I am sure if they thought they were going to lose some business they might be a bit more on the ball. Linda is the one in charge of refunds. Alex appears to be her boss. Linda wrote me an e-mail that they would issue a refund, but I have had the run around since and that was over a month ago. I agree they have some very interesting products and it is a shame that they are so uncooperative with such poor customer service.

Ike is the president. I have tried to get him on the phone but no luck. The number is 800 999-4120.

$186.03 is not going to break me but it is a matter of people doing business in a straight forward way. I apprecitate the support here. It is very refreshing. Thanks

 

I drove down there today at lunch, armed with Podguy's order information. Really, I was just hoping to let them know this issue was outstanding. Their building is a rented warehouse in an area of Vernon just east of South LA, about 10 miles from work for me. No biggie.

I drive right up to a loading dock on the front of the building near a little office that juts out from the front. I get out and strike up a conversation with one guy on the dock, since I don't see any signs or indication that I'm in the right place, other than the building number.

He says that he just moved in about a month ago, and doesn't know anything about Alsa. A quick peek inside the loading dock and I see floor-to-ceiling with boxes labeled 'CAUTION! DYNAMITE!' in big boxes. Uhh...

Two other guys show up on the loading dock, one who speaks no English, and one who speaks halting English. I ask them what the new business is, and they say it's 'Diamond Jeans'. The boxes they're loading into an unmarked U-Haul van (with no tags) are very heavy.

I decide to be sure about where I am and try the office door. As I start to walk over to the door, guy #1 yells out to me that it's his building, and there's no reason for me to poke around.

At this point I don't get names. Instead, I decide to walk my powdery white face with button-down shirt out of the vicinity quickly. They weren't threatening, but this new company didn't seem to have a friendly customer service department.

End of story? Nope, the fun is just beginning.

I hop in the car and take off. About 3 blocks down the road, just out of sight of the warehouse, I'm suddenly surrounded by three LA cops with lights, no sirens. First guy comes over and tells me that I don't have a front plate (which is true--I keep it inside the car). After asking me what I was doing at 2640 (the warehouse address) and a quick search of my pockets and the car they tell me to get back in the car. And just as quickly as they came, they're gone. Seriously, I didn't even see them drive off. I was looking through my glovebox to see if they still had my insurance papers; when I looked up, they were gone.

Since I was still in south LA, I decide that I shouldn't wait around or flag down anyone. I drove on. About a minute or so later, maybe about a half a mile, another police car drives up. The guy comes over to me, leans in, and tells me that I shouldn't hang around 2640. He then gets in his patrol car and leaves.

So at this point I'm not sure what just happened.

One thing I know for sure, though, is that I won't be going back there. Oh yeah, and Alsa is no longer in that building.

Makes a good LA story, doesn't it? One of my thoughts at the time was that I was in some sort of independent film, but the officers were definitely real. I never felt like I was in harm, but it definitely made my mind wander for the next couple of meetings after I got back from work! I don't remember driving back...

 

Wow, so it didn't look like this? Adding the clicks for street view and rotating etc.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Alsa+C...en&sa=N&tab=wl

 

You got it. That's the place. Except no 'Alsa' wording above the doors. Not a scary place, right? I didn't feel threatened at first -- drove right up and parked next to the double door openings.

 

I'd like to know the rest of this story! Wild!

 

Just called the 800 number on the website. The guy who picked up said their new address is 1213 East 58th Place, LA 90001. So I'll try there tomorrow.

Somewhat surpringly I just pulled this up on Google Maps and GM knows it's there! Lists Alsa as one of the tenants. Looks a little sketchier... looks like they've downsized.

 

Other than Dan, I think most of us are more interested about what going on back at the Vernon address!

Dynamite
Jeans
Cops

I can't quite put it together.

Anyway, Dan, your money moved.

 

That's one of the best stories I've ever read here. Very Munk-esque.

 

Didn't make it down to the new address today... work always get in the way of my 928 life.

 

This is more than 928 life. You are now a man of mystery and intrigue!

 

I love that warehouse story.
Now that's a $186.03 worth of entertainment like a west coast Miami Vice.