Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:15/10/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Date: Canada Women's Expo (Oct 4-6, 2024), a trade show held in ******* AB Amount: ****** plus tax The commitment: Online Exhibitor Listing (MANDATORY): The show organizer made this Listing mandatory, imposing an additional payment for exhibitors to make ($ ****** plus tax), but the Listing was never made. I quote it from the online as below:"Full profile on our website including company name, logo, booth number, product images, company description, map, social media links, reviews, and contact form: 1 exclusive social media post; inclusion in a weekly blog post highlighting new exhibitors; custom branded lead capture form for use at the show". It took several hours for my company to prepare the profile to meet the Listing requirement, and finally submitted it to the organizer. - There was no acknowledgment of receipt of the submission, and no indication of where the profiles can/will be seen. Despite my several attempts to verify it both via phone and via email, the organizer simply ignored them. It didn't deliver it either. There was no Listing in the end. Judging from this experience, I tend to believe that the organiser never intended to do the Listing but charged it anyway as MANDATORY for free money.- I requested several times in writing for refund for the unmet promise. No response to this date.- The advertising activities of the show were also promised. However, I haven't seen/heard a single one at all. Nor did the visitors to my booth. Last week, all the exhibitors received an email from the organizer threatening to take legal action against and to report to RCMP those who spread misinformation about the quality of the show and the broken promises. This tells indeed, how badly the show ran. They featured stage performances during the show, some of which had nothing to do with the nature of the trade show: strippers. A refund is one thing, but enlightening the business communities to watch out for this type of malpractice is also critical.

  Business Response

  Date: 28/10/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,
  
  We are writing to formally address the complaint regarding the Canada Womens Expo, held in ******* from October 4-6, 2024. The allegations made in this complaint are baseless and misrepresent both the facts and the integrity with which we operate. Below is our detailed response.
  
  Exhibitor Listing
  
  The exhibitors listing for Sheepskin Fashion Accessories was published in accordance with our procedures and can be found here: *************************************************************************. Exhibitors were given clear instructions and a submission link. If a profile was submitted, it was posted without exception. The claim that the listing was not delivered is demonstrably false.
  
  Advertising Campaign Execution
  
  Our event was supported by a substantial and well-executed advertising campaign managed by a media agency. Between September 1st and October 6th, the campaign achieved:
  
  6.4 million impressions, 1.2 million reach, and ****** clicks.
  ******* website pageviews in the lead-up to the event.
  612 radio ads on Star 95.9, 98.5 ************, Country 105, and QR ********
  225 television ads on Global *******, with additional features including a morning contest and community calendar.
  92 television ads on ***********, with a morning contest and community calendar promotion.
  A 5-week out-of-home (OOH) campaign covering 45 CTrain stations, 56 office towers, and 22 residential towers.
  
  The claim that no advertising took place is not only inaccurate but also misinformed, given the scope and reach of our campaign.
  
  Timeline of Refund Request
  
  The exhibitor contacted us at 9:24 PM on October 8th, 2024, shortly after our teams return from ******* on October 7th. She gave us a deadline of October 10th to comply with her demands. At that time, we were fully engaged in final preparations for our Abbotsford event, with move-in beginning just one week later. Our team was conducting critical meetings with the venue, *************, and media partners, which explains the delayed response to her request.
  
  Programming and Stage Performances
  
  The accusation that our event featured strippers is patently false and defamatory. The Canada Womens Expo featured dozens of women speakers, Indigenous fashion shows, and performances by Le ****************** This programming aligns with our mission to empower and celebrate women. The suggestion that our event involved inappropriate content is not only baseless but also intended to harm our reputation.
  
  Our History and Integrity
  
  We have produced this event since 2001 and have always operated with the highest level of professionalism and integrity. Over the years, we have built strong relationships with exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees. To accuse us of malpractice is not only false but an outrageous mischaracterization of our business.
  
  Communication Regarding Defamation
  
  In response to misinformation spreading online from an exhibitor, we sent the following message to exhibitors:
  
  "We are aware of false claims being spread online, and we have filed reports with the **** to address these defamatory statements. In addition, we are consulting with our legal team regarding potential legal action for defamation to protect the integrity of our business and our events."
  
  This communication was necessary following defamatory content posted online that garnered over ********* views. The videos were subsequently removed after we issued a cease-and-desist letter.
  
  In conclusion, the claims made in this complaint are without merit and are contradicted by the facts. The Canada Womens Expo was delivered professionally, with substantial advertising support, and in alignment with our longstanding commitment to integrity. We respectfully request that this complaint be closed.
  
  Sincerely,
  Canada Womens Expo
  Encore Exhibitions Inc.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 30/10/2024

   
  Complaint: 22425659
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  1. THE *** LIED. THE EXHIBITOR'S LISTING FOR THE CALGARY SHOW (OCT 4-6) WAS NEVER AVAILABLE UNTIL JUST A WEEK BEFORE LAST WEEK WHEN ***'S ABBOTSFORD SHOW WAS RUNNING. ALL OF A SUDDEN UNDER THE "VENDOR LIST" THE LISTING POPPED UP ON THE WEBSITE OF THE CALGARY SHOW WHICH HAD BEEN LONG OVER BY THEN! THIS PROVES HOW IMMATURE AND DECEPTIVE THE SHOW ORGANISER IS.  THIS IS AN ACTION OF COVERING THEIR NECK. OUT OF DESPERATION, *** MUST HAVE ADDED THE LIST IN A RUSH.

  2. A DAY PRIOR TO THE ABBOTSFORD SHOW (OCT 18-20),  I HAD ASKED A VENDOR(EXHIBITOR)/A FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS EXHIBITING AT THE ABBOTSFORD SHOWWHO IF THERE WERE EXHIBITOR'S LISTING, AS I COULDN'T FIND IT ON THE WEBSITE. SHE SAID, NO SUCH THING IS AVAILABLE.  

  NOW I REQUEST FOR NOT ONLY FOR THE CALGARY SHOW LISTING ****, BUT ALSO FOR THE LAST YEAR'S (HELD IN ********** OCTOBER 2023) FOR THE **** THAT I HAD TO PAY AS A MANDATORY FOR THE EXHIBITOR'S LISTING, WHICH NEVER EXISTED. 

  ATTACHED IS THE DOCUMENT ORIGINALLY SENT. MY COMMUNICATION WITH *** IS HIGHLIGHTED IN NEON COLOUR. THE REST IS JUST SOME COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCES SENT TO *** FROM OTHER EXHIBITORS AT THE CAGLARY SHOW, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED THE PARTICIPANTS ARE. 

  ABOVE ITEMS 1, AND 2, EVIDENCES CAN BE PROVIDED IN DUE COURSE, TO PROVE *** IS LYING IN THEIR RESPONSE TO MINE. 

  TO NOTE, A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS NOT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONSIDERATION AMONG THE CALGARY SHOW PARTICIPANTS.  

  IF I WERE ***, I WOULD JUST SIMPLY BOW OUT, GIVING THE REFUND WITH APOLOGY.

  Sincerely,

  
  ******** ****

  Business Response

  Date: 31/10/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,
  
  We are writing to address the complainants rejection of our previous response.
  
  The complainants listing for the Calgary show was submitted on September 26th and published on September 29th, well in advance of the October 4-6 event. We have attached a screenshot from our WordPress dashboard showing publication date, confirming that the listing was live prior to the event. We have also attached a screenshot of our Jotform, showing her listing was submitted on September 26th.
  
  The complainant's claims do not reflect the facts, and we respectfully request that the complaint be dismissed. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Canada Womens Expo
  Encore Exhibitions Inc.