OK while everyone was busy actually RUNNING their haunts this weekend, some guy has been totally undermining the industry. There was a post started about America is Haunted. Just questions, not many paid any attention (again busy RUNNING Haunts!)
I was informed by a friend of this America is Haunted in my market, asking if it was any good. I started checking. Knowing what it takes to open an attraction here, I had not seen nor heard of this attraction except on the Groupon sale. One of the Fire Inspectors for Clark County where it is supposed to be located happened to be a customer at my haunt Friday night. I asked him about it. He stated there was NO other haunt that had pulled permits in the county. They must apply like 60 days prior to the event and have to be processed through the county board meeting.
I personally drove to the location. It is buried in an industrial section(hard to find) and is a vacant property. I checked the web site: http://www.americaishaunted.com/ it is very ambiguous filled with images ripped off of other sites ( including America Haunts, Larry!)
Of course the Groupon deals were ending this weekend and the attractions were not opening until October 22. Ticket sales are ONLY on line. They claim to have haunts in over 40 markets. They have taken the Haunt industry by storm the last two years selling out attractions across the country..... Called the numbers on the site. One is "Message Box is full", second is "you have dialed incorrectly, check the number and dial again". The address on the site is the same as the URL owner info. It is a real address:
My daughter contacted a Haunt Blogger to help get the word out to fans NOT to do the Groupon deal, oh yeah, Groupon does not have ANYONE available on weekends to handle ANY issues!!This Blogger, Oni Hartstein started checking also. Every location she checked was either a vacant building or an existing business, like a concrete manufacturer!!She posted he information and my daughter posted her info.
So of course they got a reply on the site... from someone claiming to be a lawyer for America is Haunted. Here is the blog link: http://www.onezumiverse.com/2014/10/...at-dont-exist/
OK HAUNTERS TIME TO STEP IT UP!!! This person or persons are DEFRAUDING the Haunt Industry. They are hurting the business when all of the people who bought tickets on Groupon or on line, show up to VACANT buildings who do they blame???? US! Will they trust a Haunted House Groupon Deal again? Will they buy another haunt ticket on-line ticket again (like yours?). Probably not! Take the time, most of you are not open until this Thursday. Go to their site. See the locations. IF you are close to one, GO to that building. Take a picture. If it IS vacant and there is leasing info, picture that. Call and ask if it is rented. Then CALL GROUPON and complain.
This is actions taken across state lines which makes the fraud Federal. Groupon has the best means to thwart and prosecute this. (Some account exec at Groupon needs to be fired as they obviously did NO homework on this.)
WE AS AN INDUSTRY NEED TO UNITE AND NOT JUST STOP THIS, BUT BY OUR ACTIONS PREVENT SUCH FUTURE ACTIONS>>>PERIOD.
You can respond here, but I will start a thread tomorrow with posted pictures of the vacant locations and the response from the Realtor.
DO something people. Don't just complain that people screw up your market or fly by night operators take business away...DO SOMETHING or find another business. I personally have fought a tough battle for 16 years to help establish my business, to represent the industry, to help change the Haunt Business as have MANY of the good Haunters that frequent this Message Board. This is a personal attack on our industry. By utilizing Groupon they "legitimized" thier actions with the public so now "those haunted houses ripped me off" will be told by not just the people affected, but their friends, family, acquaintances...then the rumors start..."did you hear about the thousands of people that got ripped off by haunted houses on Groupon???"
This Stops HERE!
I am calling the leasing company Monday. Then Groupon immediately afterwards.....what about in YOUR MARKET....YOUR BACKYARD. Let's protect ourselves, our industry and our customers!
I was informed by a friend of this America is Haunted in my market, asking if it was any good. I started checking. Knowing what it takes to open an attraction here, I had not seen nor heard of this attraction except on the Groupon sale. One of the Fire Inspectors for Clark County where it is supposed to be located happened to be a customer at my haunt Friday night. I asked him about it. He stated there was NO other haunt that had pulled permits in the county. They must apply like 60 days prior to the event and have to be processed through the county board meeting.
I personally drove to the location. It is buried in an industrial section(hard to find) and is a vacant property. I checked the web site: http://www.americaishaunted.com/ it is very ambiguous filled with images ripped off of other sites ( including America Haunts, Larry!)
Of course the Groupon deals were ending this weekend and the attractions were not opening until October 22. Ticket sales are ONLY on line. They claim to have haunts in over 40 markets. They have taken the Haunt industry by storm the last two years selling out attractions across the country..... Called the numbers on the site. One is "Message Box is full", second is "you have dialed incorrectly, check the number and dial again". The address on the site is the same as the URL owner info. It is a real address:
601 Figueroa Street Suite 4050 Los Angeles CA 90017.
It's a nice big REAL office building.......oh wait.... they happens to specialize in VIRTUAL OFFICES!!! DOES ANYONE ELSE SEE RED FLAGS????My daughter contacted a Haunt Blogger to help get the word out to fans NOT to do the Groupon deal, oh yeah, Groupon does not have ANYONE available on weekends to handle ANY issues!!This Blogger, Oni Hartstein started checking also. Every location she checked was either a vacant building or an existing business, like a concrete manufacturer!!She posted he information and my daughter posted her info.
So of course they got a reply on the site... from someone claiming to be a lawyer for America is Haunted. Here is the blog link: http://www.onezumiverse.com/2014/10/...at-dont-exist/
OK HAUNTERS TIME TO STEP IT UP!!! This person or persons are DEFRAUDING the Haunt Industry. They are hurting the business when all of the people who bought tickets on Groupon or on line, show up to VACANT buildings who do they blame???? US! Will they trust a Haunted House Groupon Deal again? Will they buy another haunt ticket on-line ticket again (like yours?). Probably not! Take the time, most of you are not open until this Thursday. Go to their site. See the locations. IF you are close to one, GO to that building. Take a picture. If it IS vacant and there is leasing info, picture that. Call and ask if it is rented. Then CALL GROUPON and complain.
This is actions taken across state lines which makes the fraud Federal. Groupon has the best means to thwart and prosecute this. (Some account exec at Groupon needs to be fired as they obviously did NO homework on this.)
WE AS AN INDUSTRY NEED TO UNITE AND NOT JUST STOP THIS, BUT BY OUR ACTIONS PREVENT SUCH FUTURE ACTIONS>>>PERIOD.
You can respond here, but I will start a thread tomorrow with posted pictures of the vacant locations and the response from the Realtor.
DO something people. Don't just complain that people screw up your market or fly by night operators take business away...DO SOMETHING or find another business. I personally have fought a tough battle for 16 years to help establish my business, to represent the industry, to help change the Haunt Business as have MANY of the good Haunters that frequent this Message Board. This is a personal attack on our industry. By utilizing Groupon they "legitimized" thier actions with the public so now "those haunted houses ripped me off" will be told by not just the people affected, but their friends, family, acquaintances...then the rumors start..."did you hear about the thousands of people that got ripped off by haunted houses on Groupon???"
This Stops HERE!
I am calling the leasing company Monday. Then Groupon immediately afterwards.....what about in YOUR MARKET....YOUR BACKYARD. Let's protect ourselves, our industry and our customers!
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