Rough Country Rustic Furniture still taking orders, backlog list is long, AG investigating

(KY3)
Published: Jan. 22, 2018 at 5:27 PM CST
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A local business is still taking orders even after an "F" grade from the Better Business Bureau for not fulfilling the orders that have already been placed.

Some 500 customers have filed complaints about Rough Country Rustic Furniture in Norwood. Many say they paid for their gun concealment furniture, but it was never delivered.

KY3/KSPR News drove out to the shop on Monday. The owner, Joseph Ross, would not do an on-camera interview.

Dozens of worker's cars were in the parking lot, as it is one of the bigger employers in town. There was also a Fed Ex truck parked out back, presumably, to ship off orders.

But even with the backlog, the owner says he is continuing to take orders- and says he's confident every order will be delivered.

Ross talked to us in early December 2017 saying, "We have a delayed response in our emails, but when you have customers that want to call us a scam or say that we don't even exist, that this is fake, when you see everything that is going on here... it is very very frustrating to say the least," Ross told us.

Ross admitted last time we talked that the problem was that he was getting too many orders too fast.

Many customers are skeptical they'll ever see their product.

Locals tell us they don't understand why the long delay, because they say there is always work being done there-- with the 24 workers.

"With that many employees you'd think they'd get the work done or whatever, but I wish him the best, I went to school with his mother," said Norwood resident Terry Hopper. "They are good folks, anything for the local economy has got to be good. To keep people from driving and keep a local job for people."

KY3 News has also learned that the owner's wife, Ashley Dillard, has filed for another business license under the name "Rustic Concealment Solutions." Mr. Ross tells us that business is to be setting up shop just five miles west of here in Macomb, Mo. Ross tells us that is a different type of business, and says Rough Country isn't planning to file for bankruptcy.

Late Monday, Ross sent us this statement:

"From our start several years ago when I made a few pieces of custom concealment furniture in my home to today, when we have hundreds of thousands of customers and more than 2,000,000 likes on Facebook, I’ve never lost sight of how Rough Country Rustic Furniture & Decor grew to be one of the largest employers in our rural Missouri county. It was you who made us who we are.

To that end, my company has faced tough times over the past year. A childhood and lifelong friend who was essential in our product supply pipeline cut our contracts without warning. Our production facility here in Norwood was both robbed and sabotaged by this same individual and his associates; thousands of dollars of tools were stolen, paid product taken, even power cords were cut and wires ripped from the walls. Sadly, it was the aforementioned friend who immediately started a company that directly competed with Rough Country, selling a knock-off version of the products we produce. Non-compete contracts were stolen, designs drawn by my wife were taken ... not only was our business devastated, so was my trust.

All of that said, it doesn’t mitigate the fact that we owe you the products you were promised when you did business with us. The turn of events over the past year put us behind, created severe delays in the fulfillment of orders and, in many ways, compromised our company’s integrity. We’ve done our best to make it right and will continue to do so as we get back on our feet.

Bottom line, if you’ve previously ordered from us and aren’t satisfied with the product, we’ll make it right. If you’ve ordered a product from us and haven’t yet received it, our top priority is to get it to you. If you just want to talk with us and be assured all is right with your product, I encourage you to reach out. Rough Country is my company. I’ll take your message. I’ll answer your questions.

Rough Country is here to stay. We aren’t going bankrupt; we aren’t hiding from criticism. We are a family-owned company that’s been blessed to truly live the American dream. We’ll also admit that because of blatant sabotage by an individual who we considered like family, the past year has been a nightmare. We’ve accepted it, adjusted and now are working to back on our feet, ready to rebuild Rough Country into a better business than before.

My name is Jospeh Ross. Thank you for doing business with me.

If you have any questions, concerns or criticisms, call us at 417-746-0054 or send an e-mail to me at arossrcr@roughcountryrusticfurniture.com.

Thank you for your time."

KY3 called that phone number, and it says the voice mailbox is full and can no longer accept messages.

KY3 can also not verify Ross' letter, because there is no criminal record to be found.

The Wright County Sheriff's Office also has no criminal investigation into any former employee of Rough Country. The sheriff believes any court proceedings involving it have only been civil, not criminal.

Customers tell us they have waited for several months for an e-mail reply as well.

The Missouri Attorney General office is investigating.