Lake Zurich eBay auction store leaves customers holding the bag
A Lake Zurich franchise of a popular eBay auction drop-off business has shut its doors and left about two dozen customers wondering how to recover their property or money owed.
Lake Zurich Police are investigating whether criminal charges can be filed against the Streamwood owners of the iSold It on eBay store at 712 S. Rand Road. The store closed in mid-October and the owners say they have filed for bankruptcy.
Police have received about 25 complaints from customers who dropped off personal items at the store to be auctioned off online, and are either waiting for checks less the store's commission, or want to reclaim their items, police said.
"It really is buyer beware with capital 'Bs,' more so than I realized," said Eric Boutilier of Lake Zurich, who dropped off old computer gear worth roughly $200 at the store and never heard back.
Boutilier sold a computer a couple of years ago at the same store, then under a different owner. He said he did not sign a contract, but received a piece of paper itemizing what he dropped off.
"After the store was closed, I read stories (online) that this franchise wasn't the first to find it difficult," he said. "There are other stores like this in the Chicago area and (consumers) just need to be extra careful."
Boutilier called and e-mailed the franchise owners, and the iSold It corporation headquartered in Solana Beach, Calif., but received no response.
iSold It, which launched in 2003 offering an easy way for people to sell items online, has a chain of drop-off stores. On its Web site, the corporation claims to have hundreds of locations in the United States, Canada and Australia.
The Streamwood couple that owns the Lake Zurich store declined to comment.
Complaints from customers who dropped off personal items there continue to trickle in, said Lake Zurich Police Det. Scott Warren, of the criminal investigations division.
"The owners are cooperating and have retained an attorney," Warren said. "We have not screened this case with the state's attorney's office yet to determine civil versus criminal (charges)."
Investigators have not confirmed whether the owners have actually filed for bankruptcy. They still have some of the items given to them by customers that haven't been sold online.
"They are going to be working with us to return some of these properties to the owners," Warren said.
He advises consumers to be sure to sign a contract when giving up personal items at consignment stores.
"Be sure that you read and understand that contract and everything that entails," he said. "But there's always going to be an element of risk when you're asking someone else to sell your property on consignment."
Police are asking anyone who has done business with the store and has not received their money, to call (847) 719-1695, ext. 125.