I wish I had been one of the lucky ones who read about this man before traveling and wasting time and money on a job that couldn't exist. I was preyed the same way as others, on careerbuilder.com. I was basically told that the company was looking for a sales management position in my area. They said they had been around since the 60's, represented a variety of wholesale jewelry and accessory lines on a national basis to both major chains and retail stores. I was briefly explained the concept of the business and if I was interested to call him. Of course interested, it offered monthly cash bonus of $1000. I called him and was explained that I would have territory of a 75 mile radius consisting of chains such as JC Penney and casino gift shops. I would take over existing accounts. Sounded cool except for the part that I had to come up with $3000 for samples to show customers.in a way, I could see where the company was coming from not knowing an individual and fronting him $3000 worth of jewelry. I would have to fly to Dallas World Trade Market for training. I have to go to the security desk to meet him and get a pass to be escorted to his showroom. I can now see how this has protected him from harm of others that he has wronged. He told me that they didn't take credit cards, which I first thought that was strange. I would have to bring a cashier's check. I was stupid enough to bring $1500 cash. He told me that as soon as I sold the threshold of $25,000 I would get my money back plus travel expenses. I was shown catalogs with retail pricing in them. I was told that the wholesale price was half of retail. I get home to find an email stating that I needed to add 15% for a surcharge of increase price of gold and silver. Now we are talking about nearly 65% of retail prices. I can't think of any store that will purchase jewelry at only 35% off retail.
So I am waiting for my samples to come. Three to four days go by before I call him to tell him that I have changed my mind and that I need to spend more time with my daughter who is 19 and has rheumatoid arthritis. Then I google to find him on several reports from this site as well as. I finally get a hold of him. He must have forgot that he called me from his house on a Sunday. He told me to fax over medical records on my daughter and he would see what he could do. He said that I had signed a contract and it was binding. He said that this had never happened to him before. No one had ever requested their money back. This is happening while I am staring at several reports of ripped off people. At this point I had not received any samples and was going to refuse them when they got here. I didn't want any part of this company. After investigating more on this company, I have found business names as Final Touch Jewelry, Accessory Plus, Special Designs, Inc. And Rike Enterprises. I don't understand why a company of 40 years would need so many business names. I also found out that the website that he intially wanted me to view was selectjewelrydesigns.com had just been applied for a business license the day after I interviewed. How weird was that?
Doing more digging I find out that his company, Rike Enterprises, Inc., was comprised of his father, Ray Rike and his mother Hazel Rike. Although he had signed "Ray Rike" to our "binding contract". The man had signed emails as Gary Rike and also applied for this business license as Gary Rke. I also find out that he has filed bankruptcy in 1997 and again in 2007. I am beginning to see a pattern here of a man's life that he calls has made him a good living all these years. The package of samples that finally came was from a PO box. Why would a business ship from a PO box? It took longer getting back to them because of the PO. They had to get a hold of them to redeliver.
I have contacted careerbuilder and told them about this man preying on desperate people needing work. I have a case number with the Texas Attorney General's office, and have given him time to respond to a notice that I have given him to comply to or I am filimg a small claims suit in Dallas. IThis is not a binding contract when he signs his father's name to a contract that he is not authorized to sign, and my employment with "Select Jewelry Desgns", never existed at the time of the contract.
After I had emailed him and made him aware of his popularity on this site, his response is that the people filing complaints here is only one person filing multiple complaints and people filing could get sued. Well Gary, I have only stated facts here. Prove me wrong by returning my $1500! I would be happy to rebutal and post that you have returned my money and all is good. But for now, I'm just another sucker until we meet again.
A. HansenNavarre, Florida
U.S.A.
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