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I don't care what these posts say, davison is awesome! I made so much money in commission in sales there, it was the goods man! Vacations, a lexus, cool apartment, drinks, chicks, boat. Thanks davison! Novice inventors rule! Your sales training rules! The people sent the money in just like you said they would! I had the backend script memorized!
Jon brenza (Cha-cha-cha-chia!) was a great manager too, a bit on the dim witted side, kind of like sling blade, but he was cool.
Erik champagne was so-so.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
They would say anything to get your money they have sociopathic tendencies!
I can't for the life of me understand why the Pittsburgh justice system don't get involved knowing that Davison is only opened to rip people off. How can we shut the ###s down? No seriously HOW? A bunch of sociopaths ... no remorse...
OK I read the complaints, yet to here of someone making it with the Davison company. But, if you can not trust them, then who? I gave them money, then found out that they had complaints and big law suit. I called the man I am working with and he gave my money back right away. They do not have my idea yet, but yes they wanted that money. Weird! any way I told them to keep out of my money and that if we are to do business, I want in writing who the contact and when, what they will do each DAY to sell my product since it is already done, I am able to go to them to talk. Should I? just need marketing and someone to make and then sell to stores. So, who do I trust. Is there someone out there that has that answer... With inventions of products you are going to take a chance and it costs money...But I want someone to work for the money I give them. I know that sometimes others may not want the product, so it does not do well, But they said my idea is in great need...really? or just a twist for my money? Please help
Wow!...I am SO glad I researched Anthony Valkanas. I've submitted my idea, and given them $745. I did receive the impressive(?) portfolio, and have even been told they've targeted a major company for my product. It's now been about a month since I was told there was another week of work to do to get my proposal ready; last week when Mr. (to use the term lightly?) Valkanas called, I could not speak and told him I'd call him back. When I tried calling back, I could only leave a voicemail, and now, after leaving a total of four messages, I have yet to receive a call back! I have heard every statement described in these posts, and although I've probably flushed $745 down the toilet (lesson learned!), I am so thankful to have been saved losing any more.
Dear CCA,
With only 14 people making money out of, say, 15, 000 at the product sample stage giving you an average of roughly $11, 500 a pop, why would you need to raise your prices? Seems the money is rolling in? Just an observation not being critical.
We are happy to address your comment.
If you are a former employee you would understand that China is a major player in the world’s economy and that large product design and engineering firms having locations in the United States, like Frog Design and IDEO, have established offices located in foreign countries like China. We invested in China to establish an economic means to help save consumers money. As a matter of fact, in over 22 years in business, our prices have rarely gone up. We’ve been able to achieve economies of scale by working here in the United States and in China. (We’re pretty sure that the people in China desire the right to want to better their lives as we have been able to achieve here in the US so we don’t really understand why you would want to strike out at our Chinese employees. They are good people who believe in quality, integrity and our mission to be able to provide the most cost effective product design approach ever created.)
There are even design firms establishing offices in Mexico not to mention many have offices in Europe. As well, I think we all know that most major manufacturers here in the United States have offices and manufacturing plants in China and other parts of the world. It’s simply good business and saves the consumers money.
One additional fact that bears mentioning is that every product sample that is made, is assembled and packaged in the United States. There’s not really that much more to say except that we wish you the best with your career.
CCA
The employees at Davison don't give 2 [censored]'s about you r invention. The salesman (director) is just making a commission, the designer is just making a per-project commission passing your idea to the guy in China who works on your engineering and graphics and has no idea what's going on, and you just get a crappy end product. Oh ya..the China people...they never tell you that part do they. LOL.
Does Erik Champagne still look like an Oompa-Loompa from "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory?"
I hired Davison who is an inventor promotional firm to help me bring my idea from conception to market. I have paid excess of $9000 in July 2009 and was last contacted by my representative Michael Grando in March 2010. At that time, I was told my actual product sample had been manufactured and was in QA and I would have a provisional patent application within 2 weeks. I never heard back from Grando and began calling leaving voicemails and sending emails. Finally I spoke to the receptionist who advised Grando was on medical leave and Gary Humes was handling my design. I began leaving Humes numerous voicemails and have also left voicemails with the Vice President and still have not received a response regarding my inquiries on my product.
Since my concerns, I have learned Davison had been sued by the FTC for practices that are still being used today in which I am a victim of. For example, I was told they had great contacts with companies, more specifically, Cuisinart with which they would be presenting my design to. I am learning that they do not have solid standing here. When I told them I had another company in mind I was told that they were the experts in this area and had done all of the preliminary research to target this company. I even asked who their contact with Cuisinart was and was told that it was a confidentiality matter and could not be shared with me. I was also told that very few people's ideas were accepted by Davison as they were selective on the applicants received but mine was being accepted for further development.
Wow! I wish I had read all this sooner. We haven't sent them a dime but we have sent them our idea. Their website sounds sooo convincing. We had a conference call with one of their sales people and sensed something wasn't right. See, we don't need them to present our idea to a company because we already have a buyer but we are having a hard time
getting our product made. The guy we spoke with talked in circles and we aren't going to send them any money. I really thought they were different.
This is a very sad story of deception and American greed. Davison started with something good and had an opportunity to really help people achieve their dreams. Instead, George and those of you who have been loyal to him, have chosen legal swindling. All who profited or continue to profit from this con game are funding your lifestyles off of people's credit cards (that don't have the money) and broken dreams. You may be enjoying the money and think this is all very clever, but your souls are decaying and I assure you, there is a price to be paid.
I urge those of you who have spoken out to continue doing so, no government organization like the FTC is going to save or protect us, each of us is accountable for the other.
George, you are hiding behind a curtain of bureaucracy like a wizard and come out only when you can speak without being challenged. You may tell yourself you've got it made, but peace evades you. The tighter you try and hold on to your money, the more it will slip through your fingers... God loves you so much and gave you a wonderful gift, but instead of using it to honor Him, you're knowingly allowing your silver-tongued sales staff to steal from people. Just because it's legal, doesn't mean it's right.
You may have enlarged the print on your disclaimers, but the heart of Davison's mission is obviously chasing the dollar almighty. "For what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36
There's still time to do the right thing, but God will not allow this to go on forever.
One of your sales staff once told me, "It's either one way, or the other." Which way is it George?
The in house folks at Davison who conduct the sales training and tells the rookies what to do and/or say are as follows:
frank vescio
Anthony valkanas
erik champagne
gary humes
sean jones
benjamin choffel
mike salati
jon brenza
tony isacco
and the keynote speaker at the annual convention who gave the most informative speech to the sales team was none other than Bernie Madoff. Who better knows how to get smart people investing? Of course this last statement is an attempt at humor, however I think the sales numbers are in order. If you read their federal court-ordered "Disclosure Statement" at the very bottom of their web site, you will see that 13, 000+ people made it to the PSPP stage with Davison (meaning they had the idea built into a prototype) and out of those 13, 000 people only 14 made their money back. Not a typo- FOURTEEN people. Umm, I graduated college at the Bachelors level that included a course in probability & statistics and suffice to say, your probably not making a wise move. But hey, if the kids are fed, college is paid for, cars & home are fully paid off, and have no credit card debt during this recession then GO FOR IT!
You should read all of this information carefully before proceeding.
The total number of consumers who submitted new product ideas to Davison during the past five years is five hundred seventy thousand seven hundred ninety eight (570, 798). Davison does not provide evaluation of commercial potential; thus, it has provided no positive or negative evaluation of this or any other product idea in the last five years. The total number of consumers who were offered a Pre-Development agreement (or similar contract for research services) is three hundred twenty six thousand one hundred ninety seven (326, 197). The total number of consumers who were offered a Contingency Agreement (or other contract for licensing representation) is three hundred twenty six thousand one hundred ninety seven (326, 197). The total number of consumers who purchased a Pre-Development Agreement or similar contract for research services is fifty thousand three hundred forty three (50, 343). The total number of consumers who signed a Contingency Agreement or other licensing representation agreement is fifty thousand three hundred forty three (50, 343). The total number of consumers who were offered a New Product Sample Agreement (or any other contract for design services for a virtual or a product sample) is thirty eight thousand three hundred ninety two (38, 392). The number of consumers who signed a New Product Sample Agreement or similar agreement is thirteen thousand eight hundred twenty one (13, 821). The number of consumers who obtained a written license with a company that is not affiliated with Davison is three hundred forty one (341). The total number of consumers in the last five years who made more money in royalties than they paid, in total, under any and all agreements with Davison, is fourteen (14). The percentage of Davison's income that came from royalties paid on licenses of consumers' products is .001%.
man, if you were that good in sales there, then BEN CHOFFEL must have been your mentor. were you on his sales team? take you for a ride in the passat for lunch, pump you up, listen to him make a backend call on a PSPP pres to some poor working stiff that has no clue & wham! Ben has DHL numbers and ITS ON BABY! next training he calls the clueless inventor that thinks he just invented the next vaccum cleaner & tells him 'congrats, you have been officially transfered to my design department, welcome aboard'. lol. the only thing that gets 'transfered' is $8, 000 into ben's bank account.