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Please enlighten me as to why Interlake Chemicals has 3 BBB accounts under different names. It appears that one of them has shown that they only really started in 2004 (which they did) but another who bought their story about how they have been in business since 1991 and still gives them a A+ rating because they have not recorded the fraud charges in Washington State or other various complaints. It appears by all accounts that the BBB's do not communicate with one another. Every time they get a complaint they open a new BBB account. Their address is listed as 12550 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami, FL 33181. This is a POBOX. Is that legal? Does the BBB check their records?
http://www.bbb.org/south-east-florida/business-reviews/chemical-cleaning-industrial/interlake-chemicals-international-ltd-in-miami-fl-33000690
http://www.bbb.org/manitoba/business-reviews/cleaning-compounds/interlake-chemicals-ltd-in-gimli-mb-13389
http://www.bbb.org/south-east-florida/business-reviews/chemicals-dealers/interlake-chemicals-usa-in-miami-fl-92020935
I talked with their agent in Utah. He told me it is a scam. He is trying to sue them to get his money back. It sounds like they are in some legal and financial trouble. He said they offer no support and not one lead since starting. He also said there are others in his state which he was not told about. They have operators now in all 50 states and continue to resell the territories.
The Manitoba Company, Interlake Chemicals (see logo), has been served a Notice of Intent To Issue an Order to Cease and Desist by the Department of Financial Institutions, in the State of Washington, for violations of the Business Opportunity Fraud Act of Washington.
According to the allegations, "Glen Stroud, Dan Hammond, and Interlake Chemicals International Ltd. Corp., and their agents and employees, have violated the Business Opportunity Fraud Act of Washington, RCW 19.110, and that their violations justify the entry of an order of the Securities Administrator under RCW 19.110.150 to cease and desist from such violations."
The tentative findings of fact are:
"Interlake Chemicals is the seller of a business opportunity to distribute NON-SLIP products and services. The company’s NON-SLIP products include SURE STEP, a product applied to floors and bathtubs. SURE STEP increases the coefficient of friction of treated surfaces, which prevents the surfaces from being slippery when wet.
Interlake Chemicals sells distributorships and master distributorships by territory. A purchaser of a distributorship has the right to market, sell and service the NON-SLIP products within a designated territory.
A purchaser of a master distributorship has the right to market, sell and service the NON-SLIP products within a designated territory, and also has the right to establish local distributors in the designated territory which it will manage.
Purchasers of the opportunities receive an inventory of the SURE STEP product, an application demonstration kit, application equipment, promotional materials, distributor training manual, distributor training video, on-site training, and home office support.
Purchasers of the opportunities are expected to establish their own business in the designated territory to market, sell and service the NON-SLIP products.
According to the Distributor Agreement, the purchaser may not use Interlake Chemicals as their business name. According to the Distributor Agreement, purchasers of the opportunities must purchase a minimum of $2, 400 in NON-SLIP products from Interlake Chemicals annually, in order to renew the agreement. Failure to do so results in the expiration of the agreement.
Interlake Chemicals represented to purchasers in a brochure that “revenue from your initial inventory will more than pay for your entire SURE STEP investment three times over.” Interlake Chemicals further represented to purchasers in a brochure that “the market potential is unlimited, and the profits are enormous.”
Interlake Chemicals offered and/or sold its opportunity to Washington residents via advertisements on the internet. Additionally, Interlake Chemicals offered and/or sold its opportunity through a website it maintains at www.interlake-chemicals.com."
I have taken the time to reproduce these tentative findings of fact, and bolded the requirement that the distributors not use the name "Interlake Chemicals" in their own business name.
Undoubtedly, someone erroneously thought that a) if Interlake sold distributorships, and b) required the distributors not to use the name "Interlake Chemicals", then c) the sale would neither be the sale of a franchise or business opportunity.
This is an incorrect conclusion, in my view, given the facts asserted.
The State of Washington alleges that at least two distributors bought this offering by Interlake Chemicals, who did not register with the State nor have a UFOC.
For the record, Glen Stroud was involved with Paul Beaupre - who masterminded the largest single business opportunity fraud prosecuted in Canada. (Your humble scribe appears on the WFive's expose of Beaupre.)
Perhaps a background check by Interlake Chemicals would have been in order? Certainly, a good US franchise lawyer would have been useful.
(Yes, of course Richard would have seen through this too - but, I thought to highlight Keith Kanouse's article also.)
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I am highly thinking about getting into this but i found a few other companies who also offer a similar product, but located in the USA. First one is Posigrip. Seems to be around much longer. Another is Slipdoctors, which has much more solutions. Another is No Skidding, which is in Canada with more solutions too. I encourage all those considering this type of business to talk with all these manufacturers to get a good idea what is out there.
Check out Walkway Management Group If you want a real franchise opportunity in the floor safety industry that supports their franchisees. Sure step is a scam and doesn’t support their distributors. You can see it from all the legal trouble their in. They’re liars
I talked to a guy who signed up for walkway. Said it’s also a complete scam. Got nothing from them. No leads and a terrible support. Said he tried to return it all but would unable to get any type of refund. Now lawsuit soon.
I am a sure step franchisee. Stay far away from this company. They do not support their franchisees. They sell you on opportunities that do not exist and are impossible to achieve.
SDFosho i was just about to sign up with these guy and now i am very curious about your statements. Can you please give a few more details about your experience. Did you get the products? What was the training like if any? who was your trainer? what state are you in? How long have you been doing this? Have you made any attempts to get money back and what were you told? Who was the sales rep? Where you able to get any customers?
Email me. Shawn@floorsafetyfirst.com
Bluzfan check out walkway management group if you want an ACTUAL FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY in the floor safety industry. www.walkwaymg.com sure step and slip doctors distributorships provide you with NOTHING but access to a product they sell on amazon.
Be warned if you get a distributorship SureStep will provide 0 leads and you will be responsible for 100% of cold calling and drumming up all of your business. It's exhausting and a crap shoot. Some people get lucky early on but this industry is still in it's infancy so you have to educate before you sell. It's a tough tough road.
When did you get started with them. Just started researching the business after an hour long phone call with the vp.
Their materials and program to help you form your business plan and execution are a joke. There are lawsuits against them and the only positive thing about them is their product. Everything is a sham and you are left to fend on your own. They fill you will promises but leave you with nothing.
Anyone know the difference? I have been also talking to Walkway Management Group about their franchise. Both offer this crazy expensive slip testing device. Are they the same company?
Denny's in West Covina off Azusa California wash boy goes by a fake name they hired him like that his real name is Justin not Eric and the job does nothing about it I have complained before