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Furniture store in state inquiry

The Attorney General's Office got complaints that USA Baby's Tampa store failed to deliver merchandise as promised. Some complaints have been resolved.

By JAMES THORNER
Published September 12, 2006

USA Baby, a Chicago baby furniture franchise with a store in Tampa, is under investigation by the Florida Attorney General's Office over accusations it took customers' money but failed to deliver the goods.

A shower of complaints from dissatisfied customers prompted the investigation under Florida's "unfair and deceptive trade practices" law.

"We have had approximately 20 complaints since May to our office," said JoAnn Carrin, spokeswoman for Attorney General Charlie Crist.

USA Baby continues to operate a showroom out of a shopping strip at 14839 N Florida Ave., though it recently relocated there from Dale Mabry Highway.

The store manager said the Tampa franchisee, Jim Gullett, recently resigned after trying to address customer complaints through the Attorney General's Office. Oversight has reverted to the franchise's Chicago headquarters. About half the complaints have been resolved, Carrin said.

Similar problems with missed deliveries have hit some USA Baby stores in the Midwest. It reached the point that furnituremakers, citing lapsed payments, ceased shipping cribs and other items to showrooms.

Nearly 60 stores are part of USA Baby, which calls itself America's No. 1 source for infant furniture. According to trade publication Furniture Today, USA Baby is the nation's 89th largest furniture chain with $74-million in sales.

Representatives of the privately held company couldn't be reached in Chicago.

James Thorner can be reached at thorner@sptimes.com or 813 226-3313.

[Last modified September 11, 2006, 23:08:44]