Pants from designer True Religion can go for hundreds of dollars. Lululemon Athletica’s yoga outfits are also top-of-the-line garments. Juicy Couture’s designer sweats and t-shirts are sought after by many women. So when Kalene Larson took her old designer clothes to the downtown Kirkland consignment store “Thank You Twice,” she thought it was a good way to let them go. But all she got was a promise of payment and the feeling of being ripped off.

“I took my items to ‘Thank You Twice’ back in May around the grand opening,” said Larson, who used to live and work in Kirkland. “I had designer clothes that I took in hoping to make extra cash.”

A consignment store typically will sell items for a customer and then take a percentage of the profits. Larson’s clothes sold quickly and the store owner, Jason Potter, called her asking her to bring in more.

“I asked for the check to be sent and then a few weeks later, no check was sent,” said Larson. “I called and he said he had the wrong address and he would resend it, after that I brought in more clothes and my total he owed me was $250.”

The store closed in early October and Larson, along with many other patrons, want to know where their money and property went. A few have reported the store to the Better Business Bureau and at least four people have filed reports with the Kirkland Police Department.

“We are actively investigating this to see if it is a civil matter or if there is theft here,” said Kirkland Police Det. Allan O’Neill.

One victim stated that the sale price of clothing sold at the store would be split 50/50 with the consigner, according to a police report filed with the Kirkland Police Department on Oct. 24.

But many of the customers also want to know where Potter went. The Reporter obtained Potter’s cell phone number and attempted to contact him with no reply. The business’ phone has been disconnected and no reply was given to the company’s email. The business also had a website that was apparently never finished.

Potter has retained an Issaquah bankruptcy attorney Thomas Atwood, who said he is representing Potter in a civil matter and declined to comment further.

Linda Wiley, Potter’s mother, owned Linda Lu’s, at 206 Main Street in Kirkland, which opened in 2004. Wiley then moved and changed the name to Designer’s Consignment at 9 Lake Street in downtown Kirkland.

The Kirkland Weblog reported that Wiley retired in April 2011 and that Potter took over the business. In Feb. 2009, the Reporter published a story announcing the struggling Designers Consignment’s new children’s clothing line.

“We are always ready to donate to whoever is really in need,” said Potter of the various charities that the store donated items to, including Eastside Domestic Violence and The American Cancer Society.

Karen Man of Seattle told the same story of bringing clothes to the business and being told the check is in the mail.

“When I first brought my stuff in it was his mother Linda who owned the store,” said Man. “She called me later and asked me to bring in more. The first time I asked for my check was in February and I still haven’t received anything.”

Larson said she talked to Potter just before the store closed

“I asked for my check and he said ‘yes in 7-10 days after everything is settled it will be mailed out,’” said Larson. “He said he had to ‘tap into his 401K to send out checks to everyone.’ I said that’s too bad, I look forward to my check finally.”

Larson was not the only patron Potter told he would pay out of his 401K. But none of the alleged victims have received their money or their clothes back.

“I asked for my clothes back and he said he has none,” said Larson, who brought in 39 garments in all. “At this point he owed me $280 plus all the clothes he still had.”

Kayla Schafer said that she brought 40-50 items to Potter and received five back but no money.

Schafer originally brought in 18 items in June.

“I noticed they sold more than clothes so I brought some more stuff in and picked up some stuff that didn’t sell,” said Schafer. “I felt awkward asking for money and he assured me that he was going to mail it.”

At that point Schafer was due $125 from two bags of shoes, jewelry and other various accessories and clothes.

“That stuff would be worth probably about $2,000 retail,” said Schafer. “The frustrating part of this is that I never, at any point, received a phone call or email. Not even when the store closed. That is critical from an integrity standpoint and really makes me mad.”

The last time Man was in the store she noticed how much merchandise Potter had.

“When I went down there he still had a lot of stuff,” said Man. “He had so much inventory.”

All of the alleged victims say they signed a contract with the store, which stated the clothes would either be sold, with payment coming back to the original owner. The second part of the contract stated that the original owner had the choice of picking up unsold clothes or having them donated to charities. Most chose to have the clothes returned.

“To me $100 is not a lot of money,” said Man. “But you just don’t do that … there was some stuff there that was my sister’s and I told her I would get it to someone who would appreciate it.”

Anyone who has consigned with Thank you Twice and did not recieve money or their contractually-bound items back should contact the Kirkland Police Department at 425-577-5656.