Dennis Mason aka Dennis K. Mason, Denis Mason, Dennis Maason, Keith Samuels, Anthony Stewart, Franchise Ventures Inc. Franchises Unlimited Inc., franchise complaints, warnings OR praise and recommendations for Dennis K. Mason are welcome below.
In researching franchise disputes on complaint websites, franchise discussion boards and franchise lawsuit and court records, certain names seem to crop up again and again.
One of those names is that of a long-time, New Jersey – based franchise salesman and broker named Dennis K. Mason. Allegations seem to center around deceptive franchise sales techniques, including the use of illegal earnings claims, to sell high-risk, low-quality franchise opportunities doomed to fail.
We don’t know if these allegations are true or not. We invite your confirmation, rebuttal or opinions below on Dennis Mason or other franchise sales brokers.
Most recently, franchise salesman Dennis Mason was named in a lawsuit from franchisees of New York Bagel Café & Deli. The franchisees claim that Dennis Mason understated the necessary investment costs and provided unrealistic and illegal earnings representations in order to induce them to buy New York Bagel Café & Deli franchise.
According to a story on NorthJersey.com:
The suit says that Dennis Mason told [the franchisees] that “franchised locations were earning $10,000 to $15,000 a week,” but their store earned only $4,200 to $4,900 a week.
New York Bagel provided a franchise disclosure document that said the cost of building a store would be $27,500 to $60,000, and the equipment would cost $22,000 to $38,000, the suit says. But it says the couple has so far spent $230,000 on the business, including $108,000 to build the store, and $55,000 on equipment.
The lawsuit also alleges that the franchise disclosure document used by Mason did not meet the required standards, was intentionally misleading, and did not disclose critical, required information, including Dennis Mason’s prior franchise lawsuit in connection with his sale of Java’s Brewin franchises.
Dennis Mason was named in a lawsuit against Java’s Brewin Development. According to the complaint:
This lawsuit arises from the illicit scheme carried out by Java’s Brewin, Christopher Gregoris, and Dennis Mason, through which they extracted significant sums of money from Plaintiffs by employing fraud and deception to induce Plaintiffs into purchasing Java’s Brewin franchises in the state of New York… during a time that Java’s Brewin was not properly registered to offer or sell franchises within the state of New York…
The lawsuit alleged that Mason used deceptive tactics in the franchise sales process, including selling in New York without the required disclosures, which would have included company financials showing the franchisor’s “bleak” financial condition.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that Dennis Mason grossly understated the initial investment cost of building out a franchise location by more than $50,000 in order to close a franchise sale. The suit alleged that services promised by Dennis Mason, such as “expert” site selection assistance was never provided, resulting in numerous stores never getting open.
MerchantCircle.com reviews of Mason’s Franchises Unlimited Inc. (18 Log Rd, Tabernacle, NJ 08088, 609-859-8686) were all negative, alleging that the New York Bagel Café franchise opportunity sold by Mason was a scam.
November 11, 2011 Janet in Millbury, MA wrote:
NEW YORK BAGEL CAFE & DELI
JOE SMITH AND DENNIS MASON CON PEOPLE…THEIR START UP FEES FOR BAGEL FRANCHISE ARE TOO LOW..MANY NEW YORK BAGEL CAFE & DELI RESTAURANTS CLOSED OR ARE CLOSING OR ARE STRUGGLING..BUYER BEWARE
August 12, 2011 David wrote:
DENNIS MASON STIFFED 200 PEOPLE OUT OF MILLIONS DOLLARS
Do not sign any franchise agreement with Dennis Mason or Joe Smith, NY BAGEL CAFE
June 17, 2011 by Sam wrote:
Dennis K. Mason, the owner is a scam artist who leads people to believe they are buying a franchise and he takes a down payment from them and disappears. He works along with a couple of other guys, one named Chris. He claims to sell NY Bagel Cafes, YoFresh Yogurt Cafes, Amazon Cafes and Hoagie stores. DO NOT give this man any money. SCAM ARTIST. He should be convicted and prosecuted.
A coffee website that reviewed a now-closed Java’s Brewin franchise location in Philadelphia contained this warning from Anonymous:
The people who committed this franchise fraud have also fraudulently sold Horn and Hardart franchises, Amazon Cafe franchises, Planet Hoagie franchises and Petrucci’s franchises…they set up these dummy businesses and then take the franchise fees and run. The franchisors are left with a poor product and lots of promises. Beware of Dennis Mason!!!
UnhappyFranchisee.com doesn’t know if these allegations are true or not, so we invite your comments, opinions, experiences, affirmations or rebuttals.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH DENNIS MASON & FRANCHISES UNLIMITED, INC.? WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
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they r a bunch of liars joe and dennis
Chrissssssss! It has come to my attention that yofresh san antonio is closed, yofresh cypress is closing in april and yofresh woodland tx has a non working number do you also want to call out these franchisees as lazy? also, It's quite possible Your failed concept has left them in financial ruins with the lease and also the machines etc. Are you guys just plain heartless or just decide to leave the stench of destruction as you go along? You sent some constable to my house to serve me papers i'm still waiting on that lawsuit. As I have told you in private and public you cant buy me out and I will be following you, yasir and Dennis forever to warn people of your business practices. Its time to again update that list of stores and im sure you didnt know they were closed.
There's a yofresh open in Brooklyn sunset park and I was of the impression Chris is not allowed to open a store in NYC. Anyone with insight into this situation please check into this matter and if in violation notify the proper authorities.
IM SENDING OUT THE LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW YORK TODAY AND ALSO I FOUND OUT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO FRANCHISE IN ILLINOIS. I WILL BE ALSO SENDING A LETTER TO THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL WHERE YOU HAVE TWO OPEN STORES AND ONE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. I WILL BE SENDING A COPY OF THE LETTER TO THE MODERATOR OF THIS FORUM. I'LL OVER TURN EVERY ROCK YOU HIDE UNDER AND MAKE IT SO HOT THE DEVIL WONT STAND NEXT TO YOU
This is there number they currently running an ad on Craigslist I was looking in to one of the stores in Middletown nj I went and luck the guy said all good things here is his number for who ever wants it [redacted]
good afternoon! if I may knock my two cents in...JAVA BREWIN IS A TOTAL SCAM. I ALSO DEALT WITH CHRIS GREGORIS AND DENNIS MASON. THEY TOOK $25000. FROM ME IN 2006. THEY SAW MY FRANCHISE ONCE AND THEY DISSAPEARD. THE FBI CONTACTED ME A YEAR LATER AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE DOING AN INVESTIGATION ON THEM, I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. I STILL HAVE THEIR PHONE NUMBERS HOWEVER I DONT THINK THEY ARE NO LONGER IN SERVICE. I ALSO TRIED SUIING THEM , HOWEVER BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT OF STATE I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. IM IN NEW JERSEY. IF AND WHEN THERE IS A LAWSUIT...PLEASE ADD ME TO THE LIST. THANK YOU. BY THE WAY,..SINCE THEN I LOST MY BUISNESS AND MY MONEY
I also received some solicitation from Dennis Mason using a gmail account after I received his email I went online and simply searched his name to come across this website, I then sent him an email pointing out these complains, I dont think I would take a franchise from this guys even it was free.
thank you all for sharing, it saved me a headache
Before I took the fight to these guys No one had anyway of tracking what these guys were up to and able to link them to the different franchise schemes. It's important for those that feel they've been bamboozled by this team to tell their stories and share the word to ensure this doesn't happen to other unsuspecting families. I have not been as aggressive as I was in the beginning but seeing the people that got saved from this franchise headache might renew my drive. Last time i spoke with Chris he told me i was costing him tons of money but i see it as saving families from him. Yofresh seems to have a year lifespan for the most part and with a 250k build and being on a 5-10 year lease that's capable of destroying lives. People need to understand Chris cares nothing about franchisees and that became most evident in the Perth Amboy store which I provided pics to the moderator. Let's stand as one against this man and his chronies!!
Anyone who would like to share their experiences with these companies or salespeople can email ADMIN in confidence to UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com.
I do not know where to begin...I do not even have the energy to type about the heart ache and destruction these guys have caused me and my family. I went 'all-in' so to speak on your failing concept. It was designed to fail...you simply just wanted my money. You took the life out of me guys, you have no idea. You read a very nice poem to your franchisees, get us warm and cuddly and then rip out our spirit and souls.
Thank you for the pain you have caused me and I truly hope no one has to endure this same suffering and disappointment. I guess you can say I am the one to blame. I should have done more research, I should have not been so malleable and gullible. But, I am a man of faith and I had faith in you guys, your concept, and most importantly your ethics. But, as much I am a man of faith and preach forgiveness; I seriously do not have an out of compassion or forgiveness in my heart for you.
A year later...300k cash wasted, savings wiped out, debt compiled, a divorce, foreclosure, my son is joining the air-force because I cannot afford his tuition, anti-depressants, and suicidal thoughts...
DO NOT BE ME! That's all I have to say.
Oh...
and one more thing...
GO FK YOURSELVES!!! (coming from a Christian man)
I have been reading through all of these articles about Chris and his associates on this website that date as far back as 2008 and I seriously wish did more research before going on this wild ride. My LIFE would have been much better had I done just one google search before cutting them a check. Thank you for your extensive work on exposing these guys for what they truly are Yostink. I have been reading your posts and articles and I support you and your efforts. You are a better man than me to have the courage to fight and stand up to these criminals. I salute you young man and I encourage you to keep up the good work and speak for people like me, whose soul has been broken and do not have the will, passion or motivation to stand up and fight. You truly do inspire me and I hope people that come across this forum take your posts seriously. I urge any and everyone to please STAY AWAY! You will be going on a ride that is pre-designed or pre-destined to hit a brick wall. TRUST ME... I was one of their crash dummies!!!