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Report: #631520

Complaint Review: Creative Concepts Of America - RedBull USA - Fort Lauderdale Florida

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  • Reported By: Tim — Harlingen Texas United States of America
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  • Creative Concepts Of America - RedBull USA 4300 N. University Drive Fort Lauderdale, Florida United States of America

Creative Concepts Of America - RedBull USA Red Bull N.A Took me for over $70k, now it looks like they're going to get 20 in the Slammer! Fort Lauderdale, Florida

*REBUTTAL Owner of company: Another Red Bull Owner is at it Again

*General Comment: Charles Provenzano

*Consumer Comment: You can find me at Rip-off Report #341939

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Back in October 2005, I saw the add on a Franchise/Biz-op website, and thought, WOW!  Red Bull is offering vending machines!  Having been in the vending business already, I jumped at the opportunity.  I called Creative Concepts of America and was relayed to a salesperson named Jeff Youngbauer.  Jeff was excited, but not overly so, and began to tell me that they had just shipped a brand new "business in a box" so to speak to someone and in the first week, this person had seen they're Red Bull Vending machine do 20 sales a day average in a bowling alley, and that he had heard that other sale's people's successes were in the 30 range.  It was supposed to be "Proven".  There were exclusive areas, and if I bought more, I'd be able to "Lock up" two counties and I would be put in "Direct Contact" with the local Red Bull distributer, who would give me an insider price on more product, especially since the 5400 cans I was buying wouldn't last me long!  In addition, they had high-traffic locations waiting.  He insinuated, without saying it directly, but he led me to believe that those locations would be selected or had been selected by the local whole-sale distributor who was an agent of Red Bull, N.A.


Later, of course, I found out that they didn't ship the first machine until December, and that my machines where among the first 100 that went out, So, obviously, there weren't any super successful locations operating at the time I bought them.  Not only that, but after the wire transfer of $72,000 was complete, Jeff went away, and I was told by someone named Paula, that I was going to have my machines in 30 days, which of course took 90!  I was also told that I would have to contact one of several private placement companies that were sent to me on a simple copied piece of paper to have my machines placed.  After several thousand more dollars, a very slovenly dressed man drove down here from somewhere else, and proceeded to get me 20 "great placements" in a single day, placing $72k worth of machinery in all kinds of horrible outside locations like mom & pop grocery stores.  When I argued with him, he promptly let me know that he could leave, but I still had to pay him, take it or leave it.  This after having tied up my money, by that time, for 4 months.  So, I gave it a try.  Next to zero sales, break-ins on the machines, no cooperation from the local Red Bull distributor, caused me to have to sell the machines for what I could get.  Not to mention that they sent me 1000 cans of diet red bull that had an expiration date 6 months from the date of receipt.  Most of that had to be dumped.

The local Red Bull distributor did take two meetings with me, appeared to want to help in the beginning, but after seeing a few of the placements, asked me in a not-so-gentle way to move them.  Then, when CCA started to go under and Red Bull, N.A. sent out the letters to everyone saying that they had ceased their tenuous relationship with CCA, the local distributor stopped taking my phone calls.  I offered to sell them my machines through a letter, I received a call back saying that they could buy their own new at the price I wanted for used, so no sale.

Back to my conversations with Jeff Youngbauer, many of which were him calling me.  I was assured that I wasn't just buying machines.  That came up because I was used to buying vending machines, and a machine of that size and type was pricey at $4k per unit. I was assured that I was buying exclusive territory (later, the local Red Bull distributor made it clear I owned NO territory exclusively), that I was buying a relationship with Red Bull, N.A., that I was buying Locations, and that those locations were high volume sales locations.  None of this was true!

I've now found out, as I was sent a letter today by the Department of Justice, that the main players have been indicted on 16 counts.  They are facing 20 years for each count.  I may never get my money back, however, I'd like to see some justice.

For those seeking information, just google this Court Docket 10-CR-60183.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 08/14/2010 05:25 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/creative-concepts-of-america-redbull-usa/fort-lauderdale-florida-33351/creative-concepts-of-america-redbull-usa-red-bull-na-took-me-for-over-70k-now-it-lo-631520. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
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2Consumer
1Employee/Owner

#3 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Another Red Bull Owner is at it Again

AUTHOR: Joe_Shltoz - ()

POSTED: Monday, January 05, 2015

I am looking for anybody who has spoken with Charles Provenzano who was a sales rep for Creative Concepts. He is a criminal and has worked for other companies that have taken millions from innocent victims. Just to name a few of the companies, Global Resources (shut down by the feds), Pantheon (shut down by feds), and Americard Dispensing (also shut down by the feds). He is at it again, continuing to scam people with other so called opportunities. If you or anybody has some information that may help put him away for good please email me at garbagecharles@hotmail.com.

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#2 General Comment

Charles Provenzano

AUTHOR: Joe_Shltoz - ()

POSTED: Monday, January 05, 2015

Very sorry to hear about all the people that got taken advantage of with the business. It gives me some satisfaction to know that they have at least sent some of the ring leaders to prison. I have had some dealings with a man by the name of Charles Provenzano. He used to work as a salesman for this company but also previously worked for Global Resources (another phone room that ripped people off for millions of dollars), Pantheon (owned by Shevin Goodman who went to prison), and Americard Dispensing which was also shut down. He has professed to making millions of dollars in commissions from his ill gotten gains. I would like to hear from anybody who has been taken by this guy. Maybe we could stop him from doing this to other people. If so please email me at garbagecharles@hotmail.com

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#1 Consumer Comment

You can find me at Rip-off Report #341939

AUTHOR: Thomas - (USA)

POSTED: Tuesday, October 05, 2010

I guess we have to wait until January 2011 to see what happens to everyone.  My report is #341939.  It's sad that I had my business counsel contact RBNA to discuss the venture and they gave the green light that Creative Concepts was good to go.  However Red Bull quickly distanced themselves from everything and left all of us with huge losses. 

There is no way we will ever see our money back unless as a group we go after RBNA since Creative Concepts was acting as an agent.  We've been fighting this battle for over 4 years and barely getting any movement.  Most have just written-off that they were ripped off and there is nothing that can be done. 

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