord(s) locked the doors on the firm for non-payment of rent.
Dave Cherry suggested to me that those folks who had failed to research Mike Burns (aka the Consignment Vampire, and principal of Camelback Consign & Design) before doing business with him had only themselves to blame for their subsequent losses. In a perfect world, Dave would be right.
(Note: The preceding sentence is rhetorical in nature. For all I know, Dave is absolutely right and I can't see it right now. The blogger.)
But, too often, those in the greatest need of a good solution lack the resources to find it... assuming one exists. Folks like Bernard Madoff and Mike Burns know how to take advantage of the system's weaknesses. Consider that, to date, so far as I know, the Consignment Vampire has yet to be criminally charged for any of the allegations you will read below.
There are many conceivable solutions. One of the simplest, in my opinion, would be to make consignment fraud subject to criminal investigation by local police departments.
Presently, consignment fraud can only be criminally investigated by the office of the Attorney General. This is akin to using a baseball bat as a lockpick.
Massive fraud may require a massive investigatory apparatus. But a consignment transaction is typically limited in scope, local in nature, and the result of an interaction between two individuals. Allegations of fraud, if addressed early and quickly, could minimize the potential damage to a community as a whole.
Otherwise, it remains a matter of civil law that can only be remedied in court. As noted elsewhere, vindication in court for the consignor does nothing to protect the next person who walks in the door of that same shop.
#30
#29
#28
# 27 This painting and several other valued items were found and returned courtesy of Bill Roach, Burns' former landlord. Two additional items Debbie lost were identified by a blog reader who has offered to return them. That was on 9/7/14. I'm waiting to hear what happened.
#26
As of October 3, 2014, I count 30 individual complaints about Mike Burns and Camelback Consign & Design, listed on various websites, like Yelp and the BBB, or emailed directly to me. (Those are captured and displayed below.)
This doesn't include lawsuits filed against that firm, or against Mike Burns, Justin and Terilyn Burns, individually.
The Office of the Attorney General, the Johnsons, Ms. Stenehjem, the Albas & Ms. Schoenfeld, JM Wainwright and I have all filed lawsuits against the Consignment Vampire. Discounting my suit, since I counted myself already, I can identify 35 individual complaints.
Joe Ducey's April 30th segment for ABC 15 lists three additional individuals: Jessica Richards , Susan Frano and Andrea Davis. That brings the count up to 38 complaints.
There are two other individuals whose complaints I am aware of, but haven't posted for various reasons. Any guesses how many others have been scammed by the Consignment Vampire (aka Mike Burns)?
Let's add in Burns' former landlords, Bill Roach and partners (owners of 1030 E. Camelback Road) and Ms. Amy Berberich (owner of Burns' condo rental) to whom the Consignment Vampire failed to pay his rent, resulting in eviction.
The Arizona Republic, in its Sunday, September 28, 2014 edition > Arizona Economy section, identifies Don Davis of Paradise Valley, as yet another victim.And that, dear reader, brings us to 43 known victims. So far.
On July 30, 2013, Dave Cherry of 5 on Your Side reported that Camelback Consign & Design wasn't paying its consignors on time. Thereafter, despite a steadily growing number of reports regarding that firm's unethical practices on the BBB website, YELP! and elsewhere, it stayed open until the end of May 2014, when the landlord(s) locked the doors on the firm for non-payment of rent.
Dave Cherry suggested to me that those folks who had failed to research Mike Burns (aka the Consignment Vampire, and principal of Camelback Consign & Design) before doing business with him had only themselves to blame for their subsequent losses. In a perfect world, Dave would be right.
(Note: The preceding sentence is rhetorical in nature. For all I know, Dave is absolutely right and I can't see it right now. The blogger.)
But, too often, those in the greatest need of a good solution lack the resources to find it... assuming one exists. Folks like Bernard Madoff and Mike Burns know how to take advantage of the system's weaknesses. Consider that, to date, so far as I know, the Consignment Vampire has yet to be criminally charged for any of the allegations you will read below.
There are many conceivable solutions. One of the simplest, in my opinion, would be to make consignment fraud subject to criminal investigation by local police departments.
Presently, consignment fraud can only be criminally investigated by the office of the Attorney General. This is akin to using a baseball bat as a lockpick.
Massive fraud may require a massive investigatory apparatus. But a consignment transaction is typically limited in scope, local in nature, and the result of an interaction between two individuals. Allegations of fraud, if addressed early and quickly, could minimize the potential damage to a community as a whole.
Otherwise, it remains a matter of civil law that can only be remedied in court. As noted elsewhere, vindication in court for the consignor does nothing to protect the next person who walks in the door of that same shop.
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| #30 |
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| #29 |
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| #28 |
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| # 27 This painting and several other valued items were found and returned courtesy of Bill Roach, Burns' former landlord. Two additional items Debbie lost were identified by a blog reader who has offered to return them. That was on 9/7/14. I'm waiting to hear what happened. |
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| #26 |
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This appears to the be full story of #24, below.
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| This appears to the be full story of #24, below. |
#24. For details, see the info from the BBB website, immediately above, in two parts.
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| #24. For details, see the info from the BBB website, immediately above, in two parts. |
#23
As of 9/14/2014 Mike Burns is still a free man. The AG has sued him for civil damages and threatens to put him out of business, but I doubt that Burns has money in the bank. His store is already closed.
In short, Burns may well "get away with this."
Sorta makes you feel sea sick, doesn't it? All these victims, lost at sea, and no one seems to care enough to take action.
Where the hell are our law-makers on this issue?
#22
#21
#20
#19
#18
#17
#16
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| #23 |
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| As of 9/14/2014 Mike Burns is still a free man. The AG has sued him for civil damages and threatens to put him out of business, but I doubt that Burns has money in the bank. His store is already closed. In short, Burns may well "get away with this." |
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| Sorta makes you feel sea sick, doesn't it? All these victims, lost at sea, and no one seems to care enough to take action. Where the hell are our law-makers on this issue? |
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| #22 |
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| #21 |
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| #20 |
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| #19 |
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| #18 |
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| #17 |
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| #16 |
#15
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| #15 |
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| See #14, below. |
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| #13 & 14 |
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| Revocation published on or around 3/10/14. In short, it took at least a month for the BBB to make official what I knew to be implicit because I had been closely following this business and its BBB rating. |
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| #12 |
Where the hell is all the money going that isn't being paid to consignors? $21K here, $75K there. That's a lot of dough!
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| #11 |
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| #10 |
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| #9 |
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| #7 & 8 |
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| #6 |
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| #5 |
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| #4 This person only registered a complaint with the BBB AFTER the situation was resolved. How many other people fell into the same trap between the time this person was caught in it and the date this review appeared on the BBB website? |
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| #3 |
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| #2 |
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| #1 |
DON'T KID YOURSELF.
Mike Burns wasn't born yesterday. He wasn't born on the Fourth of July, either. NOPE. Mike Burns was born on 9/11 in 1952.
He was destined.
Don't forget to tip a hat to Ms. Indispensable, Vera Manuz, either. Where would Mike be without her?
DON'T KID YOURSELF.
Mike Burns wasn't born yesterday. He wasn't born on the Fourth of July, either. NOPE. Mike Burns was born on 9/11 in 1952.
He was destined.
Don't forget to tip a hat to Ms. Indispensable, Vera Manuz, either. Where would Mike be without her?
I don't know if the truth will set you free. But fuss loud enough with a big 'nough bunch a friends and I swear folks 'll do near anything to get you to shut up. Fast as they can.
I don't know if the truth will set you free. But fuss loud enough with a big 'nough bunch a friends and I swear folks 'll do near anything to get you to shut up. Fast as they can.
For more details, check out these posts:
For more details, check out these posts:
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