My sister and I got sucked in to Cynthia McKay's scam in November 1999. Cynthia McKay's business is to get people to pay her $3500 — it has nothing to do with showing them how to run a gift basket business.
My sister and I wanted to start a home-based business and Cynthia's sales pitch was excellent. The cost was $3500 and with it we were to get substantial start-up inventory, but most importantly vendors who were supposed to offer discounted prices to Le Gourmet's licensees and, really important to us, we would receive all referrals that Le Gourmet got for baskets in our area. Cynthia told us that those referrals were substantial.
We paid the first payment of $1750 and Cynthia came to Sacramento to train us. We met her in a hotel and spent about 6 hours learning how to build gift baskets. We thought the baskets and product she had brought were for practice because the packaging (on cookies, candies, etc.) was wrinkled and looked worn. It defintely didn't look like "fresh" merchandise. Much to our surprise, after we built 4 gift baskets, she told us that those baskets and inventory were the inventory that came with our purchase and we could take them home. I felt uneasy but didn't say anything at that time.
After getting home and reviewing the Le Gourmet binder of vendor information, etc., that we were given, I felt better. It was packed full of information. My sister began calling the vendors to get the "special deals" that Cynthia had negotiated for her licensees. Vendor after vendor told us that they didn't know who Cynthia McKay was and they gave us their regular prices. We called and documented the responses from over 30 vendors — no "negotiated discounts" as Cynthia has promised.
With Valentine's Day approaching, we stocked up on inventory from local sources, ready for the rush that Cynthia told us we should expect for Valentine's Day. On February 12th I called Cynthia to inquire about any referrals. She said she couldn't send us any referrals until our final payment of $1750 was made.
When the payment became due in late February, I called Cynthia to discuss my concerns. She wasn't available. Luckily I also documented my conversations. Cynthia would not respond to my questions, concerns, or allegations. Cynthia finally turned my account over to a collection agency to try and collect the $1750. Luckily I had documented my repeated attempts to discuss my concerns with her. I provided my documentation to every agency from the BBB to the Attorney General's offices in both California and Colorado and she finally gave up, though she still never contacted me. That proved that I was of no importance to her, only my money was.
To anyone who is considering doing business with Le Gourmet Gift Baskets, Cynthia McKay, or any company associated with her, don't! Makes me wonder why a woman with a reported doctorate and a so-called successful law practice would quit at a relatively young age to get into the gift basket business. Maybe that's all a scam too?!
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