Jeff Klein is a rather unique and odd individual who is in the wholesale business relating to the Tile and Home and Garden Industry.
The reason for this report is that after dealing with him for only about six weeks, I realized that he is the type of narcissistic, control freak who will scream bloody murder if he feels anyone crosses him, yet makes no hesitation of bottom-feeding with the likes of your everyday thief and liar, in order to make a buck for himself.
Here's the scoop:
After leaving my position with a technology company about 2 months ago, Jeff Klein and I made had an agreement that he would cover my expenses for 90 days while I helped him start a plant nursery (KEEP THIS IN MIND FOR LATER... IT GETS RICHER), located in Phoenix (home of "Cheesy Ron" as he's know around his house... Also more on this guy later) while also handling all the marketing of these items.in total, I was owed $12,600 over 90 days.
In addition, he was to supply me with weed killing and tile sealant products as COLLATERAL so I could sell them both on the Internet, and through newspaper advertisements. I originally just intended for this to be a side project until the end of summer. Until the $12,600 point was reached, all proceeds were to go to me as agreed ($4,200 per month), thereafter we would have a commission arrangement.
Jeff Klein GUARANTEED, come hell or high water, that he had enough funds to cover these expenses while I was handling these duties. If the he did not, I told him that it would not be feasible for me to get involved, or would need 30 days notice of intended stopped payments. After just 3 1/2 weeks and two partial payments, he claimed that he didn't want to pay me anymore and that I should just keep whatever funds were in the bank and any inventory as payment until something bigger broke, or until the plant nursery was ready.
After reluctantly agreeing to this, and because I had had enough with his additional deceptive scheming that I will explain below, I placed ads in he newspaper for $3,200 worth of tile sealant, and was subsequently set-up by Jeff Klein, his buddy Keith (Last name to come). This all because Jeff Klein got greedy, negotiated a bad deal for himself and pulled-off the following theft:
After posing as a buyer and arranging a meeting place, Keith gave a signal to Jeff Klein and his meathead gym-rat friend Ron (Last name and place of employment to come).
After off-loading the merchandise, Jeff Klein and the 'muscle' heroically pulled in font of my truck to block my path, both weaseled out of the car and as Klein started to started steal my merchandise and load it, Ron puffed his chest out like out like a contrived cartoon character, all as Kiethy boy snaked away into the sunset. Beautiful Operation! THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW. WHAT WAS THE FIRST YOU MAY ASK??? LIES AND FRAUD that I found out I unknowingly participated in until I found out afterwards.
A few days prior to this event, and after I told him of my intentions to sell the tile sealant in order to cover my expenses, Jeff Klein called the Police because I still had possession of 2 weed spraying machines that he asked me to pick-up at a bug store where it was being displayed, saying they were stolen. The owner of the store verified this to the police. After returning these sprayers, which were not part of the collateral arrangement, I can only wonder, WHY DIDN'T HE REPORT THE TILE SEALANT AS BEING STOLEN ALSO??? One reason... It wasn't and he knew it. He can explain that to the judge.
How does a class act like this who resorts to rip-offs like I just described stay in business? Easy... Maintain a legitimate side to his nursery business and SUPPLIMENT IT BY STEALING FROM HOME DEPOT!!!
Now it gets thick... Here's his modus operandi:
He'll go to a wholesale nursury and buy, say, a group of $4.00 1 gallon or slightly more 5 gallon cruddy looking plants, paid in cash. Afterwards, he'll go to HOME DEPOT or any nursury he can find a high quality $14.00 version of the same plant type in a 5 gallon, also paying in cash. He switches the plants out by potting the cheaper wholesale plant in HOME DEPOT'S container, and RETURN the plant to the store for a full refund... NEVER THE SAME STORE TWICE IN THE SAME MONTH.
The result: a high quality plant grown out for just $4.00 and a savings of $10.00 plus, if it's grown out larger. Multiply that by 500 and you get a picture of the amount of fraud... And he's only getting warmed up!
The end game:
*
After having found out after the fact that I unwittingly returned $1,000 worth of plants to HOME DEPOT on a single day for Klein as a favor, I notified the primary Loss Prevention Specialist at Home Depot's District HQ in Phoenix with regards to his operation, and their intentions to pursue further action (not against me, of course!)... After adding up the potential losses... They're pissed and INVESTIGATING with police involvement. Klein's arrogant belief that they are too big failed him in a big way. His legal troubles are just beginning...
*
The IRS and his propensity to cheat on his taxes after dealing almost exclusively in cash.
*
A suit file in small claims court to recover stolen product.
After losing his ass (and his home) by being a bad businessman, it seems as though Mr. Klein is just bitter by being a shallow, callous 50 year old gym-rat, renting a room in what amounts to a party house from his friend, resorting to stealing from Home Depots and at the end of the day... Feeling as though he needs to rip-off others to feel validated as a result of his own insecurities and beneath-the-sludge self esteem.
* This report is a TRUE representation of all parties, places and events. Given the nature of the information and Mr. Klein's arrogant pride, foolish indescretions and overall true demonstrated and unbalanced character. Even his own sister and this Ron character have alerted me to his abrasive and tiresome tendencies (I should have gotten out then!).
* expect in return *
Just another shallow, emotional diatribe of the sort of vindictive, manipulated and contrived lies Mr. Klein lives with everyday... At the end of the day, we should have nothing but pity for the people who make web sites like this possible.
To Jeff Klein:
I have nothing to hide, in defense of my reputation, the mutual business contacts we both know have been notified of your actions... So if you would like to pursue any of this further... BRING IT.
Kurt
Phoenix, Arizona
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