I began my build with Ben in August 2020, paid 75% a month later and was promised delivery in October 2020. I was assured the bus would be given a comprehensive mechanical evaluation (which took 7 months to get and was a 3 sentence summary stating the bus is in “good condition”) and would be driven to me free of charge. A Floor plan was drawn and an invoice completed. The cost of the basic build was $32,000; the roof raise and added solar was extra.
I waited 4 more months and was now working with Melissa, the office manager, who explained how busy they were and that Ben had been making too many promises, costing the company a lot of money…. including his promise to drive the bus to me. Asking about all the delays, I was told that the 75% I gave them was merely to get into the queue for a build. Melissa voided the package build invoice and created a new invoice with everything itemized, including $16,000 for a residential door, larger windows than were installed and escalating costs on the invoice claiming it was tax, but nothing to indicate that on the invoice.
In March, I paid $1,000 for a tung and groove ceiling using my credit card. Afterwards, I received a call from the Electric Merchants System (payment processing for LSS) asking if I had received what I paid for. I told them that LSS still had the bus. Later that day Melissa called to angrily tell me that Electric Merchants System would not release my payment and froze their credit card. Huge red flag!
When I emailed the owner, Ben, that I had consulted a lawyer about these concerns, he immediately shut down all oral communication with me and left me working with Melissa. He began bullying me through his employees, telling me I had to pay in full via wire transfer or he wouldn’t finish my bus, and he was going to charge me rent while the bus sat.
So now, I was talking several times a week to his attorney, who assured me in an email that my bus would be delivered, work finished on 4/24/21. Didn’t happen. More delays: Couldn’t find workers, plumbing leaks, countertop fell off during a test drive, couldn’t find a driver.
Finally, on June 8, the bus is on it’s way. Ben’s emails reported that the driver left at 8:30 a.m. and at 10:23 p.m. was at a truck stop in Waco and couldn’t start the bus. At 5:20 a.m the next morning, the bus is back in San Antonio and with the promises to get a mechanic to fix the starting issue.
More excuses. My bus continued to sit because Ben said he couldn’t find any mechanics. I had to contact a mechanic myself and LSS delivered it there for repairs. In addition to engine repairs, the bus did not have a working horn, passenger wiper and mirror, and turn signal lights. The driver’s seat belt was not bolted to the floor. AND THEY SENT A DRIVER OUT LIKE THIS?
When LSS picked up the bus two months later, the story changed to “Melissa let the elderly bus driver come back because the AC wasn’t working and the bus was fine all along”. Ben reported that the bus was in worse shape and couldn’t go over 30 mph. Rather than pick up a phone and call me, he taunted me via text messages, “Dude, they took you to school”, “I’m taking pics and I will help.” I am sending that mechanic a demand letter for over $17,890 for parking fee and driver fee they caused me to lose while the bus was waiting (at shop)”, “Are you going to sue them?”
Had he called, I would have told him to return the bus to the mechanic and tell him what was wrong, so it could be fixed. Instead, the bus continued to sit. Ben contacted a roadside assistance mechanic and promised to pay for the inspection. He didn’t and the mechanic couldn’t fix it.
So, the only recourse left to me was to tow it. However, before LSS would release MY bus to the towing company, I had to sign a “Do Not Sue” contract that was cut and pasted from the internet which referenced renting and caring for llamas. Yes, they are that incompetent.
If you go on the LSS website, you will see my bus set up to look like a model showroom. Zoom in on the countertop,and you will see the beautiful 8 Ft. live-edge slab of wood that was cut in half and slants downward. You may be able to see it propped up using extra pieces of wood and incompletely sealed because they “ran out of epoxy”. You will see the 8 windows that should have been 24x24, but 12x24 were installed. You may see the exposed wires by the driver’s seat and uneven cabinet drawers. You may wonder why the bedroom floor is raised 10 inches to cover the wheel wells, defeating the concept and cost of the 10 inch roof raise. (I did). You may see the almost 5 inch bathroom walls, housing a squeaky sliding door with peeling laminate, that does not leave enough room to turn the crank on the composting toilet or install it properly. You won’t see the AC unit missing control knobs or the max fan that wasn’t installed because a solar panel is covering the hatch.
Rather than offer actual help to fix it, tow it or deliver it, my bus sat in a parking lot, dressed up as a showroom for prospective customers to promote more business for LSS. I paid in full in April and was finally sent the title in October. Waiting 13 months I paid over $13,000 in rent waiting for LSS to complete and release the bus. Towing/special equipment and permits ran $7,000. And I still need to work on the electric and solar. I believe the delays and lack of follow through were a deliberate attempt for LSS to keep the bus as their showroom.
Run as fast and as far as you can from Lonestar Skoolie.
Lone Star Skoolie Conversions Reviews
I began my build with Ben in August 2020, paid 75% a month later and was promised delivery in October 2020. I was assured the bus would be given a comprehensive mechanical evaluation (which took 7 months to get and was a 3 sentence summary stating the bus is in “good condition”) and would be driven to me free of charge. A Floor plan was drawn and an invoice completed. The cost of the basic build was $32,000; the roof raise and added solar was extra.
I waited 4 more months and was now working with Melissa, the office manager, who explained how busy they were and that Ben had been making too many promises, costing the company a lot of money…. including his promise to drive the bus to me. Asking about all the delays, I was told that the 75% I gave them was merely to get into the queue for a build. Melissa voided the package build invoice and created a new invoice with everything itemized, including $16,000 for a residential door, larger windows than were installed and escalating costs on the invoice claiming it was tax, but nothing to indicate that on the invoice.
In March, I paid $1,000 for a tung and groove ceiling using my credit card. Afterwards, I received a call from the Electric Merchants System (payment processing for LSS) asking if I had received what I paid for. I told them that LSS still had the bus. Later that day Melissa called to angrily tell me that Electric Merchants System would not release my payment and froze their credit card. Huge red flag!
When I emailed the owner, Ben, that I had consulted a lawyer about these concerns, he immediately shut down all oral communication with me and left me working with Melissa. He began bullying me through his employees, telling me I had to pay in full via wire transfer or he wouldn’t finish my bus, and he was going to charge me rent while the bus sat.
So now, I was talking several times a week to his attorney, who assured me in an email that my bus would be delivered, work finished on 4/24/21. Didn’t happen. More delays: Couldn’t find workers, plumbing leaks, countertop fell off during a test drive, couldn’t find a driver.
Finally, on June 8, the bus is on it’s way. Ben’s emails reported that the driver left at 8:30 a.m. and at 10:23 p.m. was at a truck stop in Waco and couldn’t start the bus. At 5:20 a.m the next morning, the bus is back in San Antonio and with the promises to get a mechanic to fix the starting issue.
More excuses. My bus continued to sit because Ben said he couldn’t find any mechanics. I had to contact a mechanic myself and LSS delivered it there for repairs. In addition to engine repairs, the bus did not have a working horn, passenger wiper and mirror, and turn signal lights. The driver’s seat belt was not bolted to the floor. AND THEY SENT A DRIVER OUT LIKE THIS?
When LSS picked up the bus two months later, the story changed to “Melissa let the elderly bus driver come back because the AC wasn’t working and the bus was fine all along”. Ben reported that the bus was in worse shape and couldn’t go over 30 mph. Rather than pick up a phone and call me, he taunted me via text messages, “Dude, they took you to school”, “I’m taking pics and I will help.” I am sending that mechanic a demand letter for over $17,890 for parking fee and driver fee they caused me to lose while the bus was waiting (at shop)”, “Are you going to sue them?”
Had he called, I would have told him to return the bus to the mechanic and tell him what was wrong, so it could be fixed. Instead, the bus continued to sit. Ben contacted a roadside assistance mechanic and promised to pay for the inspection. He didn’t and the mechanic couldn’t fix it.
So, the only recourse left to me was to tow it. However, before LSS would release MY bus to the towing company, I had to sign a “Do Not Sue” contract that was cut and pasted from the internet which referenced renting and caring for llamas. Yes, they are that incompetent.
If you go on the LSS website, you will see my bus set up to look like a model showroom. Zoom in on the countertop,and you will see the beautiful 8 Ft. live-edge slab of wood that was cut in half and slants downward. You may be able to see it propped up using extra pieces of wood and incompletely sealed because they “ran out of epoxy”. You will see the 8 windows that should have been 24x24, but 12x24 were installed. You may see the exposed wires by the driver’s seat and uneven cabinet drawers. You may wonder why the bedroom floor is raised 10 inches to cover the wheel wells, defeating the concept and cost of the 10 inch roof raise. (I did). You may see the almost 5 inch bathroom walls, housing a squeaky sliding door with peeling laminate, that does not leave enough room to turn the crank on the composting toilet or install it properly. You won’t see the AC unit missing control knobs or the max fan that wasn’t installed because a solar panel is covering the hatch.
Rather than offer actual help to fix it, tow it or deliver it, my bus sat in a parking lot, dressed up as a showroom for prospective customers to promote more business for LSS. I paid in full in April and was finally sent the title in October. Waiting 13 months I paid over $13,000 in rent waiting for LSS to complete and release the bus. Towing/special equipment and permits ran $7,000. And I still need to work on the electric and solar. I believe the delays and lack of follow through were a deliberate attempt for LSS to keep the bus as their showroom.
Run as fast and as far as you can from Lonestar Skoolie.