All sympathy for the problem.
However, I suggest you not use accusations such as fraud (even when it's possibly true), because, in a legal sense, prosecution for fraud requires proof of prior intent (he planned to steal the money). Failure to perform the terms of a contract is a civil liability, but not a criminal act.

Failure to return the money is not strictly speaking theft, it's a term many have never seen used before in this context. He did not steal the money (which was entrusted to him in exchange for goods and/or services). Instead "he converted it for his own use". This is perhaps the most frequent cause of disbarment of attorneys: embezzling client's funds from an escrow account.

Although nothing like universally practiced, many Courts will award attorney's fees, filing fees, expert testimony compensation, etc. to the winner in civil suits, especially if the loser's behavior has been obstructive (foot dragging, low-ball settlement offers, pointless adjournments) rather than defensive. Can't hurt to tell him this in polite language.

Have you tried Yelp, Better Business Bureau, Facebook etc?

All sympathy for the problem.
However, I suggest you not use accusations such as fraud (even when it's possibly true), because, in a legal sense, prosecution for fraud requires proof of prior intent (he planned to steal the money). Failure to perform the terms of a contract is a civil liability, but not a criminal act.

Failure to return the money is not strictly speaking theft, it's a term many have never seen used before in this context. He did not steal the money (which was entrusted to him in exchange for goods and/or services). Instead "he converted it for his own use". This is perhaps the most frequent cause of disbarment of attorneys: embezzling client's funds from an escrow account.

Although nothing like universally practiced, many Courts will award attorney's fees, filing fees, expert testimony compensation, etc. to the winner in civil suits, especially if the loser's behavior has been obstructive (foot dragging, low-ball settlement offers, pointless adjournments) rather than defensive. Can't hurt to tell him this in polite language.

Have you tried Yelp, Better Business Bureau, Facebook etc?

i have never dealt with tranzact, but the last [almost] two years has seen so many back ordered parts and components that it makes one want to tear out what is left of my hair !
raw material shortages, labor shortages, and even fabrication supply shortages have reeked havoc in our toy world.
i know some of your frustration, but i don't have any reasonable answer for you.
at least here is a bump. i hope everything works out for you.

Just tried to call there to check. Goes to some sort of voicemail then the phone hangs up, cannot leave message

I sure do hope it's just some bad communication with the business. I hate to see anyone get the shaft.
Side note though you guys are funny as heck. Had a guy call my brother once and ask to speak with his wife. My Brother said okay but first give me your number, The guy said why , He said if you want to talk with my wife I should get to talk with yours. He hung up.

I hope he is just out for vacation and the mailbox is full. Hate to see anyone get cheated.

Some guy just called me sounded East Indian, he started with my account was not in order, COX Cable. I do not have COX Cable. So I told him I was lonely and he sure had a sexy voice! He said SIR! Then I asked what he was wearing. He hung up

I’ve bought Couple transbrakes valvebodys, they both work extremely well,
It’s Been 10 years since I purchased one though.
Jim F

Does anyone know if he is doing ok, health wise ?
A buddy of mine had Joe build a 451 and 572 short blocks years ago.
He also had Joe build him a 727 with a brake, Joe gave him a deal on the trans.
I called him for a trans and he gave me the same price as my buddy, I believe at the time it was 1250, instead of 1500.
I was happy with it, worked great, couldn’t kill it. Hope he’s ok, hope you get your money.

Frankly, at 1200-1500 bucks the trans has 98% stock 50 year old parts in it. Its purely good fortune something that old lives a happy life leaning on it, not anything anybody did or didnt do.