Yes, he has called us 3 times too but we will not give him samples after reading this.  I can't get rid of him.  We would have to send him frozen product on dry ice, very expensive.  He said he sells to 350+ families and restaurants.  Sounds like he is all over the place on who he targets...books, food, what ever!

Has requested samples twice over the last six months using the name Michael Norman the first time and Michael Moore the second time.  The business address he gave is a small house, not a commercial address.  And he has tons and tons of complaints from many industries about him scamming for free samples and not having a business at all.  F rating from Better Business Bureau and a multitude of complaints all over the Internet, including on Manta.com.  We did not send him samples.

Beware!

Thanks for the heads up everyone. He called today and said he wanted to distribute our handmade metal hooks.
That he only took 30% of sales rather than traditional 50% and I emailed a line list to Michael.dd0228@gmail.com and he made sure I got his phone number 248-806-3450. Sounds like he's moving into home goods now.

I work for a beauty distribution company and he call us this morning. I got as far as asking him for his re seller's permit and to complete our application and he hung up. He also provided me with the same name, address, and phone number(s)

Thank you to all the previous posters. I knew that when he hung up something was up, this thread helped a lot!

100% scam artist...he also has a mobile number.  Beware...this guys "talks" a good game but when it comes down to it...he is full of crap.

many samples delivered to his garage...piece of crap.

We received a call from Michael Norman under the name Norman Reviews today at our book publishing company.  He demanded review copies of titles.  Upon reviewing his account, we've sent him samples of the same titles twice already.  Researching further, we've sent him over a dozen sample shipments over the years under an account with a different name.  Googled him and found this.  He has never placed a paid order.  Needless to say, we will not be sending any more samples.

I cant believe this guy is still at it.
Called our beverage company earlier this afternoon with the same pitch from 2012 about the 350 stores and no website and how he never got any samples from the last time we spoke... Funny thing is we never spoke because every call is logged in the CRM.. What a FRAUD!!! Do Not send him anything... Unless you happen to have a Bag of Dog s*** you want to trash!!!

Now he's making forays into Canada. Same modus operandi. Thanks for the warnings. I won't waste any more time.

Got a call today for free samples of our books. Same MO as the rest of the comments on here. I'm happy I saw this first! Thanks everyone!

I received a call very early this morning (7 AM PST) from Michael Norman claiming he represented 350 bookstores and wanted to receive sample products of Psycards.  Fortunately, my psychic senses told me to research this guy and--you guessed it--this clown is a scam artist.  I called him back,  and left a message revealing what I had discovered and told him that he could purchase our products via our website.  Otherwise, never call here again.

Thanks for the heads up!!!  I am a craft manufacturer and he left the exact message about seeing my ad in an art products magazine. Will order 350. Will pay in advance. He didn't mention needing samples--just a catalog, but probably this is his first step. BTW, I NEVER run ads and to my knowledge have no articles in that magazine, so when I returned the call and left a message, I also asked about the magazine ad.   I just tried again this morning before I tried to google his company. NO website exists.No company listings-- How would retailers find him??? That got me suspicious and it led me here...The phone numbers he left were 248 809 3617 and 248 806 3450 (cell). 16905 W 12 mi RD South Bend, MI. People who have been scammed should consider writing to the BBB. He has a listing even tho' he's not a member. Also about RipoffReport.com.

Customer Service took a call a couple of weeks ago from a potential distributor and sent catalogs (as we normally would).
Michael Norman from Detroit Distributors called back this AM and we spoke.

He claims to sell to fundraising companies/schools and was interested in an assortment we are promoting.  He claims to have over 350 customers who would help market and sell these products. We might have other items as well.

Seemed too good and why would school fundraisers be interested in adult plant and garden books and not our children's books?

He asked if we could send samples and of our ?best sellers? and they?d first focus on those?  

So, I did a Google search and found this site and that it appears he?s a big scam artist and been doing this for years.

Today he claimed to represents 350 fundraisers?has scammed companies selling to: salons, mom & pop groceries, pizza shops, pet supplies, gourmet foods, Jewish owned companies, specialty stores, book publishers, etc.

Contact information:
Michael Norman of Detroit Distribution.
16905 W 12 Mile Road
Southfield, MI 48706

Direct Line; 248-809-3617
Office: 248-806-3450

I sent out an Email to staff about this and my marketing person just came and said he's working her for samples as well.  She mailed catalogs and today he called wanting samples of specific books.  

THE SAME COMPANY IN THE FIRST HOUR OF A MONDAY?!?!? DOES HE THINK SALES, MARKETING, AND OWNERSHIP DON'T COMMUNICATE??!?!? ESPECIALLY ON A POTENTIAL 350 STORE/CUSTOMER LEAD????

Thanks to past posters - we'll not be sending any samples - I wanted to keep this thread active with updates.  BEWARE.  

This guy sounded legit. That is, until I looked up Detroit Distribution. Don't give him the time of day.

Thanks everyone on this thread. You all probably saved the company I work for money and time. Mr "Norman" left a message claiming he supplied books to religious organizations in the Detroit area and he was looking for a media kit and several samples.

Has nobody ever shown up at his house and called him out?  He gives his home address to everybody right?

From "Detroit Distributors".  He says his name is Mike Norman and that we had talked and is waiting for samples.  This guy has been calling for years!  I don't know why he is still getting away with it.

Our company has also been contacted by this man for free samples today.  I looked his information up and found this.  Thank you guys for the heads up so we do not waste our time or money sending free samples to this fraud!

I want to thank all of you that took time to post comments regarding Michael Norman of Detroit Distribution.  I am a specialty food broker and today one of my vendors received a voicemail message from this man expressing an interest in seeing her products.  She forwarded the contact information to me.  I called and left a message for him to return my call...all the while thinking it was a strange greeting message on his phone.  So being the thorough and protective broker that I am, I searched him on google and discovered that his company has an "F" rating from the BBB...then I found this site, which was beyond valuable to me.  When he returned my call, I gave him just enough rope to hang himself, which he did.  When the conversation did not go the way he wanted, or expected, he hung up...a real professional.  Thanks again!

You can bet that Michael Norman also makes sample requests under different names.  I would suggest never sending samples to companies you can't verify are legit.  

My business ran advertising in a specialty food magazine and Michael Norman called to request gourmet food samples.  He told my customer service manager that he had previously talked to her about sending samples and sell sheets for pre-paid orders.

After finding this web site alerting people of his actions, I called him and asked him if he had a web site and he told me he didn't.  I informed Michael that he's sort of a famous guy on the internet and he said he is famous.  I told him about his activities being documented on the internet and not to call my office again. He agreed to never call me my office again.

We appreciate this web site.  We never send samples to companies we can't verify are solid gold with active phones and professional web sites.  Unfortunately, I'm sure this guy will keep up this scam until the day he dies....  He sounded like a man with no remorse.

Thanx everyone for the heads up----he called our office and since I had never heard of him I Googled as well---found all these posts. Wish I had looked this up BEFORE I called and left him a VM. Now he has my #.

Michael Norman, of course that's not his real name, and the address he leaves on your voice mail is probably NOT his real address either. But, we plan to box up some garbage from our kitchen and send him some "samples", because we just need a little fun today!

We got an call him stating he wanted samples shipped out to him. Thank you everyone for the heads up!!! He won't be getting anything Rejuve Cigs LLC.

This Michael Norman calls and has 350 specialty stores to distribute our product to. His email is michael.dd0228@gmail.com. Phone numbers 248.806.3450 and 248.809.3617. He wanted a sample pack. I asked for his business information (License/resale # etc) we are still waiting for the email! After searching him out I ran across this information and thank God, we did not send the sample package! WATCH OUT!

beware. he has also changed his phone number, but not his address.

i received a call from him today asking for free jewelry samples and a line sheet. he said he found me in a wholesale magazine i advertise in. he referenced a conversation that never took place. he said he represents 350 stores and fundraisers.

his name is michael norman of detroit distribution. he gave this information:
16905 w 12 mile road
southfield mi 48706

248-809-3617
248-806-3450

Thank you for putting up these notices, so that I did not send him some expensive jewelry samples.

Don't email the guy. He is probably farming email addresses and selling that to distribution lists. Don't help him make money in any way!

Well, I posted here on Sep 9th with my story and said, "I bet the d***hit will call me back again." Get ready....he called me back on 11/11. He starts off with he saw my company listed in a magazine and asked if I could send him some samples and brochures about our company. I said, "Mike, I thought I told you to never call here again." LOOOONG PAUSE..."ya, you don't remember calling me? Is this how bad of a scam artist you are that you can't even keep straight who you've tried to scam recenlty?" Anyways, once again, he gets pissed and starts off with his 'I've been in business for 38 years' and blah blah blah. I just hung up on him. Once again...can't wait til he calls again!

DO NOT SEND HIM ANYTHING BUT I SUGGEST TAKING THE CALL JUST TO MESS WITH HIM

DETROIT DISTRIBUTION IS A SCAM!!!!  MICHAel NOrman is a scam artist. You're an idiot if you ship him anything.

We got a call in from this man Michael Norman. He asked if we have ever distribute our goods to whole sellers. he requested some catalogs and gave me his mailing info. Before we hung up i asked where it was that he heard from our company. He said he saw us in a magazine. At first it seamed ok because we do have an ad in a magazine. Im really noisy and always google map address before i send something out. Things didnt look good when i saw that i was sending out flyers to a home.  I immediately did my research on google and found this. Glad i did. I know this guy would have asked for samples. glad i caught this!!

He called me from 248 809 3617

I am a beauty company and he wants samples of my products. Though he is using a different number, it sounds like the same guy, Michael Norman.

He is also giving out this email address michael.dd0228@gmail.com