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Already submitted my idea but almost got me for 695.00 to start process. Many angry people that got taken.
i was called by Erin kudrec last week about persuing my invention. She sounded real happy about this so she sent me the contract and told me to read it over and then she can set up payment arrangements for 695.00 so they can go ahead with the development of the product. well then i asked her how much would it cost to make a prototype to show a corperation and told me 13, 000$. So i decided to go on the consumers website about davison and there was a lot of upset customers that got taken for a lot of money because davison never followed through with the contract. Please call me i would like to put and end to this company ASAP before someone gets taken for a ride, like i almost was! My number is [protected] Looking to hear from you.
try to get 695.00
i had a very good invention.so i called them to find out, what is was all about.had 4 conversations with them, they told me it was a really good ideal.yesterday they asked me how do you want to pay for this ! credit card & debit. i was so upset. they had mt hopes up ! i thought i was really gonna have my ideal on the market & then they pop this on me.i do believe they'll use my invention.how can i stop them. i found out this morning it was all a scam. i'm really hurt & upset so bad.i don'thave any pictures of it. they told me that there gonna try to find a company to buy it from me. needless to say i'm out of my invention. sicerly, gracey hastings # [protected]. my adress is 78 winding rd. blue ridge, ga.30513.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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
This place is not so much as a scam, but more of a misleading parasite. They don't tell you that they send your idea to China for development. They don't tell you that the director/salesmen makes a commission on your idea...don't tell you that the so-called designer gets paid on a commission to hurry though your idea...your whole invention idea is just a hamburger to be flipped for someone's paycheck. Your life's dream is just someone's hamburger. Sorry. I used to work there. It sucks. Do your research before buying. If you spend the money, it's your fault, plain and simple. Sorry.
Did they send you a form stating you have a 1% chance of your idea ever making it to market. They are required to do so by law, that should be the first agreement you recieve from Davison. I have noticed that they don't send that agreement till after they rob you of your money so be carefull. The funny thing is, Davison is still going unchecked, really how many people does it take before something is done. What does that tell ya. take care
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. PLEASE - DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! THEY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY AND NEVER CALL YOU BACK!
ripoff company
If you are smart, you will steer clear of Davison Invention, located in RIDC Park in the Pittsburgh area.
I briefly dated one of their salespeople and he himself told me the company was a complete ripoff. [And why would an invention company need salespeople? That in itself should be a big red flag.]
All that Davison does to get your invention in front of major retailers is this: they send an email to the company (Target, Walmart, etc.). That's it.
There's NO follow-up, NO visits to the retailer, NO other effort put forth other than sending an email (which in all likelihood is simply deleted.)
If the retailer doesn't respond (they most likely won't), the inventor is out his or her money they paid Davison.
Think about it: in 2008, Davison paid a settlement of $10.7 million to the federal government to address claims that they were ripping off inventors.
I know nothing about how to get an invention to market, but knowing what I know about Davison, I wouldn't give them a dime of my money for any reason whatsoever. Avoid Davison like the plague!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
I too had an ideal. I sent it about 3 years ago. I invested over $ 25,000.00 and now it seems like they don't want to help me. So, beware of this company. I was ripped off once before from another company and I told Davidson. And here I go again getting ripped off. The company I went through before was American Inventers. And they filled Bankruptcy. Now here I am again, trying and when Davidson got my money and stuff, now it seems like they can careless!
How did you Problem get resolved. Did you get money back?
Not only did they get me one but 3 times..boy am i dumb i even had a "contract" with em about 2 ideas invested more than $500 they are still emailing me for more money yeah they changed the name but it's the same freaktin concept... Basically they knew what they were doing ripping off my ideas wish they would have been invited the original way For the people not the profit
Please submit your scam complaints with the FTC in Washington DC. When the FTC gets a number of complaints then a suit can b filed against Davidson with a list of names.
Stay away from them, they are fake and they will promises you to make your idea a reality, but they will get your money and try build a cheap BS junk that will never hit the market, this company had multiple A class action lawsuit.
I have paid in 2011 over 12.000 euro including " presentations " I've never witness just to find out what they have built a 30$ worth of junk from a sophisticated idea of Laptop cooling system.
I 'm so glad I stumbled upon this website. I was told by a guy name Peter Denio That I could pay a little bit at a time. I gave him $60 toward my $ 700 bill already, however I won't be handing out any more money. I'm gone see if I can get back my $60 back. which I doubt. Thanks again.
I was pretty upset with the whole thing. Sent them $10 back about 2010. The prototype didn't meet my expectations but they kept telling me "Oh just sign the papers and it will be corrected by whoever buys the prototype". Yeah. That didn't happen either because it was lame. Beware and stay away.
I meant $10K... Ten thousand dollars. More like 12.
How can I get my money back from Davison . They tool arond $10, 000 from me . I received a disc and promides to seek a buyer. I received nothing in return. I stpped sending them money.Sheila White nawhite@yahoo.com. I am totally broke now.
Call FTC Pa Attorney general and your State Attorney general that's what I'm doing
I'm out 15, 010.00 they said my invention was deemed to big and bulky
Refused refund they are scammer s
I filed a BBB complaint. No good cause they convinced me to sign off every step.
I was taken for 6, 000 they led me to believe they was working on my Idea, a picture nothing working in my hand not to mention 375 for packaging I know living in Texas I would never see this again my Idea would help a lot of people, But I say this my money is gone this happened to me in 2005 so I knew it was out of date a lawyer called me said has the company contacted you yet, I said no the sales so I called them, they said wait one week when they called again, they denied a lawyer had called I have his number, then another week went by and they were asking me for 3, 500 to do a multi company or a short video on my product, that made it current, after oh they have moved to o'hare PA, I called their DA and told them about them, you can not just do that to someone why I did not before back in my mind just maybe this is real, realizing it was not, what they do is take the best and not go forward with them and do it on their own, I also had a battery was along with my Idea, and guess what the same one is all over the Us, I had awning that was portable and they turned it down was 6 months before sunsetter awnings came out, he told me Frank, they was a company in its self, so in about a week the Da will get my complaint
Call FTC Pa Attorney general and your attorney general they are liers
I tried to get my idea made legit so what happened with your idea and trying to make known that they're a fraud I need to know because I told him about my idea and electrically signed a form it was presented to me by Davidsons please respond to me
I would like to say thank you to Mr. Kapp for being there all the time and having to put up with me is a chore. You have helped me more than you know. I also want to thank Mr. Matlock he helped with some papers I had to fill out. They are so very helpful, sweet and kind. I have had a wild ride for a couple of years . But it will all be worth it in the end. In fact everyone I talk to at Davison Co. is wonderful. So I can't complain. Thanks again...
scam
I got scammed by Davison - they pry on individuals and take their money with no licensing agreement coming your way.
The so called FTC settlement was so small it was a joke also. Where are all the millions of dollars they say they got? Probably in Davison's hands. Not ours. Over 13, 000.00 dollars and only 550.00 back. What a joke. We should all start a class action suit against the company and put them out of business! does anyone have any ideas so that we can recoup more of our money? I could sure use it in this economy. It would help pay more of my stuff.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Class action is the way to go, and count me in!
stole my time, money and lied!!!
I'm not going to post what happened. I want everyone who has been wronged by this company to respond to this post with 1) your name
2) your location in the US or abroad
3) how much you spent with them.
4) ONLY post your story if you feel the need, keep it brief. You can name the person you worked with there, that may help too. My sales guy was a man named Benjamin Choffel and some man named Andy Cable. Let's get this started
Hopefully we can sign this (like a petition) and forward it to those in a position to help us. Do not be quiet in this matter.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
$13, 000+ taken by Davison and our idea ends up on Shark Tank by a teenager after many months of being stonewalled. And now it's going retail. I have proof and I want justice.
Gary Humes screwed me on my idea. Took $695, in return I got a white binder w/ printed search results of various websites. It was clearly a binder that was generic for everyone. And then they inserted my idea in a few places to make it look like it was my person design portfolio or brochure. They use fear tactics and their typical response when you question them is to shame you on how dumb you are to think that your idea can just be created for only $695. Even though they made it sound like it could. Sure Gary explained that more money would eventually be needed, but that is what they were there for. That they had the connections to get them funded etc... It was all Hog wash to try and get more money from me. I was so upset and broke at the time. Gary screwed me out of money around 2008. I was a hopeful dreamer with many more great ideas. Sure enough my idea was already invented in the 60s, I was just so young and inexperienced to know. yet Gary kept leading on as if it was innovative and new. Yea the industry is tough to manifest a new product/invention, but seriously you are way better off just doing it yourself. You will learn more about how to do this watching Shark Tank, opposed to sending these clowns any money. I have thrown away and deleted any incriminating evidence against them, but glad to find this site, and sad to see this company still screwing people. Good Luck inventors.
I hired them and didnt get nothing was suppose to get a portfolio and didnt get that either! Now to the story ! I worked on this project for several years and hired them and 18 months later my fishing buddy calls me and my invention was being sold and the store ! Pissed off but now working on another one but dont know what to do with it so I can not get ripped off again !
Submitted the Idea, paid 550 USD with the promise that they will produce a presentation to send to potential investor, never heard about. If you have an Idea it is time to use Kickstarter! The person in charge of our account is Eric Champagne, I will personally crash a bottle of champagne in his forehead! one day...
This post is directed towards getevensteven:
Obviously, you are not of the inventing spirit. As most inventors know, inventing is high risk and we ensure that every consumer is well aware of these risks prior to choosing whether or not to purchase our design and development services.
The spokesperson for the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has been quoted as saying, "There are around 1.5 million patents in effect and in force in this country, and of those, maybe 3, 000 are commercially viable." (Richard Maulsby, Director of Public Affairs, USPTO, quoted in Business Week, November 10, 2005.)
No one here is hiding the fact that inventing is risky and we are not hiding the fact that we have no idea who you are. Simply put, we offer to the general public and manufacturers the most economically priced services for an invention to be design, developed, engineered and packaged. In layman's terms, "The most bang for the buck". If you are a former client you should price out our services with other product design and development companies. You will find that most charge 3 to 4 times in excess of our standard fees.
Your accusations of referring to our company as a "sleezbags and liar artists" are false, misleading and, simply put, not possible. Our brochures, affirmative disclosure notice, American Inventors Protection Act notice and written service offer agreements are extremely informative and clear. Unfortunately, we must now consider our legal position and contemplate taking legal action against you in the state of Pennsylvania. From your statements you are subject to intentionally publishing false and defamatory information intending to cause the company harm. You have left us no choice but to instruct you to remove all your posts or a lawsuit will be filed.
Our 250-plus staff-members, and the families they support, don't deserve to be mistreated by you. You have 48 hours to remove all posts. If you choose not to remove the posts, expect to be served with a lawsuit. Attempting to hide behind anonymous posts will not help you. Complaintsboard.com can expect to be served with a subpoena that will require them to release your email and IP addresses and any other contact information they may have in their records. Complaintsboard.com subjects its posters to all legal liabilities for defamation. You may read their policy at http://www.complaintsboard.com/legal-information.html . Note, that paragraph 3 of the Terms of Use for Complaintsboard.com require you to pay its legal fees. (http://www.complaintsboard.com/terms-conditions.html)
oh you know who I am sleezebag, nice try though you guys must go to liar artist school. sean jones, michael bathory, fred evans, How is it I know your names, or are they your names? if I was a coward [censor] salesman like you I would probably not use my real name. but I guess you think you will continue to get away with this, eventully you could rip off the wrong person
If you submitted your idea to Davison, our Confidentiality Agreement clearly stated, “I understand submitting my idea is not a release and that this information cannot be used, disclosed or sold without my express written permission. I also understand that all Davison employees are required to sign an ethics and confidentiality agreement for my protection.” We stand by that promise.
We have checked our records and do not have an idea that was submitted by a Steven in Fairbanks, AK. It is likely that this complaint was lodged by a competitor. A client would have wanted to air the complaint directly to the company when given the opportunity. If you are a competitor please comply with the rules of business etiquette and fundamental ethics
Below is a basic outline of how our company does business. Clearly, all of our services are provided with full risk disclosures and on a written contract basis only. We can only ask that clients re-read the agreements and compare our services to other companies. You will find our pricing to be very reasonable.
Step One: All potential clients must acknowledge that invention development is high risk. In order to do so, each prospective customer is provided with an Affirmative Disclosure and an American Inventors Protection Act disclosure. All potential clients must acknowledge that they received and read these disclosures before we accept any idea submission from them. Thereby, we ensure that invention submitters understand that inventing is time-consuming, costly and rarely results in profit. As a result, none of our clients should have the impression that inventing is easy and financially rewarding. Inventing can be educational, fun and exciting as long as everyone keeps in mind that profit is unlikely.
Step Two: Pre-development Service Offer: After receipt of an invention idea we often offer to perform preliminary design research services on the project. This would include researching prior patents of inventions that are similar or perform the same function as the idea submitted and information on other products that are for sale or have been for sale that are similar to the one submitted. Any service offer made to a potential client is made in writing so that clients are assured of exactly what services they are purchasing.
Step Three: Invention Prototype Services Offer: If the inventor does not have a professional quality sample for use, we can perform one or more services, including brainstorming new product designs, designing components, creating prototypes, building working models, virtual reality renderings, video demonstrations of the invention in use and complete product graphics and packaging. Here again, any service offerings are outlined in a written contract so that clients are assured of exactly what services they are purchasing.
Step Four: Licensing Representation: Once projects are designed, built and packaged our team presents them to companies for licensing consideration.
If you are a client, we ask you to contact us to explain why you were unhappy with our services, and what was provided to you. Without knowledge of what the issue is behind posting information of this nature on a complaint website, and no contact information we cannot help to right any issues. We are attempting to solve any issue on Pissed Consumer, when they are identified to us. We are here to help, so if you have questions or want to provide information on your complaint to our Chief Consumer Advocate, we ask again for you to contact us at cca@davisoninvents.com.
We wish you the best of luck with your invention or idea.
CCA
these sleezbags all need to get spanked and put in jail with bubba, same exact story as 100 others i have read took me for 12970.00 want to see them suffer, i cant believe they havnt been shut down. all people that have been shut down need to shut the [censor] down, I have contacted 60 minutes, dateline, 48 hours, 2 lawyers everyone should do the same, I am writting my senators, govenor.news papers, I will file civil law suite in city of pittsburgh. I will be heard as I hope you are too. all these [censor]s need their heads on a post with george davison upfront. Steve from alaska
my name is darren peterson i had big dreams about my invention they trashed it i new that it was a long shot but they new how to make you fill good new how to fill important then they took all my money close to nine thousand now nothing to show for it they are the worst kind of skam artists i got a paitant and nothing else my email pete3860@live dot com i wish i could do samthing about those [censor]
My issue with this company is similar the following report from the Pittsburgh newspaper is worth reading I will support your issue and hope to post my complaint soon.
Davison settles with FTC www.post-gazette.com/pg/08197/897020-28.stm
Regards
BB17
rip off
I got that first call from Davison where they enthusiastically pumped me up, made me think I hade a genius marketable idea. Fortunately, for me, I couldn't speak with them the first time and we had to set up an another time so I had tine to research this company. Thanks to the posts here, I am not another victim. I was prepared for their callback and definitely was just as pumped up as they were to offer them a big NO!
Davison Inventagration tried to rip me of, but didn't! Thank you! I hope this helps others.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
fraud
Paid these parasites over $9000. When it came to time to actually promote my invention they demanded $335 per submission. Don't pay and that's that. Of course I didn't pay and I got my prototype which took a whole year to make only to find it was a total piece of crap.
Go to this link if you've been screwed and fill out every form. We can stop these creeps once and for all. Also, if you can find the time post the link on every board you can.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I have worked for this company and I disagree with all of this. I never once lied to any of my clients. I was straight forward and direct with them. In-fact my client were fully aware of the entire process and the entire cost that would be involved to bring their product to life from the very beginning. And I was trained by Anthony Valkanas! He never told me to lie or scam anyone and I know for a fact that he handles his clients exactly the same. Davison is a great company and they truly believe in their clients and their process and they have helped many many clients fulfill their dream of seeing their IDEA come to life. I suggest that you do a little more research! Go to the stores and see how many products Davison has helped get there.
You spent 9 grand!? You could have worked with BEN CHOFFEL for only $8, 800. You will feel good working with him, he's a pretty sharp guy. I would trust him. I do have to say he's been there around 6 years, been promoted several times and worked with tens of thousands of ideas from inventors. He's probably pulling in around 100k per year (most of it commission from inventors) and has taken probably 1000 people through the entire process, from Pre-Inventegration through the PSPP and I have to say...not one, I repeat, not ONE inventor of his has ever made more from working with him/Davison than they have put into the "process". Not one single person has made their return back on their investment. Ask him personally-412.967.0124 x 50159. If after talking to him, if I am wrong, I will re-post an update.
scam alert
Without going into detail, anyone reading this has probably gone through the same experience of getting ripped off by Davison Design.My experience is that they pay no attention to anything but the fees they charge----and go after as many people as they can. Talk is cheap and that they do a lot of convincing you they are for real. If everyone would take the time to go to the Federal trade Commision website and send in a complaint, we might get somewhere. Davison was sued before for not stating certain facts on their website and now stipulate the information required by the FTC on their website but I don`t believe there are any disclosures on their website about running a Ponzi Scheme which I believe they are.If you have the time let others know about the FTC and send in your own complaint.Collectively we may be able to do something about it and I`m really stretching here----get our money back.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I was ripped off for 9 thousand in 2012 and was hung up on by corporate oficials 9 times and advised I was put on a don't call list. My invention was not handled as promised by Davison all the way through and they lost my patent which has no expired. DO NOT GIVE THEM A DIME THEY are dishones criminal scammers and I complain on every site I can about them so KEEP YOUR MONEY or you will be VERY sorry excuse spelling.Carole from South Fla Run as fast and as far as you can AWAY from these horrible people
All kinds of answers on why they wont do you a good job and why they will keep your money, especially if some one else already has a patent on your idea. You will ONLY be dissappointed and part ways with your money..!
My partner and I submitted technical spec drawings, photos of our design and a working prototype, which Davison strangely"didn't receive". In return, all they have provided in seven months and for $11, 500 investment is a product clearly copied from an item by a leading fashion house that is already on sale - plagiarism, surely, if not straight out theft. Mr Weisz from the company appears particularly obtuse about what is supposedly happening within his own design team. I wonder if they even exist? The company's treatment of "investors" is shabby at best, criminal at worst. NOBODY should entertain this bunch of snake oil salesmen, except perhaps the press and a team of criminal investigators. Their response to any criticism is that the disgruntled party must be a sour former employee with an axe to grind, well I am not. Steer well clear of this firm, they should be closed down for malpractice.
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
This place is not so much as a scam, but more of a misleading parasite. They don't tell you that they send your idea to China for development. They don't tell you that the director/salesmen makes a commission on your idea...don't tell you that the so-called designer gets paid on a commission to hurry though your idea...your whole invention idea is just a hamburger to be flipped for someone's paycheck. Your life's dream is just someone's hamburger. Sorry. I used to work there. It sucks. Do your research before buying. If you spend the money, it's your fault, plain and simple. Sorry.
It appears i have now joined the 'victims of Davison group'. I paid $685 intial payment but started to smell a rat when they requested my next investment of $14, 600 which needed to be paid to 'take my idea to the next stage' ie development. The problem was, they offered nothing in return. Be very carefull of these people, they deliver a very convincing presentation and always over the phone, never by email. I hope that unlike me and many others you read these comments before they 'catch' you. Good luck, keep inventing and don't be put off by these [censor].
Here's the thing, Davison was busted for misleading customers which is fraud, being something your not, plain and simple. Now with the new guide lines set forth it makes it leagal for Davison to cut throat customers. In fact after they get your money, then they want you to sign an agrrement stating there really is no chance for your idea, leaving you as a customer hanging out to dry, Whats that tell ya. So what do you do now, well I can tell ya who's gonna sign an agreement that states your pretty muh screwed.
I was told 3 different comp. my idea was to be presented to and the last one they told me about was flat out a lie. The company has nothing to do with manufacturing any products and has never delt with Davison although Davison says they presented 14 ideas to them. Something don't sound right, what do you think?
I agre. Can someone help us?
FireRam sounds like an expert in scamming, they must work for Davison.
I find it amusing you charge a company with the running of a "Ponzi Scheme" when you clearly do not even know what one is. Allow me to enlighten you:
A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to separate investors from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from any actual profit earned. The Ponzi scheme usually entices new investors by offering returns other investments cannot guarantee, in the form of short-term returns that are either abnormally high or unusually consistent. The perpetuation of the returns that a Ponzi scheme advertises and pays requires an ever-increasing flow of money from investors to keep the scheme going.
invention promotion
Paid these parasites over $9000 to promote my invention. After one year get a letter stating that I will have to pay them $335 per submission to start promoting my product. Sueing them for extortion/deceptive business practices. Anyone else screwed by them file complaints see below.
http://www.inventorfraud.com/suggested.htm
Please post this link on every board to stop these creeps from screwing anyone else.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Me TOO - Same boat as you on 9-6-11...
This is a follow up comment and I want to suggest that a law or rules of on the internet business should be a MUST POST COMPLAINTS LISTING if there is one with link to such. Sort of a neighborhood watch group. This would be a self preservation rule for our own good. Thanks for reading my comments Lenny909
Just to read the complaints is enough to stop me from working an idea with this co or any other company, and my future workings will be to advise my friends and associates to keep their ideas for their own interest and not to pass it on unless you have a rich assosiate and a good Patent lawyer where all can see and anticipate a worthwhile down the road payoff. It is easy for me to see that these complaints have truth and warnings attached and much appreciated.I started a submission but because of the warnings, I intend to cut off any further interest with this Davison Company.Thanks for the warnings, they saved my can.!
their sales commission is the best!
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...
Read full review of Davison Design & Development and 14 commentschief consumer advocate here for you.
On November 1, 2009, the executive management staff at Davison created a new position titled Chief Consumer Advocate. The core responsibilities of this position are to ensure that we are truly listening to you, hearing what you are saying, and taking our customer concerns directly to the office of the President. The mission of this position is “100% customer service based on Open, Honest and Accessible Communication.” We want you to know that we are on your side. We also understand that the consumer has a larger voice than ever before and they are not afraid to speak up. Several years ago, we began investigating the negativity about us on the Web and even joined a corporate advocate program through a website that posts negative blogs. That investigation opened our eyes to the serious issues we face and how we are perceived in the online consumer world. What we uncovered was that only 30% of the nearly 100 complaints were from actual consumers. The majority of the blog postings came from competitors and people who have never submitted an idea to us. Finally, the vast majority of complaints were from inventors who did not want to do anything to help develop their inventions, but expected us to do this work for free. We honored our pledge on that site and worked hard to satisfy all clients who filed a complaint.
This new independent department called “Consumer Advocacy” is set up within the company to address every concern that a client may have with our company. This department, headed by the Chief Consumer Advocate, also includes vice presidents and our in-house attorney. Every issue is investigated, a fair and reasonable solution is determined, and then we respond back to the client in the form of a letter, email, or phone call. The department’s email address is [protected]@davisoninvents.com
This year’s new initiative is a challenging one as there are many new complaint websites and fewer requirements from complainers to provide accurate contact information that would help us to remedy situations. For this reason we are providing a reward for anyone who can help us separate the factual complaints from the bogus ones. To begin, if you need to communicate a concern to us, please email us at [protected]@davisoninvents.com; this will ensure that your voice is heard. Next, we are offering a $300 reward for evidence that proves that a bogus complaint was submitted by a competitor or person not affiliated with us. All current and former employees are bound by an ethics and confidentiality agreement so we will pay $200 for evidence that exposes a former employee for slanderous and false statements intended to mislead and misinform customers. Finally, a payment of $100 will be given for contact information that leads us to a false statement(s) made by a former client. We have been in business for 20 years and we have more products on the shelf than any of our competitors. We appreciate everyone who encouraged us to take this stand to protect our name. Lastly, we strongly encourage all former, current and future clients to view our Frequently Asked Questions page on our website so you can get the answers directly from us. Thank you.
Davison Chief Consumer Advocate
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I sent an idea that cost me $750.00 to promote and was told that was ALL I would have to pay, then I get hit with this $11.000, $12, 000 or $13, 000 more it would take to promote my idea. This after it took 8 months to pay the initial fee. Now, if that's not a scam, what is.
I'd love to get my money back as I'm a widow on S. S. and it takes all I get to keep my head above water
They screwed me good.
I know this is all bull**** and I'll never get anything back so why do they even have this posting, Is it just to try to screw people again.
Fannie Young Brame
7190 Raleigh Road
Keystone Heights, FL.
32656
Guess what folks. Try contacting the Chief Consumer Advocate and you will get nothing. It's bullcrap. They post this on every board they receive a complaint to try and stop the bleeding. Once they get your money they couldn't care less. Do not have anything to do with these parasites. They will take as much money as they can get out of you and in return you get nothing.
If you've been screwed by them file complaints here:
http://www.inventorfraud.com/suggested.htm
they took my savings!!!
Dear Lord, I need others help that have worked or been mislead by this company. I worked with a nice man named Ben Choffel for a while but now Im starting to read all these postings here, there and everywhere on the Web, as well as a Federal Trade Commission settlement that Davison paid TEN MILLION DOLLARS to! I also called the Pittsburgh BBB and this company has a "F" rating with hundreds of complaints. Thousands of people have gotten ripped off it seems. I paid the $685 and then paid another $13, 600 to develop my product. I was nervous at first but Ben was great. Now i'm thinking I really got taken. My husband died in 2005 and left me with no income, but I believed enough in my idea to re-mortgage my house and pay them. Now they are asking me for $335.00. Do we ever get checks or do we keep sending Davison checks? Please help...
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I was also ripped off by nss and asked for my money back since they did nothing they saw they would ...the 795 was paid on top of 10, 350 and always got a run around .and than me and another nss client spoke on facebook and found out basically they were telling us the same things and started recording our conversations
ive also been scammed by davison to the tune of 12, 885 dollars, i put in two complaints to the ftc now iam trying to find a a consumer lawyer, i think this guys need to be sued again if any one would like to discuss this further you can email me at honeytee68@yahoo.com hope to hear from one or more of u guys soon, we cant let them get away with this!1
Davison reps! give me a example of some body that have good prescriptive about your company! recently, , I mean truly and validated perspective, , , I was about to give out my idea but I start doing some research (10K are not easy to pull out of the pocket )and all I have seen so far its just negative comments about this company
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
This place is not so much as a scam, but more of a misleading parasite. They don't tell you that they send your idea to China for development. They don't tell you that the director/salesmen makes a commission on your idea...don't tell you that the so-called designer gets paid on a commission to hurry though your idea...your whole invention idea is just a hamburger to be flipped for someone's paycheck. Your life's dream is just someone's hamburger. Sorry. I used to work there. It sucks. Do your research before buying. If you spend the money, it's your fault, plain and simple. Sorry.
Why hasn't the Chief Consumer Advocate called me back in response to my numerous messages?
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. PLEASE - DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! THEY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY AND NEVER CALL YOU BACK!
On November 1, 2009 we at Davison created a new division called Chief Consumer Advocate. We are a mixture of legal staff, VP's and members of our executive team. We have found this year to be a difficult one in terms of the number of false and misleading statements on the web about our business practices. What we are trying to accomplish is for us to sound as professional as possible while bleeding you, the general novice consumer of invention development, of every possible penny that you have to spare (and then some) while we lead you to believe that you have a chance of recouping your funds and having your product end up completed, sold to a manufacturer, and actually making money instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars gradually over a 6 month period so you don't have the 'sticker shock' all at once. We as executives of Davison want to own beach homes in Costa Rica as well as Bermuda, so if you will keep ignoring the posts on the web from actual people who have been through the process and think your experience will be the 1 out of roughly 500, 000 who will be satisfied, please listen to us and only us and not the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Judge Gary Lancaster, Stephen Balster - Council of Record for the US government and the BBB. Please contact us at CCA@davisoninvents.com. Thank you.
Dottie and fairyqueen,
Thanks for sharing your stories, your courage to speak out should be commended.
Lenora, thanks for the great information and for being part of the solution.
Unfortunately, there seems to be enough truth in the deception to make this scam legal. The FTC can only do so much.
Perhaps the way to derail this gravy train of greed may be the media.
I suggest sending your stories to broadcasters and journalists -- one big story could help stop the bleeding...
I am in the same position as this poor lady. I paid them $10, 000 and without any prior knowledge they are now demanding $300 per submission plus I requested my prototype. When I received it there was a note inside stating if I keep it they will no longer work on my behalf and the relationship is severed. There's a word for this: EXTORTION. I have contacted Steven Balster. Thanks so much Lenora from Seattle. I am so ashamed that I made such a mistake. I have been in business many years. These parasites caught me at a vulnerable time. I'm still paying off the $10, 000 on my credit card 1 year later.
Hi DottieFromNaples, you may want to contact these people;
Steven W. Balster
FTC’s East Central Region
[protected]
(FTC File No. X97-0085)
He handled the federal case against Davison. The phone number above is a hotline so that you may give your information to them to begin the process of getting some of your funds back. My daughter used to work in their sales department and told me some of the horror stories. Some woman who was a client of hers would call her from a pay phone because she would pay her davison tab before her phone bill. Her manager Brian Hoffman told her if she didn't get more money in the door she would be fired. They are more of a call center bill collection agency than a sales department. You didn't need experience to work there, just go through front & backend training. A good portion of the inventors payment went to the salespersons commission anyway. Management had to have their cars "approved" by the sales VP. Very boiler room type of stuff.
money scam
Davison co. only wants your money! service not provided as promised.davison and co. offered service, but first needed up ft. money to get started.as soon as they received funds! you always got the run a round. once the have your funds, you are stuck, you have no other choice, they have you were they want you.and try to get a refund, not a chance, even the credit card co. will not get it back.so be warned about davison co.this is not a reputable co.there reputation is to take your money and seeeee ya
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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. PLEASE - DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! THEY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY AND NEVER CALL YOU BACK!
we were trained to rip you off
As a former Davison salesperson, I truly feel it is my duty to tell people just how heartless this company is and feels about the general consumer out there. It amazes me to see their web site and all the smiling and palm pressing & the 'wonderful' stories on the site about how great they are, all the companies they work with, all the happy customers, blah...
Read full review of Davison Design & Development and 33 commentsWe were trained to rip you off
As a former Davison salesperson, I truly feel it is my duty to tell people just how heartless this company is and feels about the general consumer out there. It amazes me to see their web site and all the smiling and palm pressing & the 'wonderful' stories on the site about how great they are, all the companies they work with, all the happy customers, blah, blah, blah. The only thing is, I was on the inside for a long time and saw as well as heard first hand what really matters. We didn't make any money from royalties. What we made money from (and a lot of it) was you, the everyday person out there who believed enough in your idea to send it to us. Oh sure we sounded regal on the phone with a fancy BS title and a slick sounding recorded voice mail "Mr so and so the Director of New Products can't come to the phone", and to be honest with you folks we didn't even know who the woman was on our own voice mails. That was something you better learn quick at Davison...do not ask a lot of questions. The money & commission check was the key. We turned a blind eye on a LOT of shady/potentially illegal things going on there for one reason. Cash. At that point in my life that was the only thing that was important to me & we got it in spades. We would tell people that we were " thoroughly" searching for manufactures or that your product was made for the "specific manufacturing demensions of the corporation we are presenting it to", all lies lies lies. We didn't care less if your grandmother broke her neck chasing kids out from a burning car, if your payment wasn't in our office when you said it would be we would make your life miserable. Not returning calls after 5 voicemails from the paying customer or leaving a humiliating message for the inventor with one of their family members, whatever the case may be...it was a great scam, I mean the best writers in Hollywood couldn't have written better scripts than we used. Yes, we had to follow a mandatory script. If you had a rebuttal, we had a page to turn to to answer it, and they were all good. They were written by Frank Vescio and Anthony Valkanas, who also train the sales people. Valkanas used to sell Volvos for a living, so of COURSE he was qualified to be a Vice President of New Products (insert sarcasm here). Anyway people, we never met any of the design people, we were not allowed to call them interoffice, we as "Directors" never had one bit of input on your product and it was never "presented" to them, it was mass mailed just like the Pennysaver classifieds you get with your junk mail. So people take heed---you will get taken for 685 + they WILL tell you they have to develop it for 8, 000-15, 000. You will get ripped off and will be made a fool of.
I worked there too. Watch out for a few of these people who still work there scamming would-be inventors. They are:
Gary Humes
Erik Champagne
Ben Choffel
Gary Yarber
Greg McKita
Dan Simbeck
Mike Salati
Jon Brenza (a chia-pet is smarter than this guy)
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Is there a Jason Zerbach who works there? I'm in the middle of investing and they seem shady!
With these people being former employees , telling their truth about Davison being a huge scam , what more does the FTC need to shut Davidson's doors. Scamming is s crime fraud is against the Law. So why is Davison design and development still scanning people?
My complaints have not been resolved with Davison Design and Development.
I am starting a class action suit against them with several others . Thank you for sharing your Truth about Davison. With your first hands on Experience previously worked for them , your truth and comment you posted should be a eally big help for some of us.
Thank you I truly appreciate it..
God Bless you for stepping up.
I'm wanting to join the class action! I'm worried about my idea being stolen, nothing like it. I requested to have a video meeting and they wouldn't do it. I asked for them to update my consumer profile multiple times and they haven't, I read through their FTC case and notice that my original contract with them has several things in it that the FTC told them not to do and since the beginning of my original contracted idea it has altered and changed so much that it no longer even matches my original idea. My original idea is such a small part of my idea because I continuously provided more ideas that I desire for my product and they refuse to revise the contract claiming it's not necessary. Did you by chance know a Donald Cipher or Jason Zurbach? For a Catherine Davis?
Gary Humes scammed my mother at Davison.
His linkedin profile doesn’t even show he worked at Davison https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-humes-aa30ab70 says he was a “project manager” from the time he worked at Davison. What a coward. Then Gary Humes from
Aspinwall opened a fictitious business after he left Davison.
Gary Humes put my mother in her grave. Evil. Karma will get Gary Humes and Davison. And his ugly wife Courtney Consider Humes who has crack head beady eyes. I paid a PI to dig dirt on him after what he did to my mother. He’s an awful golfer the PI said.
Moments before I read this comment I was doing the exact same thing and out of 5 names i researched including the 2 whoi have dealt with, Donald Cinkin and Edward Rossetti, I havent found one that claims they work there with no profile pic. I am in "Phase 6" right now out of 9, I started to grow suspicious and after not long going down the rabbit hole I found a trove of other complaints that coincide with what I am experiencing after being out by $13,000 I expected to see more progression instead of silence after my payment was complete only to find they just broke away and then it became difficult for them to start getting back to me in which they were very attentive from the get go and then nothing for months, not even progress reports they as said in their own contracts. If they claim to be reputable then i should be able to see the face of the person that is working with me on my project but like i suspected them of being smooth talking car salesman but i gave them the benefit of the doubt and let them smooth talk me until they got what they needed to do the bare minimum and dump me. My biggest concern is that they get away with this all of the time as they will by contractual obligation, half wittingly complete their contractual obligations to stay in the clear in the eyes of the law.
Hello, I just started a nonprofit to combat these scammers and help inventors fight back. Here is my website, www.InventorRescue.com
I'm very active in the inventor community, and I'm a patented inventor who has run into my share of scammers. I'm a retired New York City firefighter. Please reach out to us thru our website and tell us about what happened. Everything is kept confidential, and we are aligning with attorneys who will look at your case at no charge. We have received lots of complaints about Davison and other companies. Please reach out to us.
I’ve been dealing with Anthony Vaulkanas. Davison already got my app fee. I started getting the sense I was buying a car, with the rush tactics. And most recently, I got Covid and told Anthony I needed to get back to him on the proposal. He indicated if we don’t start by March they will terminate. I figured going in, the app fee wasn’t too big an investment and I’ll make a determination after I see the proposal. Given how he acted especially knowing I’m going thru launching a separate business while be in quarantine with my 4 year old who also has Covid. I would love to hear any legitimate company’s anyone can confirm as I believe I have a good idea. Hopefully Davison hasn’t already stolen it. I’m going to probably have to sue to get the app fee back. Anyone else here have current lawsuits with Davison. Please reach out, I would love to learn anyone else who’s recently dealt with this conman. Bteets6@gmail.com
Please read all of this!
You will understand about Davison Ways!
DON'T BE " FOOLED " BY THEM!
Hi,
I live in Australia, Queensland to be exact!
I have worked on roofs for 20 years and previously did 20 years with the Australian Army!
In my roofing experience, I realised the need for a better designed tool!
I called the Tool, Punch Pliers Safety!
I run a self employed business Called Alex Skylights & Ventilation!
I went looking for an avenue to develop this tool and discovered Davison on the Net!
Yes I am Passionate about this creation, but would rather let someone else have than Davison!
They are Scamming!
Feb 2017
I sent photo's of upgrades, requesting the final development of this tool!
It required newton forces calibration and possible upgrade of design/function!
I did not have this experience to complete this stage!
After 2 months of phone/internet interactions with Davidson, I paid to have the tool developed!
As soon as the monies were paid, Apr 2017 Davison, were very hard to contact!
1st dealings were with Lisa Herbertson! (2 months)!
Davison sent picture copies of my first tool presentation, with a very minor change!
The explanation accompanied did not even explain the purpose of the tool!
Davison had ( NO IDEA! ), of what the performance of the tool was meant to be!
I did multiple emails with explanations/photo's which then led to Ted Morse:
2nd dealings were with Ted Morse Jr (5- 9 months)!
I knew the tool would not function as the Davison's pictures demonstrated! Hence development required!
I barely heard from Davison for a year!
Excuses were I will go back to design team!
Davison continually voice statements with action & pushed for signatures on documents even though they were informed it was incorrect!
3rd dealings were with Frank Vescio ( 18 -20 months)!
Frank Vescio contacted me!
Davison had then presented a terrible video 5mb not even showing how the tool function properly!
Frank also verbally stated that the Punch Pliers were presented and rejected by Stride Tools!
At this stage I asked Mr Vescio for copies of submitted & returned received letters from Stride Tools!
Mr Vescio replied it was not companies' general policies to return letters, and stated it was done by a phone call!
Mr Vescio could not explain why Stride tools rejected the presentation!
Mr Vescio stated that maybe the company didn't have funds at the time of presentation! ( More excuse reasons)!
Mr Vescio then stated that they had a 3 prong system and it includes up to 45 companies targeted!
All this came with an additional $5990.00 US!
I then asked for evidence that the Punch Pliers Safety, actually worked!
Mr Vescio stated it was still in research/design phase, 20 months later!
Basically they had done nothing more than a 15 year old kid could do with a I-phone and a drill!
On the 7 July 2017, I reported Davison to the ACCC ( Australian Competition & Consumer Commission! )
In Australia, the fines are 1 million dollars plus per offence for companies doing what Davison does!
I also wrote to the Consumer Affairs America Pittsburgh PA!
I will now present this secondary scam attempt from Davison to the ACCC!
It is common practise for scammers to re-approach clients 1 year later!
I will continue trying & will get this company on the Australian Scam List!
Graham
Davison or lowlife lying pieces of crap and I say we get those people. FTC already mailed them and expected that they would keep doing the same thing they were doing when they got nailed if we find an attorney it will have to be in their state and a class-action will definitely not get everybody's money back on his small portion I know because I've been a class-action representative and it's not good for everybody . I am more than ready and I'd be willing to search for an attorney contact me about taking action at Davison scam.help@gmail.com
People please think about it for one minute! Davison has lots of employees and they most certainly are not making money just off what we paid them. They are receiving royalties from our ideas. If you see your idea being sold under a different name and a few changes made to it, chances are it is your (the inventor's) idea. Davison is making a fortune off of our ideas!
OMG! Are you guys kidding? I have been working with this company since last year on what i was hoping would be my invention. Is anyone familiar with Larry Rifkin? I went into this situation with an open mind and great hopes and thank God my little brother who is a pessimist never had nothing but bad things to say. He told me it was a scam when i first said something to him about it! I am a single mom struggling to provide for my 3 children as is but i've been having such a hard time i decided why not take a risk? Well something in me since yesterday made me decide finally to do something i should have done from the start. I decided to check with BBB and boy was i shocked! I may have lost the $475 they swindled me out of this far with my latest payment being made just last week but they sure as hell wont get the next $395. How could a people do things like this and be ok with themselves? How do you Sleep at night? I feel so stupid as i'm sure many of us do to think that you can trust people to help instead of hinder. What a bunch of sharks and may your souls burns in hell for all the people who have ROBBED! This is why you only receive 7days to request a refund because by the time you figure out you're being robbed that time period has passed and they send you that photo copied ### rebuttal to your claims. I've read them on the BBB site and they all say the same thing. Where is our government who should control this type of s*** for the consumer theses A******* should have to pay every dime they've robbed so they know what its like for people who work hard as they can to still struggle to be robbed by a bunch of greedy, lazy, ### who think its ok to take advantage of people.
LOL as if the BBB is credible
I would like an email address for the CCA - I've either missed it or it isn't posted on this site. I would prefer to negotiate privately, for now. Thanks!
new show scammed me out of 11 grand chadd murray sold me good on how they can sell my show .told me they were the best and i was in good hands i believed they would honor there commitment but was i ever wrong they told me i could choose which networks the reel with too cause they gave me a list and when it came down to it they never sent it to the one i choose they sent it (so they tell me) to MSG and discovery id two networks that my idea was nowhere near compatable with and for almost two years gave me a run around saying its in HIGH CONSIDERATION and how THEY DIDNT SAY NO a they were just waiting for the rating to come back to see which shows on the network didnt make the cut so they can form a budget for my show ..https://youtu.be/TGuCHDHwKlk this is the link to a video on youtube where u hear me and anthony valkanas talking about it i have every conversation recorded and will be uploading them in order by date if any of what he says sounds scripted its because it is
you should never have to pay to have a show pitched. yikes, google is your friend. and free.
bad service
Please do not waste your time with Davison. I am unfortunately a former employee that can tell you first hand how manipulating they really are. From the very beginning they train their "directors" how to prey on the dreams of would be inventors.
It almost doesn't matter what the idea involves, they will almost always try to pump you up saying that "you're solving a valid problem" and that they are surprised no one has solved it yet. Directors don't even understand what they are selling until they have worked there for at least a few months the way the training is conducted.
Here is the process. First they call and act excited about talking to you about your idea while they try to convince you they understand. Next you get a contract to do research for $695. A few weeks later you get a garbage portfolio with info you could get yourself.
Then they tell you they are "aggressively targeting corporations". Next you get a phone call saying (in an excited voice) "we've targeted a manufacturer for your product". Over the next couple weeks they will call gearing up to let you know they want 9-15 grand to create a "product sample".
First you give them a $1000 retainer to start, but they really dont do anything but sit around. Next they will say they need to have 60% of the balance to create the design. When thats done you get a cheap 3D picture and some garbage CAD drawings.
If you approve it they will say they are now building the product (which you will never see in person and if you want to see it you must go to their office). I can assure you every product I have ever seen come out of there design department has been complete crap.
Then they will say they need the remaining 40% balance so they can present the product to the company. Meanwhile all they really do is send that stupid virtual picture to them in the mail then may follow up with a phone call. A few weeks later you will receive a call saying the company did not license your product and they need $335 to repackage it so they can present it to another company.
THIS IS HOW IT WORKS FOR EVERY IDEA. Also if you come across Greg McKita or Anthony Valkanas hang up immediately. They are ### with no conscience. Ask them how many people have made MORE money on their inventions than they put into it at Davison. The director will stutter and stammer and reply with no good answer. Ask them what percent of Davison's profits come from royalties from licensed products selling in the stores. Again, they will have no good answer. I hope this keeps anyone that reads this away from Davison.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I have worked for this company and I disagree with all of this. I never once lied to any of my clients. I was straight forward and direct with them. In-fact my client were fully aware of the entire process and the entire cost that would be involved to bring their product to life from the very beginning. And I was trained by Anthony Valkanas! He never told me to lie or scam anyone and I know for a fact that he handles his clients exactly the same. Davison is a great company and they truly believe in their clients and their process and they have helped many many clients fulfill their dream of seeing their IDEA come to life. I suggest that you do a little more research! Go to the stores and see how many products Davison has helped get there.
I commend the ex employees from Davison for telling their stories.
Don't stop with this website...knowing the truth, you have a responsibility to expose it, and prevent other vulnerable people from being taken.
If you are telling the truth and want to make a difference -- get this story out, keep talking.
I worked with a guy named Nathan Howell. He was a great guy who actually cared if you did well or not. The rest of the managers were dirtbags with tons of experience in drinking, smoking pot & backstabbing, but with little experience in sales. Sean Jones had an attitude bigger than puff daddy & was a nobody, we used to laugh when he left the room. It was a funny environment. When you first started, you would have thought you just scored a job in Microsoft's board of directors, but when you finally learned what was going on it was a huge letdown. It's jobs in companies like this that coined the term "you can't put a silk hat on a pig". Oh well, the world needs ditchdiggers too.
You mean to tell me that after $12, 000 they are not "thoroughly" searching for manufacturers? Lol. The only thing being thoroughly searched after you send them your cash is the Auto Trader so the sales guys can park another Porsche SUV in the parking lot. I have to admit the sales script they/we used to read to customers/victims over the phone was pretty convincing. "Director of New Products", LOL! The only qualification for the position was the ability to read and even that was in question with some of the guys in our department.
rip off
Davison Design, had a great Idea, they cheered me on, I sent them more money that I would like to admit, my Idea turned out that they coppied a product that was already out there and just added a small change. After two presentations to Industry they began asking me for $300.00 plus for each presentation. I asked them to send me the product, it took them 2 months after calling every week. It finally came and I almost went through the roof to find out it was a copy of a product that already existed. I am out about $12, 000.00 with nothing but an item I could have bought for $30.00. This Company should be shut down and all the people that got screwed by this Company should be re-payed.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I am a FORMER Davison employee! DO NOT GO to them! Not only do they lie to the consumers but the lie to the employees! Either way everyone gets ripped off! While i worked there i can not even begin to tell you how many employess they went through while i was there the short time i was. Its all a script they read the same one to everyone! and no matter what you tell them about the BBB or the [redacted] theyll just bs theyre way around it. They taught me how when i worked there! Whatever you do do not give them a dime...and dont work there either haha.
Davison compared themselves to IDEO and Frog. That's very funny. Dealing with Davison was now worth it, I just had to wait for the punch line, perfect timing, great delivery. I'll be waiting for the "Chief Consumer Advocate" on Comedy Central. Great stuff, keep it up. Hey, I bet IDEO is going to model the Inventegration process, you can use that one if you want.
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
This place is not so much as a scam, but more of a misleading parasite. They don't tell you that they send your idea to China for development. They don't tell you that the director/salesmen makes a commission on your idea...don't tell you that the so-called designer gets paid on a commission to hurry though your idea...your whole invention idea is just a hamburger to be flipped for someone's paycheck. Your life's dream is just someone's hamburger. Sorry. I used to work there. It sucks. Do your research before buying. If you spend the money, it's your fault, plain and simple. Sorry.
The employees at Davison don't give 2 [censored]'s about your 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.
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. PLEASE - DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! THEY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY AND NEVER CALL YOU BACK!
we all need to get to gerther & put this man in prison & get what we desevre, sincerly, colleen hastings
And you are surprised because...?
Didn't you Google this company before sending money? Are you that foolish?
I worked there in sales for years and everyone in our department prayed that potential victims/customers wouldn't do their homework. If you did, we had specific management approved training on what to say to you in rebuttal, such as "well mr. customer, Wal Mart gets sued ten times per day but you still shop there." It was all part of the whole, big plan...to get you to part with your money. When we received your confirmation pick up number from the courier company (it used to be DHL), we would hi-five and count that money for our commission. Yeah, we would call you all exited-like and tell you that your product had "officially been transferred to the design department", but it was all bull. Sorry for your financial loss, but what did you expect?did you visit the facility? Meet your "Director of New Products"?, who I'm sure was another pimple faced 22 year old former Chem Lawn representative with a high school diploma and hardly a candidate for a corporate directors position that would require at least a MA in Engineering.
fraud + intellectual property infringement
Priceless invention on Power Generation without using fuel.
To cut the long story short. I conceived of the idea on 17th Oct 08. In my foolishness coveyed the idea by website to an AH named Gordon Novel. This website is encrypted and the contents of the encrypted reply promptly disappeared from my computer after a few days. Only the skeleton file remains saying that please go back to the form as you cannot submit a blank form. Anyways few days after my communication with Gordon Novel, I received an e mail from Davison Design And Development inc, in my spam folder, with all sort of info on invention hep blah blah blah. i started communicating with davison and eventually paid the USD 700 for pre development. They took 12 weeks to produce a no consequence portfolio. So I saw thru the scam. Originally Patricia Hickey was handling my case and she conveniently went missing. I have given her my invention and if she doent work for davison anymore, she is not bound by any etics that the company may have enforced on their employees. Anyways after that Martin Frings was responsible for my case. All that Martin Frings can say over the phone is Thanks Very Much. He does not respond on the e mail> although I am not worried about the 700 dollars, I am concerned that Davison will clandestinely use my invention for their benefit. This amounts to Intellectual Property Infringement, a very serious crime indeed. I am quite certain that Davison is into IP crime and defrauding all inventors who deal with them. although I have also complained about Davison to the Feds.
from Savvys Salgaonkar In India
My E mail: [protected]@yahoo.de
Tel +[protected]
Majorlook
From my experience after they received my idea, they started advertising for even broad yechnologies since my invention pertains to that. Now I know that they are not capable of anything pertaining to broad technologies.
I developed myworking prototype on my own and am now looking for license agreements. entirely on my own. When my prototype was ready, I told davison lets skip the prototype and development stage ang go in straight for licensing. Needless to say, they didnt want to have anthing to do with it. Not even a telephone callor e mail to discuss options, except that they kept asking upfront payment for the prototype, wheras i already had a working prototype.
But good luck with your invention and the decision is entirely yours.
Lol Amiga, Ich kann kein espanol, aber kannst du einfach Deutsch oder Inglies
Savvy xx
good grief sending ideas to china. so i was always right about the intellectual propery infringe ment.
further more i told davison i have already developed a working prototye on my own and yet they kept asking for the payment for prototype
savvy
to davison chirf, why would anyone complain to a thief as you have given an e mail add and all.
To everyone who talked, mentioned, or submitted any idea in any way can say goodbye to it. Because, it is gone! They're gonna integrate you're original idea and make it their own; any possible way that they can. They stole my idea, had a similar name and concept back in 2013, and after confronting my rep. about it he sounded very eager and concerned and within the next couple of months after that phone call, all of the products where i found it was recalled, redesigned and renamed!
Trying to find an attorney to help with them they took my money and idea. I been victimize by this company these people are lair, they misled me and do now they won't give a refund.
Davison... Kind of a breach of contract that we signed together on privacy and now you are posting YOUR disgruntled clients names here on a PUBLIC board numerous times as you did mine... Paul McInturf freddymac15@yahoo.com
I spent $900 on a patent search so I don't find issue with the $745 at all. That also searches for all products selling on the market like my idea. Or you can start designing and building a prototype which can be very expensive without knowing what the competition is or what your limitations are that you need to design around. This is common sense after you've done all the ground work for your idea on your own. Even if you go for a cheap patent attorney you could end up with a search that wasn't done thoroughly and this could cost you money in the future. As for the product design costing up to $15k... have you talked to a Design and Development team? This is cheap! Check out a marketing company alone. One that targets a company for you and uses the same raw materials that the company uses and builds the prototype around the manufacturers ability to mass produce. It makes sense to me. I'm sure for less complex designs the cost is less but I seriously feel bad for the people that were mislead by these comments. This could have been the best chance that many of these people had at getting their idea exposure and they now will go the route many inventors go thru which leads to spending 200k and a garage full of inventory. Watch shark tank and see how much each of the inventors have spent/wasted.
Well, I think 95% of the people complaining just had a dumb @### idea to begin with and knew the risks of investing into your self with very slim chance of getting your idea licensed or marketed by a company to see a return profit. I also have given Davison a full amount of 795.oo and quiet honestly I feel they have been str8 forth and up front about everything we've talked about. They have maintained good status updates and have not asked for a cent more than the initial 795.oo to get the ball rolling. I also was contacted and told that several company's where interested in my idea and ready to make a deal as soon as they ("davison") where complete with the final designs, and I haven't been charged any type of submission fee. I believe it depends on the idea. I will be doing a follow up report to let the people know what was made of my invention but I can almost guarantee it will be a great out come and you will see it in stores very soon.
Thanks for reading my opinion and have a great day! R.I
Although I've been treated nicely thud far. After reading the complaints I can't help but feeling a little unsure
I feel the same way
oh my god i am so glad i read this i just signed a contract with Davidson two days ago an was about to send them $700 oh my god thank you for posting lucky
This does not say weather you were sent videos and other correspondence to promote you product .
I have so far received two videos of what could be my product being advertised and a contract that to me seemed above board .
I would like feed back to what was done in your situation of your product .
I am so sorry for the people here----first I lost $4495 to invention consultants now I sent Davidson $705----what was I thanking!---is it the dream or they fact that I hate going to work everyday---------------you have to learn on your own------as for the money I sent Davidson, its gone!----I ask my lawyer about the other company and they told me----you have to have a lawyer from the state they are in because they only work in their state-------------it would cost $2000+ for fees and when they say about the work they did-lol---you may get about half back---------------so i would have to pay $6495 to get maybe $1500 back-------------I wish I would have checked here first!I feel so dumb! about the $705 because I know better then to trust people like that!--------------god bless you all!-------the only way to get you money back is the FTC--and the are not to concerned about plan people---they are busy people too!---PLEASE DON, T SEND NO MORE MONEY TO THIS ###!------and why is every person who calls you there new product manager?
Fraud
Davison Design and Development Inc, aka Davison Associates, aka Davison Inventagration is a high-profile invention promotion company that has been featured on NBC, CBS, in a number of magazines, and on Ripley's Believe It or Not, mostly because of their truly innovative factory, called InventLand. They also advertise very heavily on the net and convenionally. They seem to be a model company. However, they have a very dark side.
Go to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website, and search "Inventors". The first topic is "FTC News results for Inventors".
Click on "Invention Promoters Will Pay $10 Million to Settle FTC Charges", and read the article dated July 18, 2009. Davison was sued because their "development" charges far exceeded the returns for most of the clients who trusted them. In fact, after the settlement, most of these people will still not receive what they lost to Davison.
The article on the FTC web site also stipulates information Davison must post on all correspondence and web sites. Davison does supply it in correspondence, but it is not on the web site. Further, Davison shows 94 products they claim are receiving royalties for their inventors. If you investigate each product, you will see that most are developed by and licensed to Davison Design. The ones developed by individual investors are a distinct minority, and half of those have received no net profit. Since Davison claims to receive hundreds of submissions, one must ask what has become of all those other submissions, who are paying $15, 000 and more for Davison's "help".
I would like to make an addition to my complaint. Please click on http://www.ftc.gov/os/a997/07/davisonb~1.htm for further legal briefs on this company. The brief is easy to read, free from legalese, and lays out the charges against Davison very clearly.
On his web site, Davison claims that they obtain an average of 10 licenses a month. He does not inform you that this includes licenses for his company's products. Between December 1989 and September 1996 the company obtained 435 licenses for products entrusted to them for "development That is an average of 5.37 a month. Of those 435, only FIVE realzed any profits above the fees paid Davison. (That is one every 16.1 months!)
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I notice all the same complaints and all around the same time frame.
The FTC ruling and subsequent fines all appear to have ended around 2009.
On the bottom of the emails I have received it says "A typical client invention is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable. Davison offers fee-based services."
What services do they offer if not products sold in stores along with a profit?
I suspect the disclaimer resolves all responsibility and further law suits.
I am reading all of these comments and, quite honestly, am extremely hesitant about pursuing idea development with or having any further contact with this company. My main complaint regarding Davison is their repeated attempts to contact me, they put collection agencies to shame, and the lack of information they are willing to provide in writing, prior to discussing matters with their company's representative by phone. Pretty pictures and vague promises aren't enough information to make an informed decision. They have refused to send me any further information until I talk to their representative and that fact is enough to make one think that something shady is going on.
I'm so sorry to hear people spent $15, 000 with Davison. Here is what you get for $15, 000. A design completed in three hours and a prototype built in a day then stored forever in a trailer and not shown to anybody. jjs4you2, no you don't have to worry about Davison stealing your idea. They don't have to steal ideas when 200 people a month give them $15, 000 to produce nothing.
Like an idiot I outlined my idea to Davison, told them in detail what it is but never sent them my sketches or detailed computer renderings. Do I have to worry about them trying to license my idea and claim it's theirs? I have been worrying about this since I told them to take a hike after I saw their BBB record of 196 complaints with zero reconsiled over the last 6 montghs only! I never signed anything or sent them money but they do know about my idea in detail! Do I have anything to worry about or should I be doing something to back my idea up? I am in the process of getting a provisional Patent. Is this really the only way to protect myself without having to dig into my wallet?
they almost got me for $695.00
I was told the exact same things as others down to the t! Even got the lil nice full colour package and contracts. I thought wow, they really must be a professional company! Or just have tons of money to spend on marketing/advertising! Boy, they really had me interested. I knew this sounded too good to be true. The ratio of folk getting their product in stores and making money off of it compared to those not making any money is not worth me flushing $700 down the drain on a crap game when gas is $4.00 a gallon! While I live in mesquite, tx and they are in pa, the contracts clearly stated contradictory information that seemed to supersede both. I didn’t have money to seek an attorney so I came here. Thank u "i'm pissed" and to all of you who shared your horror stories! Thanks to you my concerns have been addressed properly.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I asked them to patent my idea, but after money & more money, I was getting skeptical. Contract says I’ll have to front over $10K before they’ll try to sell my idea. I am a retired school teacher & only wanted a simple parent that I COULD SELL to companies myself.
Feb 25,2023 I did everything on my part to see my idea come to life. Instead I am ignored and totally brushed away. I need a refund. I payed money and received nothing be pictures. It been nearly five years. I have nothing. Pl
Pastorino, Wheeler, Oregon. Car seat with infant insert submitted for development. Dave was handling account. The design was approved for prototype development the same week I became homeless. Now being sold all over the world and any efforts by the Davison Corporation to compensate me have not been forthcoming. I tried Human Resource, no reply.
Don't steal people's inventions, it comes back on you! As far as I'm concerned we have nothing more to say to each other. I trust you as much as the weather man. I will be getting in touch with the best lawyer I can find to sue the ever loving crap out of you!
davison take your money and no product delever thy lie and steal your money Geraldine Eady in hazlehurst Ga. 31539 lwisn Ihave never yent to this compen for some to get rip off of my hard earn money 15, 000 they skim out of me.
Failure to develop
I see lots of kindred spirits in here. Had an invention, paid huge $$ to Davison, have nothing to show for it.
Note the clause regarding # of inventions that don't make it to market. It's because they cash your check and quit. That's why most Davison inventions "fail".
Interested in collaborating?
Email me at scammedinventor@gmail.com
hi guys how did any of you get the monies back you were scammed out of on your money back or did you have to talk him to court.i live in scotland so i wouldnt no what the outcome for all the people he dooped thk u chall
I just paid Davison Development $500 for an idea they are promising to develop. I am very concerned about all the write ups about their company being a fraud/scam and by the fact that they were sued. I need to know if they are dishonest before I go any further.
Ripped off for 9 thousand in 2012 treated rude hung up on 9 times put on a no call list none of what I was promised was ever finished they lost my patent DO NOT GIVE THEM A DIME you will be SORRY RUN as FAST as you can AWAY from these dishones terrible people Carole from S Fla excuse spelling BIG RIP OFF company and still doing it in 2017
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Davison Design & Development phone numbers+1 (800) 544-3327+1 (800) 544-3327Click up if you have successfully reached Davison Design & Development by calling +1 (800) 544-3327 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Davison Design & Development by calling +1 (800) 544-3327 phone number Click down if you have UNsuccessfully reached Davison Design & Development by calling +1 (800) 544-3327 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Davison Design & Development by calling +1 (800) 544-3327 phone number+1 (412) 967-0124+1 (412) 967-0124Click up if you have successfully reached Davison Design & Development by calling +1 (412) 967-0124 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Davison Design & Development by calling +1 (412) 967-0124 phone number Click down if you have UNsuccessfully reached Davison Design & Development by calling +1 (412) 967-0124 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Davison Design & Development by calling +1 (412) 967-0124 phone numberInternational
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Davison Design & Development emailsCCA@davison.com100%Confidence score: 100%Supportinfo@davison.com85%Confidence score: 85%supportappsupport@davison.com79%Confidence score: 79%support
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Davison Design & Development address595 Alpha Dr., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PA15238, United States
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