I first met Ashok Kapoor through a mutual friend. I asked my friend if I should do business with Ashok Kapoor and Buffalo Scenic Supplies and even though she is related to Ashok she was careful to distance his business dealings from herself. I should have taken her clues then.
Ashok’s son was at the time (apparently) part owner of The Lodge in Buffalo NY and Ashok sought my company out to help source labor for his kids project. He said he would be paying via his company Buffalo Scenic Supplies, Inc.
Buffalo Scenic Supplies, Inc is obligated by contract to pay for any referred labor for 640 hours before they may hire them directly onto their books. For my referred #24728 Buffalo Scenic Supplies paid a total of 30 hours and then he hired him out from under me. As of today and according to #30098, #24728 has been Ashok’s Sr. Manager and Carpenter ever since I referred him to Buffalo Scenic Supplies back in March of 2013.
There is all kinds of evidence. For example on July 11, 2013 Ashok was in my office and got to talking about #24728 and let a little too much slip. He talked about how much he loves his work and how he took him to NYC with him to do some work for his son on a trade show. I let him finish the story and said goodbye while I cooled down. I called Ashok back and told him I was pissed for him stealing my referred. The man came back. Sat in my office, looked me in the eye, and told me that I was mistaken and he would never do anything to dishonor our relationship.
Normally I would just sue someone for doing this, and maybe I will still. The trouble is that I know Ashok likes to pay cash and subpoenaing payroll records may prove fruitless. My alternative would be that I’d have to call all kinds of witnesses and I would prefer not to drag them through the mess.
The long and short…if you’re reading this, it is probably because you googled his company because you were thinking of doing business with the man. I wish I had not.