|
BEWARE We've been in business since 1954, nearly half a century and we've seen the con men come and go; but unfortunately, some "don't go." Inventors are especially vulnerable to being told how great their invention is - for the sheer purpose of exploiting them and their finances. So read the following BEWARES: Write the company as to what their TOTAL fee will be. (Some of these companies use the old "build-up." They tell you one fee and then come back for more money for each step of the way.) Make them commit to a TOTAL fee IN WRITING, by U.S. MAIL. Verbally they will tell you anything. Compare fees - Ask the salesman calling what his commission is - you might be surprised. BEWARE! Never let them know the slightest thing about your finances. They'll "take you" for however much money they think you can come up with. BEWARE! Some will try to sell you an "Evaluation" or "Market Study." When you submit your invention to a manufacturer, they make their own "evaluation." (Some have told us they pay no attention to an evaluation from an outsider.) Many invention companies use a glowing market study to "set-up" the inventor for their BIG fee. BEWARE! BEWARE! of unnecessary and expensive model work. Regardless of what you do, the manufacturers will do their own model work. You could take your product to five different manufacturers; and they will produce it in five different ways, based on their facilities and materials. Please see our website, under newsletters, regarding the need for a model. Trade shows: do not be misled by companies who claim to be able to take your product to trade shows. Legitimate tradeshows are for products already in production. BEWARE! Carefully check out the address of any company - many have no street address and often, no telephone number that gets immediate results when called. So, how can you be sure they even have an office? Or if you pay them a fee, how could you ever find them if they default? BEWARE! Be very cautious when companies offer to fly you to their office. It is very easy to hide a $400.00 airplane ticket in an $8,000.00 + fee. Legitimate companies do not resort to these tactics. BEWARE! We welcome honest, ethical competition. It is good for the reputation of honest businesses devoted to assisting inventors. A service such as Kessler renders is essential to the invention process. After a person has invented a product, he should have a way to learn whether the manufacturers are willing to pay him for the rights to it, a cash sum or a continuing royalty. Every invention company you are considering should give you the answers in writing as we suggested above. Then check with the agencies listed in the following paragraph. ABOUT OURSELVES: We have never been sued, never been accused of fraud and rarely have a dissatisfied client. To confirm this, write to the Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce and KeyCorp. Bank (our commercial bank), both in Freemont, OH 43420, and the Toledo Better Business Bureau, 3103 Executive Pkwy. Suite 200, Toledo, Ohio 43606. CHECK CAREFULLY, including Kessler. Write the agencies mentioned above, in their own State and City, of any companies you may be considering. Do it - for the sake of $10,000.00 to $20,000.00 or more out of your pocket.
|