Before he was hired as Home and Hearth's new general manager in Bangor, Roy Bickford (left) posed as a "mystery buyer" in last month's sting operation at the store to expose Benjamin Tibbetts III of Glenburn. Police recently charged Tibbetts, who they believe was selling pellet stoves illegally from the Bangor store. Buy Photo
BANGOR, Maine — Sandra Hodgins of Brewer and her husband bought a stove from Sunrise Home & Hearth in late May with the promise that it would be delivered in six weeks. As of this week, 19 weeks later, they still hadn’t received their stove.
“In July, the store said the stove would be here in August,” Hodgins wrote in an e-mail to the Bangor Daily News. “In August, our name was on a list to receive one of seven stoves that were expected at the store in September. September has come and gone and we are on the list to receive our stove in October.”
Several other customers have called or e-mailed the BDN this week to inquire about their stoves after learning that a former store manager, Benjamin Tibbetts, allegedly had been selling pellet stoves illegally as recently as last month.
Shirley Bartlett, owner of the retail store on Stillwater Avenue, said her phone has been ringing nonstop with calls from customers such as Hodgins. Tibbetts’ alleged actions were isolated, Bartlett said, and she urged people not to panic.
“Unfortunately, this has compounded a problem that was already there,” Bartlett said Thursday, referring to a delay in the pellet stove supply. “But we’re working with everyone affected. We got 40 stoves in this week and we’re working hard to catch up.”
Tibbetts, 33, of Glenburn, was arrested in late September on a probation violation. A subsequent investigation revealed that he reportedly sold pellet stoves for a reduced price and then pocketed the money. So far, Tibbetts has been charged with Class C theft, but those charges could be upgraded by the Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office. He is expected to appear in court on Nov. 7.
In the meantime, Orono attorney Eric Mehnert, who represents Sunrise Home & Hearth, said he has filed a civil action seeking to get access to Tibbetts’ bank account to recoup stolen money.
“Whatever is not recovered from him will be covered by the business’s insurance,” Mehnert said.
Because the investigation is not complete, it’s not clear how many customers have been affected by Tibbetts’ alleged misconduct, but Mehnert encouraged customers to call the store if they have concerns.
According to documents filed in Penobscot County Superior Court, Tibbetts is accused of stealing up to $25,000 from the store by selling stoves for cash and not logging the receipts.
Bartlett, who hired Tibbetts in January to manage the Bangor store, said she became suspicious of his sales practices early on and set up a clandestine sting operation to find out exactly what was going on. She convinced “secret shoppers” to try to buy stoves from Tibbetts.
One customer was approached by Tibbetts and told he could get a better deal on a stove if he paid in cash. The man agreed and bought for $1,800 a Vermont Castings pellet stove that retailed at $2,500, police alleged. Tibbetts gave the man a handwritten receipt that did not match the standard Sunrise Home & Hearth receipts.
Bartlett then sent another “secret shopper” to the Bangor store. Tibbetts allegedly sold that customer a $2,400 stove for $900 in cash and offered a handwritten receipt.
The storeowner also told police that she discovered a bank statement from Tibbetts indicating that between mid-June and mid-July, he deposited more than $10,000 into his account.
About three years ago, Tibbetts was caught peddling discounted fuel from a stolen oil truck. He and another man were found guilty of stealing an oil truck from a Milford company in 2005, then selling fuel to customers for as low as $1 a gallon.
He served nine months in jail on those charges and was ordered to pay back several thousand dollars in restitution.
The bulk of his jail sentence was suspended, but if he is found guilty of violating terms of his probation, he could have to serve the balance of the sentence or more than five years. The new Class C theft charge also carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Bartlett said Tibbetts had been upfront about his problems and that she had decided to give him a second chance.
On 10/10/08 at 3:23 AM,
Johninphilippines wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
So, Mr. Tibbetts committed fraud. Seems that there are several other customers who are his victms. This is not funny at all, because the cold is setting-in already and wintertime is almost upon Maine full-term. My suggestion would be is to have someone who has some powers, say the mayor of Bangor, to seek out stores in other locations (through his staff, of course, not personally), and make-good on those unfortunate folks who bought pellet stoves on a bona-fide basis through Tibbetts. Work the financial satisfaction somehow with Tibbetts, and make good on the sales. The important thing right now is to get these folks their stoves...and do it fast. Seems Attorney Mehnert is doing something...and he should follow through on the stoves. Someone has to assist in some way. The story is telling how much this Tibbetts character is a naughty boy, but the problem are the stoves and money owed to these folks who bought them and never received them.
On 10/10/08 at 6:12 AM,
mrclam wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
First of all, how stupid is this store owner? Has she ever heard of an employee background check? How long has she been in business? A few months?
Next, anyone who buys anything from a store for cash - that doesn't go through the cash register - is just as big a crook as the manager. Every one of these criminals should be put on trial with him. What a bunch of lowlife.
On 10/10/08 at 7:52 AM,
MaryAnn wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
Clam - read the article more thoroughly. It states the store owner knew of his background and decided to give him a second chance. My husband and I bought a pellet stove a couple years ago from Sunrise and were very pleased with the level of customer service. Bartlett is a nice woman who will likely not give anyone a 'second chance' again.
Though I do agree with you that the customers should have been more suspicious of the lower 'cash' price. But the man worked in the store, it isn't like he was selling them off the back of a truck.
On 10/10/08 at 7:53 AM,
bdnreader wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
Is Bartlett contacting customers to let them know what happened, and giving them the option of receiving a refund on the stoves that they already paid for in full? I think I know the answer.
I purchased a stove from Sunrise earlier this year. Was told it would take three weeks. After three weeks passed, I had to call multiple times to reach a salesperson who basically had no information about where my stove was. When I went back into the store, my name wasn't even in the computer system. Fortunately I had a receipt. Five weeks later, I actually did get my stove. Not once did a receive a call letting me know what was going on. When I asked one of the installers about a specific addition I'd requested at the time of purchase (which wasn't with the stove), he said he'd call me about it once he got back to the store. That was in June. I still haven't heard.
My point? The problems at Sunrise go far beyond Ben Tibbetts. Maybe the owner has no idea, but that's no excuse. Their customer service is terrible, and, at this point, I don't even trust that my stove was installed correctly because the whole place seems completely inept. They are more than happy to take your money, though. I, for one, will never set foot in that store again.
My first response to anyone who asks me about buying a stove is "don't shop at Sunrise." And for any Sunrise customer who is still waiting to receive a stove, my advice is to get a refund and shop somewhere else, just for peace of mind.
On 10/10/08 at 8:06 AM,
Deschain wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
I bought some stove pipe from this store earlier this year and I was very happy with the service; the owner mailed the stove pipe to my home at no extra cost to save me a trip back to the store. I appreciated that.
On 10/10/08 at 9:53 AM,
MrBeane wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
I'm still waiting for a stove I ordered and paid for in full at the end of May. I was told I would have it in about 3 weeks. Over 3 weeks went by, and I hadn't heard anything so I called. I had to call about 10 times before I finally got someone. None of the messages I left were returned. They told me I should have it in July. I never heard back, called and called, left messages, didn't hear anything. I actually had to drive to the store and find out. I was told September, then in September I was told maybe by the end of October. These people have no clue, kept me completely out in the dark as far as what was going on with my stove, and had a different story every time I talked to them. I still have no idea when I will get my stove. I will never do business with Sunrise again. They should at least give me a discount on my install IF my stove ever comes.
On 10/10/08 at 10:40 AM,
whitnmeme wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
If they can't get the stoves for the people that have been affected by this, why not just give them their money back?
On 10/10/08 at 11:14 AM,
jma1722 wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
This only verifies my earlier comment on the original story. It seems like the store owners knew there was a problem, never disclosed it to their customers, but did not hesitate to take our cash, and never once called to update me on the status of my stove. I received a different story every time I called. Their service leaves much to be desired.
On 10/10/08 at 11:20 AM,
RobertBangor wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
I agree -- the problems go far beyond Mr. Tibbets. We went into the store in late summer and it seemed to be run entirely by teenagers who did not know the first thing about any of the stoves. Everytime we asked a question, we got a 'HUH?" and they had to go ask someone else, who barely knew more than they did. Because Vermont Castings has such a great reputation, we ordered one of their stoves, paid $1500 down, and were told it would be "a month at the absolute maximum" for it to arrive. They said they would call. When they didn't call, we called, and were told it didn't come in on the shipment and they'd have to check with Vermont Castings and call us back with the new delivery date. But they never bothered to call us back. So we called again, and finally someone checked and the new date is "mid-November." I asked if they would call us, and he said "oh, it would be better for you to call us because it takes us a while to figure out what's going on when a shipment comes in . . ." I can understand a delay given what is going on this year, but you have to wonder if ANYBODY is minding the store, here, because we've talked to at least six employees, and not one of them seems to know anything at all about the stoves or the business. There just doesn't seem to be anyone who takes any responsibility and follows through on anything. Where is this owner???? Is she ever there???
On 10/10/08 at 12:38 PM,
LjdJbd wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
The place was being mismanaged right along. I was quoted two prices $1000 apart on the same stove within 3 days of each other in April. Two appointments to quote an installation were never kept and no phone call was ever returned.
On 10/10/08 at 12:50 PM,
nixonwasmyhero wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
I wonder if Mr. Tibbetts will give the same lame excuse as he did 3 years ago saying he spent all the money on drugs. How in the heck was it okay with his Probation Officer for him to work in sales with large sums of money when he is a thief? It also makes you wonder how he was able to get away with all this while on Probation. Is anyone awake in that Department? Hellloooo you need to wake up over there! I can just imagine how many times he saw his P.O. and gave him (or her) the okie doke and they never followed up on him. And will the D.A. give him another easy deal this time around too?
On 10/10/08 at 1:18 PM,
David889327 wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
Following up on mrclam's comments, did the "discount buyers" believe they were engaging in a legitimate transaction or did they realize they were willing participants in criminal activity? It may be difficult to prove, but if they knew, or had some inkling, that the transactions were of questionable legitimacy, it would seem that some level of penalty should be imposed on them as co-conspirators.
On 10/11/08 at 1:09 PM,
Gigglez wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
mrclam, it says in the article that the store owner was aware of Tibbetts background and chose to give him a second chance. The store owner should not be blamed for this. And if you read the whole thing, as soon as she became aware of suspicious activity, she dealt with it. Please take a breath, calm down, and read the entire article before you get unneccessarily angry at someone trying to do the right thing. PS- I think you could use a hug.
On 10/11/08 at 10:37 PM,
alicee123 wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
Good for you Gigglez, I think he needs a hug to.. SO HEARS A HUG 4 U MRCLAM ....
On 10/14/08 at 9:51 PM,
Dubious wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
Ben told me the owner offered him a partnership in Sunrise. A friend was in the market for a stove, and it can be very tempting when someone offers a significant discount on an expensive item, so my friend talked to Ben. When he heard what Ben was offering, he just thought Ben was being given a dispensation by the owner to build a client base. When he talked to Ben he was not put off by him. I cautioned him that Ben was smooth and persuasive, that is an understatement. My friend thankfully went elsewhere to get his stove, because Sunrise did not have what he wanted.
On 12/4/08 at 1:48 PM,
Sunshine2022 wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
nixonwasmyhereo asked if the D.A. will give him another easy deal this time around too. Well, after all he has done in the past, been convicted of, and after violating his probation for the oil truck incident, Ben is living now in Lincoln. It was reported that he was being held in jail without bail because of his probation. Not the case. Why is it that someone can do all the things Tibbetts has and still be free? The most time he served for any conviction was less than 6 months and that was for breaking into Moulton's in Lincoln and attempting to steal weapons and guns. Why does the D.A. let a repeat offender get away with so much? Anyone else would have spend years in the slammer for the things Tibbetts has done.
Post a comment about this story
You must be logged in to post a comment.
click here to log in.
