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Report: #235865

Report: VendStar

Reported By: (FairFax Virginia)

INVESTIGATION: Vendstar MultiVend customers can feel confident & secure when doing business with Vendstar, Commitment to total customer satisfaction, positive rating for its customer support from Rip-off Report. Excellent business opportunity..
*UPDATE Rip-off Report Investigation gives Vendstar / MultiVend a POSITIVE rating in customer support & product quality assurance. Consumers can feel confident & secure when doing business with Vendstar. Commitment to Rip-off Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program.

... GENEB, IN SAN JOSE?

1Author 10Consumer 1Employee

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VendStar

880 Grand Blvd
Deerpark New York 11729
U.S.A.
Phone: 800-998-8363
Web Address:

Category: Vending Machine Companies

Submitted: Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Last posting: Monday, October 01, 2007

Rip-off Report Investigation:
Editor's UDATE: Positive Rating and Recognition has been given to VendStar/MultiVend for its commitment to excellence in customer service and support to their customers.

Through many weeks of investigation, in spite of any claims made in the past, Rip-off Report finds Vendstar / MultiVend has made many changes to address any possible misunderstanding from the past.. and we find they offer an excellent business opportunity. Consumers can feel confident and secure when doing business with VendStar. Rip-off Report found that the company is committed to delivering excellent customer service and offers ongoing consultation support services to all purchasers of their home-based bulk vending business program. Rip-off Report's Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program will help insure your satisfaction with any member business..

When Vendstar / MultiVend first contacted Rip-off Report, they made it clear to us that they were totally committed to resolving any client issues that were brought to their attention. They have proven to us that their goal is 100% client satisfaction with their products and they have consistently worked toward achieving that goal for the last 17 years. If, for any reason, a customer is not happy with their Vendstar machines, they have shown that they will resolve any issues immediately.

Rip-off Report looked over their contracts and found that they are written in very easy and understandable terms, and they cover exactly what the client will receive from Vendstar. All of their equipment comes with a manufacturer's warranty against parts defect. To ensure a customer's satisfaction, a member of the Technical Support Department calls each of their clients on the day of their delivery and gives them an additional support number to call with any questions about the equipment.

After many conversations with company executives at Vendstar /MultiVend, Rip-off Report is convinced that they have established the satisfaction of their clients as their number one priority. Rip-off Report knows, no company or individual can ever satisfy everyone, when given the chance they will always do what they can, many times they just err on the side of their customer. This is the kind of company that creates good will and trust with their customers. They welcome any and all feedback from their customers, and they use that information to better serve them.

Rip-off Report knows that not every business opportunity will be perfect for everyone. ..But, Vending machines have been around since the Greek mathematician Hero got the ball rolling in 215BC when he invented a machine to vend holy water in Egyptian temples. In the late 1800's vending machines started to become popular in the US. Placing these machines is an easy trial and error business, once in the right location tragically placed in that location thru trial and error, vending machines will eventually find their way to a lucrative location.

Rip-off Report also has the opinion that this business is best for individuals who are friendly and outgoing.. It also helps if you know people who own businesses or others that know people that can help you get machines placed in the particular market you are targeting. Vending machines are not a perishable item so your loss is limited to a small amount of inexpensive product in a machine.. All business opportunities are not with our risk. This is the kind of business that if you don't think it's for you, the machines should be relatively easy to sell to someone else in almost any market..

Look at the very impressive video testimonials from successful VendStar/MultiVend distributors.

The small amount of issues that have arisen with Vendstar / Multivend are in no way a reflection of satisfaction of their tens of thousands of clients over the last 17 years.

Read more about Vendstar/MultiVend's Commitment to Excellence and Consumer / Affiliate Satisfaction and why consumers should feel safe, confident and secure when doing business with a member of Rip-off Report's Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program. ..yes, a long name for a program that does a lot for both consumers and businesses alike.

Read about Rip-off 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.

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NOW TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED

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VendStar ripoff uses Location Companies to break FTC Law Deerpark New York

Here goes - for years Vendstar has been using locating companies to break FTC law by promising/implying/guaranteeing income. They promise a location company 80% of their business (the other 20% get handed down to about 5 other location companies so Vendstar doesn't appear to be in bed with just one) and use the company to guarantee a return on investment and/or 10 vend a day volume.

So this locating company will - at Vendstars "suggestion" create contract with the ROI in it. Then Vendstar will tell the prospect: How can you lose? We will conference you in with a locating company the will guarantee you'll make ------- !!!! Later the locating company will go down in flames - whether or not they where a legit - good company before - they will be shutdown or go bankrupt before they are shut down if they are lucky. Vendstar appeals to the greed of the locating company as well as the prospect and destroys both. Those tiny little plastic machines really don't make much and since they are grey and short are hard to notice in any business.

The current locating company "Vendstar sucker" is Specialty Marketing. Before Specialty marketing here are a few others that did it with Vendstar in the past:

Cornerstone - FTC halted them from doing this and Chris & Sid Putman are facing jail time and steep fines. However, Jennifer Putman owns Specialty Marketing (see above) - the daughter of Sid!

Vending Dreams - Bankrupt... Company had 0 complaints until they got in bed with Vendstar - went straight to hell in a matter of 18 months after that.

Crossroads - Bankrupt

Amazon - Bankrupt and indited by the FTC

This is just a small list but if you have been involved with Vendstar and have recieved an illegal contract (no contract can guarantee $$ - ever) please report it to the FTC at (212) 607-2817 or WWW.FTC.GOV - they are investigating Vendstar for these matters.

Patrick
FairFax, Virginia
U.S.A.

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:

1Author 10Consumer 1Employee

Owner of Company

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LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT!!

Jennifer - Bluffton (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: OBVIOUSLY, THE REAL PERSON WHO WROTE THIS COMMENT IS NOT VERY INFORMED AND SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL ABOUT THINGS THAT HE IS FALSELY CLAIMING IN BLACK AND WHITE. BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING KNOW AS LIABLE AND SLANDER. FIRST, I HAVE NEVER KNOWN OF ANY PERSON WHO HAS/IS FACING JAIL TIME OVER A CIVIL COMPLAINT. SECOND,CHRIS PUTNAM OWNED CORNERSTONE MARKETING AND SID PUTNAM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT COMPANY. THIRD, THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ATTEMPTED TO FREEZE THE COMPANY'S ASSETS BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN FEDERAL COURT. THE FEDERAL JUDGE LOOKED OVER THE CASE AND DID NOT FIND ANY REASON TO GRANT ANY REQUEST TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. NOW, THIS IS FACT. BECAUSE OF THE LIMITLESS RESOURCES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANY SMALL BUSINESS WOULD HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE BUT TO SETTLE. IT IS NOT AN ADMISSION OF GUILT, BUT A FINANCIAL DECISION. THE COMPLAINT STRICTLY STATES THIS AND ONE NEEDS TO REVIEW THERE NOTES A LITTLE MORE CAREFULLY. CHRIS PUTNAM OR ANY PUTNAM WAS NOT EVER ASKED TO CEASE ANY ACTIVITIES, BUT SIMPLY TO MODIFY THERE CONTRACT A BIT. CHRIS PUTNAM AS WELL AS SID PUTNAM HAVE DECIDED TO OPEN AND START A NEW BUSINESS IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INDUSTRY. THIS WAS THERE OWN DECISION AND NOT FORCED ON THEM. PLEASE NOTE! SPECIALTY MARKETING IS OWNED BY JENNIFER BUFFINGTON, WHO WAS A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF CORNERSTONE MARKETING AND SHE WAS NEVER AN OWNER OF THAT COMPANY. JENNIFER BUFFINGTON WAS NEVER NAMED ON ANY COMPLAINT AND CURRENTLY HAS NO COMPLAINTS WITH THE BBB. IF ONE WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE BUSINESS LICENSE THEN WE WILL OBLIGE. SPECIALTY MARKETING IS MAKING EVERY ATTEMPT TO SOLVE ANY AND/ALL COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS STAY IN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. SPECIALTY MARKETING KEEPS CLOSE CONTACT WITH OUR ATTORNEY'S MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WE DO IS WITHIN THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. NOW, VENDSTAR, IS A SEPERATE ENTITY FROM ANY PLACEMENT COMPANY. FOR ONE TO MAKE SUCH A RIDICULOUS CLAIM THAT VENDSTAR HAS ANY CONTROL OVER THIS COMPANY IS APPARENTLY NOT TOO BRIGHT. THE WARRANTIES THAT ARE OFFERED THROUGH SPECIALTY MARKETING ARE SIMPLY THAT, WARRANTIES. WHEN WE SPEAK WITH OUR CLIENTS WE MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT WE DO NOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING, IT IS SIMPLY A WARRANTY THAT IF ONE DOES NOT PRODUCE A MINIMUM AMOUNT PER DAY PER MACHINE THEN WE WILL OBTAIN NEW LOCATIONS FOR FREE AND WE WILL DO THIS MANY TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS. THAT, MY FRIEND IS NO GUARANTEE, IT IS SIMPLY A BENCHMARK OF QUALITY, A STANDARD FOR REPLACEMENT OF MACHINES INTO NEW LOCATIONS. I INVITE THE WRITER OF THIS COMPLAINT TO CALL ME AND I WILL GUARANTEE,LOL, THAT ONE WILL NEVER HEAR ME CLAIM THAT IF THEY BUY VENDING MACHINES ONE WILL MAKE 2.50, ETC.. PER DAY PER MACHINE, GUARANTEED. PLEASE CALL ME TO LISTEN AND LEARN!!!! SPECIALTY MARKETING WOULD NEVER PRETEND THAT OUR POTENTIAL CLIENT IS IGNORANT AND WOULD BELIEVE US IF WE TOLD THEM THERE IS A NO RISK GUARANTEE IF THEY BUY THESE MACHINES. NO PERSON WOULD BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS RISK WITH ANY BUSINESS SOMEONE LOOKS TO BUY/OPEN. PLEASE NOTE!!! THEREFORE, WHEN WE SPEAK WITH POTENTIAL CLIENTS WE TELL THEM THIS VERBATUM. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THE DEFINITION OF A ROI WOULD BE A TIME FRAME THAT ONE CAN EXPECT TO RETURN THE MONEY THAT THEY ORIGINALLY INVESTED TO OPEN A PARTICULAR BUSINESS. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF ONE SEES THAT ANYWHERE IN SPECIALTY MARKETING'S CONTRACT. APPARENTLY, WE ARE ALSO IN THE BUSINESS OF FORTUNE TELLING. LET ME PULL OUT MY CRYSTAL BALL AND TELL YOU YOUR FUTURE. I MUST BE PRETTY GOOD AT PREDICTIONS TO BE ABLE TO TELL A CLIENT WHEN EXACTLY THEY WILL GET THERE MONEY BACK. PLEASE, SIR, STOP BEING A MORON AND WRITE INTELLIGENT, INFORMATIVE MATERIAL. ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN LIES IN BLACK AND WHITE, THEREFORE, YOU COULD HAVE A LAWSUIT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I WOULD SUGGEST FOR YOU TO DO A LITTLE MORE HOMEWORK IN THE FUTURE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD IDEA TO RETRACT YOUR RIDICULOUS STATEMENTS. LOTS OF LOVE, JENNIFER BUFFINGTON, SPECIALTY MARKETING-BEST PLACEMENT COMPANY IN THE COUNTRY.

Employee

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This company is all about fraud, deceit and lying

Irene - Blufton (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Saturday, April 14, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

***** This is my personal opinion only *****
I am an employee of Cornerstone marketing (aka Gold Coast Marketing, etc.). I currently make >$30,000.00 per month locating machines for them (Cornerstone makes much much more!).

Unfortunately, I have to tell every single customer they refer to me that what they have been told is wrong. Cornerstone's only motivation is to make money at any cost and they do not care what kind of locations are gotten for customers as long as the customer signs off and Cornerstone can protect themselves from law suits. Cornerstone just wants locators to turn locations as fast as they can. I have heard everything ... Cornerstone's promises of 25, 15, 10 vends per machine per day ... none of those promises are true.

The truth is vending is a cut throat business designed to make the location services money and the vending machine sellers money. People who fall prey to their scams end up loosing large quantities of money. The vending companies will tell and promise anything to get people to buy over-priced, low quality vending machines. This is an industry that needs to be regulated and/or shutdwon.

The FTC pursued Cornerstone Marketing (and Chris Putnam and all his relatives) under project Fal$eHope$. Cornerstone Marketing is just one of hundreds of scam companies that seem to squeek by on pretending to be a legitimate business. This lady who calls herself jennifer is the worst cutomer service person I have ever dealt with. She deals with angry/upset cutomers constantly, she has no concept of what it takes to run a busines, has no clue how to handle customers and her sole function is to churn locations so that Cornerstone earns massive quantities of money at other people's expense. Jennifer believes everything I say because without me Cornerstone would be out of business. Who in their right mind would spend time locating junk machines for what Cornerstone pays? Cornerstone takes 1/2 of the fee for doing nothing ... I am the one who has to be on the road for months doing all the work. It really is a scam industry for their sole benefit ... I often wonder why jennifer and all the Putnams don't get legitimate jobs ... It would be so much easier for them ... But, I guess it is their GREED of money that keeps them going.

Luckily I am able to use their customers to sell my machines which I market as being better and earning more than the machines the cutomer has already bought from another vendor. In this way I am able to build my own profitble vending location service ...

From the tone of the rebuttal above you can tell that Cornerstone uses idle threats of liable etc. to try and scare people off. The best thing anyone can do is to file a complaint and tell your story to the FTC, District Attorney, Police. The FTC is there to try and help honest people by preventing scams like this. They really need to hear the complaints. So many people let these scammers get away with it ... this keeps them in business scamming.

I would love to see all involved with these scam vending location services pay the price. Wht comes around goes around ... they will get their just reward in the end.

Consumer Suggestion

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Stay away from location services

Irene - Blufton (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Saturday, April 14, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Location services do not work. Period. It takes time, marketing skills, dedication and motivtion to find good places for vending machines. You can not expect a locator, with no investment in the location outcome, to go out in one day and find good locations for more than 1-3 machines.

Anyone who has been in the industry will tell you this. It takes time to grow a business. Do not be tempted to take the easy way out by falling for a location service. Vending machine sales companies use the 'idea' of a location service to take the hard part out of selling the machines to you ... these companies think that if you do not have to do the hardest part of actually locating the machines yourself than it is easier for them to sell the machines to you.

It woulld be a great idea to have someone do the hardest part of building the business for you ... but in reality you need to do that yourself! It is VERY difficult and VERY competitive to find good locations ... if you do, someone else will be by to take that location away from you.

I believe JENNIFER BUFFINGTON of SPECIALTY MARKETING is obviously a newbie in the industry and will eventually end up like all the other loction service companies in the country. We have seen the Putnams decide gainst it.

Consumer Suggestion

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Location companies

Steve - Phila (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

There are other ways to get locations and I know how to do it.

It takes time and money. About location companies they are all the same. To them as long as they get a strong turn out to getting locations which obviously doesn't matter of course they could give two sh**s about anyone.

A contract gets signed and you have no say in the matter. Thats how people fail in the business. I know another way that will work and allow me to get more machines out there.

I just can't tell what it is.

I also have an invention getting marketed from a company that will rock and help everyone out there.

Owner of Company

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LIES LIES AND MORE LIES, UNBELIEVABLE

Jennifer - Bluffton (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Monday, July 23, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Dear Irene (whoever you may really be),

First, I have no sales lady in Bluffton, SC by the name of Irene. Second, it really baffles me that if I had a salesperson who was unhappy with the way I handle things, then why continue to work with Specialty? HMMMMM! Now, I do not need to explain myself nor defend my company. The only thing I know are facts. Specialty Marketing honors all contracts and has warranted and refunded more clients then any other placement company in the history of vending. A lot of my competition, I can only assume it is them who write these falsehoods, would be the only entities that would benefit at such slanderous lies. I do not claim to be perfect in this business, but I always try and do the right thing by my clients. There has been not one response on this report from any of my clients, I find this very interesting. I also find it interesting that the people who write these responses refuse to give accurate names, first and last. Why, they know they are liars, spin masters. Finally, I am not new in this industry. In fact just the opposite! I have been helping service vending machines since I was eight years old. I have had and still have vending routes of my own. I always use my own salesmen to set up my routes and I always get the return on my investment well before a year is up. The vending business is a good one, and I hope I can continue to help people set routes up. I truely care about all of my clients and anyone who does business with me knows that, because of my sincerity to help small business owners.

ONE MORE THING to this Irene????? person, the reason the federal government has been so upset with vending is because of some of these horrible locators that are out there. For example, locators that sell equipment on the side (like yourself), or locators that do not find all of the locations and insist on being paid upfront. I agree with you, if locators would only not sell equipment, which has no contract, and actually find all of the locations before being paid, then this industry would flourish. The only problem here, Irene, is you. Hopefully, I can find out who you are, if you exist, so I never have you work with my company again. My contract protects my client's from people like you. If you do not believe me in regards to the federal government's problem with vending, then read it for yourself. They want the locators to get all the locations and not half ass the job. Funny, I agree with them and that is what I want for my company and will not work with locators who cannot abide by the law. Best of Luck to you all and feel free to contact me with any additional questions. Sincerely, Jennifer Buffington---Placement Company Owner extrodinare!!!!!!!

Consumer Comment

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"Irene"

Chris - LAs Vegas (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Monday, July 30, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I was looking for Jennifer Buffington's number at specialty marketing when I found this site. I talked to the real Jennifer Buffington at specialty marketing 3 months ago and signed a 'machine locating contract' with her company. Someone using her name was on this site talking about a person named "Irene" when I decided to respond. If the Irene this "Jennifer Buffington" on this site Is talking about Is the same one who helped me locate machines, all I can say Is this Irene Is not very bright.

I bought 30 machines from Vendstar; the comapny who manufactures the machines that needed to be located. The deal included a locater, who was this Irene. Fast forward to the day I met Irene: She was in a hurry to locate the machines, in which some owners wanted some of the machines removed in less than 2 months of being placed, where 1 of these locations threw my machine to the street because he called IRENE who didn't let me know about this? This is not funny folks.

Some owners wanted 1 machine and not 2, and some of the other locations were horrible! ($1.50 per month per machine?) I did manage to get a few really good locations that I was pleased with. Without looking at the books I'd say that 10 out of the 30 machines placed are in good locations. But the negatives outweigh the positives in this situation.

I would suggest you avoid this Irene, here's what she looks like: she's a heavy set Greek woman (as she claims) and she speaks with that famous European accent. Black hair that goes past her shoulders with silver strands on the sides. Save the $900 and locate the machines yourself.

Consumer Comment

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Following up

Chris - LAs Vegas (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Sunday, August 05, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I just wanted to clarify:

LOCATE THE MACHINES YOURSELF. From the 30 machines package, $1300 of that $9995 went to the locating company and locator. ($900 goes to Irene. $400 to Specialty Marketing. Not worth It.) Of the 30 machines that had been located, I am planning to remove 8 of them because Irene was in such a hurry, that I've heard things like "I wanted only 1 machine, why do I have 2?" or, "I never wanted that machine here in the first place." after SHE placed them. I'm relocating 8 out of those 30 machines because the locations are terrible! A dollar or 2 a month (and sometimes less)? For God's sake. A good location of mine will do about $6 a month, and a GREAT location does $15 a month. When my route gets 60 machines all the customers that I get myself will be MUCH better than the ones she could get! So I stand behind what I say here. Regardless you have to spend time to drive around with the locator, or you have to spend time to locate them yourself. There's no avoiding the time It takes to get new customers, so locate them yourself.

Oh and by the way I also wanted to mention, that in the course of placing the machines, #10 (I label my mcahines) had a problem that I had overlooked, and found about It when we placed the machine. OK, so we go out to the truck and get another one. Great. Then, the very next customer I get, she wanted to give them #10 as It was! I told you this woman Is not very bright. A month before we met I told her to meet me at a tavern parking lot in the neighborhood I wanted to locate in. When she was running late that day she wanted to meet her at her hotel and pick her up, after I gave her the directions to this Tavern for the SECOND TIME! IDIOT! This woman really gave me that stabbing pain in bewteen the eyes. Thanks for reading this, and letting me type out my frustration.

Chris Watkins
Investing and Vending
Las Vegas, NV

Consumer Comment

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my experience with vendstar and specialty marketing

Gail - Springfield (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Monday, August 06, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I am a client of both Vendstar and Specialty Marketing. I am finding it hard to believe that so many people are having such difficulties with either of these companies. I bought 100 machines from Vendstar who then set me up with Specialty Marketing. The contract with Specialty was so simple and very cut and dry. All they ask you to do in order to recieve your new locations under the warranty, is to look at the locations prior to paying for them, service your machines every three weeks, and send them the reports. That's it! I mean it could not be any simpler than that.

I am positive that anyone who is complaining that Specialty tried to rip them off is just upset with the fact that they could not follow simple instructions and are obviously not serious about starting their own business. I found it comforting that they stressed so much about being involved in every aspect of my vending route.

And as for Vendstar, what is there to complain about? You see pictures of the machines and know exactly what you are receiving. As long as they deliver the machines, which I am sure they do every time, then there is nothing else you need from them. I spent a decent amount of money on this route and because I know that you do not throw money at an investment without researching it thouroghly. I can gladly say that I have made a very good profit of of these little candy machines and would encourage other people to do business with both Vendstar and Specialty Marketing.

Consumer Comment

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Vendstar and locating companies

Steve - Phila (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I don't have these machines at all. I have from another competitor and its really simple.

Let your friends and people you know go find locations. SImple as that. All that the companies will do is go to every location that they know of but that won't profit at all and make their money fast and run.

If some people did what I was doing then it would be easier.

The only thing I don't give my ideas out so if anyone falls for the location companies then obviously you didn't ask for references b/c how do you know who your dealing with.

Its life. In the real world you get what you get.

Have been in the business almost 3 yrs and it takes time and just the right state of mind to getting things going.

#10

Consumer Comment

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Hello, Jennifer Putnam Buffington! :)

John Bullington - Terre Haute (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Friday, August 24, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Jennifer... Jennifer... Jennifer.... You are related to The Putmans! Stop denying it!

This link to MyrtleBeachOnline confirms the obvious: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/story/162432.html

Listen folks, it's not rocket science here:

Jennifer, in order to get business from VendStar has agreed to offer customers a contract guaranteeing the number of Vends per day the machines perform. The vends per day she has guaranteed are well above the miserably low NBVA reported average (see VendingTimes website) for charity based candy machines.

Jennifer, closely works with VendStar salespeople, which allow her to sell "heat" which closes there prospect - the make $$ and Jennifer gets the referral. It's called getting in bed with a BizOp. The Putmans have been in bed with VendStar for a while. This is the oldest trick in the book - VendStar can never be fined or shutdown because IT WAS THE LOCATING COMPANY that made the illegal revenue based guarantee.

Jennifer, this is outright deception... And yes the FTC is investigating you. You are treading into territory far deeper and darker than Sid. And no, Ted,Larry, Joe, or any Vendstar managers/salespeople will lift a finger to help you out when your ship starts to flood. They will happily find another locating company to bend over and promise whatever is necessary for them to get the sale.

As long as people are greedy and lazy enough to buy into the gumball dream then there will be scams like this. Honestly, I'm not directly calling Jennifer a scam artist because when it all boils down to it if a company that sends you 1000 machines a week (customer referrals) asks you to create an illegal contract to get that business... Out of greed you just might do it.

One final note my friends... If you have been ripped off by locators because YOU DIDN'T TOUR AND MEET THE DECISION MAKERS even though you signed a contract that you would do this or your warranty is void - Then you deserve what you got... nothing.

#11

Consumer Comment

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Hey John

Steve - Phila (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Okay:

I looked at that other website.

Here's what I see. First off the vending companies should state something different. People that I see in different places have an idea of how vending works but it takes time. Location companies aren't worth it one bit.

THe first problem is that in the article he purchased over 100 machines at around $285. per machine. $285 isn't that bad at all and it also depends what type of package he decided to agree on.

For the amount of money that was paid upon the purchase thats one thing they won't get that money back. $2 per day. Something is fishy about that. If I was making $2 a day I would probably have been out of it but I talk and network with people which is why I am going forward in this business. Its not hard. When he bought that many machine and inexperienced that was the first mistake he made.

The contracts on the location companies should be typed out differently.

About this Jen chick I don't know anything on her but she must be really proud of herself to making it look great when she isn't the one taking all the blame and getting the deal done.

Getting back to the dude he will probably have to declare bankruptcy if they can't recover.

#12

Consumer Comment

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Yes, Jennifer Buffington you do employ Irene Mina as a locator

Geneb - San Jose (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Friday, September 28, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I was assigned Irene Mina (that's what Jennifer Buffington called her) to locate my machines. I don't know if that is her real name because she was secretive about everything. She was a heavy Greek woman (she claimed Jennifer Buffington called her the 'Greek Jew' because she was so good at locating). Jennifer would brag about her as being her best locater ... saying she could locate 52 machines in one day.

My experience with both Jennifer and Irene was that they were in co-hoots and just out for the money. I had to wait 3 days for Irene who called each morning to say she was on her way to locate my machines ... It cost me 3 days pay waiting for her not to show up even after saying she was on the way. When she finally showed up it was 7pm at night, she had spent the entire day placing other peoples machines, she said she would continue placing machines until midnight if need be. She was SO hurried and rushed going down the street and asking each business.

I found Irene to be very nasty to people, not backing down until they said yes ... the next day they were mad and called me to get my 'damn' machines out of there. She would not take 'No' for an answer, left machines when the owner said no and placed 2-3 machines per location. Irene spoke spanish and liked to place machines in poor spanish locations (they could not say 'no' and I could not understand what she was telling them).

It was obvious Irene was only out for the money ... she was impatient having me carry all the 100lb machines and telling me to hurry up. Irene told me a(nd was very proud about it) that she was making $30,000/month placing machines ... now I know how. Irene was also carrying and selling her own machines ... pastachio machines and basket ball shooter machines to all her customers. She showed up with her car full of the machines. She told me that most of her customers were buying machines from her.

I was also in the car with Irene when she had a conversation with Jennifer Buffington about selling machines to another customer (apparently the man's wife called Jennifer to complain about Irene selling the machines to her husband). Irene flat out denied it and told Jennifer that the man asked her what the best machines were and she only made a suggestion. Irene was getting kick backs from the machine dealers and was also getting paid $50.00/machine to place them. Irene told me not to tell Jennifer Buffington because she would get in trouble. I ended up wasting another $3,000 on machines Irene sold me that turned out to be no better than any other machine.

In total, Irene placed 52 machines for me. I received 30 back within the first 2 weeks because the establishments were angry that someone had left machines there, 5 of them were vandalized (left in unattended overnight fast food places). Irene had placed 2 to 4 machines at each location so when a location was bad instead of only getting 1 machine back I got 2-4. Irene kept telling me 'Trust Me' when I asked her why in the world she would place so many machines at the same time.

Of the 52 machines Irene placed I had 5 machines that actually made +$40.00/mo (all the others were much less). The next time Irene was in town she continued to place other people's machines in these same location (one place she added 2 Venstar machines, a mint machine and one of her pistachio machines) so that these good locations became bad locations within a couple of months.

The 'guarantee' that Specialty Marketing supposed gives is ridiculous because no locator would pay costs to return to a part of the country to re-locate machines for free ... Irene told me that no one bothers with the 'guarantee' because it is skewed in favor of Specialty marketing and you have to get someone from the location to verify how much money was in the machine (it is not in the vendors best interest to have to location managers know exactly how much is in the machine).

In order to place machines Irene was promising all the locations 50% commission ... when you only make $4.00/month 50% commission is not worth it. This whole experience was a disaster from the get-go. The outfit that sold me the machines charged me $480 for $125 machines and then ended up shutting down within the year (This was aother scam, they used Specialty Marketing's false earnings claims to make their sales). Every machine vendor (even Vendstar is required by the FTC to provide an actual earnings statement of real people in the area that bought their equipment. If they don't you can file a complaint with the FTC, I filed a complaint against my dealer and they were shut down).

These people need to be stopped from their illegal misrepresentations. The best way to do this is to file a complaint with the Attorney General in the operating state, the FTC and the Better Business Bureau. I encourage everyone to file their complaints.

#13

Consumer Suggestion

Respond to this report!

GENEB, IN SAN JOSE?

Jennifer - Bluffton (U.S.A.)

SUBMITTED: Monday, October 01, 2007 POSTED: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

DEAR GENEB(TRY USING A REAL NAME),

FIRST, THERE IS AN IRENE MIMA OF CA THAT DID DO WORK WITH SPECIALTY MARKETING. SECOND, THE REPORT TITLED "IRENE" CLAIMS TO BE FROM SC. THEREFORE, YOU ARE A MORON AND DO NOT READ VERY WELL. PLEASE BRUSH UP ON YOUR SKILLS. YOU ARE ALSO NOT VERY BRIGHT BECAUSE YOU OBVIOUSLY DID NOT READ THE AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN YOU AND SPECIALTY MARKETING.

DO NOT PAY THE LOCATOR UPFRONT, DO TOUR THE LOCATIONS BEFORE PAYING AND ABSOLUTELY DO NOT BUY MACHINES FROM A SALESMAN----LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS GENEB, YOU BRIGHT HUMAN BEING YOU----WHY WOULD YOU PAY FOR SOMETHING BEFORE SEEING IT? DIDN'T YOU HAVE THE CASH IN HAND AND WERENT YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR TOURING YOUR NEW BUSINESS? YOU KNOW WHAT TOMORROW I AM GOING TO BUY A RESTAURANT AND NEVER SEE IT FIRST?

THIS IS WHY YOU ARE FAILING IN BUSINESS. OK THIS IS GETTING BETTER, A MAN COMES TO MY DOOR AND OFFERS TO SELL ME SOME EQUIPMENT. SURE WHY NOT OH AND DONT WORRY ABOUT A RECEIPT OR A CONTRACT. WHY? BECAUSE I AM A MORON,LOL! SIR, YOU ARE TO BLAME FOR YOUR FAILINGS IN LIFE. I AM SURE YOU WILL BE A LOSER FOR EVER. ALSO, THE WARRANTY YOU HAVE WITH SPECIALTY MARKETING IS GOOD- WHY DON'T YOU ASK THE 150 CLIENTS USING THEIR WARRANTIES IN ONE YEAR!

YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THE CONTRACT, BUT I FORGOT YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO READ. I AM SURE YOU DIDN'T MENTION ANY OF THIS TO THE BBB OR FTC OR WHOEVER, MAKING YOU A LIAR! BOO HOO BOO HOO I DIDN'T TOUR MY LOCATIONS, I PAID THE SALESMAN ANYWAYS AND ALSO BOUGHT MACHINES EVEN THOUGH MY AGREEMENT WITH SPECIALTY MARKETING TOLD ME NOT TO UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BOO HOO! PIECE OF ADVISE, MAKE SURE YOU TELL THE TRUTH AND DO NOT LIE WHEN YOU PUT THINGS IN WRITING, ASK GOOD OLE' CHUCKY BOY FROM GARDEN CITY, SC WHAT HAPPENS.