Complaint Review:
Ameripos
Like hundreds of other people, I was looking to start a home business. I am a military retiree and was first drawn toward Amerip.o.s. in April 2003, after receiving an e-mail advertising this "new" business opportunity. I had not requested information about the company but nonetheless, about every other day I would receive an additional e-mail from them. I could have simply requested that my name be taken off of their list but curiosity dictated otherwise. Had I known then what I have learned through experience I would have added them to my banned e-mail list.
In May I made contact with Amerip.o.s., and was quite impressed with what I believed to be a sound business model. I did some background research on the company and found nothing that would suggest that the company did not live up to its claims. After all, they were, and still are, listed with the better business bureau. Amerip.o.s. even provided me with names and phone numbers of three distributors and two business owners who could testify to the results. I called each and every one of them and they all assured me that it had turned out to be a very profitable business indeed. Consequentially, I decided to invest $29,980.00 for 15 terminals.
I live about 30 miles North of Chicago and immediately went to work making phone calls and arranging appointments. I was assigned a representative in Florida who helped me make contact with local business owners, and refine my sales presentation skills. I really appreciated the help simply because I recognized the need. I had no experience whatsoever in this type of business and quite honestly, I expected to fail in my first few presentations.
Marketing is a learning experience, believe me you can have the best product available but if you don't have the marketing skills, you will never get a contract signed. For quite a while I kept kicking myself, believing that it was my sales presentation that was causing my business to fail. But that was not the problem.
The problem was the company.
I wanted with all of my heart to be successful, but to be successful you have to have a product that can sell. You have to have a product line that is competitive, and you have to have a support system in place to ensure it's success. My experience has proven to me that Amerip.o.s. offers neither.
During my recruitment phase I was told that an advance team had visited the Chicago area and that there were approximately 700 business locations that expressed an interest in acquiring the terminal. I was told that the terminals were completely credit card capable. I was told that pre-paid cellular services would be my number 1 seller. I was also told that the terminal had the ability to do both national and international wire money transfers, to quote the Amerip.o.s. salesman, "This ability in itself will shut down Western Union, as we can do the money transfers for 1/4 of their price".
After four months of 100 hour weeks, three digit phone bills, and one heck of an education, I have three of my fifteen terminals in place. I have worked my butt of trying to place these terminals and I have been to hundreds of locations throughout Chicago and Milwaukee.
I have had business owners hang up on me, I have had them cuss me out for calling them after my support team in Florida told me they wanted me to do so. I have had people tell me that they will not do business with anyone affiliated with Radiant, which is their source for pre-paid phone cards. Most owners however, claimed that they didn't need the headache.
The first time I heard that I was completely shocked. This was a device that supposedly eliminated the headaches of inventory and theft, not produced them. What were they talking about?
When I placed my first terminal, I then began to notice the differences in what Amerip.o.s. advertises, and what actually occurs. I then tried to contact the Ameri.p.o.s. salesman and after two months, finally gave up. I wanted to know why they felt the need to mislead me as to the abilities of the terminal. After all, it was their claims that prompted me to invest a great sum of money. Here are but a choice few of the subtle differences I mentioned.
Amerip.o.s. misled me as to the commissions and returns that the terminals could reasonably be expected to generate. They failed to clearly indicate that Merchant commissions are deducted from the Distributors commission in the representations. They made is seem as if the commissions were separate.
They falsely indicated the number of business's that were interested in acquiring the terminal. I have been to every location they recommended plus hundreds on my own. Every lead that Amerip.o.s. has generated has been a complete waste of time. If 700 locations were previously arranged, why is it that I cannot place my 12 remaining terminals. The three terminals that I have placed are in remote locations, and are failing to produce.
They falsely indicated the abilities of the terminal. During my recruitment phase, I was informed that the Amerip.o.s terminal was completely credit card capable. What was not disclosed to me was that for $200.00 an ancillary device was needed to enable the terminal to process credit cards. This additional cost was not disclosed whatsoever.
Initially and continue to indicate availability of services that are not offered in the market (i.e. Prepaid Home Dial Tone service)
Falsely claiming the competitiveness of the pre-paid cellular rates. I was informed that the prepaid cellular rates were competitive. This has also proven to be not true. I have had business owners that I have contacted myself show me rates that are available within the Chicago area and theirs are not competitive whatsoever. Based upon the math, Amerip.o.s. would be acquiring a 400% return on investment, if utilizing the rates available for Chicago with your current service providers. I cannot compete in the the cellular service market in the Chicago area due to the astronomical pricing or services offered.
Misrepresenting the abilities of the terminal in relation to National/International Wire Money Transfers. It was revealed to me that the machine could generate those types of money transfers. In fact, what has to happen, is the buyer purchases a prepaid master card, mail's the card and then provides the pin #. This is the most clearly demonstrated falsification about the functionality of the terminal.
In the first week of September I was trying to place a terminal in a local market, which the owner's son reported to me they they needed an alternative way of selling pre-paid phone cars because of theft. He indicated that the store sold, on a slow week, about a thousand dollars worth of cards. He was really excited about the terminal but told me that he needed to talk it over with his father. Here I am, thinking that I had finally landed a really good location and a phone call over the weekend changed my attitude.
His father called me on Saturday evening and started by asking me how long I had been with Amerip.o.s and what kind of luck I had placing the terminals. I was honest with him, telling him that I had been with them for four months and it was off to a slow start. He then provided me with a phone number and told me to do myself a favor and call that person. He stated that all of my questions would indeed, be answered.
I did as he suggested. During the course of the phone call it was revealed to me that I was not alone in my problems. What really bothered me was the fact that this stranger told "me" the problems "I" was having. And he hit everyone of them. It kinda struck a nerve, and time has proven that everything this person has told me has proven to be correct.
Now I have never in my life based my decisions on the word of one person, so I took out an internet ad requesting information from other Amerip.o.s. distributors. I have had no less than 23 individuals contact me, all of which have the same, or additional complaints. The falsification of the terminals abilities, the repeated pattern of disregarding my phone calls and the reported problems from other distributors has forced me to take action.
The bottom line is that I was lied to about the terminals abilities and the services that Amerip.o.s provides.
I do not have a product that I can sell in and around Chicago and Milwaukee.
Since day one I have been in contact with my "locator" in Florida. And I have voiced my concerns to him, he always had a differnet person that I needed to talk to when when I brought up a problem. And every person that I have tried calling in the course of these four months has not been available and has not returned my calls.
Every day I hear the same line from my locator. I hear that I am alone in having these problems. The fact is, I am not.
I have reports coming in on a daily basis now from people who are having the same problems as I.
Let me ask you something? How would you respond if you invested almost $30,000 Dollars into a business, only to find out that every word an Amerip.o.s. representative has said to you has turned out to be a lie?
The terminal's do not perform as they advertise.
The services they offer are not competetive in and around Chicago and Milwaukee.
The companies they affiliate themselves with are not trusted with business owners that I have met.
There is no support mechanism in place to aid in disputes.
If you are a current distributor, or are considering investing in Amerip.o.s.. Please drop me a line and share your thoughts. Call me collect if you wish.
"Your local Chicagoland Ameripos Distributor"
Even after all the difficulties I have experienced I continue to try and place my remaining terminals. I have an appointment this afternoon (Sep 30th, 2003). This is my business and at least now I can honestly walk into a business owner's office and feel confident that I am not misleading them. It has taken me four months to learn the truth about what they, and I for the matter, can expect to earn.
Here is my reward for four months of hard work promoting my Amerip.o.s. terminals.
Don
lindenhurst, Illinois
U.S.A.
10 Updates & Rebuttals
Don
lindenhurst,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Update for my experiance with Ameripos ..Ameripos even tried to manipulate the information presented on this site to this sites owner by pretending to be me
#11Author of original report
Sun, July 25, 2004
After many months of negotiating with Ameripos, I was (with help from my attorney) able to negotiate a settlement with them to partly reimburse me. During the negotiation phase someone from Ameripos even tried to manipulate the information presented on this site to this sites owner by pretending to be me, and to other discussion boards.
Ameripos signed a contract with me for my reimbursement but, alas, one of the checks bounced.
On the 30th of June Ameripos shut it's doors and filed for bankruptcy but all is not lost as WE the VICTIMS of these deceiptful individuals who both owned and ran the company are fighting back. If you know of anyone who was victimized by this company then please direct them to Assistinlaw at aol.com and just provide your name and amount that you invested. We are filing a RICO Suit against the managers and owners, more info about the type of suit will be made available to you when you provide your details.
p.s. Just shutting down Ameripos is not good enough. Lets put 'em away...
Steven
Sarasota,Florida,
U.S.A.
Walker "scumbag" Services Thank You, Rip-off Report!
#11Consumer Comment
Fri, July 23, 2004
Thank God for this website! Eric Walker (Walker Services) had an appointment setter from his company contact me to interview with Mr. Walker for a job. What an easy job! The business owners are dying to have these machines (they claimed)and I will get a commission just for putting them into the locations. I still have some of their emailed baloney. I saw this website and still scheduled an appointment with this piece of s**t.
I planned to confront him and hold him for the authorities if he tried anything fraudulent. But because I asked too many questions, Mr. Walker didn't show up for the meeting. Too bad, he could have seen his face on the six o'clock news! On this particlar day he was recruiting in Nples and then driving up to recruit more suckers, umm, I mean 'employees' in Tampa. I'm from Brooklyn originally...these kind of two bit hustlers wouldn't survive ten minutes up there!
If you got ripped off, I feel bad for you. It is an expensive lesson to learn...if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Ronna
Dublin,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Lets Stick Together!
#11REBUTTAL Individual responds
Mon, July 19, 2004
I too have been swindled out of $22,000. I tried very hard to make this work with Amerip.o.s. but I never received the exceptional secretarial support they offered, or the ideal locations, or had phone calls returned, etc. You get the picture. My office has 8 terminals sitting in it and no monthly income coming in. I too called the references and BBB with no complaints from anyone. I would like to sue each individual involved and the Company itself.
I would like to visit Rick Nye and David Martineau and demand my money back in exchange for their terminals. I have contacted Dateline, 60 minutes, filed a complaint with the Florida Consumer Division and a complaint on RipoffReport. Does anyone have any suggestions? You may contact me at the following email addy: [DELETED]
[Place your comments below and be sure to include your FULL contact information so Rip-off Report can contact you.]
Jason
Grover Beach,California,
U.S.A.
RIP AmeriPOS is dead!! Ding dong the witch is dead! **Confirmed**
#11UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, July 08, 2004
For averyone who feels like they can do nothing about the situation, please call me at [DELETED] My name is Jason B r o o k s and I have been able to assist people in the following ways concerning their loss with AmeriPOS:
This is Jason Brooks @ [DELETED] AmeriPOS has transffered all of their "investors" accounts over to "Radiant" permanently and they have closed their doors stealings millions of dollars of hard earned investment money from good people. I have had this confirmed by multiple sources, both named and unnamed.
I can provide information to anyone who has been adversely affected by AmeriPOS, Cashlink, Tel2Net, Global Ventures, SuccessPOS, Radiant and Walker Services. I have already helped several people by:
1. Offering any and all available information I have on the companies and sharing contact info on others affected by this scam
2. Providing company information to the investors on companies that can help them for little or no cost.
3. SHIPPING TERMINALS BACK TO THE INVESTORS FOR WHICH THEY BELONG! The sales people I have managed and continue to work with, including myself, have in our possession over 25 terminals that belong to various investors and we have no way to contact most of them to return their terminals!!!!
IMPORTANT!!!!!
****If you are an investor in AmeriPOS or any of the above companies listed, and are missing terminals, or do not know if they were delivered to their suposed locations, please give me a call right away so we can straighten this mess out!!! We have already returned 13 terminals to their rightfull owners and wish to return them all!!! - [DELETED] or Email: [DELETED] Sincerely, Jason Brooks
Email: [DELETED]No spaces of course, but they edit the info out otherwise.
Stanley
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
Ameripos has closed shop!!
#11UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, July 07, 2004
I invested almost $14000 in Ameripos...
I have learned the hard way like everyone else
Ameripos has not delivered in anyway.. I feel really stupid..Do I or anyone else have any chance of recouping our money? I think we all know the answer to that question..By the way don't bother calling them they arent there anymore!!
Sheila
Connersville,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Don't Be Cruel ..They are con artist and are very well educated
#11Consumer Comment
Mon, July 05, 2004
Tracey,
Don't be so cruel to these people. They just lost more money than I make in a year. These people are not stupid by no means, it's just the scammers are very convincing. They are con artist and are very well educated on how to point out a person's weakness and pounce on it. So don't be so critical........if you haven't been scammed yet........just wait, you will some day if only on a very small scale.
Tracy
Martin County,Florida,
U.S.A.
You fell for this? Any company that says it already has sold the product to a business doesn't need you.
#11Consumer Comment
Thu, July 01, 2004
How stupid do you have to BE?!?! If those "terminals" were already placed, what do they need YOU for? Didn't you ask yourself that? This scam is as old as time. Any company that says it already has sold the product to a business doesn't need you. They just want your $$$$$. Grow up and stop whining. You fell for a scam, suck it up and LEARN from it!
Jackie
Jim Falls,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
Ameripos called... Thank you for your web site.
#11Consumer Comment
Tue, June 29, 2004
Thank you for your web site. I just received a phone call from Ameripos this evening. They are sending me information on their system. I will be returning it to them based on the problems stated on your site.
Thanks for being available.
Timothy
Cincinnati,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Angry Investor... I have not gotten a check in many months
#11Consumer Comment
Mon, June 21, 2004
I too invested $30,000 with ameripos only to find the same frustrations and disappointments. I have only 3 of 15 terminals placed and the 3 are doing very poorly. Infact I have not gotten a check in many months. The biggest check ever was around $43.00. I am very educated but did not see this one coming. What can I do next?
Jason
Pismo Beach,California,
U.S.A.
Rebuttal to your claims of the AmeriP>O>S terminals
#11UPDATE Employee
Tue, June 15, 2004
Don, of Lindhurst, Ill
I have for the past 4 months been working with whom I believe is your "locator" and may have found a solid solution to the problem you have described here. Your story, as I am sure you have found out by now, is far from unique in any way. I have had personal contact with 4 other investors of AmeriPOS terminals who have, with great relief, spoken to me about resolving their problems with AmeriPOS and I think I can help you as well. My number is 805-441-8074. Collectively, the investors I am currently in contact represent over $200,000.00 in investment monies paid to AmeriPOS already. 99%, I kid you not, of these paid for terminals HAVE NOT BEEN SHIPPED OR PLACED!!! I hear the same stories, AmeriPOS promised:
1. Locations were ALREADY SECURED for your terminals!
2. The terminals provide products that are the best thing since sliced velveeta.
3. The logistics of the company are smooth as silk.
4. They do everything but provide the money for you to get started and you will make tons of money in return.
The solution I have found is taking either one of two possible paths to actually reap benefits from your investment, and unfortunately, you may not like to hear it.
#1. De-programm then re-program your "Nurit Lipman 2085+ terminals to be used solely as whats known as a "Cashless ATM" machine. The returns on these machines generally are in the range of $50 to $500 per month in profit to you. Obviously locations will differ based on traffic and such, but at least they will be bringing in revenue for you. Also, the company that programs and locates the terminals for you, guarantees that if it does less than 50 transactions per month, it will be relocated for a flatt fee of $100. The fees generally involved with reprogramming and relocation, basically turning your "Pre paid" terminal into a Cashless ATM is around $450.00, which is $50.00 for programming and $400.00 for the locating and installation.
#2. Go DIRECTLY through Radiant, and cut Ameri P O S (Piece of sh*&T) out of it entirely. You will pick up the extra percentage you mentioned was lacking, but unfortunately, an additional location fee will need to be paid. You may think that this is good money after bad.