This is a copy of the email I sent to McGraw Hill company, the publishers of the book "iPod Repair QuickSteps: 1st Edition" by Brandon Jones and Marc Campbell. Mr. Jones is the owner of iKaput.com, a now defunct iPod repair company, to whom I sent my beloved 5th Generation white 30 gig iPod with a broken screen early last year. The rotten bastard took my money and my iPod and never sent it back nor repaired it.
So, being the person that I can be at times, when I feel I have been wronged, I Googled the hell out of him again today. And what did I find almost a year after my Better Business Bureau complaint was closed, a PDF with his name as an author of a book about repairing iPods. Yeah, the irony! So that led me down many other Google results and to some forum posts that gave me a contact at the Utah Consumer Fraud Dept. I am hoping that I can get McGraw Hill to give me his royalties from the book to reimburse me the cost of the iPod and the repair and shipping costs that I was swindled out of, or get this guy busted.
While I know this creep is not going to have anything done to him, at least I’m not sitting down and taking it… Well, O.K., I am sitting down, but I’m Googling and emailing and doing something. That rat bastard can not hide forever. He has to come up for air and I will be their waiting.
So, if you are interested, not that you would be, but if you are, please read the email I sent. Yeah, it’s long winded and a bit whiny, but who cares. If it gets me any result, even just a look by the Utah Consumer Fraud Dept., then I would be happy.
To Whom it may concern,
My name is Norbert Davis and I live in Elk Grove, Ca. I am a former victim (customer) of iKaput.com, an iPod repair company owned by one of the authors that McGraw Hill pays royalties to, Mr. Brandon Jones, co-author of iPod Repair QuickSteps (ISBN: 978-0-07-149866-1) and I would like to make a claim on Mr. Brandon Jones’ royalty payments. See page 4 of the McGraw Hill flyer for verification of Mr. Jones’ being the author and owner of iKaput.com.
Early last year, Mr. Brandon Jones, owner of and DBA iKaput.com, took in my 30 gig iPod 5th Generation last year (on or about March 13, 2008), with the agreement to replace a cracked screen and ship back to me via FedEx. I paid a total of $92.31 (repair & shipping) but never received my repaired iPod. After months of limited success in contacting anyone from iKaput.com, I entered a complaint to the Utah BBB. Immediately after entering the complaint Mr Jones stated he would send me a replacement iPod but Mr. Jones never returned my iPod nor did he send a replacement. Mr. Jones provided me with an explanation of what happened to my iPod was almost verbatim to another former victim (customer) months before, that a former employee stole the iPod.
My email from Mr. Jones: "I apologize for all the delay and and confusion. We recently had and employee steal a bunch of iPods from us, and I believe yours was among them. We are trying are best to get through this. I am going to replace your iPod with a full functioning one of the same model. We should be able to get one shipped out in a weeks time. Again I apologize for this, and I hope this is ok for you.
Thank you,
iKaput"
Their email (forum post) from Mr. Jones: "I apologize for all the delay and confusion. We recently had an employee steal a bunch of iPods from us, and I believe yours was among them. We are trying are best to get through this. What I can do, is either replace your iPod with a full functioning one of the same model with all new parts and a new front without scratches for the price of a general repair of $149.99, or you can choose to donate the broken iPod we would have received. We should be able to get one shipped out in a week’s time. Again I apologize for this, and I hope this is ok for you."
Since I am located in California, I have had a difficult time resolving this situation. I am asking for the assistance of McGraw Hill. I am also sending a copy of this email to Mr. Mike Pitts of the Utah Consumer Fraud Dept. in hopes of obtaining some assistance from him as well.
I would like to make a claim on Mr. Brandon Jones’ royalty payments to the tune of $92.31 plus the replacement cost of the iPod, $320 (plus tax about 8%) at the time. This would be a grand total of $437.91 USD. I believe that since this person has willingly taken my personal property and my hard earned money, as well as the same from many others, that they are a scam artist and are due a forfeit of their royalties from the sales of this book to reimburse me.
I would appreciate it if this email could be passed along to someone in the McGraw Hill organization that could address my complaint/concern and let me know if there is any way that McGraw Hill can help me with making a lean or claim on any royalties that Mr. Brandon Jones is receiving from the book.
Yes, this is just an iPod, however it is more the principal of this person being a scam artist and thief and that he is getting paid while he steals from others that makes me sick. I would greatly appreciate any assistance that McGraw Hill could provide to help assist in my effort to obtain a resolution to my situation.
Sincerely,
Norbert H. Davis
Elk Grove, Ca. 95624
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