My husband first saw an add for a vending machine route in our local paper. We called the number and reached Venstar. We spoke with Dean Minotto. During our many conversations he referred us to a personal friend of his that place machines. They were with Cornerstone marketing and their names were Chris Putnam and Kathryn Putnam. Dean told us they were the best marking fir to use for placing vending machines. He even gave us their cell number. We called and spoke with Chris and Kathryn many times to ask questions. I did not know that this is were Vendstar HOOKS the customer. After talking with the marketing company you think how can I lose. Another HOOK they use is to tell you that they also own machines and that they paid for their machines in the first year. Dean Minotto and Kathryn both told me this.
What Dean with Venstar forgot to mention is that Cornerstone was being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission. Come on if you're their friend and have their cell number you know what is going on! He led us right on until we signed the contract with Venstar and Cornerstone.
We followed all the contract requirements. We wrote to Cornerstone to ask that the machine be moved because the locations were not making any money. We waited and waited on a response. We finally called Cornerstone Marketing and Jennifer answered. That would be Jennifer Kathryn Putnam Buffington. She answered the phone as Specialty Marketing. That's right the same number we had for Cornerstone. She said she had bought Cornerstone at a reduced price but did not take over any of the contracts.
We called Venstar, I was furious. Dean sent us to customer service and they said they would take care on it. Jennifer finally agreed to relocate 20 machines out of 112. She said she was doing this out of the goodness of her heart. This still took anther three months. My husband went a round with locator Ron Davis. He found 20 places but the very next day when we tried to install those 5 locations refused. We called Venstar and Specialty marketing time after time with no return calls made to us.
I borrowed money from my parents to fund the enterprise. Now we are in the hole by about 30,000 dollars. My father is a disabled Veteran and my mother is a retiree. This really shows how concerned Venstar is about their customers. We can't make the money back and now we along with my parents are out this money. Do not do business with Venstar. You will only be defrauded.
KimDillon, South Carolina
U.S.A.
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