Shark Finds TRUSTED Business REVIEW: Shark Finds/Kevin Harrington Inc is dedicated to total customer satisfaction. Work ethic is reflected in endless endeavors to raise the bar and produce unique media that connects brands with viewers in new ways.
ABOUT THE RIPOFF REPORT BELOW:
Ripoff Report would like to let readers know that Ripoff Report emailed this customer so the member business could make things right with them. When a business joins the Corporate Advocacy Program, Ripoff Report emails everyone from the past so the member business can make things right with them. Of course, everything within reason. In order to confirm that the complaints were resolved, Ripoff Report is copied on all responses so we can insure that the member business did right by their customer. The customer who filed a complaint down below never responded to our offer to help them.
STATEMENT FROM SHARK FINDS:
This report is false because it is not written from an actual client, it is a posting of a cover letter used by our organization. This report was not posted by an actual client. They were contacted by phone and sent production materials that detailed the scope of the DRTV campaign. Because of the Ripoff Report postings in the past and based on no factual information they believed this was a scam. Kevin Harrington does not need to stop AsSeenOnTV.pro because he owns the website and is directly involved with the organization. The Attorney General was provided with factual information to refute allegation made against this organization. Resolution has been had.
NOW TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED
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I was contacted by a company called Shark Finds out of Coral Springs, FL. They said that there research team found my company and that they wanted to do a media campaign around my products. They also claim that this company is one of Kevin Harrington's companies, the original Shark on the program Shark Tank. The video and marketing tools that are used are very believeable.
Something seemed a little off when I talked with them. I also tried researching this company and found nothing good or bad until I found ththe Rip Off Report.
Here is a part of a letter that I received:
Based on our conversation, the team of Kevin Harrington is in the process of finalizing the scheduling for an upcoming Direct Response TV (DRTV) media campaign. We are interested in featuring XXX. Both the :30 and :60 second spots will air a combination of 202 times nationally and regionally on top national cable networks in the U.S. specifically selected to match your customers' demographic and geographic profile.
$19,900 USD is the total scheduling fee. Keep in mind, the Senior Product Manager will go over timing and visual aspects of the project and answer any questions you may have. The Senior Product Manager and I will speak with you on XXX
Below is the product mailing address for you to send product sample(s).
Shark Finds
11555 Heron Bay Blvd
Suite 200
Coral Springs, FL 33076
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Nothisone
Clearwater,Florida,
USA
This is the same scam as KH Direct Media
#5Consumer Comment
Wed, July 27, 2016
This is the identical scam under the name KH Direct Media (see Rip Off Report for this company). Same product, pitch etc.. This companies keep disappearing, morphing to different names. The website used by this crooked company (khmediadirect.com) now redirects to a vacant russian domain. This scam claims that Kevin Harrington is associated. However the FL Attorney general has filed suit against the principles of this entity. Beware further re-incarnations with different aliases. Just look up addesses on Google Streetview, you can see they are just fronts. Pure scam!
FL ATTY GENERAL NOTICE
As of May 13, 2015, Florida Attorney General's Office filed a complaint against a promotional enterprise deceptively luring customers into paying for infomercials that were promoted to them as independent, magazine style, national television programs hosted by celebrities.
Paul D. Scott, Robert Posner, Anthony Dimeglio and affiliated companies are facing violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act for participating in this deceptive marketing scheme that solicited thousands of businesses, towns and municipalities to purchase these misleading advertising products.
According to the complaint, the defendants pitched the opportunity to appear as a featured guest on one of their national television shows that purportedly aired regularly to millions of viewers.
The purported national television shows used programming titles, such as Business Day, The Economic Report, The Art of Living, Today in America, Great Taste, Health Briefs, Communities of Distinction, and Forbes Living, among others.
In reality, the customers received an infomercial costing from $20,000 to $30,000, which they were lead to believe was being paid as a licensing fee or scheduling fee, rather than for the production of the infomercial itself.
These infomercials typically aired on smaller television markets and at times when relatively few viewers watched.
The defendants allegedly operated this scheme out of offices in Coral Springs, Fla.
The complaint also alleges that the defendants allowed telemarketers to use fake names and misleading biographical information when soliciting customers to avoid potential responsibility.
Similar allegedly false and misleading representations concerning the defendants' infomercial products resulted in the entry of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the Office of the Attorney General in May 2007.
The complaint filed today alleges that the defendants violated the AVC by, among other things, making certain cosmetic changes to their business model, while continuing their overall deceptive sales pitch.
The complaint seeks injunctive relief and equitable relief; full restitution to affected consumers; attorneys' fees and costs; and civil penalties.
The complaint also seeks a permanent injunction from any acts or practices that violate the FDUTPA.
The following individuals and affiliates are named in this complaint: Anthony Dimeglio, Paul D. Scott, Robert Posner, FR Media, Inc., New Line Media Solutions, Inc., Platinum Television Group, Inc., and U.S. Media Television, Inc.
For further assistance please contact
Florida Attorney General's Office
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Switchboard: 850-414-3300
Toll Free: 866-966-7226
www.myfloridalegal.com
http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleas
The website used by this crooked company (khmediadirect.com) now redirects to a vacant russian domain. In addition the PL Attorney general has filed suit against the principles of this entity. Beware further re-incarnations with different aliases. Pure scam!
FL ATTY GENERAL NOTICE
As of May 13, 2015, Florida Attorney General's Office filed a complaint against a promotional enterprise deceptively luring customers into paying for infomercials that were promoted to them as independent, magazine style, national television programs hosted by celebrities.
Paul D. Scott, Robert Posner, Anthony Dimeglio and affiliated companies are facing violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act for participating in this deceptive marketing scheme that solicited thousands of businesses, towns and municipalities to purchase these misleading advertising products.
According to the complaint, the defendants pitched the opportunity to appear as a featured guest on one of their national television shows that purportedly aired regularly to millions of viewers.
The purported national television shows used programming titles, such as Business Day, The Economic Report, The Art of Living, Today in America, Great Taste, Health Briefs, Communities of Distinction, and Forbes Living, among others.
In reality, the customers received an infomercial costing from $20,000 to $30,000, which they were lead to believe was being paid as a licensing fee or scheduling fee, rather than for the production of the infomercial itself.
These infomercials typically aired on smaller television markets and at times when relatively few viewers watched.
The defendants allegedly operated this scheme out of offices in Coral Springs, Fla.
The complaint also alleges that the defendants allowed telemarketers to use fake names and misleading biographical information when soliciting customers to avoid potential responsibility.
Similar allegedly false and misleading representations concerning the defendants' infomercial products resulted in the entry of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the Office of the Attorney General in May 2007.
The complaint filed today alleges that the defendants violated the AVC by, among other things, making certain cosmetic changes to their business model, while continuing their overall deceptive sales pitch.
The complaint seeks injunctive relief and equitable relief; full restitution to affected consumers; attorneys' fees and costs; and civil penalties.
The complaint also seeks a permanent injunction from any acts or practices that violate the FDUTPA.
The following individuals and affiliates are named in this complaint: Anthony Dimeglio, Paul D. Scott, Robert Posner, FR Media, Inc., New Line Media Solutions, Inc., Platinum Television Group, Inc., and U.S. Media Television, Inc.
For further assistance please contact
Florida Attorney General's Office
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Switchboard: 850-414-3300
Toll Free: 866-966-7226
www.myfloridalegal.com
http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleas
Langley
Naperville,Illinois,
USA
No solid complaints here
#5General Comment
Sun, June 19, 2016
I don't understand the complaints in this report; no one here has had any real experience with this company. No one here has been injured by this company.
Upon learning about Shark Finds about 6 months ago and doing my own investigation, I referred a business client to them. I know that Kevin Harrington is solid and has an outstanding reputation. My client's experience with Shark Finds has been extremely positive. Her product has made solid gains in the market and she has learned more than she ever knew about retail. She is cashflow positive and growing with opportunities opening up frequently...all due to her participation in the Shark Finds campaign. The DRTV spots produced for her are outstanding and are her property to use as she wishes after the media test is complete.
My client also referred another inventor to the program and he is enjoying a similar experience.
As someone who is responsible for two of their current clients I have contacted the VP of Marketing and enjoyed several very informative, intelligent conversations with her.
Please, unless you have directly experienced a "rip-off" think twice before marring a company's reputation.
anonbusiness
Alabama,USA
They Contacted Me for the Same Scam
#5General Comment
Tue, March 29, 2016
I was also contacted by this company. They claimed to be interested in featuring my business in a new media campaign and would like to speak with me about the opportunity.
I figured no harm in talking. So I set up the call.
The woman asked a few questions about my business, then went on to solicit for $19K for a scheduling fee.
Sounded a bit fishy to me, so I told her I would have to research and discuss with my partner.
After a bit of time on Google I discovered these links:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/kh-direct-media-paul-scott/coral-springs-florida-33076/kh-direct-media-paul-scott-platinum-tv-production-scam-another-scam-company-charging-thou-1235678
http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/KMAN-9WGMFN/$file/Platinum.pdf
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141006/13111528746/latest-pay-to-be-public-tv-scam-involves-football-coach-jimmy-johnson.shtml
Apparently, they target small businesses promising TV exposure that never really pans out as promised. They have been put out of business several times and changed names.
I hope this information saves another business owner from falling for this scam. Fortunately all I lost was a bit of time on the phone.
Hardy-Har-Har
Anaheim,California,
USA
What is the rip-off?
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, February 29, 2016
Can you be more specific about how you were ripped off? What exactly happened?
This is a production company, and they are selling their services (no one expects TV commercials to be made for free and airtime to be purchased for you at their cost just out of the goodness of their heart). So with that, are you complaining that they charge for services? Or did you purchase from them and not get what you purchased? It would be very helpful to others if your complaint was more specific.
Thanks.