Elmbrook Electronics

Elmbrook Electronics scam: electronics repair Milwaukee, Wisconsin

17th of Apr, 2011 by User604205

Needed a repair for a 1976 turntable component. Searched for a technician using the internet. Not many listings for businesses that would agree to repair older turntables. Found Elmbrook Electronics and called them. Repair person arrived to pick up the component (they would not allow me to drop it off). The technician announced that he could not fix the unit on site that it needed a new needle and perhaps other parts that would have to be ordered. I agreed to let him take it. Then he presented a contract, with multiple copies, for me to sign. He required $250 downpayment with the rest due upon completion. I tendered a check, signed the contract and he wrapped the turntable up in a mover's blanket and took it away. After 6 weeks had passed I called to see if the repair was completed. I was told that the new needle had just arrived and that the repair would be completed the following week. I called the following week but the original businesss number on the website had been disconected. I became suspicious and did some checking on the the internet for any negative reports on this business (Should have looked before). I found a video on our local Fox TV6 news station about Elmbrook Electronics' scam dated just two weeks before I hired Elmbrook Electronics. Unfortunately I didn't see the report. The video shows multiple mug shots of the person I had invited into my home. It made me sick. In that video, Contact 6 journalist, Katrina Cravy, spoke of ten other people who had similarly been scammed. After viewing that report, I figured I lost my $250 but I wanted my turntable back, fixed or not. by Elm brook Electronics. (Go to: to see the video describing the scam.) I called the phone number at the top of the contract, which was different from the disconnected number listed on the website. The person answered with a fake southern accent and said there were still problems with the turntable and that he needed more time. I insited that he return the turntable and that I didn't believe he would fix it. He went on to explain that an unnamed employee was responsible for the Contact 6 report, not him. I insisted that the turntable be returned immediately. The turntable was returned, not working and dirty. Do not hire this person to do anything. This is the scam: Elmbrook Electronics is not a legitimate business and has no storefront. This explains why he insists on coming to your home to retrieve the item-makes sense if its a large TV, not if it's a stereo component. (One of several clues I ignored.) He has you sign a contract which allows him to collect regardless of whether the work is completed or not. This is an important part of the scam so when you try to file a police report, law enforcement views the complaint as a matter for small claims and not a scam worthy of an arrest. Few people pursue a small claims suit and that works to the scammers advantage. It is my belief that Elmbrook Electronics has neither repairing skills nor any intention of preforming repairs. In my case he simply took a large up front deposit, waited, then kept my deposit to cover a list of itemized "services" which do not include a repair. He did give me a "refund" check (money order) for $12.28. Not sure how he arrived at that figure. The police officer in my case agreed to look further into the matter after I presented my documents. If the DA approves, it's possible my complaint may be added to the others that are currently pending. Lesson learned. Here is information you will need to file a police or consumer report. None of this information can be found anywhere on the Elmbrook Electronics website or contract: Name: James Gardetto, 3050 W Fardale, Apt 4, Milwaukee, WI 53221. Silver Dodge Van, Liscense # EY8882 As an aside, Mr. Gardetto asked that I make the $250 deposit check out to MRG TV. But before cashing the check, he wrote his name in "Pay to the Order" field, just after MRG TV. I fully expect a multipage rebuke to my complaint. It's also part of the scam.

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