Has anybody had any dealings with the prop store federation surplus recently. I would like to know your opinions

According to their site they are closed down due to supplier issues, "all outstanding orders will be filled at the earliest opportunity"

Hey I actually ordered a prop from federation surplus in early november and im still waiting. I get almost no feedback from my emails and I dont see any hope in sight for actually getting my merchandise. Whats your story?

I have made several purchases from Federation Surplus over the past few years, and have had issues with two orders.

The first problem is a tricorder holster ordred over two years ago. The second is a phaser I ordered 8 months ago. I'm still waiting for both.

I've talked to the owner on the phone, had correspondence via e-mail. I don't think he's a crook, and as I said, I've ordered other items from him.

He has told me via e-mail that he was having problems with his electronics supplier (although that doesn't explain the holster).

I've had repeated promises of both items being shipped, and repeated explanations of delays.

Based on my prior experience with Federation Surplus, I believe he will fill his orders, but with the amount of time that's passed for these items, I don't think I'll be buying from him again.

But I wouldn't hold my breath on getting your stuff any time soon.

Thats insane! What the hell kind of way is that to run a business?! Seriously he should be ashamed, this is just sad. He must be the most irresponsible business owner I've ever encountered and Im not sure how he gets any repeat business.

Sometimes you have to rely on a chain to gain physical deliveries. When promises are made and one of the links in the chain doesn't live up to their word, then the Point Of Sale gets it in the neck.

Personally, I wouldn't sell anything that I didn't stock. Selling products not in your hands when they are physical items is a very difficult way to do business. We've been stung here as a website by a promise form a corporation before and that hurt.

The worst part of this isn't the delay its the uncertainty that the business is still functioning. I never get any of my emails answered by the site so Im not sure if I will ever get my merchandise. Also the merchandise this guy sells isnt cheap. One would think that $500 for a piece of plastic that lights up would be accompanied by excellent customer service, but not only can this guy not get off his butt to make and ship my merchandise he cant be bothered to reply to my emails.

Sadly, after having sent one e-mail back in December indicating that while I don't want to take action, I would; and another again with a deadline of April 23rd, 2008 to either have the items in hand or a full refund, I received no response, no items, and no refund.

And so, earlier today I filed a complaint with my local police department for internet fraud. I didn't want to, but the non-response was the last straw.

Just as an FYI for those who are in the same boat, if you're considering legal action the place to go is your local police department, regardless of what state you live in, for "internet fraud." They'll want proof of payment for the merchandise, copies of any correspondence, and a name/address/phone of the person you're filing a complaint against. Since it's internet fraud, state lines don't affect jurisdiction.

I didn't have his address, but was able to obtain it so I could provide them with all of his information (which, due to privacy legality, I won't provide here - but if you need it, PM me and I can tell you how to find it without fear of legal ramifications).

Best of luck in getting your items, Captain. I've ordered over $2,000.00 worth of items from Federation Surplus in the past, and got them. But this time I'm out over $500, and have decided to let the legal system take over. Sorry to say it, but you may have to, as well.

All the best.

I actually filed a complaint with the internet crime service center, its part of the FBI branch to catch internet criminals. When I get back home to America in July Im also going to file a complaint with the police where I live as well. Its sad that it has to come to this but Brett Jones has no idea how to run a business and what hes doing is criminal. I didn't donate $500 to him, I paid for a service which I never got and for him to not give my money back is theft.

http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:dnBN5PFRgUYJ:www.adviceguide.org.uk/c_buying_over_the_internet.pdf+what+to+do+when+int ernet+ordered+goods+dont+arrive&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=uk

Do you not have internet sales laws like we do in the UK, over in the US?

No goods within 30 days, can get a refund. Although technically a company shouldn't charge you until they are shipping the goods out to you.

And if you are lucky enough to have used a credit card, the credit card company is just as liable as they okayed the seller to use their payment service.

I don't think that law applies here in the US. I actually used paypal and their policy is to not get involved. Seriously they told me I was on my own and they hope I am able to resolve the problem by myself, I felt like replying with "Thanks a lot". Anyway I emailed him and told him if I have $500 to spend on a piece of plastic that lights up I have money to hire a lawyer and see him in court. I honestly don't care if the lawyer costs me much more than the phaser, I just don't want to see Brett Jones get away with this.

I completely agree with you this guy has scammed me out of $800 and thousands out of the rest of us I dont want to see him get away with it. but am not sure what to do as i live in the uk.

I'm not certain about international law with regard to internet fraud, which is how the ICCC defines non-delivery of services or goods. Check with your local authorities and see?

It really is a shame. As I'd said before, I've talked to him, I've had a good business relationship with him over the years, and I am deeply regretful that it has come to this point.

The last e-mail I'd received from him was on 16 March, and nothing after that.

Good luck.

I actually emailed him threatening legal action before I took action to give him a chance and he completely ignored my email. You know what I find really interesting though? There is a forum/journal that Brett Jones and his friends keep online about auctions. If you go on yahoo or google and type in "Federation Surplus Brett Jones" you'll find links reffering to him and things hes bought in Hollywood acutions. The things he buys aren't cheap, they cost thousands....hmm...so he can afford to buy himself prop replicas but can't afford to give us refunds or actually ship promised paid merchandise...that makes sense, if youre a criminal.

have you a contact phone number or address i could have please

I wish I had a phone number or address for him. I've been emailing him on his website email and his youtube email...so far he hasn't replied to either.

I have both a physical address and phone number for him, but because of privacy laws I cannot provide them.

That said, there is a way to legally find the information yourself. It's actually quite simple, but I don't want to say how here on the forum in case he's reading, sees how its done, and removes it. Feel free to PM me if you'd like it, and I will let you know how to find him.

Uileag just out of curiosity have you called him recently or spoken to him? If so what does he tell you? If you haven't called him yet, can you call him on behalf of all of us and ask him what the hell is going on?

http://shop.federation-surplus.com/contactus.sc

Their contact page is still open if you google to get into that page. Seems they closed the front page down but allowed access to the shop still. And that also means that you can checkout orders, which isn't good. So in any complaint you make you might want to point out the shop is still taking orders on their website if you google in to the shop pages.

Yeah I noticed their page is still open through that side door too. Sadly I placed my order back in November, way before the main page closed down. Anyway I have an update from anyone with an outstanding order. I talked with Alec one of his friends and he assures me that Brett isn't a crook and we should either have our orders filled or get refunds. However, he didn't give me any idea of when he would fill his orders.

If you get his phone number can you Email me it . and how did you get hold of his friend. also if he intends to fulfill his orders then why cant he Email us and tell us whats going on instead of ignoring us all.


Thanks

Well I was actually looking for contact information on him on google and typing in keywords like federation surplus and brett jones and I found this blog made by a close friend of his. This guy talked about Brett Jones so much in his blogs that I assumed he knew him as a close friend. I email him and his friend got back to me the same day telling me that Brett Jones took this prop making job for Hollywood and is working 80 hour weeks. However, in the end he does have an obligation to us and shouldn't ignore us just because he has a new job. If he wants to go off and make props for movies thats fine but he needs to take care of us, were unfinished business.

In the e-mail I received from him on 16 March, he said that he'd got a job working for a prop house that was doing the new Star Trek movie, and was working 6 12-hour days a week. I understand how that can be very, very tiring, but as Captain has pointed out, we are indeed unfinished business - and it's been far too long.

I do not believe that he's a crook, but there comes a point when the timeframe moves into absurdity, which is why I filed my complaint after waiting for 8 months for one item, and 2 years (yes, two years) for another. If I thought he was a crook, I'd not have waited that long, to be sure.

Has anyone tried to call him yet?

I keep writing him emails and I keep getting nothing back. I really want that phaser prop...I knew I should have spent $30 more and used Roddenberry.com. Has anyone got any sort of response back from Brett Jones?

Nothing new here, I'm afraid. Still just silence from Federation Surplus.

Just for the heck of it, since there's not much else we can do at this point but wait for the authorities to take action, what are you waiting for, and what's in your prop collection?

I've been waiting for 6 months for my DS9 Boomerang phaser hero prop. I honestly at this point just want a refund. It's in my opinion insane that he charged my credit card before shipping. Any real business, Amazon, MasterReplicas, you name it won't charge your card until merchandise has been shipped. Brett Jones charging my card, pocketing my money and acting like I don't exist and not caring about my merchandise is really pissing me off. I paid him $500 and he cant even be bothered to reply to my emails and pretend to care.

Good news I have finaly had a reply off brett jones. he says he will post my tricorder this week.
so I think you will all get a response as well. Good luck

I have also received an e-mail stating that as soon as funds were transferred to his PayPal account from his bank, he would be sending me a refund via PayPal.

Frankly, I'd rather have the phaser, but at this point, bring on the refund.

I also got an email saying that he would post the phaser within the next week or two....I want to believe that but....we'll see how it goes...

I can't tell you how many of those "next week or two" e-mails I've had. Two years' worth on the holster. Eight months' worth on the phaser.

Good luck.

Yeah Im not really holding my breath with this "week or two" email...but Im hoping when I return to the states I dont have to pay a visit to the police station and file criminal charges against him. I dont really understand how anyone could run their own business into the ground like that.

Its been a week, has anyone got any new emails from Fed surplus?

No refund, no word, no response to yet another e-mail, here.

Well its been two weeks since my email with the promise that it would ship in two weeks....Im losing hope.

same problem here no tricorder and no response.

There has still not yet been word, here. Two weeks ago he promised a PayPal refund (once funds had transferred from his bank to his PayPal account). It doesn't take two weeks for that to happen.

It also doesn't take two weeks to respond to e-mails being sent. However, according to his Youtube profile, he logged in there a week ago today (back on 09 May).

Guess we're just not important enough to respond to.

I filed a complaint with the ICCC: If I don't hear from him by 30 May, I'll be moving forward with charges.

It's a shame, really. He and I had a good business relationship. I've spent quite a lot of money on his items in the past. I wish I could have kept the relationship going as there are a great many more items I'd like to add to my collection. Sad. Just sad.

I just sent an email to him with a similar threat. For some reason I doubt he'll care enough to actually respond.

Its May 30th....has anyone got a refund or their merchandise yet? I wrote him threatening legal action and he didnt even bother to reply to my email yet.

still the same here no tricorder and no response. its been exactly 11 months since I placed order

I actually got an email yesterday promising a refund this week. I hope it actually happens...if he credits my paypal account I guess I can transfer that money on my card...Im not sure how this works.

I got a return call from a message I left and spoke with him for some time. I have also been promised a refund sometime this week, as soon as a transfer has been completed.

As an aside, I meet tomorrow (Wed., 04 June) with the authorities to present my evidence. I don't want to, which is why I called and left him a message in the first place. I still have to keep the appointment as I haven't received a refund yet and if you don't keep an appointment with these folks, they tend to be not very nice. I can tell them that I've got another refund promise, I guess.

My paypal account hasn't been credited yet.....its June 4th....anyone else have any luck yet?

I received a refund today via PayPal. Unfortunately, the amount sent to me is $58.50 short from the amount he should have sent. In addition, of course, since it's coming to PayPal and it's too much time to have been shown as a refund, I'm also getting hit with PayPal's fees and losing about $15.00 to them.

I've sent him an e-mail requesting that he refund the additional funds so that the refund is a full refund. I won't be touching that money or closing the case until I've received the rest of what is due to me.

Anyone else?

Im still waiting for a refund....seriously all he has to do is click "transfer funds" that doesnt take 3 weeks!!! This is month 10 since my order... I suppose if Brett Jones wants to quit Federation Surplus I have some house plants that could run the company for him, or if anyone has an unmotivated cat that needs a job...

I talked to brett jones on the phone yesterday to tell him I was not happy with the way he done business he assured me that he was finishing my tricorder and would be posting soon. I suggest that you phone him your self so you can vent your anger.


Good luck

Well he told me he doesnt have time to finish my phaser and he would just give me a refund. I'll call him but I hate making international calls to America theyre crazy expensive.

Several months ago he told me all that was left on my phaser was to "button up the battery and put on the side tape." When I spoke with him in the beginning of June, he told me the same thing - sort of.

He said that while there was just the battery and the tape to finish (still!), it would need to be tested to ensure the lights still worked/there was no internal problem/etc prior to sending it out and he just didn't have the time to do it and would rather refund my money as he couldn't promise when it would be finished.

Then he sent me a refund which, as I posted previously, is over $50.00 short, *plus* getting hit with a $15.00 PayPal fee.

Honestly, at this point, if it were me waiting for anything, I'd tell him to just send a refund. You could still be waiting this time next year for that tricorder. Hope I'm wrong, and wish you luck on that.

Hey, Captain. Shoot me a message re: your phaser.

Uil.

I have just received an email from USPS telling me my tricorder has been posted.
It is exactly a year today that I placed the order. so it looks like I am finally going to get it. The phone call done some good after all.

I STILL haven't got a refund! I hate Brett Jones! He's a criminal! When I go back to America next week I am going to file charges against him and make him appear in a Maryland court. I wonder if he would rather fly to Maryland at his own expense or refund my $471.

If I where you I would phone him. Let him know how you feel. It makes you feel better and you might get your refund. It only cost me 1.35 for twelve min

Good luck

Hello,

I am Brett Jones and have just read the thread here. You all seem to know my name but I am at a disadvantage by not knowing all of yours - actually I do know 3 - James Cohen, Joseph Said and Hank Zimmerman... So James, the refund was short? We discussed the total amount on the phone and that is what I sent - if this is true then why did I not hear back from you? Ever? I guess it's just easier to complain on the internet than to me - you have my number.

As for the Replica Props I have bought through "Hollywood Auctions" - I don't buy replicas - get your facts straight Joseph - you have no idea of which you speak. My friend runs a site about Star trek Auctions and refers to me as an expert on telling fakes form the real thing - that's a problem for you?

I would like to say that I apologize for any problems and feelings of dread on my part. The situation is out of control due to 3 factors: One - My electronics person ran off with my money paid in advance and has not provided the goods necessary to complete my projects. Two - I have a more than full-time job now. Three - Time is incredibly difficult to come by at the rate I need it to and I am behind fiscally at the moment. Work has slowed way down due to the strike and I am returning to my orders presently.

James Cohen needs to contact me about his order if the refund was truly short, Hank Zimmerman was taken care of with a refund and his tricorder and Joseph's Money Order is in the mail - anyone else?

Please do not hesitate to contact me at fedsur@sbcglobal.net - I will respond with my telephone number if you have an outstanding order.

Mr. Jones:

You said in your post on coolscifi.com: "So James, the refund was short? We discussed the total amount on the phone and that is what I sent - if this is true then why did I not hear back from you? Ever? I guess it's just easier to complain on the internet than to me - you have my number."

First and foremost, much of the discussion on this forum was the result of you, for whatever reason, not getting back to those of us who had orders with you. When I finally was able to contact you, you had explained that you had been busy and unable to check your e-mail, but you must certainly be able to understand the frustration and disappointment those of us who had hundreds of dollars out on the line for an excessive amount of time must have felt, and still do feel.

Secondly, you may or may not have noted that I actually spoke up for you. "I don't think he's a crook, and as I said, I've ordered other items from him," "Based on my prior experience with Federation Surplus, I believe he will fill his orders," "I do not believe that he's a crook," and "If I thought he was a crook, I'd not have waited that long, to be sure." Despite the fact that I wasn't getting replies to my e-mails, like the others.

I tried to e-mail you on three separate occasions to fedsur@sbcglobal.com after I received the refund you initially sent. All three times the e-mail was bounced back as undeliverable.

And finally, yes, the refund was short by $58.50 between the phaser and the holster.

Mr. Jones

I seriously hope that you do not own a Starfleet uniform, because you disgrace it with your shameful business practices. You took $473 dollars from me 10 months ago and didn't have the basic decency to reply to 90% of my emails. It was only when I threatened you with legal action that you replied with some vague "I'll do it this afternoon" sort of email. Pit'aQ! I hope the refund is correct and we can actually end this transaction. I feel like you didn't even pay attention to the show? Star Trek is about doing the right thing and following the prime directive. You sir know nothing of honor or living by the sword as I do. You may make Star Trek props and replicas but you know nothing about Star Trek and can never truly be a fan as you do not embrace any of the ideals or morals of the Star Trek way of life. I hope one day you find the right path sir I really do. I suggest you go to Balticon and repent of your crimes and actually read about the ideals of the prime directive. Do not use the rules of acquisition as a business model, they are meant to show how backwards ideals were in the 20th century. Whenever you do anything think WWPD, What would Picard do. Would Picard take nearly 500 dollars from me and then not give it back for 10 months?

Captian Said out.http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=45445&id=1347813635

James, I thought you had missed the entire meaning on my post to you - and then at the end you addressed it - but what was all the in the middle???? I have yet to receive a single email from you after the refund was given - but I did get a call from your personal secretary asking what a holster and phaser was so she could account for the refund. No mention of it being short there either. ;)

Wow Joseph, you seem to have a terribly difficult time discerning fiction from reality..

This unfortunately is the real world where things don't always go perfectly and I can't answer every email as soon as I would have liked to. And interestingly enough - no email from you or anyone else asking to speak with me on the phone.... hm.

So the short version is that out of well over 1,000 customers I had 3 that were not taken care of satisfactorily (which was entirely my fault) - and now we're down to one - who has been sent his refund..... so in a day or two it'll be zero? Not bad.

It has only been in the past few days that I could actually do some surfing on the net again and found all of these posts - glad I could stop by and respond to them but feel free to contact me at the above email any time.

Cheers! :)

Brett, I do not in any way want to get in the middle of any squabble, but let me just say that I appreciate you "coming out into the open" and addressing this matter directly on the forum.

:thumbs_up:

Not a problem Mojo - I have always welcomed the opportunity to take care of these kinds of problems regardless of which side I end up on. I have nothing but the best of intentions.

Thanks!

What personal secretary? I don't have one.

Uileg next time you have an impulse to buy a prop replica from some non reputable site you should just throw hundreds of dollars into the toilet. At least then you'll know where your money is and the chances of getting it back.