Ripoff Report Needs Your Help!
X  |  CLOSE
Report: #1274773

Complaint Review: Ripoff Report | Shark Finds TRUSTED Business | Ripoff Report Verified™ …businesses you can trust. Headquartered in Florida, Shark Finds is playing a role in solidifying Florida’s position as a major production destination. All DRTV media campaigns produced are collaborative endeavors between participant company, either product or service based and studio’s expert staff. Kevin Harrington enjoys meeting participants and discussing their product and services, during one-on-one meetings. - Coral Springs Florida

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Annonymous — USA
  • Author Confirmed What's this?
  • Why?
  • Shark Finds TRUSTED Business | Ripoff Report Verified™ …businesses you can trust. Headquartered in Florida, Shark Finds is playing a role in solidifying Florida’s position as a major production destination. All DRTV media campaigns produced are collaborative endeavors between participant company, either product or service based and studio’s expert staff. Kevin Harrington enjoys meeting participants and discussing their product and services, during one-on-one meetings. 11555 Heron Bay Blvd, Suite 200 Coral Springs, Florida USA

Shark Finds TRUSTED Business REVIEW: Shark Finds/Kevin Harrington Inc is dedicated to total customer satisfaction. Work ethic is reflected in endless endeavors to raise the bar and produce unique media that connects brands with viewers in new ways.


*UPDATE: Shark Finds pledges commitment to Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy, Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program. A program that benefits consumers, ensuring complete satisfaction, confidence when doing business with a member business. Shark Finds recognized by Ripoff Report Verifiedâ„¢ as a safe business service.

Show customers why they should trust your business over your competitors...

Is this
Report about YOU
listed on other sites?
Those sites steal
Ripoff Report's
content.
We can get those
removed for you!
Find out more here.
How to fix
Ripoff Report
If your business is
willing to make a
commitment to
customer satisfaction
Click here now..
Ripoff Report Verified™ REVIEW

EDitor's UPDATE: Positive rating and recognition has been given to Shark Finds for its full commitment to quality customer service.

Ripoff Report's discussions with Shark Finds have uncovered an ongoing dedication by the company to total client satisfaction. This means that clients can expect that the company will work towards finding a mutually satisfactory resolution to any concerns. Shark Finds listens carefully to client concerns and sees them as an opportunity to learn from past mistakes and become more efficient as a company in the services offered and the support for those services.

Shark Finds/Kevin Harrington Inc's principal, Paul Doug Scott and Co-Executive Producer Kevin Harrington, have told us that their personal philosophy is their client's success is always at the heart of the business. As a successful businessman, Mr. Scott feels it is critical to listen to his clients and respond properly. By always keeping an open line of communication with all their clients, Mr. Scott ensures to maintain Shark Finds/Kevin Harrington Inc as a successful DRTV company. Another top executive, Anthony DiMeglio, told us that Mr. Scott's personal philosophy is to under-promise and over-deliver with transparency and integrity.



Shark Finds/Kevin Harrington Inc's Rob Posner says this, "We are one of the leaders in independent media production and help build brand equity with each client we work with. We even help small businesses create and understand their own brands. We are passionate about our clients and work collaboratively every step of the way, from script to screen."

One of the things Ripoff Report learned in the course of its review is that none of the Ripoff Report reviews were actual clients of Shark Finds/Kevin Harrington Inc. Instead, they were organizations contacted by phone being offered a potential opportunity to work with Kevin Harrington. In fact, Shark Finds/Kevin Harrington Inc's actual clients were extremely satisfied and reported back, "Working with Shark Finds/Kevin Harrington Inc has been one of our best investments in our 31 years in business. Massive thumbs up! The commercial is a fantastic marketing tool that will continue to make money for us for many years to come!"

Shark Finds is Ripoff Report Verified
Ripoff Report Verified™ .. part of Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program.A program that benefits the consumer, assures them of complete satisfaction and confidence when doing business with a member business..

The information provided in this report below is based on comments made by Paul Douglas and Lisa Vrancken during an onsite inspection held by a third-party verification company with no biases towards Shark Finds.

Fortune Media Group is a full-service production company currently doing business as ASONTV. Their extensive array of products allow their clients to utilize them as a one-stop shop. Paul Douglas stated the following about his company, "We do everything from commercial development to corporate videos to long and short form infomercials. We also have production services like editing suites for rent, insert studios for rent." Because of their vast services Fortune Media Group has several projects under their umbrella. Lisa Vrancken further explained, "because we do so many different things, because we are so well diversified in the production world, we have different campaigns, different product evaluators, product managers, as well as producers working on. Hence the different names that were utilized. Our corporate legal entity name is Fortune Media Group. Our DBA that is registered is ASONTV. AsSeenOnTv.pro is the ecommerce site of Kevin Harrington and Brian Harrington. We operate that ecommerce site under that umbrella."

Leads for Fortune Media Group are obtained through specific product categories on their website. These categories range from health, beauty, fitness, home essentials, and things of that nature. Mr. Douglas further explained, "we have a research department here that searches out trade shows, expos, press releases, and articles for products that are under each of those categories. Our research department does some research on the company and finds out where they are selling, what their price points are, where they distribute. That information is given to our product manager. A product manager is responsible for having a conversation with that organization to discuss their product, how it might relate to our services, what we offer them as far as our services are concerned." From their the client would send in a sample of their product that would be reviewed by Fortune Media Group's internal staff. Mr. Douglas explained the final steps in the sales and services process, "we circle back with them after they have sent us the product and we have evaluated it and looked at it and they have gone through the project time lines that we sent them. We do a follow up call to see if there is interested and they want to participate with us. If they are interested and want to participate, we send them a participation agreement that lays out all the parameters, all the deliverables. Once that is signed off on, they send it back to us, I review it and countersign it and we begin the production aspects of the agreement. We do this roughly around 400-500 times a year."



CUSTOMER CARE & COMPLAINT RESOLUTION – SHARK FINDS

During the on-site interview, Mr. Douglas and Ms. Vrancken were asked to describe a situation where a client was not satisfied with the level of service they received. Ms. Vrancken expressed that they rarely receive complaints on their services. However, occasionally clients will have different expectations on the final product, "upon their final edit, I contact them to discuss with them how to leverage their tools. I know we are extremely clear about the expectations that they should have whether it be on the tv show or on the commercial. Sometimes I think no matter how much clarity you give a participant, they may have expectations that exceed what a media test would truly provide. Although we are very clear about that, it might be a cause for dissatisfaction. That is a very very small group. We have testimonial letters that we can provide to anyone, from real participants that are extraordinary, and we have done extraordinary things for our products taking them to retail."

When asked to comment on complaints posted on Ripoff Report's website Mr. Douglas and Ms. Vrancken expressed that all the comments were false and created by an ex-employee. Ms. Vrancken further stated, "it really needs to be made extremely clear that the only reason we are on Ripoff is because of an ex-employee. He was terminated for cause. He then went to work for a local competitor, and he wanted to cause harm to our company. He utilized Ripoff as a means to do so. In tying all the different campaign names that we use and the like. Any time we do a new project, he’s on Ripoff initiating “oh and they are tied into this company” to cause us harm. And has it? It has." In order to assure future and current clientele Fortune Media Group works directly with the Florida Atlantic University's production students, and have won many awards including the Telly Award.

When asked what type of changes they have made to honor their commitment to making things right with the consumer per the request of Ripoff Report, Ms. Vrancken stated, "we do everything for our customers, we have satisfied customers and we have testimonials. Those are people who just got a phone call to see if they want to be part of our campaign, were told about the requirements including the money."

Fortune Media Group is proud to be a part of Ripoff Reports Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program, "for us it means a lot. It just substitutes and it verifies that we are a credible company and have been a credible company for over 20 years...we are open with anybody that would like to tour our facility meet with us face to face and would like to come down to see us we welcome that and would be open to that as well."



SHARK FINDS – STATEMENT FROM SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER – ANTHONY DIMEGLIO

" It’s in our DNA to exceed expectations with every DRTV campaign we produce. We pride ourselves on how we creatively capture the vision of those we work with, bringing their brand to life. Rising above industry standards allows us to foster long-lasting professional relationships with our clients.

Shark Finds’ team of Telly award-winning producers, writers, directors, and editors have decades of television production experience and have an unrivaled passion for their work. Shark Finds takes employee satisfaction seriously as well. Employee feedback and surveys reveal comments such as this, "I have worked for Paul Douglas Scott for over 10 years. His dedication to his employee’s well-being coupled with corporate culture he has developed, have always been exceptional. This is one of the few places I have ever worked, in 30 years in the industry, that I could honestly call home. His passion to excel in media production always keeps our company on the cutting-edge with state-of-the-art." said Dave Corvair, Product Manager."

Ripoff Report was pleased to learn that Shark Finds’ past and current approach to business is focused on its pledge to total commitment towards client and employee satisfaction.



STATED IMPROVEMENTS FROM SHARK FINDS

Shark Finds recognizes that complaints posted on Ripoff Report (whether true or not) are issues that need to be addressed, not ignored. If handled correctly, complaints can be valuable learning opportunities. With the feedback generated by Ripoff Report's review, Shark Finds has made organizational changes allowing its clients and employees a more streamlined approach to problem resolution and a commitment to a great client experience.

In summary, after our review, which included discussions with Paul Douglas Scott, Ripoff Report is convinced that Shark Finds is committed to quality delivery of services resulting in total client satisfaction.







How does a business get Ripoff Report Verified™

The member business allows Ripoff report to email everyone from the past. Those who respond to Ripoff report with a valid complaint must be take care of. They have made a commitment that if anyone contacts Ripoff Report in the future, they will make things right within 14 days. The member business must err on the side of their customers. Otherwise the member business is off the program.

Ripoff Report has determined that Shark Finds meets Ripoff Report Verified™ standards which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. Members of the Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction program do pay a fee for our on-site review, 24-hour monitoring and for support with customers to resolve any disagreements.

Ripoff Report sends a 3rd party service to do an onsite inspection of the new member business. The on-site inspection / review does not mean that the products or services offered by the business have been evaluated or endorsed by Ripoff Report, and has not made a determination as to the business' product quality or competency in performing services. We can verify, that Ripoff Report went to the business, verified their business or “work from home business”, there for, if a customer in the future does not get treated correctly, Ripoff Report can get the problem resolved. If not, and the customers is right, the member business will be taken off the Corporate Advocacy Program. Remember, Ripoff Report emailed every customer from the past that filed a complaint to make sure the member business made things right with customers from the past. Again, to err on the side of their customer, those from the past and those in the future.

Read more about why consumers should feel confident when doing business with a member of Ripoff Report's Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program. Yes, it’s a long name for a program that does a lot for both consumers and businesses alike.

Read about Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program, a program that benefits the consumer, assures them of complete satisfaction and confidence when doing business with a member business. This program works.

As a matter of policy, when a business becomes a member of the Corporate Advocacy Program they agree to allow Ripoff Report to contact every client who filed a complaint so they can make things right with them. In order to confirm that the complaints were resolved, Ripoff Report is copied on all responses so we can insure that the member business did right by their customer.

NOW TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shark Finds, As Seen On TV Production Coral Springs Florida

ABOUT THE RIPOFF REPORT BELOW:

Ripoff Report would like to let readers know that Ripoff Report emailed this customer so the member business could make things right with them. When a business joins the Corporate Advocacy Program, Ripoff Report emails everyone from the past so the member business can make things right with them. Of course, everything within reason. In order to confirm that the complaints were resolved, Ripoff Report is copied on all responses so we can insure that the member business did right by their customer. The customer who filed a complaint down below never responded to our offer to help them.

STATEMENT FROM SHARK FINDS:

This report is false because it is not written from an actual client, it is a posting of a cover letter used by our organization. This report was not posted by an actual client. They were contacted by phone and sent production materials that detailed the scope of the DRTV campaign. Because of the Ripoff Report postings in the past and based on no factual information they believed this was a scam. Kevin Harrington does not need to stop AsSeenOnTV.pro because he owns the website and is directly involved with the organization. The Attorney General was provided with factual information to refute allegation made against this organization. Resolution has been had.

NOW TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I was contacted by a company called Shark Finds out of Coral Springs, FL. They said that there research team found my company and that they wanted to do a media campaign around my products. They also claim that this company is one of Kevin Harrington's companies, the original Shark on the program Shark Tank. The video and marketing tools that are used are very believeable. 

Something seemed a little off when I talked with them. I also tried researching this company and found nothing good or bad until I found ththe Rip Off Report.

Here is a part of a letter that I received: 

Based on our conversation, the team of Kevin Harrington is in the process of finalizing the scheduling for an upcoming Direct Response TV (DRTV) media campaign. We are interested in featuring XXX. Both the :30 and :60 second spots will air a combination of 202 times nationally and regionally on top national cable networks in the U.S. specifically selected to match your customers' demographic and geographic profile.

$19,900 USD is the total scheduling fee. Keep in mind, the Senior Product Manager will go over timing and visual aspects of the project and answer any questions you may have. The Senior Product Manager and I will speak with you on XXX

 

Below is the product mailing address for you to send product sample(s).

Shark Finds

11555 Heron Bay Blvd

Suite 200

Coral Springs, FL 33076

 

 

 

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 12/17/2015 08:35 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/shark-finds-trusted-business-ripoff-report-verified-businesses-you-can-trust-coral-springs-florida-1274773. 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

Search for additional reports

If you would like to see more Rip-off Reports on this company/individual, search here:

Report & Rebuttal
Respond to this report!
What's this?
Also a victim?
What's this?
Repair Your Reputation!
What's this?

Updates & Rebuttals

REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
4Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#4 Consumer Comment

This is the same scam as KH Direct Media

AUTHOR: Nothisone - (USA)

POSTED: Wednesday, July 27, 2016

This is the identical scam under the name KH Direct Media (see Rip Off Report for this company). Same product, pitch etc.. This companies keep disappearing, morphing to different names. The website used by this crooked company (khmediadirect.com) now redirects to a vacant russian domain. This scam claims that Kevin Harrington is associated. However the FL Attorney general has filed suit against the principles of this entity. Beware further re-incarnations with different aliases. Just look up addesses on Google Streetview, you can see they are just fronts. Pure scam!

FL ATTY GENERAL NOTICE

As of May 13, 2015, Florida Attorney General's Office filed a complaint against a promotional enterprise deceptively luring customers into paying for infomercials that were promoted to them as independent, magazine style, national television programs hosted by celebrities.

Paul D. Scott, Robert Posner, Anthony Dimeglio and affiliated companies are facing violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act for participating in this deceptive marketing scheme that solicited thousands of businesses, towns and municipalities to purchase these misleading advertising products.

According to the complaint, the defendants pitched the opportunity to appear as a featured guest on one of their national television shows that purportedly aired regularly to millions of viewers.
The purported national television shows used programming titles, such as Business Day, The Economic Report, The Art of Living, Today in America, Great Taste, Health Briefs, Communities of Distinction, and Forbes Living, among others.

In reality, the customers received an infomercial costing from $20,000 to $30,000, which they were lead to believe was being paid as a licensing fee or scheduling fee, rather than for the production of the infomercial itself.
These infomercials typically aired on smaller television markets and at times when relatively few viewers watched.
The defendants allegedly operated this scheme out of offices in Coral Springs, Fla.

The complaint also alleges that the defendants allowed telemarketers to use fake names and misleading biographical information when soliciting customers to avoid potential responsibility.

Similar allegedly false and misleading representations concerning the defendants' infomercial products resulted in the entry of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the Office of the Attorney General in May 2007.

The complaint filed today alleges that the defendants violated the AVC by, among other things, making certain cosmetic changes to their business model, while continuing their overall deceptive sales pitch.

The complaint seeks injunctive relief and equitable relief; full restitution to affected consumers; attorneys' fees and costs; and civil penalties. 
The complaint also seeks a permanent injunction from any acts or practices that violate the FDUTPA.

The following individuals and affiliates are named in this complaint: Anthony Dimeglio, Paul D. Scott, Robert Posner, FR Media, Inc., New Line Media Solutions, Inc., Platinum Television Group, Inc., and U.S. Media Television, Inc.

For further assistance please contact
Florida Attorney General's Office
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Switchboard: 850-414-3300
Toll Free: 866-966-7226
www.myfloridalegal.com

http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleas

 

 

The website used by this crooked company (khmediadirect.com) now redirects to a vacant russian domain. In addition the PL Attorney general has filed suit against the principles of this entity. Beware further re-incarnations with different aliases. Pure scam!

FL ATTY GENERAL NOTICE

As of May 13, 2015, Florida Attorney General's Office filed a complaint against a promotional enterprise deceptively luring customers into paying for infomercials that were promoted to them as independent, magazine style, national television programs hosted by celebrities.

Paul D. Scott, Robert Posner, Anthony Dimeglio and affiliated companies are facing violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act for participating in this deceptive marketing scheme that solicited thousands of businesses, towns and municipalities to purchase these misleading advertising products.

According to the complaint, the defendants pitched the opportunity to appear as a featured guest on one of their national television shows that purportedly aired regularly to millions of viewers.
The purported national television shows used programming titles, such as Business Day, The Economic Report, The Art of Living, Today in America, Great Taste, Health Briefs, Communities of Distinction, and Forbes Living, among others.

In reality, the customers received an infomercial costing from $20,000 to $30,000, which they were lead to believe was being paid as a licensing fee or scheduling fee, rather than for the production of the infomercial itself.
These infomercials typically aired on smaller television markets and at times when relatively few viewers watched.
The defendants allegedly operated this scheme out of offices in Coral Springs, Fla.

The complaint also alleges that the defendants allowed telemarketers to use fake names and misleading biographical information when soliciting customers to avoid potential responsibility.

Similar allegedly false and misleading representations concerning the defendants' infomercial products resulted in the entry of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the Office of the Attorney General in May 2007.

The complaint filed today alleges that the defendants violated the AVC by, among other things, making certain cosmetic changes to their business model, while continuing their overall deceptive sales pitch.

The complaint seeks injunctive relief and equitable relief; full restitution to affected consumers; attorneys' fees and costs; and civil penalties. 
The complaint also seeks a permanent injunction from any acts or practices that violate the FDUTPA.

The following individuals and affiliates are named in this complaint: Anthony Dimeglio, Paul D. Scott, Robert Posner, FR Media, Inc., New Line Media Solutions, Inc., Platinum Television Group, Inc., and U.S. Media Television, Inc.

For further assistance please contact
Florida Attorney General's Office
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Switchboard: 850-414-3300
Toll Free: 866-966-7226
www.myfloridalegal.com

http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleas

 

 

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#3 General Comment

No solid complaints here

AUTHOR: Langley - (USA)

POSTED: Sunday, June 19, 2016

I don't understand the complaints in this report; no one here has had any real experience with this company. No one here has been injured by this company.

Upon learning about Shark Finds about 6 months ago and doing my own investigation, I referred a business client to them. I know that Kevin Harrington is solid and has an outstanding reputation. My client's experience with Shark Finds has been extremely positive. Her product has made solid gains in the market and she has learned more than she ever knew about retail. She is cashflow positive and growing with opportunities opening up frequently...all due to her participation in the Shark Finds campaign. The DRTV spots produced for her are outstanding and are her property to use as she wishes after the media test is complete.

My client also referred another inventor to the program and he is enjoying a similar experience.

As someone who is responsible for two of their current clients I have contacted the VP of Marketing and enjoyed several very informative, intelligent conversations with her.

Please, unless you have directly experienced a "rip-off" think twice before marring a company's reputation.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#2 General Comment

They Contacted Me for the Same Scam

AUTHOR: anonbusiness - (USA)

POSTED: Tuesday, March 29, 2016

I was also contacted by this company.  They claimed to be interested in featuring my business in a new media campaign and would like to speak with me about the opportunity.

I figured no harm in talking.  So I set up the call.

The woman asked a few questions about my business, then went on to solicit for $19K for a scheduling fee.

Sounded a bit fishy to me, so I told her I would have to research and discuss with my partner.

After a bit of time on Google I discovered these links:  

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/kh-direct-media-paul-scott/coral-springs-florida-33076/kh-direct-media-paul-scott-platinum-tv-production-scam-another-scam-company-charging-thou-1235678

http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/KMAN-9WGMFN/$file/Platinum.pdf

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141006/13111528746/latest-pay-to-be-public-tv-scam-involves-football-coach-jimmy-johnson.shtml

Apparently, they target small businesses promising TV exposure that never really pans out as promised.  They have been put out of business several times and changed names.  

I hope this information saves another business owner from falling for this scam.  Fortunately all I lost was a bit of time on the phone.

Respond to this report!
What's this?

#1 Consumer Comment

What is the rip-off?

AUTHOR: Hardy-Har-Har - (USA)

POSTED: Monday, February 29, 2016

Can you be more specific about how you were ripped off? What exactly happened?

This is a production company, and they are selling their services (no one expects TV commercials to be made for free and airtime to be purchased for you at their cost just out of the goodness of their heart). So with that, are you complaining that they charge for services?  Or did you purchase from them and not get what you purchased?  It would be very helpful to others if your complaint was more specific. 

 

Thanks. 

Respond to this report!
What's this?
Featured Reports

Advertisers above have met our
strict standards for business conduct.

X
What do hackers,
questionable attorneys and
fake court orders have in common?
...Dishonest Reputation Management Investigates Reputation Repair
Free speech rights compromised

WATCH News
Segment Now