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Beware of Gatortail trailers aka Enclosed Trailers for Less. On November 14th 2014 they ripped me off for $500.

On July 8th 2014 I spoke to Lee Davis, owner of Gatortail trailers. I bought an enclosed car trailer he advertised online on his web site for a total of $4,804. He said it would take 1 to 2 weeks to build. I agreed and gave him my credit card to charge a $500 deposit.

I told him I would come from Minnesota to pick up the trailer on August 16th. Lee said โ€œNo problem. Five weeks is more than enough time.โ€ He gave me the phone number to Tina, his manager at his factory in Georgia. Leeโ€™s dealership is located in Tampa Florida I called her 2 days before we left Minnesota to drive to Ocilla Georgia to pick up the trailer.

She said โ€œWhat? Why? Your trailer has not even been started yet.โ€ I told her to look at my invoice where it said when I would come to get it. She said โ€œSorryโ€ Lee told her not to start it until then.

I told her it would be a few more months until I can get vacation time to drive 2,600 miles to get it and bring it home again. She said thatโ€™s fine just give her 10 daysโ€™ notice to build it and it will be ready. Tina asked me to deal with her directly this time so I did. 3 weeks ago I called her and said I can come pick it up on November 13th.

She said thatโ€™s fine it will be ready. 2 days before I left she said they had delays because an employee cut his thumb off on a table saw. I said I understood and expressed concern for the injured employee. I asked if he hurt himself on my trailer.

She said no they havenโ€™t even started on my trailer yet. She said โ€œfor sure it will be ready early on Friday the 14thโ€ 2014. My wife and I left on the 1,300 mile each way trip on Wednesday. On Friday morning when we left the hotel 40 miles away from Ocilla GA I called Tina and said we will be there in a little bit.

She said she has to check on the trailers progress and she will call me right back. She did not. I called her an hour later after breakfast and she said it wonโ€™t be ready until 2pm. I asked โ€œYouโ€™ve had 5 months to build it and you knew I was coming and it still wasnโ€™t done?โ€ She said she was sorry but it will be ready for sure at 2pm.

I found stuff to do to kill 4 hours and let me tell you there is not much to do I rural Georgia towns but I was OK because I was excited to get my trailer. We showed up at 2pm and all the doors to enter the factory were locked. We found an open garage door leading to the upper lever to the shop. There were 2 trailers inside an area about the size of a football field.

70% of the space was filled with junk and garbage. One of the trailers was ours. I could tell because of the escape door and color. It was still unfinished missing part of the inside and exterior screws.

We waited looking at the trailer for about ยฝ hour in the dark using our cell phone flashlights. About 200 feet away there were three workers working on a different trailer. We asked if there was an office but they did not respond. We walked around this giant warehouse/factory looking for an office.

This falling apart abandoned building was about the size of a city block and had a total of about 6 trailers in it. The inside looked like no factory we have ever seen. It was falling apart and mostly full of junk and garbage, dark and FILTHY! We saw an elevated 2nd story office with a light on.

We walked toward it. Upstairs we found Tina. We introduced ourselves. She said โ€œItโ€™s still not readyโ€.

I asked why. She became defensive and said โ€œItโ€™s not my fault. I tell them to work on it and they donโ€™t.โ€ She said โ€œwait here and I will see how longโ€. I said we will come with as itโ€™s a long way to where the trailer is.

She said in that case letโ€™s take care of the final payment now. I had most of the remaining $4,300 in cash. I said I want to see the completed trailer in the light before I pay. Tina said we canโ€™t go see the trailer first.

She left into the shop. We went back to where the trailer was. When we got to the trailer she said โ€œyou canโ€™t be hereโ€. Itโ€™s now 4pm and they are now throwing it together fast screwing wood and gluing stuff to the inside.

Their poor quality showed. The side door frame had gaps in it. There was a basketball size bend/dent in the metal near the left fender near the escape door. The plywood inside had gaps.

I told Tina we were leaving because it was still not ready. She said โ€œI donโ€™t care we will just sell it to someone elseโ€. She then tried to call Lee Davis but he couldnโ€™t be reached because he was a car show she said. She left back to the office.

Moments later we followed to the office. On the way I began to take pics of this โ€œfactoryโ€. It looked like something from a horror movie. My wife became concerned about our safety at this point.

I wanted our $500 back. I began to record on my cell phone camera. I asked Tina about refunding our deposit. On recording she said our $500 will be refunded.

We then left. I have worked in shops my whole life and I have been involved in OSHA inspections in the past. This place is so far from safe no one should have to work like this. There were more violations than I could count.

An employee lost a thumb earlier in the week. We left Georgia and over the next 3 days I tried several times to get Lee on the phone to confirm he was going to do as Tina said and refund my card the $500. After 10+ calls he answered. I calmly explained what happened.

I didnโ€™t even mention the quality issues. I asked him to refund me because Tina said I would be refunded and because yet again the trailer was not complete. Lee hung up on me. I tried several more times to call Lee.

Today I called Gatortail Trailers from different phone # and guess what? Lee answered. I asked him when he was going to refund my $500 since we traveled 2,600 miles and the trailer was still not complete. Lee hung up on me again.

Now I plan to contact the BBB, post beware messages online, post a beware ad in Trailer Trader, and send a certified letter including pictures to OSHA.

Does anyone have any more ideas of what else I can do to get my lost $$ back? Thanks in advance.

Reason of review: Not as described/ advertised.

Monetary Loss: $500.

Gatortail Trailers Cons: That i was ripped off.

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Guest

your story has many differnet issues with it.. first 2 trailers..

then 6.. your dates don't add up..

if you waited for over a year why would you think it would be ready.. sounds like your just dumb

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1411522

Your an idiot I only ever mentioned one trailer and it was 90 days not a year.

Guest

I met Lee personally in Zepherhills, Fl. at a car show about 3 years ago.

Showed me a trailer that

he had there. Looked pretty good and a good price. But something told me to hold off ordering

one. After what you have indicated I'm sure glad I did.

Man, you sure can't judge a book by just

looking at the cover. Thanks for the tip!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1345702

The trailers look nice on line. Problem is they don't actually build it.

Drive 1000 miles and and no trailer. No refund of the deposit either.

I've heard they just keep going out of business and reopen the next day under a different name to avoid debtors and law suits. I wonder what he is calling his business now?

Guest

File a lawsuit at a small claims court. Their address and name is available to BBB.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1318347

It's been 2 years

Guest

Thanks for the heads up I was in the process of sending this company a $2500. down payment to start my trailer and was told it would take about 6 weeks or less.

You have just saved me from becoming a victim. My advice to you would be to take the to Small Claims Court and also request Pain and Suffering for having to travel so many miles back and forth.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1312116

It's not as easy as it seems. It's been 2 years.

All I can do at this point is warn people.

Website says 5,200+ people have viewed this post. To be honest I'm surprised he's still in business

Guest

My son bought a concession trailer. It had parts falling off before he got home with it.

Fit and finish was horrible. Best I can see nothing was done well. I'm not a competitor. Just disapointed.

Even new tires blowed out the first week. I could name dozens of things wrong. I won't. Just don't buy it.

If your determined. Don't put money down until you look it over

Guest

yes.... Contact your CREDIT Card Company. Never received the product....Get a refund ...Easy

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1238685

I did contact my card co. I used a check card and only have 60 days to dispute a charge.

I made several calls to verify that fact.

It was over 60 days from my deposit and the day I showed up (1,000+ miles) to pick it up. What else can I do now?

Guest

Thanks for letting me know about them. I almost was going to consider buying one, but not now

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1183846

I was also... Have been skeptical because of non professional quote, and, vague details about the trailer.

Anyone find a good reputable company??

Guest

Thank you for posting about Gatortail. I was just about to place an order! Now to look for someone reputable.

Jeanee Fij
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1179363

Iโ€™m on the fence was told two weeks my challenge is time. Iโ€™m spending a lot of money for a trailer that only has a one year warrantee -Made In China has a longer shelf life. Does seem sketchy

Guest

We have had our trailer back to the factory in Pearson Ga three times for leaking roof. They lie and are very shady.

Lee Davis won't answer his phone or return our calls.

We would never recommend getting a trailer from them. K&D.

Guest

Contact the back your card is on. Dispute the charge and tell them that you did not receive the product that you drove to get and you can not get Lee on the phone. If he does not respond to the bank, they will refund you the money and go after his merchant account and he will have to pay the money or not be able to take credit cards.

Guest

I drove 1,200 miles 1 with a truck to haul it home way and there was no trailer done

Guest

How do I contact Rick?

Guest

you may not get the money back but your post changed my mind and i was about to buy their cargo trailer. thanks....p s i would never give anybody a deposit....ever. cash and carry forever!!!!

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