SHAME on KZOOSHO / BRIAN TRIPLETT

[shoson]

Let’s move Brian to the top of the Hall of Shame. I bought a pair of led tail lights from Brian. He has done shoddy workmanship, promises to make things right and now ignores that obligation and promise.

Brian Tripplet is also known as kzoosho on the forum. He goes by [email protected] (Yahoo) fatboi (AIM) and [email protected] (MSN) . He lives in Kalazamoo, Michigan and is a member of the GLSS there. If you don’t know Brian you’re lucky, but here’s a pic of him (courtesy of one of his own posts on this forum):

The product:
Brian used cracked, chipped lenses although he promised not to.
The added wiring is very thin speaker wire (maybe good enough for it’s use but cheap).
The taillights do not work, solders were weak and several broke off in shipment.
A row of leds do not work and one is burnt out.
Really not packed that well for shipment, I saved the box and packing.

The service:
Brian was fine until he got all his money and my cores.
When they were finished he forgot to send them for weeks even with reminders from me.
Always promised to take care of things, but over a month later he now ignores me.

Oh, by the way he sold them through a thread entitled “any interest in leds tails “ in the Gen1 & 2 Wheels, Tires, Interior, Body and Cosmetics Mod section. In retrospect I don’t think it was ever posted in the for sale section so the fees due probably never went to Bizzy.

I have gotten several PM’s about Brian from others who have dealt with him and now have to say he’s well known on the forum, but does not have the good reputation I thought.

Read the entire thread here: http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=74434.

Then make up your own mind whether Brian is a fraud and rip off or not. I have all his emails and pm's so I know the truth. My advice is to stay away and avoid any deals he wants to make. Stay tuned.

 

[shoson]

The Truth Before the Sale

Here, let this help you decide about Brian...

04-06-2007 - 1:36pm
Thread started “Any interest in leds tails” by kzooshoo a/k/a Brian Tripplet, a/k/a fatboib (AIM), a/k/a [email protected] (MSN), a/k/a [email protected] (yahoo)
04-06-2007 - 08:51pm - PM to Brian
Those tails are awesome. I’m in for a set for sure. Let me know what you need to get going. I’ll check out the local jy for cores.
04-06-2007 – 8:53pm - PM from Brian
If you plan on sending me cores it will be 150. I would need half to start and the other half and cores once done. It’ll take me a week or 2 at most to finish them. Would you know how to wire them up? If you have aim or yahoo you can reach me on those. Thanks man.
04-06-2007 - 09:27am - PM to Brian
So I can paypal you half and then send you the balance and cores? I have another sho I’m selling and could always just send you those as cores and a money order to get started, then just the balance. Where should I send them to? I’m not an electrician wouldn’t know how to wire them up, but with instructions can get it done. I work on anything and everything myself. Do you think after I get them it would be possible to add on the extra led’s myself like Hawkeye18 mentioned if I also just bought the bulbs from you? Just a thought. Today’s payday so I’m ready.
04-06-2007- 09:29am - PM from Brian
I can add the extra ones it just be a lil more work. My paypal is [email protected]
04-06-2007
Sent paypal to Brian for $75.00
04-06-2007– 11:06m - PM to Brian
Brian, I just sent you a deposit via paypal. Are the cores you’re using in good shape or should I send you a pair now? And this is a gen 2.
04-06-2007– 10:29am - PM from Brian
I have good cores but you can send them now if you like.
04-06-2007– 10:48 am - PM from Brian
Good deal. I placed an order today and should receive all the supplies this week, as soon as I get them I will knock these out for you. Thanks and enjoy when u get them.
04-08-2007 – 9:00am My Post # 20 in Thread
Plug n play just makes a great looking light even better. I'm in for it
04-08-2007 - 09:22pm – PM from Brian
Did you want me to do these as plug and play? If so you know that’s 20 more. Please let me know.
04-09-2007 - 10:26am – PM to Brian
I’m sure I could wire them up with instructions, but plug n play is worth the extra 20. Where do you want me to send the cores?
04-09-2007 - 11:09am – PM from Brian
2308 s burdick kalamazoo mi 49001, so you do want pnp cool. I will get that ordered tonight. I will be out of the hospital tonight and wil start in the early am on your lights. As long as everything goes well I will be done in a week and a half. That will give everything time to settle and seal so I can leak test it before it leaves.
04-09-2007 - 10:45pm PM to Brian
Hope nothing major with the hospital and you’re feeling well. Yea, I think the pnp is worth it. I need to locate a good box and will send you tail lights. No major rush week and a half sounds fine.
04-09-2007 - 11:23pm - PM from Brian
Ok cool.
04-15-2007 - 12:34pm – PM from Brian
Ok the cores I had were good but I was not so. I dropped them bringing them in. There are a couple small chips but nothing noticeable really. I can get you pics of them or I can get new lenses. Let me know what you want to do. I am going to finish up the leds and wiring and then we can worry abouth the lenses. Thanks ahead of time.
04-15-2007 - 10:31pm – PM to Brian
I would rather put on un-chipped lenses if it’s possible. I still have the cores to send out to you.
04-15-200 - 10:37pm – PM from Brian
Yes its possible. I have put a request for gen 2 lights so I should have some more chip free lenses. I should have some pics for you here in a couple day so you can see what they look like. I am still waiting on some stuff to come in to finish up the wiring but the lights other than that are done. I hope to have the new lights soon. As soon as I get them I wil pull the lenses and ship them out to you man.
04-16-2007 - 12:07am – PM to Brian
Sounds great. No hurry here. In case you need an email address for pics you can use
04-22-2007 - 5:01pm – email from Brian
They are done.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/kzoosho/IMGP1085.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/kzoosho/IMGP108.jpg
I guess let me know when you can send the final payment and I can get these sent out to you. Also you can send the cores too. Thanks man.
04-23-2007 – 4:21pm – My post #26 in thread
Wow (to pics kzoosho posted)
04-23-2007 - Sent $95. balance to Brian via PayPal.
04-23-2007 - 11:17am – email to Brian
WOW. That pic is awesome looking. I also like the staggered inside edge versus the straight line of the original pair. I just sent you the $95. via paypal, so you have the 75. balance plus the 20. extra for pnp. I will make sure to package up and send you the cores. They will go out to you today or tomorrow. Can’t wait to install them. I’ll be sure to send pics.
04-24-2007 Shipped my cores to Brian via ups (2 day delivery)
04-24-2007 – 12:41pm – email to Brian
Brian, I didn't know was best for you usps, ups, etc. So, I sent you a pair of cores this morning via UPS. The tracking number is 1Z081X010368739501. You should receive them on this Thursday. Let me know when/how you're sending the ones you made up so I can look for them. Thanks. Ed
04-24-2007 - 1:18pm – email from Brian
Ok will do. I am going to try to get them out tomorrow. Its kinda hard for me to make it to any of them during the week so I may have to wait till Saturday to ship them. But as soon as I do I will email you the tracking number
04-30-2007 – email to Brian
Did you send them out Saturday?
04-30-2007- 12:25pm – email from Brian
Hey I am so sorry my daughter got real sick an has been in the hospital for the last week. So I haven’t had a chance to send them out. I am going to try to get them out this week. Sorry for the wait.
04-30-200 - 1:13pm – email to Brian
Sorry to hear about your daughter and hope she is doing well. This week is fine, I probably wouldn’t have time to get them until the weekend anyway. Did you receive the cores I sent? Ed
04-30-2007 - 2:52pm – email from Brian
Yea gotem
05-04-2007 - 1:01pm – email to Brian
Did you get a chance to send them out yet?
05-05-2007 - 11:13am – email from Brian
Dude, no I am so sorry. I will have time too now. I just got layed off so I should be able to send them out monday morning.
05-07-2007 - 11:05am – email to Brian
Let me know when you send them so I can look out for them.. Anxious to install!
05-07-2007 - 7:20pm – email to Brian
Did you get to the post office or ups this morning?
05-08-2007 - 12:53am – email from Brian
Yes I did they are on there way.
05-08-2007 - 1:10am - email to Brian
Thanks. I should get them and install this weekend. I’ll post a pic when done.

 

[shoson]

The Truth After the Sale

Again, let this help you decide about Brian...

05-09-2007 Received package from USPS
05-09-2007 – 1:59pm – Post #35 in thread, PM and email to Brian
Brian, After an extended wait I received the two led tails you made up for me. I have to say I was anxious to get them and excited to put them on. They looked great in this thread. BUT, have to say I am really disappointed with them. Maybe you sent me the wrong set and this was just a set you were messin around with. I know I sent you cores but after you were working on them. My cores were in excellent shape. Both of the tail lights are very badly cracked. One almost in half cracked across the red outer lens and black inner part. The other cracked across the red lens and the red reflector end all broken. If this was shipping caused hope they were insured. I plugged them to see if they worked. On one of them only two sections work, compared to the pic in the thread there are leds at the back and along the side. Only the back lit up and with the turn signal on gave a fast flash. Same thing for the other one, no leds along the side and only the brake leds lit up, no turn signal at all. Perhaps it was because some of the wiring is coming apart. There are a couple of wires that look like they were twisted together and had a little electrical tape on them but have come apart. The connections don't look that secure. So it's obvious I am disappointed and with the way they look and work and I feel ripped off. But like I said maybe you sent the wrong set to me. What can you do to help get these right? Thanks. I can post pics later of how they look and work.
05-09-2007 - 06:55pm – PM to Brian
I see you were on the forum about half an hour ago. Did you see my problem in the led thread? I am waiting to hear from you.
05-10-2007 – 3:55pm – Post # 38 in thread
I will post pics but it won't be until late tonight. I also had nighttime video, but it doesn't show much. One only the center portion lights up, no blinker or brake, the other has only the center and part of the outside (with one dead led) light up, turn signal and brake light, but like I said there are also disconnected wires that came out of the electrical tape. I know you said the cores were good but you dropped them and they had a small crack, but you were going to use other ones that were good and not cracked. Save the cores I sent you and use them, they are perfect.
05-10-2007 – Post by Brian in thread
Please send them back to me and i willl get that taken care of for you. also please post pics of what you got. The lights that i have pics of are the ones i sent you . I also had these lights on my car to make sure everything was ok. As fas as cracks there shouldnt have been any large cracks but there were 2 smal ones. I will fix this for you not a problem but please do post pics.
05-11-2007 – 12:50pm – My post #40 in thread with pics
OK, I'll try again with the pics. Edit: I see the pics work now. I know you said you had good cores to work with but had then dropped them so they got small cracks, but since I replied I didn't want them cracked you said no problem you would take care of it. If you used the cracked ones anyway like you say now, the cracks got a lot bigger as you can see. Also, I figure they are not working correctly since I can see four wires that came apart on the outside wiring and attached to the sockets. I don't know about anything inside the housing being ok or not. Also, I know the cores I sent were perfect and I thought I packed them rather well. You should have said something when I emailed you and asked you if you received them, if they got there cracked. I sent them UPS which is insured for $100.
05-15-2007 – 9:49pm – My post #50 in thread
Actually, right now I am the one at a loss since I spent $170. for these lights (150. plus 20. plug n play and supplied cores). As the pics show what I have is far from what I expected, a working set of lights like I saw in the thread. No reason to go into it further. If you bought a pair of these and must have more info pm me. You made up a great looking mod. I am willing to accept them (see below) which speaks for itself. I would have done some of the work differently myself, but not the issue here. If they look good (no cracks), and work (and last) who cares. I took all the disconnected or broken wires and held them where they belong. Doing this the lights function fine (all sections turn on, brake and turn signal works). I’ll share in the time or cost to fix them up, although I don’t feel that’s my responsibility at all. If you want to send me a set of cores (not cracked, not scratched up, in nice like new shape) at your expense I will switch the wiring over myself. Or if you prefer I will accept a partial refund and get the tail light cores myself (reimburse me my cost to buy them). I also need at least one led since one is burnt out. Or if you want I will accept a full refund and then return them to you. My opinion, any choice is more than fair. Whatever we do I want to take care of it right away. Let me know.
05-16-2007 - 07:50pm – PM from Brian
Hey Not a problem man. Give me a week to try to locate a good set of lights and we can go from there. Lilke I said those lights were on my car for a week to make sure that everything is ok. I would never send anything like that you know. Well any who I will do all I can to make this right for you.
05-16-2007 - 10:31pm – PM to Brian
OK, let me know what’s going on. I really don’t think you would send them out like that, but they must’ve really got beaten up in the shipping. My guess is the cracks just got bigger and the solders that broke off were a little weak to start. I just want to get them to work as they do look cool. I originally wanted them on by the Ford Nationals in Carsile, hey that could eve sell a couple of more sets for you. Again, let me know when you get new cores.
05-18-2007, 05:38am - PM from Brian
Re: hey will do
05-25-2007 - 06:33pm – PM to Brian
Hey what’s up. Like I said I wanted to take care of this quickly and you said a week which I was ok with, but now it’s been a week and 2 days and I haven’t gotten any cores, refund or email from you.
05-25-2007 - 10:24pm – email from Brian
Sorry. The going rate of a nice set of tails is 40. Would that b ok? Let me know and I can send u the money thanks.
05-29-2007 - 3:03pm – email to Brian
I checked a couple of the jy around me. One wants $50. each, the other $75. a pair. That’s really a rip off. How about $50. I should be able to find some somewhere around here for that. You can paypal me at Also, can you send me a led or two? One is burnt out.
05-29-2007 - 4:24pm – email from Brian
50 is what I can get the new that’s why I said 40.ebay has them all the time for 15 or 20 bucks a piece.
05-29-2007 - 9:21pm – email to Brian
Yea, I looked at ebay too. Used for $20. X 2 plus shipping is $50. If you can get them cheaper buy ‘em and send them to me but I really don’t want to wait forever. I’m sure you’re busy but you seem to have forgotten about me and this problem a few times.
05-30-2007 - 4:32pm email from Brian
Naw I haven’t forgot you man just like you said I have been busy. I work 2 jobs and do this on the side so my time is very limited. I have not forgot about you man and I want to get you taken care of.
05-30-2007 - 9:11pm – email to Brian
OK, so what are you going to do? Paypal me a refund? Or what?
05-31-2007 - 7:09pm email from Brian
Yes it only takes a min to paypal you . but like I said I can get them cheaper.i am working on having another set of lights shipped to you that I payed for. I just have to communicate with the seller and let him know whats going on. You know pwaopl don’t like to ship to anything but the confirmed address and I don’t want to pay shipping twice.
05-31-2007 - 11:39am – email to Brian
Another day is going by. I think I have been more than patient. I want my money. When are you going to send me the refund? I think the $50. is more than fair, it agrees with what you say ebay prices are and doesn’t even take into account I still have to fix the lights. I understand that you say you are busy, but it will take you about two minutes to paypal me.
05-31-2007 - 9:09pm – email to Brian
You have my confirmed paypal address. Are you sending me just the tail light cores or a new led set? When are you sending them?
06-01-2007 - 9:06am – email from Brian
I am trying to get the guy that I bought them from to send them to you and not me. I will be sending the leds from my home addy. I will send them out asap. I just hope that I don’t have to get them sent to me first or it will that much longer.
06-08-2007 - 05:01pm – PM and email to Brian
Well, it’s been another week plus, with no refund, no receipt of tail lights, cores or leds and have heard nothing from you. Why am I not surprised? It’s been over a month since I received them and three weeks of promises from you with nothing to show for those promises. Busy or not this should have been taken care of already. You keep saying you will make everything right and I think I have been more than patient. So what’s going on now?
06-12-2007 – 10:26am – My post #51 in thread
Well, a few of you have pm’d me asking about what’s happened with these led tail lights. So I thought I would bring anyone interested up to date and apologize for this long post.
Since my last post in this thread Brian and I have exchanged e-mails. Or I should say I have sent him emails and pm’s over the past three plus weeks to avoid posting in the thread. Although he has responded a few times, my last email and pm from Friday the 8th (which was sent because I had not heard from him in the prior 8 days) has now been unanswered and ignored for 5 days. I say ignored since he has been on the forum after my pm and the email was sent with a deliver receipt and he has not responded. Brian has publicly said he will make things right and give me a refund. When I asked for $50. to cover the cost of getting new tail light cores Brian offered me $40. Brian said he can get new ones for $50.and they are available on ebay for $20. each. Well do the math $20. x 2 plus shipping equals $50. I can’t buy anything locally close to $40. so send me good cores! (Remember I also offered to move the wiring myself from the broken cores to new ones, at my time and expense). Brian then said he would take care of it. Pressing Brian for details he said he bought a pair of tail lights off ebay and wanted the seller to send them directly to me, but the seller was reluctant since he only wanted to send to the buyer’s confirmed address (I myself have a confirmed paypal address but was not the buyer). So the 8 days goes by and I send the email and pm I referred to above which has been ignored for another 5 days. So, I had hoped from the pics I posted everyone could see the lack of quality and poor workmanship on the led tail lights by Brian without direct insult on someone’s workmanship which would not be right. Yes, a great mod, but it is a worthless piece of junk when they arrive broken, in pieces and don’t work. Now I will offer everyone a direct answer about them. If you think you want them, think again. If you ordered them ask for a refund. His word means nothing. Brian promised not to use cracked or broken cores, but later admits he did. Brian twice promised to send them when they were done, but forgot for two weeks even with email and pm reminders from me. Brian has ****** me around for a month since I received them. Brian too bad you couldn’t spring for the $3.00 to insure them with the USPS which would have avoided all this (like I insured the cores I sent to you). I feel I have been more than fair and patient. I offered three solutions for Brian to pick from and have waited more than long enough (a paypal refund takes about a minute even when you are busy or it’s only two days ups or usps from Brian to me). I feel Brian has in effect stolen my $170. So, barring a FULL REFUND where I will then send him back this junk (sorry Brian you have used up your trust and good name here) you all will see a few things. First and obvious is a post submitted to the forum’s Hall of Shame. I will include a chronological list of the facts from email and pm’s. To be followed by 1/ an ebay listing to sell them, 2/ a forum ad to sell them, 3/a post to the GLSS about the sale, and 4/a web page dedicated to the led tails. They will be offered for sale as I received them and with their original box and packing. Of course all of these will give full credit to Brian himself as the maker of his led tail lights I received, and to include all his public contact information should anyone else want to buy direct from him. Then I will follow up his fraud with a PayPal notification, to the IC3 for internet fraud and see if the USPIS (USPS) is interested since Brian used them. How about a road trip to your up coming car show to sell them there, who knows where you might see your tail lights. Brian I understand you are a well known forum member with a good reputation (which was one of the reasons I bought your tail lights). Who knows what makes a good person go bad. Brian, sorry to be such a **** in doing this but you can only thank yourself. Now only you can avoid it with an immediate, full refund not your broken promise after promise.

Stay tuned.

 

[kzoosho]

Taken care of good sir.