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JGB Enterprises, Inc. Bait & Switch Scam, buyer beware - overpriced merchandise Las Vegas Nevada
The following is a report I am compiling to document my experience with this company. It is not much different from others I have seen. Except I have yet to see a Bait & Switch reported. Please be VERY wary of doing business with this group. They may tread a thin legal line, or they may cross it. Either way, they are not ethical folks. Do not be fooled by their "God Bless" closing at the end of every sales related conversation.
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I received a notice in the mail claiming I was guaranteed to win one of four (4) prizes. I called to claim the prize. I was given a sales pitch which I declined. I was told I would receive a call in four (4) to six (6) weeks regarding my prize.
After about four (4) or five (5) weeks, I was called with an aggressive "time is f the essence" sales pitch on August 24, 2007 by Ruth Dupont. I was lead to believe (although not told WHAT the prize was) the prize was substantial. I was told I would be removed from the offer if I was told what the prize was.
Two phone calls, and many questions, later I agreed to purchase a quantity of a promotional item on August 31, 2007, also from Ruth Dupont. I was informed I would be contacted with the details of the prize I was guaranteed to win one week after product delivery (due two weeks from the order acceptance.) I received a call an hour and a half later from a supervisor to confirm the orders validity & verify the payment information given (electronic check.) The check cleared my bank September 5, 2007.
I called JGB on September 20, 2007 to inquire about the package. I was told it had shipped a day or two prior to that phone call. The package was delivered a 2 or 3 days later.
On September 27, 2007 I was contacted and told the phone call was being recorded for regulatory purposes and I had "won" a $2,500 gift certificate for an electronics purchase. The August 24, 2007 phone call indicated the gift certificate was for Circuit City. I was also told I had been chosen in another drawing for $15,000 that I should have been informed about one week prior. I explained I had NOT been contacted about the drawing and declined the $2,000+ purchase that was apparently required to "win" the $15,000. I was told the money was a promotion in return for purchasing a variety of items, handing them out, and telling those I handed them to where I got them from. 'Why would we pay you if you don't do the work' was the reason I could not 'win' the money without purchase. Not having been notified of the entry put her in an 'awkward position' for she was prepared to take my $2,000+ order as well as send the 'prizes.' The lady asked me if I would like her to 'just send the gift certificate, then?' I said yes.
On October 9, 2007 I received a release form to be filled out and returned within 30 days to receive "two round-trip airline tickets for many destinations." The form was date stamped 'Oct 1 2007' and it was post marked October 3, 2007. I believe this to be a 'bait & switch' scam, knowingly perpetrated by JGB Enterprises, Inc. and each of the employees involved.
I contacted JGB on October 9, 2007. The voice message stated the phones were busy and I could leave a message. I did leave a message at 4:55p CDT. I also downloaded a Nevada Attorney General complaint form and filed a complaint with the Las Vegas BBB.
I called JGB on October 10, 2007 at 2:35p. I spoke to Judy, customer service manager. I explained the situation to her. She first asked 'Who told you that?' Then she said she didn't know why anyone would tell me that when I clearly won the tickets. I asked who the governing body was that regulated their promotion. She said there is not one, they conform to statutes that are public information. I asked to get a copy of the recorded phone call & she told me they do NOT record their calls, the calls are monitored. She said the girl was not supposed to tell what was won so that a claimant could not call and say they won a different prize than they received. I told her my next course of action was to file complaints. Judy said 'okay' and didn't seem to be the least bit concerned about it.
Richard
CONVERSE, Texas
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Richard
CONVERSE,Texas,
U.S.A.
Apology for mis-spelling name
#3Author of original report
Fri, October 12, 2007
I must apologize, "customer service Judy" is Judi Martinez. The mis-spelling was not intentional.
Richard
CONVERSE,Texas,
U.S.A.
Further observations & comments
#3Author of original report
Thu, October 11, 2007
It is my belief, the reason these folks can "get away" with this scheme is because of the wording of the letter and the internal policies of the company. The wording says you will get one of the four prizes. It is their policy not to tell you what you've won verbally, per my discussion with customer service Judy. Since you would not recieve anything with the actual prize until AFTER you agree to the second ($2,000+) purchase, AND there is no accountability, per customer service Judy, they have the liberty to assign "prizes" based upon a customer's willingness to follow their program.
I asked about the "newsletter" they allegedly publish, with pictures of winners with their prizes. I never saw one. I did see a photocopy of a collage of pictures of people. No names, titles, companies, prizes. It looked like a bunch of people at a company party or function. I asked for a sample to make a qualified judgement of value (price vs. quality,) that request was denied.
The web site has small, poor detail pictures of SOME of the items they sell. All documents appear to have been printed on an injet printer or be a multi-generational photocopy. Nothing about this company stands out as professional. The sales calls I received were from residential numbers.
Unfortunately, you don't get this kind of information unless you are already in some process. Ask about complaints, someone will tell you even Sears has complaints. They may spice it up a little and change the company reference.
The bottom line is you will NOT get the better part of this deal. You will ONLY get anything out of this if you have spent the money already. They claim they do this to bolster sales by showing companies in your area how well they've treated you. I do not believe this to be the case. I belive if I had spent the additional $2,000+ I would have recieved the prize I was verbally told I had won. I would already have spent that $2,500+ with them. Then again, I see where some have been strung along to the tune of many thousands of dollars without a satisfactory result.
If you are in the market for promotional items, DO IT LOCALLY. IF these folks give you a call, HANG UP! You need to operate your business, not deal with this foolishness.
I intend to file a complaint with the Nevada Attorney General among others. I encourage other victims of this company to do the same if they have documented their interactions as well.
If you have doubts about any of these statements, and want to find out for yourself, use a cell phone and record the calls or write down EVERY detail of any conversation, including names of representatives.