Monday, November 16, 2009

Custom Muffler Center or the newer version of the same ole thing, BLUE FLAME MUFFLERS





Do you have a business? Are you trying to survive after all of this hope and change that we are currently UNDER? How long have you been in business? This is a story about one business owner's attempt to keep and grow his business through these tough economic times and what I hope will be information that just might save you THOUSANDS of dollars and TONS of agony in your life !



My name is John and I own an RV repair facility that specializes in towing products. We have been in business for about 13 years. We provide Towbars, Baseplates from all three manufacturers like BLUE OX, DEMCO and ROADMASTER so that our customers that have RVs can tow their vehicles behind their motorhomes. We also sell and install hitches from such names as PULLRITE and Curt, brake systems from TOADSTOP. My business, like most everyone, anywhere in the country has seen a massive decline in both service work and retail sales at our store. Where the bulk of our business is repeat-return customers with an incredibly high amount of referral business, we saw a decline midway through last years busy season and we began looking for something that could help drive more business in our door.



THIS IS WHERE MY STORY BEGINS.....



While at work one day, I received a call from a gentleman that was "INTRODUCING" a MUFFLER - EXHAUST program under the name of CUSTOM MUFFLER CENTER.

This program would in essence give you a territory for sales/service/repair of muffler systems.

I thought about it for a little while and thought, "wow this could work and fit in line with what I already did and could supply me with some extra customers to increase business" so I continued listening..... You would get a "state of the art" pipe bender, inventory, signage, manuals, catalogs, and software to generate work orders. They would get you some sales flyer's and provide some advertising for a few weeks and allow you to purchase parts and mufflers at really good prices.



Over the period a few days I would get calls from this man working me over and more tidbits of information that sounded good, I would later..... after the fact.... find out that although not lies, well were not exactly true either or lets just say exaggerated. On with the story, the cost of this "opportunity" was a little better than $32,000.00.

PROBLEM #1..........Would you believe that with A+ credit after you do a business lease, with taxes, the "program cost you nearly $49,000.00. Basically $950.00 a month.

Problem # 2........ It matters not that you may be a corporation, You have to personally guarantee the loan which means if you default for any reason, it pierces your corporate protections, that means, they can and will come after your assets such as your home.

Problem #3 ....... Happens on the day the inventory arrives. You very quickly figure out in the "TRAINING" portion of the "program" that the inventory that you have is in NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM what you will really need to do the jobs that you will be doing and that the money that you were told it would cost.......remember the $32,000? Only provides you with about $2000.00 worth of pipes and mufflers and that if you really wanted to have a more workable inventory you would have to throw another 5 to 10 thousand dollars more just to compete. Picture if you will, only 3 cheap chrome tips..... of the high performance equipment less than 10 Flowmaster, Cherry Bomb, and Magnaflow Mufflers combined, only 2 catalytic converters. If you had 3 different trucks wanting higher end stuff.... you're out of stock and don't even think about capping those jobs off with chrome tips, you ran out after your 1st job which was probably your own vehicle while being trained by their people. Here is one more footnote, the equipment does not arrive until AFTER you sign and pay your deposit of which is separate from what you have to do to get inventory...... trust me, lots more on this before we are done.



What does that mean? That means that you just paid for 3 very expensive hydraulic digital pipe benders but only given 1 and received nothing in stock for which you will now be paying $945.00 a month and you have not listed the business in the phone book, added it to your website or put out a flyer and you need to place an order so you can do the next job.... its only day 2 of training. Don't worry you can only get this "program" if you buy their pipe bender. Did you say you had a $7000.00 bender of your own? TOOOOO BAD..... you have to get their bender, they wont split the program up. Are you feeling warm and cozy yet?

KEEP READING WE HAVE NOT REACHED THE END OF THE STORY !!!!!



How many of you have ever purchased and expensive WIDGET? The thing doesn't do what it's supposed to, does not work? parts are missing? it's the wrong one? then you look through all the paperwork to find that number..... you know..... THE NUMBER........1-800 customer no service. That happened to me. You see, I did not receive some of the inventory, the signs and some of the books. After several calls, I was finally getting my fill of this crap, SOOOOOO I finally told Ms. Customer no service that I was going to send them back all of their crap..... I then received a call from a MR. Michael Christy, who is supposed to be the president or owner or whatever. He was apologetic for what had transpired and assured me that he would personally see to it that I was helped. REMEMBER I am in the purchase phase of this "program" we will get back to Mr. Michael Cristy of CUSTOM MUFFLER CENTERS and BLUE FLAME MUFFLERS out of Garden City, NEW YORK at a later time.

27 comments:

  1. i don't have to tell you what happened to me because you already did. I got the royal F&%(ed also. The best part to me is that they (Custom Muffler) put a Blue Flame right up the road from my location. I think we need to contact as many CM and BF dealers as possible and get together and file a lawsuit. I don't know about you but I work way too hard for my money to get screwed over like this from a guy Michael Christe or company Custom Muffler... please get back to me asap....I'm not letting this go for awhile!!!!!!!

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    1. hey they are at it again ,,new name new number same BS line ,,631-337-0017

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  2. Hey John, send me your fax # via e-mail. I have some papers for you. I replied back to your last e-mail but haven't heard back.......we have around 10 - 15 other CM and BF dealers "sa far persuing this further!!!

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    1. hey they are at it again same bunch different number ,631-337-0017 just got the call trying to sell me The Very Same Sign ,prices ,training ,marketing ,,,word for word same as last time they got me for 30k

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  3. we too were screwed over by blue flame muffler, My husband and I have our own body shop and were approached by bf,last April, Afler a good sales job by them we. we joined blue flame at only a mere $27,000.00. We are still awaiting some of our inventory , even th bf sign for our building, we have called them repeativly and have gotten now where,except lied to, put on hold, and even hung up on, you cant get ahold of mike christy because his mailbox is always full.
    we contacted our lawyer, and was told we would have to get representation from the States,because we are from Canada. HMM,, we are very frustated and dont know where to go from here, we have a monthly payment of 950.00 a month for 4years and nothing to show for it! please feel free to contact as , maybe we can help each other out.

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  4. google....blue flame scam....then click on that blog and PLEASE post something on there as well!!!!

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  5. go to ag.ny.gov key word franchise related complaints fax to attorney general. call all the referrals which the company gave you and tell them to stop referrals because we are all getting screwed.most important is to fax a complaint to the attorney generals office

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  6. just received my return letter from the Attorney General... we need to send in more complaints ASAP...don't think about it, just do it. I spoke with Maryann yesterday and just from some of her responses from my questions....they're pretty aware of what's going on!!!

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  7. I, TOO, PURCHASED A BLUE FLAME SYSTEM, WHILE THE BENDER DID WHAT IT NEEDED TO DO, THE TRAINING SUCKED, THE STARTING INVENTORY WAS VERY LIGHT, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKED, I NEVER GOT ALL THE INVENTORY PROMISED, AND THEY NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE ADVERTISING THEY PROMISED. NOW THEIR PHONE NUMBERS DON'T WORK. ADD ME TO THE LIST OF UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS OF BLUE FLAME.

    SPRINGMN2@AOL.COM

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  8. Hello, Im reading right now, and Im another person did a mistake buying this stupid franchise or wherever, I need to have my money back, I pay cash, one payment $35,000.00 Add me please to the list of the screw customers, Maria T Hernandez. th.corp@hotmail.com, thanks.

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  9. Nice guide thank you!/ I love it! very creative! That's actually really cool Thanks.

    Mufflers

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. well I just had a Phone call from some lady claiming the very same Thing That Custom Muffler Center got me on 7 years ago ,even sounded like the same lady ,631-337-0017 was the number she called me from ,word for word same pitch I was taken by before ,of course they are going by a new Name ,what nerve they have I told them you will not get me again !!! she went on and on about OH NO WE ARE NOT THE SAME company as you are talking about ,,,then she hung up on me ,,so watch out they will call you too

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  12. I was also scammed by custom muffler to the tune of 36,000.00. By the way I just got a ad card in the mail today, advertising KING COBRA MUFFLER CENTERS, all of the add lingo is identical to the custom muffler scam I called the 800-576-1334 number and it sounds like the same people. has any one else gotten a card in the mail? BEWARE do not say yes to these people , they will suck you dry financially.

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  13. The attorney General of New York does not care about any of us. In 2009 I sent all documentation of this scam. and by the way BLUE FLAME, CUSTOM muffler same thing. These people close down when it gets to fulfilling their agreement with you and then just reopen under an new name. That is why I truly believe the KING COBRA is the same people.

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    1. King Cobra Performance is the same people doing this even now in 2016, by the way Michael christopolous is now going by the name Robert Decker they are one in the same.

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    2. I don't think so. They're now selling under VOGUE PERFORMANCE. SAME SCAM. Ronnie is Ron Mann/Maniaci, one of the principals of Blue Flame. This fool didn't realize he was talking to someone who'd remember him. He gave me virtually the same speel he did 8 years ago as Blue Flame and then gave me Auto Medic and Purifoy Chevrolet as his vogue customers to talk to. He gave me the same references in 2008 as Blue Flame. He must have them on payroll. And he actually put these Blue Flame dealers on his Vogue Performance website. Check it out on www.vpexhaust.com

      He thinks we're all fools. This guy will probably tell you he was just a salesman for Blue Flame but that's Another damn lie!!! I have it recorded from years ago when he clearly said he was the vice president of the company and had full authority to make "a deal" with me. The other salesman Neil Schulman is there too and so is the trainer Fred Layton. All the same people but they opened up under Vogue Performance/ VP Exhaust in Miller Place, NY

      BE CAREFUL!!!!!

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    3. I actually work for these guys, my name is marc. Maybe I can help

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    4. which company do you work for Marc

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  14. THESE GUYS SUCK. SCREWED ME OUT OF $1000 IN "BACK ORDERED" PRODUCT I WILL NEVER SEE. SCREWED EMPLOYEES TOO. ONLY GOOD WAS THE DEMO GUY, BOB MCCARTIE. AWESOME GUY. I THINK THEY SCREWED HIM TOO.

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    1. Bob McCartie is or was indeed a good fella. He got screwed as well and never got paid a large portion of payroll he was owed by them according to Bob.

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  15. just got a call from kingcobra glad I looked on the web for more detail and fyi there trying to scam in Wyoming Thank you for all the info

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  16. Interesting information. I'm in NW Ohio and I've been talking to a Phil Goodman from "King Cobra" and he's been trying to sell me on this deal. Glad I came across this. Has anyone tried to check out the contact numbers they give you? Are they real shops?

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  17. I got screwed by Custom Mufflers as well many years ago. I am getting a very similar call from a company called Vogue Performance Exhaust. Is this for sure the same company that has been also called Blue Flame as well and Custom Mufflers before that?

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  18. I just got a call from KCM doing the same EXACT program. I guess I should run??

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  19. I just got a call from KCM doing the same EXACT program. I guess I should run??

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