Auto shop returns customers' property after Action News Jax story

Action News Jax is getting results for customers of a Jacksonville business that had their property locked away for weeks.

We first reported on Tuesday that customers said H&M Parts Warehouse shut down unexpectedly weeks ago, with the expensive engines they'd dropped off for repairs still locked inside.

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On Thursday, some customers were able to retrieve their property.

“Without your help, we’d have never got our stuff back,” customer Harry Crawford said.

Crawford was relieved to finally be able to pick up his engine block, crank shaft and pistons on Thursday.

“You’ve saved several people several thousand dollars,” Crawford said.

H&M’s owner, Alan Buchheit, would not answer Action News Jax’s questions about the sudden shutdown, but former owner Larry Manning agreed to talk.

Manning owned H&M for 50 years, until 2012.

“We’re just trying to work through a very trying situation with some personal problems and the customers are very caring and understanding,” Manning said.

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H&M’s registration with the Florida Department of State has been inactive since 2016.

“I’ll deal with my customers on my own, ma’am. No comments. Thank you,” Buchheit said.

A Department of State spokesperson said the only way a business is held accountable for not registering is if customers complain to the Attorney General’s Office.

Cox Media Group