Ohio Company Sells Mattresses At Weekend School Sales
LABELLE, FL. -- Plastered illegally throughout LaBelle are yellow plastic signs advertising a Saturday mattress sale at the local high school. Only saying "help the kids" there's no company name or indication of just how or who is being helped.
Custom Funding Solutions LLC of the Cleveland, Ohio area is behind the gimmick. CFS recruits area mattress sellers around the country and gets permission typically from school athletic coaches to set up a mattress display and take orders for mattress sets priced from $199 to $1900.
The school athletic department gets about $50 from the sale of a $199 says one school coach, and a larger commission from pricier units. Brands sold are Restonic and Southerland, both with not such a great consumer rating.
CFS was started in 2006 by Joseph J. Matejka Jr., and incorporated in Ohio in 2008. The Cleveland Better Business Bureau says Matejka formerly owned Cleveland's Best Furniture Direct which "went out of business with an unsatisfactory record with the BBB due to unanswered complaints."
The Ohio furniture company, says the BBB, was a "close-out mattress outlet." All sales were final and there were no refunds. It ceased operation in 2008. According to the BBB, customer "complaints alleged non-delivery of ordered items and difficulty in reaching the company once orders were placed or purchases were made."
The LaBelle High School sale is being run this weekend by Richard "Jay" McCreadie of Fort Myers, a former employee of Matejka's mattress company. McCreadie owns Mattress & Furniture Wholesalers LLC in Fort Myers, doing business at the school sales as "Custom Fundraising Solutions of Florida." McCreadie started the mattress sales company in 2009 after closing down SW Florida Furniture Direct Corp.
McCreadie formerly worked for Matejka at Cleveland's Best Furniture Direct. He says the mattress being sold at the school sales are not "close-outs" but are manufactured for each order. There is a $50 delivery charge added to the mattress prices, and the company's sub-contracted delivery service will not pick up old mattresses unless they are in good clean condition.
Among the brands being sold are Restonic and Southerland, according to McCreadie. The Restonic brand is typically sold at these high school fund raisers by CFS and has developed a poor reputation from buyers. And not to be left behind, Southerland mattresses also garnered bad reviews from purchasers.
Prices at the school sales typically start at $199 for twin size mattress set and go up to $1900 plus delivery charges.
Our advice: If you want to help the local athletic department when you see one of these school mattress sales events in your area of the country, just write a check to the school as a donation. If you really need a mattress, carefully compare brands and prices before you buy one at a local high school gymnasium or cafeteria.
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ReplyDeleteThis bring back horrible memories. Let me give you a glimpse into my past life where a blog like yours caused my daughter to attempt suicide.
DeleteA few years ago I owned a business that had some competitors who decided it would be fun to attack our business making personal attacks and false statements. Kids got a hold of the blogs and eventually started bullying my daughter on line. Then the phone started ringing night and day from blocked numbers. People were nasty. People can be so hurtful when they can hide behind these types of blogs. It just gets out of control.
The day I closed the business was the same day I got the call "You need to go to the hospital NOW, ****** tried to kill herself, she is in the ambulance" She had finally had enough and thought the world would be better off without her. I will never forget that feeling of not being able to breath, the deep pain, the helplessness. Why did these people do this to my daughter? I just wanted to be left alone and they just kept attacking, I could not protect her, why ? we did nothing wrong....
It all started with a little blog that grew, got nasty and eventually became personal. No one ever expects these things to get big, but they do. Some people have no boundaries when they can hide.
I am happy to say that she is doing great today. These negative, unchecked blogs cause harm. The owners of the blogs should think about their responsibility and accountability when they get out of control.
I know some of you will ask "Why didn't you go to the police". Well, I did and was told "So you want me to investigate internet stuff instead of dealing with hard issue like robberies and shootings"? They told me that prosecuting internet harassment is almost impossible to accomplish. Until you have been in that situation, you just can't imagine how bad it gets. People jump on board and it gets bigger and bigger.
Just watch the replies to my post. It's all in your hands Don.
ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ARE ANONYMOUS!
DeleteI would say it's not necessarily the product..everyone knows you overpay for a fundraising product. More important to me is the person you are paying; the fundraising company. What is their character? What is their lifestyle. Out West we have a couple of real gems. One guy is named Les Krieger with Legacy Fundraising who caters to high schools. He was run out of his state of Colorado and is now in the process of getting kicked off high school campuses in California. Another one of his cohorts by the name of Steve Grant with Championship Fundraising is a child molester sympathizer who shows up on hs campuses stoned and geeked up on meds. Both of these guys are making $200k/yr off of “us.” I believe people are catching on to people like this but at the same time, some of the onus should be placed on the coaches and teachers. Some of them are just as unscrupulous as these bottom feeder fundraising guys in that, they knowingly put out a crap product or deal with shady people as long as they make money.
DeleteAn anonymous reader has posted repeated comments here saying the article was written by a relative of the local furniture store. I can attest I am not related and the local furniture store has not been an advertiser on Southwest Florida Online for some time.
ReplyDelete-Editor
Over 40 years ago my high school football coach posted a document on the locker room bulletin board. The words on that piece of paper still impact me today and have had a profound impact on my success and ability to fight past my many business failures and helped me ignore my critics. Today, I thrive because I have attempted many thing.
DeleteI think my coach took the words of Vince Lombardi and posted them knowing we would be challenged on the field of play and in life. That little piece of paper started said something like this:
Critics are everywhere.....People who get criticized are those who attempt many things. They have many failures, they have many successes. They get criticized just because they attempt things. Critics are a dime a dozen, they never fail because they never attempt anything except criticizing people who do things.
We had a losing season way back then, but to this day, that little piece of paper has helped me push past my critics and succeed. I will continue to do things and get criticized by others just because I choose to live a full life, go after my dreams and be productive.
I looked at the original post from Don back in 2012, perhaps back then, this concept seemed odd and it was a paradigm gap that was impossible to comprehend. I did a quick look today, this company is thriving and there are 100s of happy people, schools, coaches and others.
We should celebrate creativity in the United States and encourage new business concepts. It is in fact, how our country became the greatest in the World. Some of the best things in America came from repeated failures, high school drop outs, college flunky's and radical thinking.
Looks to me like this company got it figured out......I salute them!
You say you're not related to anyone that owns a furniture store, but on the left side of my screen, I see ads for 4 different mattress companies including Sealy, ebed.com, bedinabox, and Sears mattresses. Obviously the coaches that work with this company have vetted them and continue to work with them. Have you personally been to one of their sales?
ReplyDeleteSo uneducated. & its ridiculous for you to think others are uneducated as well.. Should we (readers/HARD-working Americans) ASSUME you work for this so-called 'fundraiser' company??
DeleteYou know that the person that wrote the blog has no control over what ads pop up right? Those ads are the result of the cookies on your internet browser, if you typed in the word mattress in a google search that puts that word in your cookies and you'll get ads from Sealy and others that make mattresses.
DeleteAs for whether the coaches vetted these people.. sorry to burst your bubble that isn't the way school fundraising works. The people pushing candy sales, candle sales, cookie dough sales, and mattress sales aren't vetted they are just salesmen that hit every school in the state and some coaches or teacher or band director fall for the pitch... Often the salesman will also promise some money directly to the coach or teacher beyond what the football team or band program gets.
The best option is to do zero fund raisers and have parents simply pay for what is needed. It saves a lot of money and is much simplier.
Well said. A good explanation of how Google's ads appear on you computer based on what you have recently searched for, and how coaches and band directors select their fundraising based on sales literature presented to them through the year and usually not through checking out the company's reputation.
DeleteNote; Advertising seen by readers depends on what words they were searching and what pages they land on. The editor does not control what ads are seen by readers, and has no interest in any advertisers, most of which are national companies.
ReplyDeleteMatejka has put a new spin on the same scam used at his former company. His prior furniture company was actually a franchise operation of PMD Furniture (Power Marketing Direct, owned by Jeff Hoskings) You can find numerous articles on the illicit business practices of PMD and Hoskings.
ReplyDeleteIf you check Matejka on Linkedin, a number of former PMD franchisees have been enlisted by Matejka and are now running this fundraising scam of CFS. These are the bad people in the world that will do anything to get other people's money and not have an ounce of compunction in doing so.
The mattress fundraising company has no affiliation with any other mattress or furniture business. You are in fact, attacking the whistle blowers who set out to take down their own company. How many people do you know who would stick out their necks and risk their livelihood.
DeleteYou should not write about things you have limited knowledge. You have twisted the facts to fit your attempt to attack this great fundraising company. I am very familiar with every aspect of your attempt to mislead the readers of this blog. How do I know? Keep reading.....
PMD was not a franchise years ago when 100s of people around the Country signed licensing agreements to operate furniture warehouses as licensee's not franchisee's. Initially, it was a good company. Unfortunately, I came in after the good years and lost $145,000. Like many business owners, I thought it would get better. It happens to the best of them. Jeff Hosking was the CEO and sole owner and decision maker of the company, The PMD dealers claimed that Hosking got greedy and started overcharging his dealers forcing them to lose business and overprice products just to make a profit. There were several dealers who took out home equity loans and drained bank accounts to try and stay in business. Some dealers had to file bankruptcy. The issues had nothing to do with misrepresentation to the retail public, it was all about internal treatment of the dealers. The internet made it easy for dealers to find out they were being charged up to 100% mark-up on furniture. The dealers had to absorb those mark-ups.
A bunch of dealers left PMD many years ago for their own reasons and had to find something to make a living. I know about 5-6 years ago, a big group of PMD dealers filed a group lawsuit and eventually were permitted to leave PMD without any legal action so they could operate in the furniture industry voiding their non-compete agreements.
PMD is now a franchise business still operating and not affiliated with this fundraising organization. The former dealers you referenced are the same dealers who 'took down' their former company. They are the ones who stuck out their necks. These are the people who saw something wrong in their company and sued to make it right. So in essence, you are attacking the whistle-blowers. So these are the people you call "bad", people who make things right.....know the facts before you write something.
I fell for a similar gimmick in San Diego and bought $600 Southerland mattress. A year after the mattress began making sounds and the firmness has lost.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, come on man! Your complaining about a $600 mattress losing firmness. There is a queen mattress in the middle of the Walmart aisle that costs $399. You can actually squeeze the top and bottom together with your arms, no body weight. You can feel that it has very few coils, but it looks great! You only paid $200 more than a Walmart mattress....that's not a gimmick, you got a $600 mattress. All the $600 mattresses in every store in the US would do the same thing.
DeleteBy the way, I thought I had a squeaky mattresses once and discovered it was the box spring. Push on the corners, sides and middle of the box with the mattress off the bed. It might not be the mattress. Mine sounded like a squeaky low pitched door hinge. Like one of those horror movie doors slowly opening.
I bought a Restonic from CFS in May of 2012. It is a piece of crap. It is creaking and has a whole in the middle. Stay away from these mattresses.
ReplyDeleteThis fundraiser raised $3500 for our band program, so I do t really think that it's all that bad.
ReplyDeleteJust because it makes money doesn't mean it's a great product. It's taken advantage of people's hearts by using school kids as their prop. Horrible if you ask me.
DeleteNo one asked you Don....
DeleteDon't all fundraising schemes for schools use students or students programs as the basis of earning money. How many of those little girl scouts have you taken advantage of when you buy those cheap overpriced boxes of cookies they push every year? Get real! Do you really think anyone would buy cookies, candy bars, fruit or anything else if it were only adults/parents who where in front of the sale? There is nothing wrong with selling items to help people. Oh, churches do it too.
DeleteThis blog seems like a hatchet job. You only mention two manufacturers but the customfundraisingsolutions.com web site also lists Simmons, Therapedic, Englander and one that I've never heard of called Symbol. There are links on the web site to each of them so I doubt that these are bogus claims. You also only looked at the former business when you looked at the BBB report. You failed to mention that the BBB report on this business is A+ with only 4 complaints in 7 years and all of them have been resolved to everyone's satisfaction. Such selective reporting makes you look "some kinda way" to anyone who can click a mouse and get all the information.
ReplyDeleteA check today (Sept 22/ 2014) shows Custom Funding Solutions LLC is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. The original story was from 2012 and we stand by our recommendations as stated in the story.
ReplyDelete-Editor
I didn't say that they are "accredited", I said they are "rated" A+ Here is the link to the BBB that you seem unable to find. http://www.bbb.org/cleveland/Business-Reviews/fund-raising-games-merchandise-supplies/custom-fundraising-solutions-llc-in-westlake-oh-25001512 Click on the "Overview" tab to see the rating.
DeleteDon, the services you offer in this blog are not accredited by the BBB either. Are we to assume that you have no credibility or you are not legit because you are not registered with the BBB. The BBB is outdated and has become a profit making business on the backs of all business who choose to put their little stickers on the front of their stores. If you want to know about CFS, call your local school and ask. If your schools are doing this for the 2nd - 3rd - 4th - 5th years.....something must be right! School administrators are not going to let something happen in their schools that will tarnish their image or cause them problems.
DeleteI'm working this company to raise much needed funds for our football team and just say where they have raised over $10,000,000 for schools nationally. I've seen that customers SAVE money through this company and it's been a win-win for everyone. What's your beef with them. Here's where they were featured on Yahoo!: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mattress-fundraiser-breaks-10-million-201200331.html;_ylt=A0LEV0bMVIhUq8cAQ3dXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzcDBoZWVpBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDA3N18x
ReplyDeleteNote that the link cited is actually from a press release written by the company itself. I'd not take it too seriously as to how any particular school is going to raise big bucks as a result of letting a mattress company set up shop at the school for a weekend.
ReplyDeleteDon, You missed the real point! Is the article true and accurate or is it false. If it is false, then publish the facts and take the risk of being challenged. All companies have the right to self promote.
DeleteFunny how you selectively edit the posts. You just removed mine. I guess this about your opinion and not the truth. How's life in the Obama administration?
ReplyDeleteThis is not only a scam in Ohio it is as well right here in Lancaster, New York. I was told on November 1st that I would have my $1000 mattress in 3 to 4 weeks... One excuse after another as to why it still isn't here the first week of January when it was supposed to be a Christmas present guaranteed delivery. Extremely poor customer service with no apologies whatsoever when I demanded every penny of my money back and my order cancelled. I'll be sure to let every baseball mom know about this scam for sure!
ReplyDeleteJust because you have the same experience as one person that many of us experience at one time or another at furniture stores, etc. That does not make it a scam. I waited 4 months for a bedroom set at Ashley Furniture after they kept telling me it was in. They refused to give my money back at Ashley. If you did not ever get your mattress, that would be a scam and you should report that to the authorities, but I have a feeling you got your mattress.
DeleteHUGE SCAM!! Owners pocket the majority of the money. Make a donation to the school and buy a mattress from a reputable store!!
ReplyDeleteVery true. CFS takes 15% and the CFS dealers take about 50%. Schools get about $100 per set. Hardly as good as they advertise.
DeleteHow do you know this?
DeleteThis is absolutely the truth. The schools get what amounts to be about half to a third of what cfs makes.
DeleteWow! We get money for each mattress they sell, we don't have to put my kid on the street going door to door, we don't have to handle cash, we don't have to deliver anything, we don't have to buy anything, they sell a few mattresses and we make the same as 1000s of candy bars that we as parent pay for anyway. We will let them take all the risk and we'll get paid? Sounds like a deal! They must lose a bunch of money if no mattresses are sold! At least my school doesn't lose the money.
DeleteGood for you! You have to do nothing! I bought 2 of these mattresses last Sept at a school fundraising. A total,of,$2000.00 plus $100.00 for delivery. The extra firm is now sinking in the middle.More than normal. The dealer wouldn't even come and look at it! Emailed a 2 page form that I could print out, fill out and send in. I had to measure and find numbers. Not an easy feat when you are 82. We were not able to find out how much was given to the football program . Yes, I should have donated the money and bought my mattress elsewhere. So--didYOU,who had to do nothing, buy one?
DeleteI did buy a mattress and I had a mattress replaced without any questions asked from our school event. Since I had a issue, I was curious and read somewhere that about 3-5% of mattresses have warranty claims.
DeleteThe school fundraiser guy told me that they have to take care of customer issues quickly as it is the only way they can stay in the schools they work with....made sense to me. He said stores get 1000s of people every year, they can afford to have a few angry people.
If you did go to a mattress store, you could have gone to one of the most popular mattresses stores...that 'firm' place, bought the same mattress and told to follow their warranty process. Here it is listed below. Put that in your browser and try to get any resolution with them. You must download their claim form, fill it out, wait for them to schedule a appointment when they want to, host their third party claim company, pay them $25 to come to your house.....but on certain products, you must contact the manufacturer directly. If the warranty is approved and that is a BIG IF....there is a $69.99 redelivery fee......That is the Mattress - Firm warranty process. You can read it for yourself...see the link below.
If I were you, I would have told the guy to get his butt out to your house and take care of it. For me, I called our school representative, they brought me a new mattress for free in two weeks. No questions asked.
http://www.mattressfirm.com/warranty-questions-l47.aspx
Our State requires each fundraising organization to register and publish audited financial reports for each sale. As a Band Director, we review these reports to see if we are being treated fairly. I can tell you that this company always pays their schools more than they keep after considering ALL the costs associated with running one of these events. I like this fundraiser because CFS assumes all the risk, they can make money, but there are several sales that they lose money while the school still gets paid. I know our State audits the company and all the other fundraising groups because I get calls from the State verifying the posted results. I know the truth! These guys are fantastic!
DeleteWe have State wide Band Director conferences and I know a bunch of Directors who love this fundraiser. My boosters like it too!
So you are telling me they publish their REAL costs? No way...absolutely no way. You should be ashamed to think ANYONE would believe that. CFS is getting desperate here to try to get that entered as fact.
DeleteI said AUDITED by the State. It is a fact! YOU are the person who should be ashamed. You insult me and other coaches, directors and school administrators by writing negative posts LIKE WE NEED YOUR AMAZING KNOWLEDGE. Do you really think I am not smart enough to look into their results, talk to fellow colleagues and have my students parents who are great business people review this company?
DeleteMy community and my job are important to me and my family. The mattress fundraiser is one of the easiest and best known event in our community. I love it!
YOUR post said they always pay more to the schools than they make.....correct? The ONLY way to know that is to know their costs. I stand, firmly, by my assertion. If you know sonething here provide evidence. Until then, keep scamming.....
DeleteThey have to post all their costs associated with the event too! It would be difficult to audit anything financial without the costs associated with the activity being audited. The bottom line is that you can't handle the fact that your posts are completely false. This is a good company. They are fair and all the Directors in my area work with them and will continue working with them.
DeletePeople reading this blog need to remember that the creator of the blog originally was attacking the company. At least he is fair and lets people voice their opinions. There are a few competitors who keep failing and they want to post negative stuff.
Since this company has been around since 2005 and helped raise more than $13 Million for school programs throughout the U.S., they are great for my area, my parents enjoy this event.....I will work with them for a long time.
Again you spout off with nothing to back it up with. Do they really post their costs? The real costs backed by actual evidence? I would LOVE for you to show this. What state are you in? How does the public see you are truthful?
DeleteAs a band director along with several other directors I know, we are happy with CFS, our parents are happy and our community likes the event. I don't know why you want to attack the company, but I wish you the best with whatever you decide to do with your life. Band camp is starting for all of us this week, no more time for this.
DeleteAt our last meeting, I think CFS had 50+ locations and had helped schools all over the country earn more than $13 million just doing their mattress fundraiser. That's a lot of money going to schools throughout my area and the country. It is simply the best fundraiser I have ever done!
The truth is an attack? YOU made a patently false claim and are now trying to back out of it. You have NO idea how much they make. They would NEVER show their costs. If you knew the 799 Simmons cost them 257 would you and your administrator be as happy?
DeleteI own a small business and read this string of comments. The last one is so interesting and shows the typical understanding of the general public about businesses.
Delete799 - 257 = $542 Gross Profit. That is not the amount of money a business owner puts in the their pocket. You know that, but want to bend the discussion to fit your agenda.
Businesses have fixed costs and variable costs. The fixed costs happen every month or during every sale. If these people sell nothing or very little, they will lose money, probably a big loss. If they sell cheap stuff, they have to sell a lot more to make any money. If they sell big dollar items, they have to sell less to cover their costs.The variable costs cover sales staff, trucks, set up, credit card processing. One could argue that these costs are actually fixed since it seems like this company incurs a lot of the variable costs before they sell the first mattress. The school has no risk, they make money starting with the first mattress sold.
They probably do make good money when they sell a bunch of mattresses, but you also have to look at the other side of the equation. HOW MUCH DO THEY LOSE WHEN THEY DON'T SELL ANYTHING OR VERY LITTLE? As with any business, they would follow a standard distribution curve where 30% do ok, 30% do very well and 30% lose money and eventually quit.
Like all businesses, they have to make up those losses in the next events. Attacking this business model is a slippery slope because every sale is different and I am sure they have events that lose money and some that make great money.
It has taken them a long time to grow since they started in 2005. If it were a hugely profitable business, they would have a lot more locations and they would have a lot of competition. There are thousands of people with money who are looking to invest in franchises. These people would be all over this begging to get in. It's obvious that that isn't happening. So it must be so unpredictable that people don't want to invest or the return on the investment is not as huge as you want to believe.
Read their website....they dont sell franchises. Why? Disclosure is required if they do. No chance they want that....
DeleteAgain the point is they take more than they give. Fixed and variable cost discussions are exactly the point. No can say they dont make money because its not disclosed. That's why it is insulting for someone to say they are audited and they are giving more than they are taking. Agreed?
DeleteI own a Franchise, they suck! It's just a way for a business owner to charge a bunch of money up front for their business model. It takes forever to get that money back.
DeleteSecond and more important. Coke does not patent their formula because they want to keep it a secret. Why would a successful company like the mattress sale company want to disclose anything for potential competitors, mattress stores and any other person to gain more insight into their business model? They are smart keeping it away from you, me and anyone else.
That's the smart American way! It's great to live in a Country where a person or company can invent a great business and not have to have it ripped off by competitors or wannabes.
Go start your own business, you make it sound so easy!
Total scam
ReplyDeleteThe mattress fundraising dealers are registered with their States and many of them have to report financials to their Department of State for every school they work with. The States follow up randomly to check and make sure the company is reputable and does what they say. Every State in the Country has a group at the Department of State that monitors all solicitation, fundraisers, special events, etc. They are actually more heavily regulated than a standard retail store. They do this to protect their citizen from fraudulent activities. No scam, just the facts.
DeleteWould LOVE to see any of these reports. Where can i find them?
DeleteLove how wild ass claims are made here with NO backup. "Just believe us. We are professionals. Leave the fundraising to us while you do what you love...coaching." Is that not how most scams are perpetrated?
DeleteI see lots of good facts on here about how schools love these fundraisers. It does make sense that a business owner should make more money for taking on all the financial risk. it's funny how when a business loses money, no one including employees are rushing to the front office to share in the losses. Everyone still wants their cut. I am guessing not one school gave back money when their event was not successful. I know we did not give our money back. Our school only sold 3 mattresses last week. The cost of the sales staff alone would have been more than profit. They still paid our team. Nobody ever thinks about who has to eat the losses.....
DeleteAs for Anonymous 7:49PM above. we are so lucky that you are so smart! you are the only person out of probably 3000 school programs who has such amazing wisdom. You are an insult to every school leader, parent and student who can think for themselves and has already researched and found this to be a great way to get the same mattresses sold in stores.
The company we used was Custom Fundraising Solutions. They havelots of check pictures, testimonials and stuff on the their website. We noticed they work with some of the top 50 football programs in the Country. Their bands are some of the best in the country. We worked with them because if those big programs work with them, we knew they had to be great.
www.customfundraisingsolutions.com
Three mattresses? Bet you are thrilled with $250 huh? What a joke. Why did u post this?
DeleteJust bought a Simmons mattress. I took a picture of the info card and went home to research it. I got ripped off. I paid $300 MORE than I could buy it online. What a scam. I will be calling the school Monday. I am glad I found this site. Has anyone else had this happen to them?
ReplyDeleteQuite the opposite actually. My wife and I went to the school and found a mattress that was the same as the one we ordered at Mattress Firm. We cancelled our mattress firm order and bought the same mattress from the school. Get this! We saved $1,000! We called our friends and they bought the same mattress we bought. I love the bed. That was 4 years ago and we are telling all our friends to wait this year.
DeleteMy wife and I had a very enjoyable and refreshing experience this weekend at our school. The sales lady saw me trying to do comparison shopping at the fundraising event using my phone. She got the owner who sat with us on the mattress and helped us find the identical mattress at four different mattress stores including a couple on line retailers. It was almost impossible for us to do it since all the names are different from retailer to retailer. He (the owner) told us if he or us could find the same mattress or if we thought we could find a similar one for less, he would beat it by $100 and still give the school their money.
DeleteWe found one we thought was less, but on line, they catch you by showing mattress only prices. When we added the box spring, the online stores were $200 to $500 higher. The owner walked away and told us to take our time, go shopping to compare because he did not want to sell us a mattress if we were not absolutely sure.
We bought the mattress set. It was the most fairest way to buy a mattress we ever experienced. It's hard to believe this great experience happened at a school. This was the 4th year we had been seeing the signs and finally decided it was time. I feel so good helping our local band and I got to meet some of the students who were playing in front of the school.
I think business owners have a right to make money. They do take a lot more risk than a hourly or salaried person, but for some reason, it has become a crime for entrepreneurs to ask good money for their efforts.
DeleteHigh Margins by the retail mattress stores it what makes this fundraising company successful. They don't have the overhead so they can reduce their prices. However, the negative bloggers on here act like they don't have any costs with their business.
Some people get 'upset' when they see someone else making money. 50% gross profit (sell price - cost of goods sold) / sell price isn't outrageous by any means especially when the retailer has to pay all the costs associated with running a business. Most consumers don't understand all the little things that add up, vehicles, insurance, card processing fees, bank charges for business accounts, licensing, phones, advertising, labor, warranty claims, cancellations, administrative labor, tax prep, accountant fees and the list goes on and on. Those cargo delivery trucks are $50,000 or they have to lease them for outrageous prices. It ain't all profit as some want to believe.
Some shopping for mattresses will pay more for an iPhone / iPad than a bed...Apple didn't get a multimillion dollar war chest trying to sell for cheap. The iPad cover is my favorite, commanding hundreds of percentage points. So, if there are folks out there 'upset' at the margins in mattresses, check out your other household products before getting too upset ;)
Yes, same thing happened to me and they refused to refund my money. They said all sales are final. I paid almost $600 more for the set I bought than I could have gotten it for elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI have so much more respect for CFS and the way they treated me yesterday. I am a big, over weight man and I know it. I weigh 350 pounds. The CFS guy was the first mattress sales person who had the courage to tell me which beds would support me and which beds would not last. He was very open, honest and not afraid to address my situation. Not only that, I felt like the most important customer in the gym. I got a great mattress! I have been replacing my mattress every 2 - 3 years from the local mattress stores. The mattress stores always told me the same thing...."every bed in here will support you"! I know the stores just want to make a sale and they take advantage of my situation. Yes, I paid a little more for my mattress than usual, but I got a much better mattress and I like dealing with honest people. He showed me the same mattress on line at 3 different stores to show me how much I was saving at the school. I was talking to the sales guy and the coach. Both said if I have any problems to call either of them.
Delete"Big over weight"? No one would ever describe themselves in such a ridiculous manner. The thin veiled attempts by CFS to hide their dishonesty is comical.....
DeleteWith all these complaints why are they still doing this. I googled mattress fundraiser today before going to a sale near Philly today. Glad I did.
ReplyDeleteAll of these complaints? Do you really think they would continually be asked back to the 1000s of schools they work with ever year if there were a bunch of complaints from more than just one or two people? This company is like yours, mine or any other business. They are operated by independent dealers where a few might not be as savvy handling customers in certain situations. Anonymous at 7:34pm wanted a refund, but probably after the school was already paid and they expected the school to give them a refund.
DeleteI am a old man. I was raised in a time when you were responsible for the decisions you made. When I sign sales receipts which are contracts, my signature is a commitment. Unfortunately, we now have a few generations who's word, commitment and signature are meaningless. As a member of the greatest generation, I am ashamed that our country is filled with adults who do not take responsibility for simple things like making a purchase and sticking to it.
It's pathetic how people buy things, change their minds and return opened, used and damaged merchandise making retailers absorb the loss. So for those of you reading this that are younger than me, just because you can cancel a contract through intimidation, threat of internet harassment, posting negative comments on blogs to hurt a business.....you are still wrong! Your children are learning from you too! You will see in a few years when the creditors are sending collection letters to your adult children at your home.
Live up to your commitments. You will become more responsible and stronger. Our youth will have a great example to follow also. My word and signature mean something and the people I do business with know it!
PS: I can't wait for the day when a church gets asked to return a person tithe because they found a cheaper church or just changed their minds.
Southerland Mattress is the worst mattress I have ever purchased, they refuse to warranty it and the center is caving in after only 3 months of sleeping on it. This company are crooks and will gladly take your money, give you very low quality product and ignore you when the product needs to be warranty! BUYER BEWARE, do not make a bad decision and buy this product STEAR CLEAR!
ReplyDeleteCrappy no name mattresses or over priced brand names? Seems Like a double whammy. Why work with these guys?
DeleteFunny....yesterday at our school, they had Simmons Beautyrest, Southerland and Restonic brands. All three are in the top 15 bedding manufacturers in the United States. no name???? really??? I read this blog before going, I suggest to everyone who see's this blog, go to your school. There is something really strange about the negative stuff on here. It has to be competitors or disgruntled ex employee's making up stuff because what I saw were mostly great mattresses, good value compared to stores and happy kids.
DeleteDid you even read the above?
DeleteI read the above.....I like facts:
DeleteSimmons, Sealy, Restonic and Serta all have very similar overall ratings. Oddly enough, a very expensive and well known brand "Sterns and Foster" has a very bad rating. You can't argue the facts from a independent review source. So many reckless broad statements on here by people who have some issue with a person or the company.
You can see for yourself:
http://www.sleeplikethedead.com/bed-mattress-review-home.html
No...no you didn't. To buy from them you have to choose crappy (Southerland) or overpriced (Restonic and Simmons). Facts are facts bud.
DeleteThis fundraiser has got to be the biggest scam ever. This company is making so much money and giving the schools barely a fraction. Mattresses are complete crap!! Beware!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe folks at CFS are aware of this blog. They are worried their gig may be up soon. Too bad. What will the old pmd cronies do next?
DeleteSounds like this person has a personal beef with CFS or someone in the company. They certainly don't care about helping schools like this great company. I heard some big mattress retailers are trying to take these guys down becasue they have taken a big chunk of their retail store business.
DeleteAnother weekend, another set of scammers.
ReplyDeleteAs an athletic director in Illinois I found this while researching mattress fundraisers. I have heard a lot of things and wanted to find out the truth. I have NO idea now. It seems like a good, not great, fundraiser. I think at the very least we need to demand more money for each sale. Does CFS really make 2x as the school? My superintendent will not allow this if that's true. How do I get this information?
ReplyDeleteThe anonymous person slamming CFS makes one great point, the mattresses are the same ones you can buy in the store....I repeat, the same ones, the same Simmons Beautyrest, the same southerland, the same retonic, the same new englander......the same! So if everything is the same, how do you explain the success? We have held this event for 4 years. I see people checking prices on line, going away to stores to shop and compare and then returning to buy from this event. Mr. or Mrs. anonymous also mentions that they are the same mattresses you can buy in a store. Well if this is indeed the case, all the mattresses in the stores would be bad too...right? Or did CFS just go to Simmons, Southerland, etc. and say..."Give me all your worst mattresses". Lets think about this logically, we are in our 4th year, we always sell between 40 - 50 mattresses at our school and many are bought each year by the same people. Do you really think consumers are so ignorant that they would repeatedly spend $500 - $1000 every year on junk? Really? Anonymous insults every reader of this blog by trying to do the thinking for you. So I wonder, who is this disgruntled person or people??? Have you ever met a disgruntled competitor, employee or failed business owner. I am a HR Manager, I see these people all the time. Blame the world for their failures.
DeleteI have not seen anyone being arm wrestled to buy a mattress at our school. I see people come and go, some buy, some don't. We will continue to hold our event every year because people like the mattresses, they buy them at the school because they say they save money and of course we make a lot of money and do no work. They do everything for us.
Mr. Brown tells people to donate money. Mr. Brown.....our band budget is $150,000. We have parents who will not pay their band dues. We have businesses in our community who refuse to help promote our band. People do not simply give $150,000 annually without something in return. We did a simple online donation this year for all our families and their relatives....we made $3,000!
So athletic director. I suggest you contact your area directors and ask them about this sale. Only there will you find the truth!
The most successful of the CFS scammers, I mean dealers, are off to Saint Thomas on the backs of the schools they rip off. I thought it was all about the kids, right? Yeah right!
ReplyDeleteMy company takes us on trips all the time. Of course, as one of the top sales people, I earn it. There are some who never get to that level and they always complain and blame everyone else except themselves. Why is it in our great country, it has become a sin to own a successful business and celebrate success? It's sad that winning businesses have to hide from the scrutiny of the jealous public. I say go! If you earn it, take it! I bet there were a lot of bands or other groups who went to Europe, Florida, Hawaii this year because CFS helped them make money.
DeleteThat's just the tip of the iceberg. Those trips take place several times a year. They are out for themselves, not the schools. The mattresses are crap and they sell them for four to five times what they get them for. CFS is making more than four times what they are paying the schools. False advertising is just the beginning of what they are being investigated for....BEWARE!!
ReplyDeleteCrazy! Who is allowing these people into the schools? School administrators need to be made aware of this scam
ReplyDeleteCFS claims mattresses are 30% to 50% Below Retail. In fact, they are 30% to 50% HIGHER than retail. They sell a Simmons mattress that was built to Retail for $599 and they price it between $699 and $799! Then show an inflated retail of $999. Not true. They are taking advantage of local people who are in good faith buying a mattress to help the school team.
ReplyDeleteI bought a mattress this weekend. Afterwards, I read this blog. I called the company and got them to send me the details of my mattress. I took a picture of the mattress at the sale. I just got back from the local store and found my same mattress that I paid $699 at the store for $899....well, I really paid $599 because I got a teacher discount. I showed the store guy and he was not happy. I am very happy now with my decision and can't wait to get my mattress.
DeleteWe noticed today May 12, 2015 that an anonymous writer placed seven responses to other's comments. All responses were posted within a forty minute period between 11:07 and 11:47 a.m. Eastern Time and the person variously portrayed himself as a teacher, salesperson for the company and advocate of the company's business practices. Normally we don't see one person making numerous comments.
ReplyDeleteErase the comments then.....
DeleteI went to one of these fundraisers this past weekend. Very high pressure sales. I did my research before attending the sale. Although I wanted to support the team, it was a joke. Mattress quality was far inferior to mattresses we priced elsewhere. Prices were higher than anything else I had found and delivery charges were completely outrageous. The school team just isn't making enough to justify these prices. Don't get ripped off. Avoid these sales!
ReplyDeleteWe have been doing this event for 5 years. We took our end of event report to one of our local mattress stores because they wanted to do this for us. After reviewing the report and looking at all the money paid to kids, the team and the cost of doing the event with no guaranteed sales, the local store said they were not willing to take the risk unless they could pay for the cost of the event before they started paying us. They stopped asking to do the event. LOL... I know the fundraising company lost money in 2 of the years they worked with us.
DeleteWe also have parents in our booster group who always find a excuse to not help our team. They are always too busy, the things we sell are too expensive, they take, take, take and never help. The comment below says "make a $50 donation"....this is the real World. We have parents who never pay their participation fees.....give a donation....ha!
I think school fundraising as a whole is a scam. These bozos have just perfected it. Make a $50 donation and go to the local in town store to buy your mattress. Win Win Win Lose. Wins are school gets money, local store gets business, and you save money. Only people that lose are the fundraising hacks from CFS and the other mattress fundraising companies. Yes there are others that have stole the idea and are doing it.
ReplyDeleteThe mattress fundraiser idea is truly genius. Too bad it fell into the hands of very greedy people. Mattresses are over priced and the majority of the money goes into the CFS operator's pocket, instead of to the school group. I noticed CFS is now paying for Google ads to rise to the top of the page when you search for 'mattress fundraiser'. The spoof goes on.
ReplyDeleteNo Mr. Booster Beds the whole industry is a scam. Dont attempt to separate yourself. You are even a bigger scam. You stole the scam from the scammers. Don't get all holier than though.
DeleteIt's called advertising! Google-ads, get it? Google-ads, ads, ads.....If a company advertises, that should be a good thing, right? What's wrong with advertising? Nothing!
DeleteThe funny part is that this blog comes up first when i searched mattress fundraiser. I guess the SEO and AD words campaign is a ripoff.
ReplyDeleteThe wool is pulled over the school's eyes with one comment the CFS people claim; 60% of the profits go to the school group. THAT'S A LIE. In fact, if the organizations and the administrations of schools knew that only 10% of the proceeds go to the school, it's doubtful CFS would be permitted to use the school for it's own self interest. Candy bars, cookie dough and all the other fundraisers pay from 40% to 60% of sales. CFS only pays 10%.
ReplyDeleteCustomers are told about 60% going to the group and they misinterpret that into meaning 60% of what they pay for the bed goes to the group.
A more honest approach wold be to share significantly MORE of the gross profit with the group. AND, submit a report to the administration of total sales and total given to the group. That will never happen because it would be the kiss of death with schools.
You are really showing your lack of business knowledge at all levels! Really, candy bars.....really??? You compare the costs structure of selling candy bars to a mattress sale? Everyone reading your statements should get a good laugh! I can hear the chuckles already.....
DeleteBut lets give it a go for fun....
What would you think if you found out it only costs $.05 (5 cents) to make a candy bar? Well, that is the cost! The candy company makes 55 cents, you get 40 cents and you do all the selling, distribution, collect the cash and you have to buy it in minimum order quantities. Hope you can sell it all. Good luck!
But lets move along. Every school should sell $1 candy bars for 40% profit. After all, we know the candy bar companies do it for free, right? The candy bar companies share their cost structure with the schools, right? Anyway....moving along with your advise. Lets see, that means my kids band program would have to sell 31,500 candy bars to make the amount of money we made in ONE DAY from them selling mattresses for us. The mattress fundraising company takes the orders, handles the finances, orders mattresses, warehouses, unloads truckloads of mattresses, home delivers, pays for everything, takes all the risk if nothing sells. My kid stays off the street, I don't have to eventually buy the candy and give it away, my coworkers don't feel obligated to buy candy......hmmm
You must be one of those struggling candy and cookie companies making such a silly post or maybe a competitor. Perhaps just got a issue with mattress fundraisers.....You certainly could use a good dose of business school.
News Flash!!! We hate selling candy! My kids hate selling candy! We hate car washes, We hate on line solicitors, We hate working in concession stands making pennies on each item sold, We hate all the traditional fundraising! Period!
This is so easy and I love it!
By the way, the mattress people did not claim 60% of profits go to the school, I was at the meeting. Those are your misinformed words which shows how desperate you are to take out your anger on this company.
Since you think all of them are getting rich, I suggest you quit your job and become a mattress fundraising dealer. I am sure they have open locations and would be happy to let you try your expertise at running a business on your own. I used to own a business. Starting and running a business is not free. You will need a lot of money up front. Just remember, you can lose a lot of money since you have to pony up all the money and hope to sell something. By the way, those medical insurance benefits, disability insurance, 401K, Social Security benefits, HSA plans that your company pays for or matches in your current job. As a business owner, you have to pay for 100% of it! I know, I used to own a business! I make more now working for a company.
I am guessing if you owned a business and had to cough up the cash on the front end, your whole concept of business costs, profit, loss, etc. would change dramatically.
I love this mattress sale and the other parents love this sale too! They have always given us what they said we would get and a little more.
BTW: I suggest you contact the owner of the company and share your thoughts with him. He might get you one of those lucrative locations to test your business skills. I don't know what it costs, but like most small businesses, you will probably need $75,000 - $150,000 for everything before your first sale. Warehouses, trucks, inventory...etc. Be careful though, you might lose it all!
I guess it would be cheaper to just hand a kid a box of chocolates and tell him "don't come back until you sell this box of chocolate. You could be the 'chocolate pimp'!
Their website and employment ads advertise no start up costs. So you are only off by, like, $$75,00-$150,000.
DeleteHey, I got a great idea then if there is no start up cost, especially for those who believe everything written about the company making a bunch of money. You need to get off this blog, go start one of their free dealerships. Go to their website where you can find how to become a dealer and do it! You are a smart person I assume and just enjoy the bantering. You and I both know starting a business takes a lot of cash and 75%+ of businesses crash and burn losing everything. But, if you start a business with nothing, the business cost no money to operate, then you lose nothing when it fails....right??? uh huh...of course we live in the real World.
DeleteIt costs about $2000 they say to run a sale.
DeleteI wonder who bought all those display beds, frames, credit card machines, insurance, trucks, show crates, and more......I wonder how long those things last when setting up and tearing down every week? Amortized across the shows they do......ummm it's a heck of a lot more than $2000. I am guessing the $2000 just covers sales help, set-up help, maybe some marketing stuff.....You have never owned a business. A little dose of the real world of owning a business would be a real eye opener for you. Again, I say go for it! get rich! You can do it! Get off here, take that $2000 and do a school! Good luck!
DeleteDo you even know where to start???? Layout your business plan and go for it!
You seem to have all the answers bud. Lay them out. You havent a clue do you?
DeleteIt's humorous to read the replys from CFS management and chosen operators. You guys love using intimidation, manipulation, insult and lies to make your case. One day your house of cards will fall. You must not believe in karma, otherwise, you'd be quite frightened looking forward.
DeleteCFS operators tell a long list of lies to everyone with whom they encounter. Lie 1- Mr Coach/Band Director- We typically raise up to $10,000 or more in a single day. That's BS. Most sales generate about $2000 for the group or less.
Lie 2- Parents and kids, we sell mattresses for 30% to 60% Below Retail! BS- Prices are anywhere from Full Retail to 50% ABOVE the same mattress at retail stores.
So the lies continue to the public as they enter the school...Sorry Mom and Dad, you Aren't really getting a deal. You are paying hundreds MORE for a mattress that kicks back from $50 to $100 to the group.
The Winner Everytime is the CFS Operator. They get FREE floor space to display and sell their goods. They get FREE advertising by conning the kids and parents into passing out flyers, putting signs in their yard and wearing silly costumes the day of the sale. It's a way/scam to operate a retail store, fool everyone and hide behind Doing Good for the Community.
ANYONE in need of a mattress would be better served to go to their local store, but a middle of the road Serta mattress and donate $50-$100 to the band or football team. They will in fact have spent less and supported a local business.
I cannot agree more. Their entire premise is based on lies and deception. Their prices are often equal to sale prices at your local store. Many of their mattresses are actually MORE expensive.
DeleteThe average sale is about 25 mattresses (this info comes from what they publish). This means about $2000 raised.
A fundraiser is a great thing. Just dont be fooled. This is a clever scheme started 10 years ago as a way for Joe Matejka to sell mattresses when his wholesale mattress business tanked. He expanded it to other places through his old crony network and now through employment ads.
Average sale is probably about 750. School gets $100. The extra products may see the school get 5 or 10 bucks. Cfs big push is the added profit from the upsell. Those are marked up 2 or 3 times cost. The amount of profit is less but the factor is much higher.
ReplyDeleteThe school gets a fixed amount. Why they cite a percentage is beyond me.
Sounds like they con the schools into letting them in to sell their mattresses with the promise of a larger reward for school/team than what they actually give them. That has to be illegal in some capacity. False advertising? Schools should definitely demand a cost sheet from this company showing what the beds cost and what total profits are made. If the schools had all of the information, they may choose a fundraiser that would be more beneficial to them than this.
ReplyDeleteRight on. I was approached by one of their guys to run a sale. They feed on helping local kids as their sticking point. Yes, they give anywhere from $50 to$100 per mattress sold. My research finds they are making most likely $300 to $500 per set. Add on pillows, protectors, delivery, etc and a sale of 25 sales gets the team about 2k. They make about 7k. They told me they spend about 2k per sale. So they make 2.5x what my team makes. We didn't do a sale after checking local references and seeing things like this. Too bad this happens to schools.
DeleteSo your saying no money is better than some money? Unbelievable how people think. I am neither a customer or a dealer. People get a life.
DeleteSome money is surely better than none. I think the point is that CFS is making more than the schools. That is all. Many districts have strict rules in place for fundraising. If the true numbers were known many district offices would not allow this.
DeleteAnonymous 10:24pm is not a coach and is not associated with a school in any capacity. No coach would reject $2000 in one day when they don't have to manage anything, their kids don't sell, the parents don't have to work and the fundraising company takes all the risk and pays all the bills.
DeleteEven though the post is not real and fabricated by one of CFS's competitors or angry exdealers, $2000/$2500 split or 55%/45% split is pretty good for a fundraising activity.
TO make the same $2000, a school would have to sell 5000 candy bars to and they would have a huge amount of work to get this done.
At the pace this company is growing, the schools are voting with their endorsement of the company that gives them the easiest fundraiser they have ever done (read their referral letter). I read the referral letters on their website from schools all across the country. Did you see those HUGE check pictures they post on their site with 1000s of schools. Those coaches and kids look really happy! You can't argue against pictures and letters...they are real and the coaches put their reputations out there for this company.
Looks like they have communities of people who love what they do!
They make 5 and the school makes 2. Math must not be your subject. Nice try though clown.
DeleteFact is most schools dont allow that type of split.
Just saying.
Letters and pictures are nice. How many are on there?
You can count them for yourself on their website:
Deletejust search for: custom fundraising solutions
It's easy to find, they are all over the Country and have tons of great stuff posted by schools, parents, coaches, directors, news releases and more.
You can just go there and watch all the pictures scroll, you can read news articles, you can go to their locations by clicking a star on the map and then you can see a bunch more pictures for each location. I don't want to count all of them, but a really rough estimate lets say....50 locations, 20 pictures per location.....maybe 1000 pictures of big checks and the schools students, coaches, etc. Could be more or less....who knows.
I can't tell you exactly how many pictures or letters, but enough to tell me they are liked by a lot of people.
Each location on the website doesnt have unique pictures. The same set of pics are used. I estimate 25 check pics cycle through. Many are from years past.
DeleteThe people on this blog have way to much free time. Spend your time with positive things. Unless you like being unhappy.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the people responding to this business operation are trying to warn the public so they aren't conned?
DeleteSaid the man who read all the comments and then found time to comment.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone ever asked their local CFS rep what they know about this blog? Curious what Joe, Bert, Sarah, and friends have instructed them to say.
ReplyDeleteIt was brought up one of our parents at a meeting. Our rep Blake the blog was written by a furniture store owners buddy who was butt hurt. He told us they dont even worry about it.
DeleteAs the publisher of Southwest Florida Online and the writer of the blog post I can tell all readers that the article about school mattress sales was not written by any "furniture store owner" nor do we have any such "buddy." The story was written after I saw dozens of illegal signs posted on street corners in our small community advertising the mattress company's promotion at our local high school here in LaBelle Florida. I might note the high school has not had another mattress sale since that 1st one.
DeleteJay McCreadie doesnt do these anymore. He quit after you wrote this.
DeleteCFS management tells all dealers that this blog is bogus and don't worry about it. They instruct CFS operators NOT to come to this site because that increases it's hits and keeps it coming up in searches. CFS hired a company to make this blog go away by increasing hits on CFS sites, etc. CFS instructed it's operators to spend money promoting their own websites to move this one down on the google page. None of that worked. CFS fears this site.
DeleteTo the person who posted about their rep Blake- Blake lied to you.
Blake lied about what? About the author? Or the level of angst?
DeleteMy sons cross country team recently did one of these. I was very surprised when i went to a booster club meeting last night and learned we did NOT make nearly what the salespeople said. VERY deceptive. Beware.
ReplyDeleteBut you did make something right? Isnt that better than nothing? People are so greedy.
DeleteThis is the typical CFS BS. We are doing something for YOU. No they arent! They do it for them! This is an extension of Matejka's need to sell more mattresses when he failed in Cleveland. They are clever ways to sells mattresses and accessories (yes that is latest things. More people have their claws in the customers with frames and pillows and such) at huge markups. What they give the schools is nothing but a payoff to recruit customers and allow PUBLIC space to be used for PRIVATE companies gain.
DeleteI get your point they do it for but here is a question I have. Who do you work for do they not do things to make money. Any company worth their salt makes money if not they would be out of business. The Mattress industry in it self is inflated as we do not buy mattresses but every 8 to 12 years do some research a good mattress is gonna run you 3000 to 5000 and the warranty process is a joke better not have a pin sized stain on it or its VOID my post is not to care one way or another as I do not live near one of theses I just find it hilarious about people complaining about companies trying to make money if you think something like this is cost effective from a companies stand point you really do not know economics just a POV have a nice day all.
DeleteIs there more than one company that does these? There seems to be a few right? I am trying to look into one of these for my high school band and don't know what to believe. Any suggestions from bands that have sponsored one of these?
ReplyDeleteYes, there are a number of groups doing this fundraiser today. The concept is the same with each one. Only the brand of mattress differs. It's still legal and the school administrations haven't caught on to permitting their facilities to be used by a retailer at no cost to sell their wares. The group then kicks back money for every mattress sold to the band or the football team in return for them promoting the event, and getting their friends to come to the sale to 'support the band'. The only rub is the false advertising about huge discounts that don't exist and customers actually pay more than they would if they shopped locally and made a donation to the band instead.
ReplyDeleteSo why would anyone host an event? Sounds like a huge scheme.
ReplyDeleteHUGE story may be breaking on CFS....stay tuned. Details need to be confirmed independently but could be big.
ReplyDeleteCannot even begin to imagine what this is going to be.....is it CFS propaganda or something inflammatory?
DeleteIt looks like Booster Beds is now going into cities and competing. Wonder if they are as dirty as CFS.
ReplyDeleteHas CFS begun closing locations?
ReplyDeleteTheir website shows about 55ish locations. Not sure if any are closed. I bet some have failed.
DeleteYes. About 40% of their locations have failed. Many cities are on their 3rd or 4th "owner".
DeleteI am interested in doing one of these fundraisers. How do I get signed up?
ReplyDeleteDont...trust me. Its not worth the time. Most sales raise 1500 at best. Unless you are a huge band in TX this no longer works.
DeleteSo now the "own your own business" BS Charade has been replaced by "territory manager". This company just keeps reinventing the scam. People catch on, they change the scheme. Sound familiar? Sound like a PMD tactic? Yep.
ReplyDeleteSarah quit. Sick of Bert's lies? Bet you so!
Sarah quit because she wanted to take care of her daughter. Why do people write such inflammatory things in here? I wish everyone could see how much CFS has donated to schools. CFS is a tremendous organization that donates millions and allows thousands of kids to live out their dreams. As CFS gets ready to hold their 8th annual summer conference in Denver, all those involved agree CFS does good for all. It makes me cry knowing this blog is allowed to be up. Its not right. CFS is awesome. Nobody has sued them, nobody has committed suicide (unlike PMD), and everyone of the dealers are making $125k+. CFS is the American Dream. USA! USA! USA!
DeleteEveryone Bert? Is this not what got you in trouble at PMD? Everyone you say....I would bet you ANYTHING that's not true. AND AND AND that doesnt count ALL the people who have left. DOZENS have come and gone. NOT one made 125K. Not one made 100K.
DeleteThis is the BS that pisses me off. Propaganda pisses me off.
THIS IS JUST NOT TRUE.....
This "donate" shit pisses me off. CFS DOESN'T DONATE a cent. Stop that! The school earns it. There is no donation!!!!
DeleteYou have personally bankrupt at least 4 ex dealers. You lie to get people on board. You are not good people.
DeleteWorst mattress I've ever had!! Don't bother going to one of there over priced events!! Once you purchase they won't answer your calls.
ReplyDeleteOf course they won't
DeleteNotice how Bert posted how much THEY make. I thought it was all about the kids. At least SOME of his lies are changing. The way I slice the bread.....some locations are successes. Some are not. Where you get ripped off are those places failing. They don't care as they are independent in the end. Does Joe really care if they fail? Not so much. The problem? How do we know which places are failing?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOk, I came across this site while trying to find out what brands are sold by CFS and their prices, so I could research the manufactory ratings, reviews, warranties, and complains. "This site is sooooo funny". To several above post. Is CFS making $, I'm 100% sure they are! You find me any business out there who isn't and continue doing business.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is in band and this is their schools 6th successfull fundraiser. Last year was my daughter's 1st fundraiser and my daughter didn't sell any mattress not b/c anything negative we just have no family living close by and had previously purchased 4 named brand mattress from a well known mattress store.
This year I am doing my research b/c I'm looking to purchase 2 more mattresses. Last year 2 of the 4 mattress I purchased from a LOCAL MATTRESS STORE have sink holes, and manufactory warranties are not being honored. Same as some of the above post, I GOT SCREWED. I think we as customers tend to trust salesman "myself included" and shouldn't many are just trying to make sales "that's how the get paid". We honestly need to start doing research on the brand and their ratings before making big purchases." Just my opinion I myself I'm tired of getting screwed"
So bottom line, we can get screwed/scammed anywheres, so I personally think that CFS fundraiser could a good deal. They offer cheaper prices than stores, give you the option of interest free layaway, and gives the schools money. Sounds like a win/win/win opportunity to me.
I'm pretty sure this post has grammar issues so sorry.
I don't think anyone is contending that the mattress fundraiser can be successful. I think the point is that they are not completely honest in terms of the amount of money you will make. Success is relative. If you're trying to raise $1,000 for something and you do then it has been successful. Their absurd claims of schools making routinely 8, 10 or $15,000 are ridiculous. The vast majority make way less than that. In fact I would contend most schools make less than $3,000. Most schools sell between 20 and 25 mattresses. The entire premise of this Blog has been the dishonesty and leading statements made.
DeleteI think Bert should post more about crying and how this is SOOO UNFAIR! Boo Hoo Bertie. BOO HOO!
ReplyDeleteWhat cities has this failed in? I think a list would be helpful so the consumers know where they are likely to be ripped off!
ReplyDeleteIts failed just about everywhere. Every time they go to FL they fail. Its 6 or 7 times at least. They generally just find another victim, err dealer, to take over. Rarely does it work. Indy is about all in terms of places where the second dude made it.
DeleteAs these sales get more prevalent the complaints will become such as well. This is a gold mine (125K+ right Bert??) for Joe Matejka, the CFS dealers, and the bed manufacturer. The school is the small player here. Without a doubt they are taken advantage of. Do your research. Ask for a guarantee in exchange for the free rent you are giving them. No guarantee, no free rent.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone gone to one of these events recently? I am a band director and got a call from one of the other directors who was made aware of this. I had no qualms. Then I read this. Now I don't know. Please help.
ReplyDeleteDon't do it! There are so many legitimate ways to make money for your band. Our school band did this one year. The salesmen are rude. They left garbage all over the school and in the parking lot. We had so many complaints from people who actually purchased these mattresses. It was just bad. Our school district will never do one of these sales again. I have actual numbers from someone who used to work for these people, and the amount of money this company makes compared to what they give the school group is shameful!! Please just don't do it!
DeleteIf you notice on this smear campaign blog by "all anonymous" individuals there is not one band director , not one coach , not one school official that has posted a negative comment about Custom Fundraising or any of their representatives. CFS has been giving millions of dollars to local schools all over the country every single year. The schools pay nothing for this event and simply help get the word out so the local community can get a good quality product for a reasonable price. Whomever writes these negative comments about CFS clearly has a personal issue nothing to do with what CFS does as a positive member in our communities. They should be ashamed of themselves. If you are looking to do his event I would encourage you to pick up the phone , call the school or schools you know that have already done this event and ask to speak to the coach or director so you can get real honest first hand accounts from the actual people that work with Custom Fundraising and don't let a fake blog post deter you from a great opportunity. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteSome dude named Truth (clearly part of the CFS Mafia) again said they GIVE money to schools as though they're a charity. The bottom line hasnt changed. A HUGE HUGE HUGE percentage of the money goes into the hands of CFS. Joe takes 12% off the top (called the juice in the biz). A $699 mattress has a $210- $230 cost (including Fats Matejka's juice). $75 to the group. $300+ to the CFS dealer. If you are cool with that, so be it. Many schools don't allow for profits to use their facility for the gain of a business.
ReplyDeleteIs the fact the CFS uses "truth" to rebut the comments not the most desperate thing ever?
ReplyDeleteI went to one of these yesterday after reading the comments here and wanted to report how I was treated.
ReplyDelete1. It was a lot more professional than I thought. I never dreamed the presentation would be so nice.
2. The mattresses seemed to be fairly priced. I don't think they were BETTER than anywhere else, but they seemed fair.
3.I was put off by the pressure to buy. Yes I know yesterday was the only day he was at the school. I felt uncomfortable about the pressure.
4. They're very aggressive in the upsell type products. I was not aware of that going in.
5. Delivery dates are set by them. They are not flexible.
6. I asked 3 times what the school received. They would not answer. Not sure why.
7. I asked if the price was negotiable. They seemed like they wanted to say no, but said yes.
I decided to hold off. That was not what he wanted to hear at all.
What's all the banter about, anyway? CFS helps groups at schools raise lots of money. And they are GOOD at what they do and do it professionally. The level of after sale service received is on the shoulders of the individual local operator. It may or may not be good. If the local operator/dealer leaves the business, the mattresses still have the manufacturer warranty.
ReplyDeleteHere is the Con though- The Schools are being used rent-free to operate a Reatil Sales Business. Because of this, we see all the babble about profits and not enough being given to the school groups, etc. This is a super creative way to 'beat the system'. Is it illegal? Doubtful. Instead, it's misrepresentation through ommission.
As long as the 'rest of the story' remains undercover, the fundraiser will continue. The question to ask is; Does it Really Matter if CFS uses the School rent-free to run it's own retail business? Does it make it OK that they are in fact paying the school a Bribe cloaked as a Fundraising distribution?
Finally, as long as the school groups get funds, Who Cares?
Who cares?
DeleteThe school board who has rules.
The local provider that pays property taxes, really supports the school, employs locals, rins a fair business.
The customers who are ripped off.
I think the above comment brings up a good point. These clowns come into town for one day and attack a business that has been a part of the community for a long time. They have paid their taxes, they employ local people, and they are supporting the schools all year long, not just one day. Support your local business, not a group of people that come in for one day and then you'll never see them again.
DeleteIs selling chocolate bars for $2 child labor on the part of the Chocolate company to make their profits? Is making little girls push over priced cookies in front of Walmart Child Abuse on the part of the girl scouts in order to keep their corporate paid officers well compensated? Does Herf Jones take advantage of emotionally distressed high school juniors to extort money from their parents to buy cheap class rings that are meaningless in life?
DeleteIt's funny how local businesses think they have the right to 'make' people spend their money in their local stores just because they are local. If local stores offer better deals, people will go there, it's that simple. If you believe your local store has your best interests in their hearts, don't buy anything from the internet, don't shop at Walmart because they import most of their products forcing the closure of many U.S. manufacturers. Don't get your groceries at the big chains because all that money goes to their corporate office outside your County.
Such small minded people writing BS on here. Such a stupid blog.
If you don't like fundraising, pull out your checks and give your local school $1000 without asking for anything in return. Then get all your friends to do the same. Get your friends to talk to their friends. If you can get about $150,000 donated to the school, that will cover the bands fees, then you can start with athletics, choral, FFA, DECA, and the others.
You can start a trend!
You give $1000 per mattress? Raise $150,000? Really? The above is SO asine that it is not even worth responding.
DeleteRegardless of where the "HQ" are, big box stores employ 1000s of local people. CFS does NOT!
I can tell that this anonymous poster is young and lacks any history of our local business community. So you support the "Big Box Stores", the same stores that came into town 35 years ago and closed down the mom and pop hardware, grocery, toy store, dime store, gas station. These were the local people who really supported the schools. Young person, they are all gone! The big box stores do nothing for your school or community. Occasionally they self promote giving a minuscule donation to make people think they are doing amazing donations. Lowes, Walmart giving $5000 is like you putting a penny in the church offering plate. People see you put something in the offering but it has no impact. Schools have to go out and do fundraisers because the people who used to care no longer have businesses.
DeleteOh I forgot, Yes the big box store pay people as little as possible and limit their hours.
By the way. Anyone doing business in your State pays the same State and local sales tax and personal income tax that all your local businesses.
I also assume that you have and will never purchase anything online from a company outside your Town or State. If you do, you are a hypocrite!!!
It's ok, I know you are a hypocrite.
Keep believing you are doing well. If that many you feel better go for it. Ask any dealer and they will tell you. Why do you have to expand your geographical footprint to survive? Because you need to find more victims?
DeleteOn word BEDBUGS!! They put old mattresses on the truck alongside the new ones they deliver. Giving people bedbugs and not caring. Ripping people off and giving thousands bedbugs all just to make a buck!! Shameful!! Buyer beware!
ReplyDeleteThis is the name of the game.....greedy and selfish people who use kids. Disgusting Joe, Bert, Rick, Steve, and the rest of the foot soldiers. Even metro sexual Charlie C is still riping folks off.
DeleteIt's been awhile since Bertie has come here to tell us he has been crying because this JUST ISN'T FAIR. Or that CFS is great because nobody has offed themselves yet.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much Joe has made off the backs of his slave workers?
DeleteMillions....but Bert will tell you he has helped that many kids. Uh huh.
DeleteDisgusting
Yes, they give pennies-on-the-dollar to the schools for these fundraisers while the man at CFS has made millions and just sold the company to Mattress Firm for plenty more Millions thank you schools for helping this multi-millionaire while he gave you Pennies on the dollar, just go to your local retailers they would be glad to do this fundraiser for you and give you a much bigger percentage.
DeleteThis is a Reply to the Above Post. This is the Real Mark Frazier not the person above that is impersonating me! I was the owner of CFS Tampa and Gave Thousands of Dollars to schools across West coast of florida. This is not only a outright lie About CFS but if anyone wants to contact me or the schools across the country and ask them how CFS has helped them raise Millions of dollars for school programs I would be happy to help them find out. Who ever is impersonating me on this Blog I will find out who you are and I will take Legal Action Against You. CFS is a great Company with Great hard working People who try to do something good for school programs and it is jerks like this that can just write anything they want and post it on the internet that is lies. My advice GO GET A JOB.
DeleteSigned
The Real Mark Frazier
How long were you working it in Tampa? Thousands of dollars you say. Is that impressive? This has failed multiple times in FL. How can we contact you?
DeleteThe "real Mark Frazier" was a con man and thief rumor has it. Joey dusted him REALLY quick.
DeleteNo surprise. Joey cashed out. Not at all surprised.
ReplyDeleteMattress Firm will carve this company up and take over within 6 months.
Good while it lasted.
Joe left his territory when he saw the end near. He sold the company when he started to see the house of cards swaying. Joe has a history of abandoning ship at the first sight of a leak. Bert stays till the bitter end trying to bail water from the sinking ship. Joe will knock over women, children and the disabled to make sure he has the first seat on the lifeboat. Some things never change. PMD history has the repeated itself.
DeleteIs this still going on? I haven't seen any of these signs around town?
ReplyDeleteThey seem to be opening locations. I wonder if this is part of the money laundering rumor that's followed MF.
DeleteI just found this site....too late for me. I am still trying to get a refund years later. The gal disappeared without delivering my set
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if Mattress Firm owns CFS in part or in whole? I know the locals are individually "owned", but who owns the Parent?
ReplyDeleteMattress Firm owns 100% of the corporate entity. Beware.
DeleteIt doesn't matter that MF owns 100% of CFS other than the leverage of having a large papa company negotiating for them.. The dealers all buy directly with the mattress manufacturers as independent business owners. They order directly, get invoiced individually and pay their invoices directly to the manufacturers. If MF went Belly up, CFS dealers are rock solid! Products are the same found in all the local mattress stores, not just MF stores. The dealers do not have any restrictions and therefore each dealer controls pricing, school contributions and all business decisions. So what do the small individual locations benefit? The individual locations gained access to the best brands and their top products by having MF for leverage. It was a good move for all of the CFS dealers. It was not a good move for the enemies of CFS because CFS is bigger, stronger and growing faster. CFS is also giving more money than before to their programs.
DeleteThe "owners" do control pricing....this means "they can and do charge whatever they want". Look around before purchasing. The fundraising event no longer has the best prices.
ReplyDeleteSo you make no sense at all! I would always want to buy from the owner of any business who has the ability to sell me a service or product without seeking approval. Buying a mattress is the same as buying a car, refrigerator or furniture. You never really know what's inside. Educated consumers willing to negotiate always win a better deal. I can't remember the last time the CEO of Walmart or Best Buy shook my hand after buying from their store. Big stores do not care! Large stores with leases and overhead will never be able to beat a small independent owner. Of course, there will always be cheap Walmart, Costco, Sam's price targeted junk for consumers who only buy on price. So yes, there are cheaper mattresses, some are so cheap that they tell you to just throw them away for a comfort warranty claim. It's sad to say, but Americans have been programmed to think that cheap is good and that is rarely the case with any product.
DeleteCheap and best prices are not the same thing. Thanks for jumping to that conclusion though.
DeleteI stand by the fact that a local store is the best place to buy.
And the CEO of a Fortune 100 Company and a small town business owner are hardly the same thing. You cannot be serious.
DeleteI do deal with the owner of my local mattress store.
It's October 18th 2018 today. This blog doesn't post dates so it's impossible to know what's recent or ancient.
ReplyDeleteMr. buy local can be found at Walmart this week supporting his/her 'local' store. Ha! There are few true local businesses who exist anymore. Stop the BS! Aren't you the local patriot! You and your friends loyalty to local business caused your local Walmart to grow, giant mega grocery stores to flourish and dozens of business owners to punch time cards for these 'local' corporate fortune 100 companies. Just stop the shop local BS reteric.
Anyone reading this blog should now understand the bias shown by a business owner and their friends towards a competitor. "I do deal with the owner of my local mattress store" should tell everyone that the writer of the message is in fact a store owner/manager who feels threatened by perceived competition. I know mattress firm managers who post negative information on here to protect their territories against CFS which is owned by mattress firm. The owner of this blog is the same, but refuses to acknowledge any bias. He has also never been to a school mattress event since 2012 when he started this blog. When he started this blog, CFS was a small business without the top brands.
Now, CFS has all the top brands including technology driven products not found in local stores. A lot has happened since 2012. This blog was started in 2012, the high school kids in schools today don't remember 9/11! That's how old this blog is and it is so irrelevant except to provide a place for negative people to vent. Some of the 'best' mattresses in the market can be found at a CFS event, things like real gel technology. So if you want to see the best in the market, go to your school and then decide what product is best value the for your health.
You know 9/11 was in 2001, right? What does that have to do with 2012 or this blog?
ReplyDeleteI wrote that I deal with mattress store owner. I am a customer and not an ownet or store employee. Nice try though.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, but not every store is a big box joint. There are some small businesses still alive that are family owned and operated.
It's great to see you support small local retailers and businesses. Each CFS dealer is a small independent business owner who pay for 100% of their expenses, does their own accounting, suffers the losses of a poor sale, hires local labor and staff just like the local stores you support. At some point along the supply chain of any small business is a large corporation making profit.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you buy your mattresses direct from a factory in your town who sells to a local retailer in your town. That in fact would be the ONLY way you support your LOCAL small business.
Get off your righteous pony! People vote with their money and unfortunately with Amazon, big box stores, giant consolidations and now drop shipped products with 120 trial periods....the local retailer is losing at every corner.
It's great to read statements from people like you who pay your local retailer the marked price without ever threatening them with online prices or competitive prices from larger corporate giants.You do pay what the ask? right?
Oh wait! This entire blog was started because of one man's opinion that products being sold by a local dealer where overpriced compared to mattress stores...but he loves the local owners of businesses as long as they are businesses he approves to operate in his town....hypocrisy abounds
I have no clue what you are talking about. I stated that I support a small local business. His prices are very competitive. In fact they were BETTER than your rep could offer at a school sale.
ReplyDeleteDo your reps mark up the mattresses? Be careful before answering because ole' Bert said all your reps were making $125k+.
To me the bottom line is I choose to support a man who is in the community EVERY day, not just 8 hours per year
In the community every day??? So what! The local furniture store in my town gives $500 to the school every year to keep their name on a board at the football field.
ReplyDeleteThe owner drives his new corvette in the parade every year with a queen throwing candy and acts like a big deal in the community. That 'local business guy' told our band booster board 'no' when we asked if they would help sponsor our trip.
My family has purchased from their store for years! Loyalty is a 2-way street! No more loyalty from this girl!
When the local business complains about competition, go down to the school and ask the principal or athletic director how much the little guy has given to the school over the years. Guaranteed you will be shocked!! Big houses, cars, boats, eating out all the time, political threats, influence and no real money for the school. Look around, there are isolated cases of small business generosity, but it's never enough to cover what school programs need.
You can break your arm patting yourself on the back supporting a local business. That does not provide for all of the needs at schools or other organizations. We had no other option than to go outside the community.
Our band budget is $250,000. Student fees are $1000. That requires us to work with anyone willing to help us make money. Our school board gives the band $5000 annually. Other area programs tell me the same story. You have to make money and local businesses are not going to help us earn that much every year.
Cookies, cheesecake, christmas trees, candles, popcorn, concessions, car washes and more! It takes everything we do to pay the bills. I think we will try this mattress stuff.
The above is supposed to be written by a potential customer but seems to have all the info. Fishy at best. Written by CFS almost certainly. All the BS talking points are there. You change the narrative constantly wanting to deflect the facts.
DeleteCarry on Bert.
We sell poinsettias for $20 and earn $3 for each one sold! Our coach told us that 600 were coming and all had to be sold. This is a good business for our local plant guy. We do all the work and he makes $10,000 leaving us $1800. All of our fundraisers work this way...we do everything all the time and the company does nothing except collect our money.I really hate the Florida fruit boxes. They sit in Florida and wait for our money. Unloading and delivering those boxes is hard work.
ReplyDeleteThe above is so made up its not even funny. The plant guy has a cost of 33 cents?
DeleteNice try Bert.
This outfit has been littering the neighborhoods with obnoxious signs and refusing to pick them up when asked. But it's good advertising the JA said. Really!?!?!?? So would dropping 10M fliers from a plane...but is littering!!!
ReplyDeleteLaBelle Florida has the most obnoxious signs about a furniture store going out of business and they are plastered illegally everywhere!!! I bought some furniture at this local store! I bet my warranty is worthless at this local retailer! Always the same story with these small towns now.
ReplyDeleteThis blog and these posts are so freaking old! It's no wonder the host only posts the time and not the date of the post. Almost all of these posts date way back to 2012! How do I know? I posted most of the crap on here along with just a handful of other people. It's not as big as it seems.
ReplyDelete