"We Are Veteran Owned"

win231

win231

SF VIP
Location
CA
First off, there is nothing wrong with a company using "Veteran Owned" to get more business.
But there IS something wrong when a company uses "Veteran Owned" to rip people off & make their customers feel OK about being ripped off because they are "Supporting Veterans."
I saw an ad for a coffee roaster business that said "Veteran owned" on each web page. I decided to give their coffee a try, even though their shipping charges and prices were a bit high. I like to support small business.

When the coffee arrived, it was terrible - stale, moldy & half of it contained the byproducts of coffee roasting, like the chaff - that has to be removed because it tastes very bitter. I contacted the company & was told that if I returned it, I would have to pay return shipping AND a restocking fee. (Yeah.....they re-sending coffee that has already been re-stocked many times; that's what I got.) I was also repeatedly reminded that they are a "Veteran Owned Company."
I replied, "OK; does that mean I should feel honored to be ripped off by you?"
Well, that did it. They got very angry with me & agreed to waive their "Restocking Fee" and they paid the return shipping.
They also said, "Please don't order from us again." (LOL).
I responded: "Oh, don't worry about that; I don't buy crap. And it's my duty to warn others."
 

There's a bunch of shady organizations, and charities, trying to "capitalize" on our veterans. A couple of years ago, the "Wounded Warrior Project" was flashing frequent TV commercials....and it turned out that very little of their donations actually went to helping veterans.
 
Don M. said:
There's a bunch of shady organizations, and charities, trying to "capitalize" on our veterans. A couple of years ago, the "Wounded Warrior Project" was flashing frequent TV commercials....and it turned out that very little of their donations actually went to helping veterans.
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I posted several times on several forums about the "Wounded Warrior Project" scam. People are so desperate for that warm & fuzzy feeling, they actually get angry at the messenger. They're still paying for that TV ad, so they must be still getting donations.
 

There's several "questionable" charities out there. I always check a web site.....CharityWatch.org....before I think of donating anything.

It's amazing to see the number of "executives" at these charities who get an annual salary of well over a million dollars.
 
Well, there's no guarantee a "Veteran Owned" company is any better than a non veteran owned company. I found If you click on a company's web site, and it's got American flags all over, a big prominent cross, and "Made in the USA", the product is a rip off.
I'm going to sound like Scrooge, but I don't give to charities. I worked at a charity .for over a year. A huge chunk of the donations was spent on asking for more donations. And when you're giving away money, it doesn't always go the the neediest, nor for where the charity said. In my opinion, charities spent way too much money on running the charity, and pitifully little on actual charitable work.
 
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Sadly, many "charities" these days are dubious at best. I learned that lesson 50 years ago when the United Way became popular. I did some research, recognized the scam, and have approached all non-profits with a skeptical eye ever since. I've seen a sickening amount of what I consider to be abuse, fraud, and waste.

Always remember, "non-profit" only refers to the money left over after expenses, which can include massive executive salaries, perks, and marketing & lobbying costs.:cautious:

I still give a substantial amount to legitimate charities, but only when I have clear, usually first-hand, knowledge of how their funds are used.
 
win231 said:
First off, there is nothing wrong with a company using "Veteran Owned" to get more business.
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I agree, and like you if given a choice I will always try the veteran owned business first. Even thought I am not a veteran I do appreciate what they have done for us.

However all that gives the company is the advantage of my attention and giving them a try, like you if it doesn't work out I don't go back. In your case I think that is what happened. A lot of the time it does work, and I stick with them. So long as the "Veteran Owned" is an accurate label I am ok with it all.
 
I always check "Charity Navigator. com" before giving to a charity and I steer clear of the ones that come around annually simply because I feel like they get enough compared to the more obscure ones. The one and only charity I give to works to find a cure for schizophrenia, it's the number one disabler of young people and the root cause of most homelessness, but we never seem to have any drives or marches for them. At least I know it doesn't waste money on pledge drives or TV spots.

I don't see the "Veteran Owned" thing, but I've seen a lot of small businesses say they were Christian owned. I chose a "Christian owned," carpet cleaner from the phone book, moved all my furniture for their appointment and they didn't show up at all. What a way to represent.
 
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I don't get the "Viet Nam Vet" bumper stickers. "Are you the only one?" Also, the police 100 club stickers when they are stacked showing the owner has contributed $100 each of the years corresponding to the stickers. Agreed it may get them out of a ticket but it looks wrong.
 
Della said:
I always check "Charity Navigator. com" before giving to a charity and I steer clear of the ones that come around annually simply because I feel like they get enough compared to the more obscure ones. The one and only charity I give to works to find a cure for schizophrenia, it's the number one disabler of young people and the root cause of most homelessness, but we never seem to have any drives or marches for them. At least I know it doesn't waste money on pledge drives or TV spots. I give them a whole social security check each year and then I feel okay about saying no to the people on the phone, even that scary sounding guy who collects for the police.

I don't see the "Veteran Owned" thing, but I've seen a lot of small businesses say they were Christian owned. I chose a "Christian owned," carpet cleaner from the phone book, moved all my furniture for their appointment and they didn't show up at all. What a way to represent.
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LOL - "Christian Owned." You can trust us....we're Christian.
Reminded me of "ZZZZ Best Carpet Cleaning" started by convicted thief Barry Minkow.
So......that business was "Jewish Owned." :ROFLMAO:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Minkow
 
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fmdog44 said:
I don't get the "Viet Nam Vet" bumper stickers. "Are you the only one?" Also, the police 100 club stickers when they are stacked showing the owner has contributed $100 each of the years corresponding to the stickers. Agreed it may get them out of a ticket but it looks wrong.
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LOL. I know a woman who drives a fast sports car - often while impaired. I asked her if her speed or drinking gets her in trouble.
She showed me the sticker on her car (a police badge) & said, "Not as long as cops see this."
 
Don M. said:
There's several "questionable" charities out there. I always check a web site.....CharityWatch.org....before I think of donating anything.

It's amazing to see the number of "executives" at these charities who get an annual salary of well over a million dollars.
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Indeed, and that is unbelievably disgusting.
 
I just now saw the adv again for the "Wounded warrior Project"...it is confusing to say the least...they have Wounded Warrior Project, Wounded warrior.org, and another title i
can't recall....but why so damn many divisions? Oh I know,
to get more money!!!!!o_O
 
You handled that very well @win231 Good job at not backing down. I'm sorry they are pretty much scammers.

@Don M. Yes, I heard that Wounded Warrior project had executives taking lavish vacations with the donations.

So sick of unethical people. And they are everywhere. I remember reading on the Etsy forums a few years ago, a seller stated her buyer was saying she never received the birthday t-shirt she had ordered for her son. So the seller decided to do a little research, found the buyers Facebook page and there were pictures of the kid wearing the t-shirt on his birthday. And that liar is raising kids!
 
hawkdon said:
I just now saw the adv again for the "Wounded warrior Project"...it is confusing to say the least...they have Wounded Warrior Project, Wounded warrior.org, and another title i
can't recall....but why so damn many divisions? Oh I know,
to get more money!!!!!o_O
Click to expand...
Yes, when they're ordered to stop scamming people, they get around it by changing their name & paying different celebrities for endorsements. So far, they've hired & paid two country music stars & more recently, Gerald McRaney, Mario Lopez, Trace Adkins, & Mark Wahlberg.
 

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