Bad Guy BEWARE of "WORLD PET EXPOS"

Susan S.

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Beware of this company that is planning PET EXPOS all across the U.S. They have taken my money and not provided the show!

I got a telephone call in early December from a David Davis from "World Pet Expos" out of Sarasota, Florida. They say they are the company that has previously put on the Ice Capades. They told me of a scheduled Pet Expo in Tallahassee, Florida for Feb. 28 through March 1, 2009. It was to be held at the Civic Center which is a nice venue. It sounded interesting and I would likely be one of the few vendors with reptiles. I signed the contract faxed to me and paid the fee of $325 for the 10 x 10 booth plus facility fee and tax to the total of $365.41. In early February the Civic Center schedule was emailed to me as they do each month. No Pet Expo was on the schedule. I called the Civic Center and talked to a gentleman who told me that the promoter for the Pet Expo did not provide the required deposit and no show was scheduled. He also stated the guy told him that it was partly a "home show" and since the Civic Center already had a Home Show scheduled in early February, they did not want this conflict of interest.

I called John Whitfield at World Pet Expos in Sarasota. I told him I was just informed that there would be no show and I wanted a refund. He said it was a "non-refundable contract" ! What? You will not provide the show at the venue on the scheduled dates and no refund? He said he would talk with the "owner" and get back to me. Well, you guessed it.....no he has not gotten back to me and he now has someone screening his calls. There are likely lots more folks like me who have been ripped off by this guy.

He now has a Tallahassee show scheduled on his website... "www.WorldPetExpos.org" ...for June at the Fair Grounds. There is no comparison between the Civic Center and the Fair Grounds. I have done Repticon shows at the Fair Grounds many times for $90 per table. This guy is really going to charge $325 per table for the Fair Grounds??

BEWARE of this company because they will likely be calling others like me who have websites or have done other pet or reptile shows in the past.
 
did you read the contract for this show? You signed it... So if it said it was non refundable, they are, technically covered. ( you would probably have to bring them to court, and just have to prove they had no intention of doing the show, so i would be talking to the civic center and getting a written signed statement that they never paid the deposit for the show.

How did you pay? If you paid by credit card, you could do a chargeback.
 
could you perhaps scan a copy of the contract signed? If it's a case of not reading something before autographing it then....
 
I would suspect that the non-refundable clause is for if you back out not if they don't have the show. But I haven't seen the contract. But it doesn't appear to have been completed. IMO

To be legally binding, a contract needs two essential components: 1) an agreement, and 2) consideration. Within the agreement and consideration lies an assortment of provisions that add to the legality of a contract. These include the offer, performance, terms, conditions, obligations, payment terms, liability and or default or breach of contract.

Possibly you could try and find out if there are others that were duped into giving a deposit. Together you may be able to get you deposits back. Good Luck.
 
Susan

Definitely post the contract. A non refundable clause is not enforcable if they do not provide the service contracted for. The only possibility is if the contract gives them the right to substitute a "like kind" service in the event the service contracted for does not occur.
 
Thanks everyone for your comments. I am posting the contract for you to see. Perhaps I can get a consensus of opinions on whether you think I have a chance to get my money back.

I still have not received any call from this company regarding the fact that there will be no show in Tallahassee on Feb. 28th at the Civic Center. But then, he did get a call from the Sarasota Police Dept on my behalf, so he knows that I am aware of what he is trying to do here. I will not accept the "old switcheroo" from a show Feb. 28th and March 1st at the Civic Center to be replaced by a show at the Fairgrounds in June!

Susan Sentman
SSNAKES Reptiles
 
I see you paid with a Visa card, can you get a charge back through the CC company?
 
Susan, you may not want to have your CC number on there fully viewable.. You may want to edit it out.
 
Your card number is visable there you might want to have the picture removed from the thread or delete it yourself if possible.
 
"Non-refundable" does NOT apply when he did not provide a show. That's like signing a Non-refundable contract for buying a car.. but there's no car!
That's called stealing. Best of luck in getting your money back. I hope your CC will take back the money too. Don't let that contract out of your hands!!! Not to anyone.
 
Can a mod remove the attachment if she doesn't log soon. Wouldn't want it getting in the wrong hands...
 
Thanks John, Lady Ohh and Craigh for noticing the CC info....I didn't really know how to go back and get it out. The attachment is gone now....thanks to all.

I plan to wait until after March 1st and then dispute the charge with the credit card company. My initial contact with the CC people was disappointing when they told me due to the contract "no refund" clause, there was nothing they could do. But I will try again after the show dates are past and no show has occurred.


Susan Sentman
SSNAKES Reptiles
 
I "unapproved" the attachment, so it is no longer visible. I'm going to ask that you respost the receipt with the credit card information removed. I will compare the two, and confirm that they were no other changes made.
It was up for about 3 hours though....probably worth the pain in the butt to cancel that card, just to be safe.
 
When seeing this thread, I did send an email to the show promoters, and got a very short and sweet response. Here are the emails, reads bottom up. I have not received an answer to my last email. To me, the whole thing sounds fishy...the Tampa show was post-poned as well now?

Also, I did not see the original contract post, but would love to see it with the CC info blocked out. Susan, if you need help, I am sure a mod would gladly help you do that.


From: Kordek's Kritters Information
To: Niles
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:36 AM
Subject: Re: More Information

Niles,

Can you please give me some more information by answering the questions I had below? Thanks!

Kelly Kordek
----- Original Message -----
From: Niles
To: 'Kordek's Kritters Information'
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:21 AM
Subject: RE: More Information

Tampa show was postponed

And yes there is availability at the other Florida shows


From: Kordek's Kritters Information [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 9:11 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: More Information

Hello! I am writing to get more information on the Pet Expo you are planning to have in Tampa Bay on February 21 & 22.

Is this the first World Pet Expo, or have there been others? If there have been others, do you have information on the past shows, such as attendance, number of vendors, where it was held, etc?

Do you have a listing of vendors that will be attending?

Is this simply a show, or a show/sale? What type of animals are allowed?

Are there spaces still available? If so, how much do they cost, and what is included? Do you have spaces available at your other Florida shows as well?

Please let me know as soon as possible, as I may be interested in attending as a vendor at a future show. Thank you!

Kelly Kordek
Kordek's Kritters
 
Here is a copy of the World Pet Expo contract with all private info removed.

Thanks Kelley for the info on the "postponed" Tampa Show. I wonder how many people are out money on that show?

There is something fishy going on with this company. The Sarasota police talked with Mr. John Whitfield, the second guy I dealt with and the guy that I think is heading up this company. He told the Sarasota police to tell me to call him the next day. I did not (he has someone screening his calls). The Tallahassee police thought he was shady but said there was no crime that occurred here so there was nothing they could do. I filed a complaint with the BBB and the FCC. FCC wrote me to say it is not their jurisdiction.

I still plan to appeal to the CC company for my money back. I will let you all know what happens.

Thanks to all for your help.

Susan Sentman
SSNAKES Reptiles
 

Attachments

  • SZBPost Pet Expo Contract.jpg
    SZBPost Pet Expo Contract.jpg
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Does the WORLD PET'S EXPO manual have any relevant information about vendor terms and conditions?

I have to agree with what others have said, the contract may say "non refundable" but I don't see how that can apply if they don't actually provide the expo at the stated date and location. If they don't provide the service, it's outright theft, "non refundable" or no. Perhaps the police will agree with you that an actual CRIME has taken place once this date is past and you have proof no such expo occurred at that location???

The mind boggles.
 
Susan,

According to how I am reading that contract, you are entitled to your money back, no questions asked, as long as one little thing does not happen.

The first paragraph states that you and the exhibitor "enter into this agreement for the purpose of renting exhibit space as herein specified for WORLD PET EXPOS to be held in the city and on the dates as shown above."

Although it does NOT mention in the specified venue (which they could have gotten you on), it DOES mention the DATES on the contract as being the dates the show will be held. The very top of the contract shows the dates clearly as Feb 28-March 1. They are in clear breech of contract if no show happens in Tallahassee on those dates, and they should be required to refund your money. It actually could happen at any venue, but it MUST be on those dates somewhere in that city.

I find it interesting that they phrased the contract that way, however, as it actually DOES give them an out to move the venue on the dates, as long as it stays in the same city, and still not refund your money. A very shady way of recruiting vendors into a nice venue then saying "oops, gotta move it to the run down hall down the road, but we will still have a show" and you being out the money. "You" here being any vendor signing up for their shows.

Your best bet is to wait until next weekend, and as long as WPE does not hold a show in that city anywhere, you are fine. It may not, however, be a criminal matter, as a breech of contract is a civil issue. I would call them and ask them if they have the venue rescheduled for those dates, and get as much information as possible. If they say no, do not ask them about a refund or mention how the contract is phrased, but record it on paper (date, time, person you spoke with) and be ready for a fight.

Seeing as how you are all in the same area, it may be of your best interest to take it to civil court if the credit card company will not refund your money. I would call the police station and speak with them again, however, if no show happens on those dates in that city to see if there has been a crime committed. If not, take it to Judge Judy :rofl:
 
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