East TN couple ‘out of patience’ after paying $8,100 for new cabinets that never arrived

WEARS VALLEY, Tenn. (WATE) — A couple ordered custom-made kitchen cabinets in early May, the cabinets were expected by mid-August. Five months later, they’re still waiting for their delivery.

The owner of the business has given the couple a lot of excuses about the delay.

Tammy and Steve Wright wanted to replace the old kitchen cabinets with new ones. They shopped around and decided to buy locally. In Wears Valley, they found a business where they could order custom-made cabinets. The new owner of the store told them he had a separate business that made the cabinets in Florida.

The Wrights removed their lower kitchen cabinet doors nearly seven weeks ago. They anticipated new cabinets to arrive in mid-August.

“I went ahead and took all the door facings off to help with the installation of our new cabinets,” said Steve Wright.

They ordered the custom-made cabinets from Riverwoods Home Furnishings in Wears Valley. The store’s new owner also operates K & M Custom Cabinetry near Tampa Bay, Florida. Supposedly that’s where the Wrights’ cabinets were being made. The contract proposal with K&M was signed on May 9.

“He needed half down, which was $8,100. The cabinets were going to be $16,200. We wrote a check,” said Tammy Wright.

The check for $8,100 was written to Ronnie Wheelock, the operator of Riverwoods Home Furnishings and K & M Cabinetry. Steve Wright said they were told it would take nine to 12 weeks for their cabinets to arrive.

That timeline has long expired. The old kitchen cabinets remain and the new ones have yet to arrive. The Wrights contacted Wheelock about the long delay.

“We went down there and talked to him several times, they were in the process in Florida. The last time we talked to him, he was supposed to be going down to Florida where they were being made and bringing them back up here to the store,” said Tammy Wright.

“Finally I said, we need a face-to-face,” said Steve Wright. “He said meet me down here at the shop at 9:15. No show.”

“We kept waiting. He kept giving us excuses about being sick. Then it was he didn’t have any help. He texted us and apologized. He had a really bad day yesterday, back at the doctor,” said Tammy Wright. “I am out of patience. I was out of patience a while back. But he is a little nicer than I am.”

6 News went to Riverwoods Home Furnishings to hear Wheelock’s side of the story. The doors were locked. Yet, the lights were on inside the store. Business hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Wheelock has a warehouse behind his store. We thought, maybe the cabinets had arrived because a truck from K & M Custom Cabinetry was outside the warehouse.

Inside, we did not find Wheelock. His store manager said she didn’t know anything about the cabinets ordered by the Wrights.

The couple has filed a civil lawsuit against Wheelock, claiming a “breach of contract.” A hearing is set for November 25.

Since we were unable to find Wheelock at his store, we called him on September 26. There was no return call. On September 30, we called his cell and asked about the Wright’s order.

“Well, they canceled. They said they wanted their money back. I said, no problem. Then I was served with papers from the constable, so, they didn’t even give me the opportunity to do that,” said Wheelock.

He went on to say that he would get them their money “sometime tomorrow afternoon.” However, Wheelock has not returned to the Wrights’ home with their refund.

Tammy Wright, an Iraq War Veteran and Navy MP, is also a retired Nashville Police parole officer and is aware of the law. She’s written a demand letter to Wheelock requesting her money back for the cabinets and contacted the Sevier County Sheriff’s office.

“They told me if I did this, and followed the procedures, then they in turn would investigate and charge him with theft,” said Tammy Wright.

If the money is not returned, Wheelock could be charged with a felony according to detectives.

The Wrights aren’t the only ones who are taking Wheelock to court. We have talked with other people in Sevier County who have filed civil suits against Wheelock on charges unrelated to what the Wrights are going through.

The previous operator of Riverwoods Home Furnishings, Steve Spangler, called 6 News to say he has nothing to do with the company. He said that Ronnie Wheelock owns and operates the business. Spangler said he was proud of his business and said he was sorry to learn about the experiences customers are going through.

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