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:08/08/2022

  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.

  On April 29th I contacted the office after seeing an ad on ******** for 4 “Pop Up & Shop Vendor Events” with dates listed for June, August, October, and December. Was told it was $25 for each event. I paid $100 that day to book all 4 events. Was told there was advertising on **, fliers, website, and more. The first event was a bust. Less than 15 people came. The 2 ladies representing Venture Out said they would credit all vendors for the next event. I had already paid so they said it would carry over to 2023. The second event was moved up by 2 weeks. It was this past Saturday. Literally 0 customers showed up. At this event I was told by other vendors (not the director) that they had decided not to do the events in Oct or Dec but do a 2 day event in November. I called today and the “director” was rude. Stated that they did advertise (it was only on their ** page-nowhere else) and they would not give money back. She also said they weren’t doing any events in 2023. I want $75 of the $100 refunded at least. I will not be attending any further events held by their organization. I feel I’m entitled to the entire $100.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/15/2022

  Good afternoon,

   

  Today I received a complaint letter that a recent vendor submitted to the BBB. *** ******* is being misleading by her complaint. Please find documented proof in the form of an email I sent to her shortly our conversation the same day she filed this complaint.

  
  We are a nonprofit organization that sometimes hosts events for our community. The price to participate can range from free to the minimum it takes for us to have the building open while hosting the event.

  
  First let me say that any vendor that sets up for an event anywhere, at any time, takes a chance on the number of attendees they will have. We in no way guaranteed any of the vendors there would be a minimum number of shoppers. For $25 we provided a 10x10 spot to setup their wares. We advertised on social media and we asked them to do the same. We advertised on ********* our website, flyers, bulletin boards, our entrance door and the other vendors shared and posted as well. We do not advertise in the local paper. That demographic is not worth the cost to us. Most of our market is more accessible on social media. It would have taken all the setup fees (or more) to run an ad while not reaching as many people and leave us to eat the cost of having the building open for the event.
  
  These event dates were planned well before my assistant and I were employed with Venture Out Business Center and the dates were unfortunately set for days that fell on national holidays and dates other large, long running annual, local events were taking place. Vendors were allowed to prepay for all the event dates to secure a limited spot. *** ******* did pay $100 to attend all 4 of the 1-day events for the Pop Up and Shop affair. She attended 2 of them ($50 used) and said she would not return for the other 2 days paid for ($50 forfeited).

   

  The first event in April, which I was not employed for, was on Easter weekend (I’m sure Ms. ******* was aware it was a national holiday which could lower attendance) and we only had a few shoppers. The previous Director offered a credit to attend the next one at no cost to try an offset the disappointing experience. I started before the June event date when people were using their credit. That said, June’s date was set on Father’s Day weekend so once again the event did not draw a lot of shoppers. I followed suit and offered a credit for the next event date and advised all the vendors we would figure something out for the prepaid vendors.

   

  With refunds not being an option at the time, the only solution I could see was not to take any more prepayments for 2023 Pop Up events and to reschedule the date of next event to fall within the same month but on a weekend less event activity was happening in our area, it was changed from August 20^th to August 6^th. I also decided the 2 remaining 1 day event dates, one in Oct and one in Dec, should be combined into one long weekend in Nov due to another overcrowded event schedule in our area. This was to allow vendors to setup and keep their shops in our secured building for 2 full days and any credited prepaid vendor would be able to use the credit on the Pop Up 2023 dates that were yet to be set.

   

  On August 6^th my assistant supervised the event. I received a call stating Ms. ******* was being boisterous regarding low shopper attendance and that she didn’t like the idea of having 1 2-day event in Nov in place of the remaining 2 events. She was demanding her money back and being rude to my assistant. I asked my assistant to let her know I’d call her Mon morning to speak to her. When my assistant went to let her know she had already packed up and left.

   

  We open at 9am. When I arrived around 8:30 on Monday the phone was already ringing and Ms. ******* was rude from the onset and didn’t want to hear anything I had to say if it wasn’t I would refund all her money. I tried to explain what I could do for her outside of a refund which was met with demands to know who my boss was. I explained I answer to a board of members. She demanded all their contact information which I explained I was not at liberty to hand out but I would be happy to ask them if I could refund her money at the next meeting in 2 days. I decided to end the call when she became insulting then I emailed her shortly after to explain what I could offer. She never replied and this is where we are today.
  
  Since my conversation with her, a board meeting was held. Due in part to her conduct; on Wednesday I was told I could offer the prepaid vendors a refund for the upcoming dates and cancel all remaining Pop-UP events instead of giving them a credit for next year to avoid in unnecessary ill well and negative exposure.

   

  I haven’t contacted any of those vendors to date because our account is only in on Tuesdays. I am waiting to speak with her on the 16^th to make sure I have refund checks in hand for them to pick up or to mail out so I can avoid more unnecessary conflict with Ms. ******* . She will not get a refund for events she attended, again we did not guarantee she would have a minimum amount of revenue. We offered the credit as a kindness for the unfortunate experience we all had. I am sorry she didn’t have a good experience despite our best efforts and we wish her success elsewhere. We strive to provide a service for our community at a free or below market rate and to wish to deliver a pleasant experience to our attendees both vendors and guest alike. I am available at the information listed before to speak if needed. Thank you for taking time to read my reply.

   

  ***** *****

  Executive Director

  Phone: ************

  Fax: ************

  Venture Out Business Center

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

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