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Lindenwold Fine Jewelers - a Suarez you have al
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Lindenwold Fine Jewelers
Lindenwold Fine Jewelers is a division of Saurez Corporation Industries.
The principles of the company are: Benjamin D. Saurez, President; Rodney
Napier, Vice President; and, Nancy E. Saurez, Secretary-Treasurer. A
listing of all divisions is found below.
Everyone gets mail from those companies who are running a sweepstakes. You
know the kind - they send you information on the product they are selling in
the hope you will make a purchase. How you return your entry depends on
your decision about their product; respond one way if you are buying,
another if you are simply entering the contest. Most of us usually file
them in the nearest trash can. But, sometimes we open it up and read
everything to be sure the entry if filed properly. Publisher's Clearing
House is always fun just trying to find all the stickers. After all, they do
have to give the money away, don't they?
According to the Better Business Bureau of Canton, Ohio, ". . .the firm
typically sends out sweepstakes notices offering a cubic zirconia, which
is free, and offers mountings for a price." This is not entirely
correct, as most notice specify that the CZ is mounted and the mounting
must be purchased to get the 'diamond', which has "already been won"
"FREE". In each sweepstakes there is to be a cash drawing, with grand
prizes up to $10,000 (the fine print says "odds of winning $1
approximately 1:1).
What they are doing, of course, is marketing a product, usually CZ
diamonds. How they are marketing it is a different matter; very
misleading. They claim the recipient has 'won' a stone, but due to an
error the stone was mounted. So the poor jeweler, who obviously acted
in good faith, won't lose money they only ask that you pay for a setting
to get the stone(s) you have "already won FREE". Everything is designed
to make unsuspecting people think they are getting something for
nothing, or far below its value (the price they ask seems to be the
discount store retail for a similar product). Unfortunately the least
suspecting consumers are often the least affluent; the hope of winning a
grand prize encourages them to make a purchase which they otherwise
would not consider and which they may not be able to afford. Well, back
in May my wife got an exciting notice that she had become a winner in a
"major National Sweepstakes." She was told to be on the lookout for a
"Winner's Claim and Release Form" and warned not to confuse her
"Official Prize Claim Documents" with "other so-called Sweepstakes
Offers." Five days later a package arrived. She had won a "1-Caret
Lindenwold CZ Diamond." All the 'diamonds' were mounted in various
settings. She could buy the setting for "the standard $19 Transfer
Deposit Fee" or they would remove the 'diamond' and ship it unmounted.
Fair enough; she told them to ship just the 'diamond', which they did.
When it came she wondered what she was going to do with the little
'diamond' and sent it back with the money to have it mounted. In no
time at all she had a new ring, nothing stunning, but worth the few
dollars it cost. She was a marked lady; Lindenwold Fine Jewelers had
found a fish and was ready to reel her in.
Over the next three months she received notices that she had won: "two
mined diamonds and a genuine 1 1/2 caret amethyst", "two genuine mined
diamonds and a genuine 1 1/2 caret black onyx", a "rose quartz stone",
"two genuine mined diamond and a 1 1/2 caret deep red garnet", a "2
caret Cubic Zirconia", another "2 caret Lindenwold CZ diamond simulant",
"ten CZ diamonds", and finally "ten internally flawless diamond
simulants."
Unfortunately every time while "it was the sponsor's intentions to give
you these gemstones free" there was a mix-up. Apparently they do
business with a jeweler by the name of J. Hartman DeVoorst, who speaks
marginal Dutch - several of the notices came with a letter, supposedly
translated from Dutch to English which was full of grammatical errors.
The letters state that a translator was paid L3.4, but each letter is
the same except for one sentence - the one that lists whatever stones
they are offering with that mailer.
All the people involved are so apologetic. Each time they really wanted
to transfer to her this "FREE property". However, it seems every time
they pick out some stones to give away Mr. DeVoorst goes and mounts the
things just as they are selecting the winners. Then, in detail, they
explain that since this "oversight" or "slight mix-up" had happened they
all decided "to resolve the matter to your complete satisfaction" all
was needed was to "pay to the jeweler his costs of mounting the stones",
(never asking for a cent profit) usually $19, plus shipping and
handling.
Throughout each mailer it was emphasized that the stone had been "won"
and were "FREE" but since they were mounted it could damage them if they
were removed from their settings. The mailers became a family joke -
they sent them with fake certifications, enclosed pictures of the stones
before they were mounted "accidentally", pictures after they had been
mounted, letters of regret from Mr. DeVoorst, nice 'notarized'
enclosures, and forms designed to look like IRS documentation. Each
package came with several documents and forms, stamped "Approved",
"Transfer Approved", "Official", 'Authentic", "Payment Authorized",
"Rush", "Audited", and "Confidential". In all 14 people, from 9
addresses (10 if you count the "please forward" which is necessary for
DeVoorst) signed the forms. Another 4 addresses were provided "if
claiming only cash prize". Once they even sent the manila envelope
which held the stones while they were in the vault; somehow DeVorst got
his hands on them anyway.
Well, we figured we could have a little fun with all this. So we wrote
the company and told them we were terribly sorry the "FREE" stones had
been mounted by accident, assumed no responsibility for the inefficiency
of the company or zealous nature of the jeweler, and were willing to
take the risk of damage in removing them from the mountings - just the
stones, please. The only response was more mailers. Another letter
advising them they now owed her more stones - no setting necessary.
More mailers. I figured just to pull their strings a bit I would call
the BBB in Canton, Ohio. Wow! They get so many calls about this company
they have a special line - you mention the company and are immediately
transferred to a lengthy tape recording.
According to the BBB, Lindenwold Fine Jewelers is a division of Saurez
Corporation Industries and has 15 active divisions marketing everything
from books and jewelry to 'fine' art and personal protection manuals.
The common thread is that a person is notified they have 'won'
something, but can't quite get it unless some money is spent. This
company entered into a consent agreement with the State of Indiana and
paid a fine, has signed an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the
state of Idaho, and had two suits brought by the State of Washington
ultimately resulting in their being barred from running sweepstakes
there for three years. Amazingly they are members of the BETTER
Business Bureau.
Still having a bit of fun I wrote the BBB and sent an editorial to The
Canton (Ohio) Repository. Both got some action. The BBB got Lindenwold
to send my wife most of the stones, unmounted. The paper printed my
letter, the text of which is below. Other than more mailers (in spite
of repeated requests they will not delete us from their lists) we
considered the matter closed. They did not!
On the 24th of October, 1994, I drove down my driveway to find our dog
barking at a car with Ohio plates. We live in southwest Virginia and
don't really know many people from Ohio. As I parked the man in the car
jumped out and yelled across the hood, "Are you John Doe?" "Yes." "FOUND
YOU!" I asked what it was all about, to the best of my knowledge I
wasn't hiding from anyone. Here begins a tale of how far an
unscrupulous company can and will go to silence anyone who complains.
He was a private investigator working out of Canton, Ohio. According to
him Lindenwold Fine Jewelers had called the Repository to find out my
address, which they would not release. The had then sent private eye to
the Repository and again they held my address in confidence, having
printed only Bristol, VA area. That investigator had then come down
here hunting me unsuccessfully. Since our address is listed in the
phone book I can't understand why he gave up and returned to Ohio. Then
Lindenwold hired another firm which sent this investigator.
This area runs out of about three counties in two states. In his
efforts he had talked to at least two law enforcement bodies and gone by
two Clerk of Court offices. They couldn't help him - at least now I
know my blotter is clear. He talked to enough people to find a man with
the same name who was buried some twenty years ago. Then he came to our
county and checked deed records, located our properties and set off to
'find' me. You would think armed with plats, tax records and a county
map that would be an easy chore. No. He had to stop at several country
stores asking "the locals" about me before he could make his way to our
home. Now the nearest town has 1100 people, the next closest about
3000; by the time you ask a dozen people about someone everyone knows a
search is on. Also, this is a quiet area, and everyone 'knows' when a
PI is on your trail you've been up to something. So now I get the casual
statements, "What'cha been up to?", "There's a cop on your tail.",
"Whose huntin' ya in Ohio?", and more.
It won't do any good to make explanation to everyone. It'd been kind of
hard to convince them all I haven't skipped out on a debt, the State of
Ohio doesn't have a warrant for me, there's not some poor woman up there
wanting child support, or whatever they are thinking to themselves. I
doubt that many people would believe my 'crime' was an editorial. No
one is going to be easily convinced that any company would hire a
detective for that. But, that is what they did to the tune of "$75 an
hour, plus expenses and I don't travel cheap." This PI was prepared to
spend a week hunting me. That's a bunch of dough which would pay for a
lot of translations of Mr. DeVoorst's letters.
So, why did they go to all that trouble and expense? The PI says they
wanted to be sure the newspaper didn't make up the letter. With a
listed phone and only about thirty exchanges in the area they could have
found me and called with just a few tries with directory assistance. I
think the purpose was to have 'Louie the enforcer' fire a warning shot
across my bow - cause me a little embarrassment, denigrate my name just
a tad, and give me the subtle hint that 'we know where you are'.
Again I ask the same thing I asked in my editorial, this is BETTER
Business. If you get one of these mailers, don't toss it out. Send a
copy of it and your request for the rocks to:
Michael L. Paris, President
Better Business Bureau of Canton
P O Box 8017
Canton, OH 44711
It seems they know how misleading their marketing approach is and are
fairly receptive to lodged complaints. They'll send you the stones -
let your kids have them for their rock collections, that's what we did.
Of course be sure to give your complete name and address so they won't
have expense in finding you (maybe they wanted to find me to hand
deliver the "ten internally flawless CZ diamond simulants" my wife has
"already won".) On the other hand, maybe if they have to locate a lot
of people it will put this Fine Jewelers operation out of business,
leaving poor Mr. DeVoorst and his translator without work. There might
be a few less elderly ladies and minimum wage wives without a beautiful
"Celebrity Ring", but think of the trees we'd save if they weren't
sending out so many 'explanations."
To The Editor:
It has been many years since I visited Canton, but recall it as a
pleasant city inhabited by good folks. I am sure today Canton, like so
many other places, needs business and jobs. But at what costs to its
reputation? My opinion of the town has taken a dive in recent weeks due
to a mass marketing company operating from many different addresses
within the town. I understand this company Fores or SCI operates under
many names, one of which is Lindenwold Fine Jewelers.
I have received six mailers from them in three weeks! Each time
'winning' something and having the potential to 'win' more if I respond
in a certain way - with an order.
Never have I seen a marketing strategy such as theirs. Their mailers
are misleading beyond belief, implying a person has 'won' a prize, which
must be redeemed at a cost due to a 'slight mix-up' in the company.
Most people put these where they belong - in the trash - but many, those
least able to afford the product (zirconia rings) succumb to this
strategy and 'buy' the items they have 'won'. That these 'errors',
'oversights' and 'mix-ups' are part of each mailer seems to suggest that
not only is the merchandising approach misleading, but fraught with
deceit.
Your local Better Business Bureau is so aware of this company, and its
infamy, they have devoted a lengthy taped message for inquiries rather
than have an employee spend the day answering questions and complaints.
This company has entered into agreements in at least three states over
their misrepresentation, to the point of having to offer refunds in one
state. Yet they continue to be accepted as a member of the Better
Business Bureau. The many reputable businesses of Canton and their
employees should take affront that Lindenwold is, and can be, listed
alongside those who strive to make an honest profit in an honest manner.
As it is people all over the country are wondering it this is what is
considered good business in Canton. I am sure it casts doubts not only
on the town, but on other businesses that try to market a product
nationwide.
It seems that the citizens of Canton (at least those not financially
dependent on Lindenwold), and honest businesses would demand that the
Better Business Bureau refuse such an entity membership in what is
presumed by some to be a guild of honorable companies promoting
acceptable practices.
Active Divisions of Saurez Corporation Industries (all information from
the Better Business Bureau of Canton Regional, Inc.)
1. The Hanford Press: publishes magazines, books and reports.
2. International Home Shopping: offers a wide range of consumer general
information.
3. Lindenwold Fine Jewelers: offeres costume and fine jewelry via a
retail outlet store and direct mail.
4. Earnest and Alexander Holding Associates: administers the
corporation's major national sweepstakes.
5. Trade Services International: is a global direct marketer of
general merchandise, jewelry and cosmetics.
6. United Stats Commemorative Fine Art Jewelry: offers original art,
art reproductions, sculptures and various other home and office
decorating products.
7. Associated Brokers Realty: engages in real estate sales and
commercial real estate development and property management.
8. International TeleCommunications: provides national and
international professional outbound and inbound telephone marketing
and research services.
9. Campaign Services: provides campaign services political and
nonprofit fundraising campaigns.
10. Market Research Services: conducts marketing research.
11. Media Service: is a full service advertising agency. One service
provided is a mailing list service.
12. Glen Arbor Farms: is a direct mail seed and bulb research.
13. Sports Innovations: develops, manufactures and promotes
sports-related products, training aids and an instructional manual
which promotes Heard Golf Academy.
14. CompuClub-UniMax: provides members with consumer information on
personal computer hardware and software, educational courses on
computer operation and programming, and discounts on computer
hardware and software.
15. Ameri-Security Company: provides personal protection manuals and
training videos.
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