I bought a machine that was shipped outside of the delivery terms of the contract. The locations department was of no help in securing for an acceptable location so I placed it myself. Now I have the machine in place but no support and it does not look like the Itallian Company is going to step up and do the right thing. The following is the public statement e-mail that I recieved this morning.
Public Statement
October 11, 2004
Riello Technoware Engineering S.p.A. (Riello) is a company in Italy that manufactures dispensers of various media products such as DVDs.
Automated Entertainment Dispensers, Inc. (AED I) purchased dispensers from Riello in Italy. AED I was responsible for any and all marketing, selling, installing and providing of technical support services to customers in the United States. Riello has been informed that AED I contracted with American Entertainment Distributors, Inc. (AED II) and Universal Technical Support, Inc. (UTS) to perform marketing, sales, installation and technical support services to the customers in the United States. AED I, AED II and UTS are all Florida corporations (the Companies). Riello does not have any contractual obligation with any of the Companies other than the supply of products to AED I and the training of its technicians. The contract between Riello and AED I specifically excludes any involvement or responsibility as to the marketing, selling, installation and technical support of its products in the United States.
Riello has no outstanding orders with AED I. Riello delivered to AED I all dispensers that were ordered by AED I. Except for orders from AED I, Riello did not accept any orders from any other person in the United States. There are no other Riello's authorized distributors, resellers and technical support firms in the United States at this time.
On October 1, 2004, Riello was made aware that the Companies were seized by the FTC pursuant to an order by Federal Court in Dade County, Florida. The FTC is alleging a variety of claims against various parties, including the Companies. A related criminal investigation of various parties by the US Postal Service is also pending. The FTC has confirmed that neither Riello nor its USA consultant Lilia, Inc., is a party to any of these claims or investigations.
Subsequent to the FTC seizing the Companies, Riello has been informed of various alleged wrongful marketing and sales tactics on the part of various parties. Riello is without sufficient information to determine whether the FTC's allegations are true. To the extent any wrongful acts were committed, Riello was unaware of those activities. Riello will, to the extent possible under the principals of international law, fully cooperate with the ongoing FTC investigation.
Riello has been informed by the Court appointed receiver of the Companies that the likelihood whether the Companies remain operating business concerns will depend upon the outcome of a hearing before the Federal Court scheduled for October 8, 2004. The purpose of the scheduled hearing is to determine whether the current Court order that restrains the Companies from conducting business should remain in place. If Federal Court determines to keep the order in place, the appointed receiver has informed Riello that he will take actions to liquidate the Companies.
On October 8 the Court decided to postpone the hearing to October 13 because some of the defendants did not have legal representation. When the Court decision will be made available, Riello will release a new statement with updated information. Riello fulfilled all of its orders from the Companies prior to it learning of the FTC seizure of the Companies. Riello has no outstanding orders from the Companies. Until such time as the issues surrounding the allegations made by the FTC against the Companies are resolved, Riello will not accept any orders from any person or entity within the United States for its goods and services pending outcome of the above described matter. For all other inquiries regarding this matter, we recommend that you contact the Court appointed receiver for the Companies.
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They could at least post the user doccumentation for the machines on their website. I don't think this would violate any support language in the contract. (But I am not a lawyer nor do I know the specific language of the contract) I am just a guy that has no way to support a 35K investment. Good luck to all as we fight to make things right.
Shawn
Houston, Texas
U.S.A.