Rob Mahanes had come into my boutique several times. He wanted me to advertise in local restaurants' menus, similar to Cheese Cake Factory's menus. He offered multiple deals ranging from larger ad sizes for cheaper investment, to bartering for a pair of cowboy boots for an ad! I told him no, I was not interested and he left.
He came in a month or so later, and wanted me to advertise in another restaurant's menu. He said he needed an answer right then, that he was on a dead line and another boutique in the area was supposed to advertise, but the owner of the restaurant had personal issues with the owner of the boutique and didn't want to do business with them, so he was going to offer me this great deal to take the place of the original boutique. Again, I told him no, I still wasn't interested. Finally he threw in another restaurant, gave me page 2 of the menu and made it a full size page for $300.00, for one year of advertising. I reluctantly agreed. Honestly, he is so loud and obnoxious, I just wanted him to get out. Looking back, I now know this is his part of his act.
He said his daughter was a microbioligst at Sea World and he would throw in these season passes for my family and I as well, this was all after the fact. Of course they had all these awesome benefits as well, none of which I cared about but yet again, another promise he made and had no intention of honoring.
He had me sign this contract, and pay him by check. I thought it was weird he didn't take credit cards, (who doesn't take credit cards in advertising), and had me make the check payable to him personally, just one red flag after another. He left, and I noticed about a hour later, he had already cashed my check. This is when I started feeling uneasy about the situation.
The following week I never heard from his advertising person. And yet, another red flag considering he was in such a time crunch. So I started doing my due diligence after the fact, and found all these articles on him of how he ripped people off. I started blowing up his phone and called the number over and over. In the meanwhile, I call the restaurant that I was supposedly advertising in and of course, they were not doing business with him. The one owner said that he had come in, but that they weren't re-doing their menus at this time. Keep in mind, I'm under the impression, this menu is about to go into print hence the hurry for me to make a decision right then.
After calling him multiple times, he finally called me back. I told him I had read all of the complaints about him, and that I knew he was a con. Of course he denied all of this. He went through and gave his side of the story for all of the articles I pointed out. Then I pointed out that the restaurant wasn't even doing business with him. He said that it is his practice to go around and see the amount of interest before he actually signs a restaurant up so that the restaurant knows how many people will want to advertise. Lies after lies. He told me I would have my ad drawn up within a few days. I knew this wasn't going to happen but it was a Friday and I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
I did get an email from his graphic designer, as promised. I provided all the information requested, and of course never heard back from him. I emailed him and said that I wanted my money back at this point. Never heard back from him. I started blowing up his phone again and once again he answered. I told him I was tired of waiting and I wanted my money back. I told him I had him on my cameras, I had his address, driver's license, the bank had him on their camera, etc and that I was going to the police. He told me to do whatever I needed to do and when the police called him, he would just tell them his side of the story.
I did go to the police and the officer I spoke with had already had another person come in trying to file a report on Mr. Mahanes too. Long story short, there is nothing they can do. It isn't fraud because I willingly gave him money. It isn't deceptive business practice either because it all boils down to this contract that I signed, it is just a civil matter at this point. He has clearly perfected his scam.
So at this point, I have no ad, there is nothing that the police can do and my only option is to take him to small claims court. And I have come across so many people in my area that have been ripped off for way more than I was by him. This guy continues to go around and steal from hard working people and take from us and our families and our hands are tied.
Now 2015 he has taken Saginaw by SURPRISE. Same scenario as in Haslet. Apparently he lives in the area and sees GULLABLE and STRIKES. Picked a trusted, established restaurant and sucks people in. At least the restaurant now knows we trusted them enough to "try" & advertise with them. I kept thinking this guy is going to have a stroke or heart attack right here, he talked so loud & fast, like jonsing or DTs.
Mr. Manns Menus Reviews
Rob Mahanes had come into my boutique several times. He wanted me to advertise in local restaurants' menus, similar to Cheese Cake Factory's menus. He offered multiple deals ranging from larger ad sizes for cheaper investment, to bartering for a pair of cowboy boots for an ad! I told him no, I was not interested and he left.
He came in a month or so later, and wanted me to advertise in another restaurant's menu. He said he needed an answer right then, that he was on a dead line and another boutique in the area was supposed to advertise, but the owner of the restaurant had personal issues with the owner of the boutique and didn't want to do business with them, so he was going to offer me this great deal to take the place of the original boutique. Again, I told him no, I still wasn't interested. Finally he threw in another restaurant, gave me page 2 of the menu and made it a full size page for $300.00, for one year of advertising. I reluctantly agreed. Honestly, he is so loud and obnoxious, I just wanted him to get out. Looking back, I now know this is his part of his act.
He said his daughter was a microbioligst at Sea World and he would throw in these season passes for my family and I as well, this was all after the fact. Of course they had all these awesome benefits as well, none of which I cared about but yet again, another promise he made and had no intention of honoring.
He had me sign this contract, and pay him by check. I thought it was weird he didn't take credit cards, (who doesn't take credit cards in advertising), and had me make the check payable to him personally, just one red flag after another. He left, and I noticed about a hour later, he had already cashed my check. This is when I started feeling uneasy about the situation.
The following week I never heard from his advertising person. And yet, another red flag considering he was in such a time crunch. So I started doing my due diligence after the fact, and found all these articles on him of how he ripped people off. I started blowing up his phone and called the number over and over. In the meanwhile, I call the restaurant that I was supposedly advertising in and of course, they were not doing business with him. The one owner said that he had come in, but that they weren't re-doing their menus at this time. Keep in mind, I'm under the impression, this menu is about to go into print hence the hurry for me to make a decision right then.
After calling him multiple times, he finally called me back. I told him I had read all of the complaints about him, and that I knew he was a con. Of course he denied all of this. He went through and gave his side of the story for all of the articles I pointed out. Then I pointed out that the restaurant wasn't even doing business with him. He said that it is his practice to go around and see the amount of interest before he actually signs a restaurant up so that the restaurant knows how many people will want to advertise. Lies after lies. He told me I would have my ad drawn up within a few days. I knew this wasn't going to happen but it was a Friday and I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
I did get an email from his graphic designer, as promised. I provided all the information requested, and of course never heard back from him. I emailed him and said that I wanted my money back at this point. Never heard back from him. I started blowing up his phone again and once again he answered. I told him I was tired of waiting and I wanted my money back. I told him I had him on my cameras, I had his address, driver's license, the bank had him on their camera, etc and that I was going to the police. He told me to do whatever I needed to do and when the police called him, he would just tell them his side of the story.
I did go to the police and the officer I spoke with had already had another person come in trying to file a report on Mr. Mahanes too. Long story short, there is nothing they can do. It isn't fraud because I willingly gave him money. It isn't deceptive business practice either because it all boils down to this contract that I signed, it is just a civil matter at this point. He has clearly perfected his scam.
So at this point, I have no ad, there is nothing that the police can do and my only option is to take him to small claims court. And I have come across so many people in my area that have been ripped off for way more than I was by him. This guy continues to go around and steal from hard working people and take from us and our families and our hands are tied.
Mr. Manns Menus Reviews too
Now 2015 he has taken Saginaw by SURPRISE. Same scenario as in Haslet. Apparently he lives in the area and sees GULLABLE and STRIKES. Picked a trusted, established restaurant and sucks people in. At least the restaurant now knows we trusted them enough to "try" & advertise with them. I kept thinking this guy is going to have a stroke or heart attack right here, he talked so loud & fast, like jonsing or DTs.