Just Found Out About Advantage Lifts

[steve392]

I just found out about the Advantage lift fold-up. I have read the other thread regarding the bankruptcy, and saw the letter from Stacey Mack. I too am one of the victims, and actually feel a little ashamed for allowing myself to be led along for such a long time. I ordered my 9000 HD back in October of 2025, just when Advantage was supposedly changing over to US manufacture. I was originally promised a delivery date of January 2026, which slid to March, and then May, and finally July. Tim, the salesman couldn't be more optimistic that delivery was just around the corner, all the time knowing it was a sham. Silly me, I tried all of the phone numbers for Advantage/Real Garage Life and got nowhere obviously. Tim's "direct line" was surprisingly out of service...go figure. They got me for half the total price: $3700.00, apparently up in smoke...
My purpose in this post is to see if anyone has gotten a hold of the correct government/ business agency to see if filing a complaint is possible and which state I should do it in. The closest office they had to me was the Hanover PA facility, but not sure where the parent company is located.
I would appreciate any contact info or more information on exactly who to contact regarding getting on the list of creditors perhaps, even though there is little hope of ever seeing any of my deposit back.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[racecougar]

Why not add this to the ongoing thread so that all of the pertinent info remains in one place?

 

[caleb383]

I just found out about the Advantage lift fold-up. I have read the other thread regarding the bankruptcy, and saw the letter from Stacey Mack. I too am one of the victims, and actually feel a little ashamed for allowing myself to be led along for such a long time. I ordered my 9000 HD back in October of 2025, just when Advantage was supposedly changing over to US manufacture. I was originally promised a delivery date of January 2026, which slid to March, and then May, and finally July. Tim, the salesman couldn't be more optimistic that delivery was just around the corner, all the time knowing it was a sham. Silly me, I tried all of the phone numbers for Advantage/Real Garage Life and got nowhere obviously. Tim's "direct line" was surprisingly out of service...go figure. They got me for half the total price: $3700.00, apparently up in smoke...
My purpose in this post is to see if anyone has gotten a hold of the correct government/ business agency to see if filing a complaint is possible and which state I should do it in. The closest office they had to me was the Hanover PA facility, but not sure where the parent company is located.
I would appreciate any contact info or more information on exactly who to contact regarding getting on the list of creditors perhaps, even though there is little hope of ever seeing any of my deposit back.
Thanks,
Steve

That is a terrible situation to be in with the lost deposit on the lift. You should start by filing a claim with the Attorney General's office in the state where the parent company is headquartered, and also submit a formal complaint with the FTC to get on the creditors list.

 

[steve392]

The only ongiong thread was shown as closed...If there is an open thread, moderator please move.

Filed complaint with Pennsylvania Attorney General this morning.

I was able to get a response from the CEO of Automotive Lift Service, the installer of Advantage Lifts in my area and that is included here:

Steve,

I need to update you on Real Garage Life.

The Advantage/Backyard Buddy factory has shut down; it is insolvent, there are no remaining funds, and the senior secured creditor will be selling assets. We tried to save the 35 manufacturing jobs but could not.

Your deposit will not be returned due to the insolvency.

If you made the purchase using a card, try to charge it back through the credit card company. There are no other means of relief.

We are truly sorry of this outcome.

Stacey Wayne Mack
President & CEO
Automotive Lift Service

 

[manwithtools]

So if I understand correctly, Stacey Mack is the President and CEO of Automotive Lift Service and formerly was the President and CEO of Advantage Lift and Backyard Buddy - this is according to his LinkedIn profile?

If Advantage Lift and Backyard Buddy is no more and Automotive Lift Service is still in business, it would seem the assets of Automotive Lift Service could be legally pursued, unless the entities had the proper legal separation. But, the more I think about it, I'm betting they had the required separation, given how long they have known they were in financial peril.

EDIT: If Automotive Lift Service continued to take orders (and deposits) when Stacey Mack knew Advantage Lift and Backyard Buddy did not have the means to fulfill those orders, it would seem that would constitute fraud on his part.

 

[39Tudor]

Why not add this to the ongoing thread so that all of the pertinent info remains in one place?

That thread got locked last week.