REVIVE ENERGY MINTS Vending Scam Dashes Entrepreneurial Dream
Vending scams and fraudulent business opportunities like Revive Energy Mints vending opportunity can dash the entrepreneurial dreams of individuals of all ages.
Jerry, after a long career as a hotel manager, was hoping to retire when he invested $23,000 into the Revive Energy Mints franchise. (Read: REVIVE ENERGY MINTS Katrina Survivor Devastated by Vending Scam)
Liz, on leave recovering from surgery, was still employed but wanted to supplement her income when she invested her savings of nearly $16,000 (Read: REVIVE ENERGY MINTS Vending Fraud Victim Liz Speaks Out)
Kevin* is a young, ambitious business school graduate who dreamed of owning his own business. Now he’s unemployed, depressed and out $18,250.
[For more information on Revive, check out: REVIVE ENERGY MINTS Vending Scam Information]
Kevin’s Vending Scam Story
In his early 20’s, Kevin’s career was off to a promising start. Shortly after earning his degree in Marketing, Kevin landed a job as a sales rep with one of the nation’s best known companies. He excelled at the job, managing to save nearly $20,000 for his dream of starting and building his own business.
Like others Unhappy Franchisee interviewed, Kevin ran across an enticing ad on the franchise opportunity website FranchiseGator.com. The ad was for a vending opportunity for Revive Energy Mints. It promised continued access to a proprietary energy-boosting product that contained multiple, popular anti-oxidents. It promised branded retail displays and gumball-type vending machines for selling the Revive Energy Mints products. And it promised both initial training and lifetime support and coaching to help ensure the success of the business.
Kevin did his homework, searching extensively online for info on the company. There were no red flags. The company had a positive rating from the Better Business Bureau. It was a member of the International Franchise Association, and had been named distributor opportunity of the year by what looked like a legitimate trade magazine. All of the reviews and articles that showed up on Google were positive.
After multiple phone conversations with the very polished and effective Revive Energy Mints sales representatives, Kevin was hooked. In April, 2011, Kevin became a Revive Energy Mints franchise owner. He sent the company $18,250 for 25 vending machines and a supply of mints. He was so dedicated to making his new Revive Energy Mints business a success, he quit his job so he could focus on the new venture full-time.
Despite the fact that placing machines was nowhere near as easy as the company had said, Kevin got his business off to a decent start. He received his initial training and coaching calls from Paul Haverstick. He got three machines placed, and multiple non-vending retail displays secured. 5 months after sending his initial check, he could no longer reach anyone at the company. Suddenly, he had no way to replenish his vending machines or his retail displays, as the company was his only source of inventory.
He searched the Internet once again and this time found Unhappy Franchisee, and the stories of others who had lost their investments with Revive Energy Mints as well.
He joined up with other abandoned Revive Energy Mints franchisees as part of the Revive Victims Coalition to tell his story and seek justice and restitution (for more info on the RVC email UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com)
Business Opportunity Fraud Takes a Personal Toll
Business opportunity fraud takes a personal, as well as a financial, toll on its victims.
One of Kevin’s motivations for quitting his job and starting his own business was to gain the flexibility to help care for and support his mother, who has severe health problems.
As a result of the trust Kevin put into Revive Energy Mints, he has less flexibility than ever. He now must devote his time to seeking employment that will start as soon as possible. He no longer has the $18,250 he had saved, just a garage full of machines he can’t place because he no longer has access to inventory.
Despite this major setback, Kevin hasn’t given up on the idea of owning his own business some day; he’ll just be more diligent on not rely on a vending or franchise company.
Kevin’s also refusing to go away quietly. The Revive Victims Coalition has documented their stories and complaints, which are being submitted to governmental and law enforcement agencies with the hope of bringing those responsible to justice. If you’ve been the victim of Revive Energy Mints or other business opportunity fraud, email UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com for info on what you can do.
WERE YOU A VICTIM OF REVIVE ENERGY MINTS OR OTHER FRAUDULENT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW OR EMAIL US AT UNHAPPYFRANCHISEE[AT]GMAIL.COM.