I have been a big fan of Tom Badgett Gulf Coast Trucks, primarily on Smokestack and by other people who contact me for parts. Recently I have had a few issues with his business practices, and honesty that have disturbed me . On May 13th I sent Badgett an injection pump for him to go through. The pump was mailed priority mail on May 13th -13 and marked as delivered May 21-13. I did not hear anything from Tom and happen to mention if he had received the pump. He answered no, and that he would check and get back to me . I called 2 weeks later and he said the Post Office told him that they would have to go through the lockers and see if they could locate it. About the same time I asked him if he could rebuild two switches belonging to a customer who had hired me to up date his control boxes. He said send them down and he would repair them as new ones were $300 apiece. I mailed the parts and not hearing anything I called Gulf Coast, and he was not available and the secretary said he would call me back. This continued over several weeks and I finally asked the secretary to ask if the switches were shipped, along with some other parts. She said she would call me back, and after not hearing from her I called a few days later and they had been shipped. This has been weeks ago and now I am at a place where TOM will not return any calls or e mails, he is hiding behind his secretary's skirts. I called the Post Office in Baytown and spoke to one of the managers . He essentially told me that he could check the lockers in 20 min,and was unaware of a missing pump but would check the lockers again, and call me back in a half hour. In less than 20 Min he called, no pump, and no one who was aware of the missing package. I am now out 1 pump, 2 switches, and am dealing with an individual who in my opinion a totally unethical business man, and this is supported by his having an F rating with the Better Business Bureau in Baytown. I emailed Tom and gave him a chance to explain his actions and to this date have not had a reply . My advice is to steer clear of him as he has not demonstrated that he is a square shooter, and I would hate to see anyone else be taken. I now have to go and find replacement switches and a pump at my expense to take care of my customer,a $400 dollar lesson.Rick
